Fantastic Beetles

It’s reported there are over 350,000 known species of beetles in the world. Long been prized by collectors due to their variety in shape, size and gorgeous coloration and patterning; beetles’ alien beauty have also been a fascination for artists. In this class, we will spend 4 weeks exploring how to illustrate a few of these remarkable critters while learning a variety of watercolor and ink/bleach (!) techniques. Suitable for all skill levels.

Materials:

Paper:

Arches 140# Hotpress, 7 x 10  or 9 x12 inch blocks.  OR buy full size sheet (22 x 30) and trim to size; you will need a backing board and artist’s tape.

Brushes:  Pointed rounds, 6, 8 or 10;  smaller detail brushes

Paint: Watercolors in tubes

Daniel Smith: 

Duochrome colors: Autumn Mystery, Cabo Blue, Turquoise, Ocean, Emerald, Green Pearl

Phthalo Blue

Rose of Ultramarine (Daniel Smith)

Ink: 

Van Diemen’s ink - Shooting Star (Available through Vanness Pen Shop in 4ml sample vials)

OR Diamine - All the Best, or Garland, or Winter Miracle

OR J. Herbin Emeraude de Chivor

Note: Many of the inks above can be purchased in smaller 2 or 4ml sample vials from various pen supply websites:  The Goulet Pen Co, Vanness Pen Shop, 

 Parker Quink - (Available through Amazon, JetPens, Goulet Pens

Drawing nibs and holder

Exacto Knife

Pigma Micron pens: (black) 0.7, 0.5, 0.3

Bleach: (about 8 oz of household bleach), small cup or jar to use in class that will hold the bleach/water solution

Incidentals:

Paper towels

Hair dryer

Q-tips