Local artists wet their palettes and dirtied their brushes during the Warren Forest Higher Education Council watercolor bootcamp on Monday.
Nationally recognized watercolor artist Catherine Hillis instructed 15 artists ranging from beginner to intermediate on the basics of painting with watercolors.
Hillis, whose watercolor paintings went on display at the Crary Art Gallery Sunday, said she teaches weekly classes and one workshop a month. "We actually had a very full day, we had a lot of material to cover."
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Catherine Hillis teaches Bootcamp
The bootcamp began with an introduction to the basic skills of painting with watercolors followed by a discussion on composition in painting and how to lay out a successful design. Hillis utilized the grid system as a way to lay out a pleasing painting and then moved on to individual coaching when she was able to interact with the students in the workshop.
After individually coaching sessions, Hillis demonstrated different skills with different paints, including how to paint skies, how to mix black in water color paints and wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry watercolor techniques.
"I demonstrated as many techniques as I could," Hillis said.
At the end of the day Monday, students critiqued each others work and Hillis said there was "a lot of talent in the room and it's always exciting to see that."
The watercolor bootcamp continued Tuesday with Hillis further demonstrating how to use green in watercolors and continued a discussion on composition and what contributes to a pleasing layout.
Students were also tasked with painting a flower arrangement in a glass vase.
Hillis said she was able to use her time in Warren to take photographs, a process that allows her to paint outdoors scenes in the winter.
"I really appreciate the opportunity," Hillis said.
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Hillis' show at the Crary Gallery on Market Street is open Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; and evening hours on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The gallery is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.