Katy Market Days, August 16, 2014

"Texas Gothic"

Original Watercolor by Becky Brocato

I painted this from a photo that I took

of the little church on the grounds of

the Antique Rose Emporium, just north

of Brenham, Texas.

I will have a booth at the Katy Market Days, in Katy, Texas, on Saturday, August 16, from 10 am to 5 pm. I hope you will stop by if you are in the area. I have note cards of my original watercolor paintings, which make great teacher gifts for Back to School Night! Also, my open edition prints are matted in standard frame sizes, making it a snap to pick out a frame at Hobby Lobby (they will frame it for you while you wait, if it is not a real busy framing day). But wait, there's more! I also have a few framed prints and originals that are ready to hang on your wall or brighten a corner of a bookshelf. Hope to see you there!

"Sweet Cherries", my demo for the Intro to Watercolor Workshop on Thursday, July 31

"Sweet Cherries"
Original Watercolor by Becky Brocato
Arches 140 lb Cold Press
5x7"

Just a quick update on the Summer Boredom Buster: Introduction to Watercolor One Day Workshop last Thursday, July 31. I had a great class of five eager and enthusiastic learners. We started out with the basics:

•how to tear the full sheets of watercolor paper down to quarter sheets for a lovely deckled edge
•how to tape the sheets of paper to the base board (Gatorboard)
•how to mix water and paint on the palette to fully load the brush
•several basic techniques to get the paint onto the paper
•basic wash techniques
•how to use a "thirsty brush" to control the excess water in a painted shape
•glazing

Then I took them step by step through the painting of "Sweet Cherries," while the class painted along. This 5x7 painting utilized the basics that were covered, with emphasis on the "thirsty brush," and how to keep an eye on the bead of paint at the bottom of a painted shape, etc.

Mark your calendar now for Thursday, September 18, 2014. I will be teaching another Introduction to Watercolor One Day Workshop at Katy Contemporary Arts Museum in Katy, Texas. It will build on the same techniques, helping to reinforce those basics to complete another small painting to take home and hang proudly in your home. Stay tuned!