From life-like blooms to lush landscapes, area residents will soon have the opportunity put paintbrush to canvas and create their own masterpieces.

The key to working with watercolor, according to Karen Frattali, renowned watercolor artist and teacher, is first and foremost picking up the paintbrush.

Frattali said anyone can be an artist if they simply practice.

However, it is also important to use water as a medium to move the pigment of the paint around.

“Watercolor is very fluid, and the techniques move paint around the paper,” she said.

Luckily, for local artists in training, Frattali is offering a Watercolor Workout Class at Warren-Forest Higher Education Council in October.

In her two-day, watercolor “boot camp” slated for Oct. 13 and 14, Frattali said participants will learn all about color, composition, the chemistry behind watercolor painting and more.

“It’s short and sweet (in) two solid days. I’m a big color person I call it high-saturation color,” she said. “You have to learn how to make it look wet even when it’s dry.”

Frattali said the class works well for any level of artist, and there may also be a beginner project available.

“People are mystified by painters and artists in general,” she said, adding she wanted to dispel that a little in the class. “It’s like learning to play tennis you have to practice. You have the ability to do it, you just have to try it.”

The class will work from photographs, focusing on realism and paints will be provided for participants, Frattali said.

“They will be painting and drawing for 16 hours. I call this an active learning experience,” she said. “They can be guaranteed they will be doing what they’re interested in learning. I like for a class where (people) meet other people in their community.”

Frattali has been a professional painter for 30 years, and has been running such class for approximately 10-12 years.

Most recently, she has been featured in the Berks Art Alliance National Juried Show, the Lancaster County Art Association National Juried Show and the Watercolor Society of Alabama National Juried Show.

Frattali is currently serving as the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society vice president, and is also active in the National Watercolor Society and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.

The class is slated for Oct. 13-14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch break.

For more information on the content of the class or her work, email Frattali at kfratalli@gmail.com or find her on Facebook.

For more information on Warren-Forest Higher Education Council, the class or to sign up, visit Hi-Ed.org or call 723-3222.