Gray Gallery, Great River Watercolor Society to host annual workshop

QUINCY — Quincy University’s Gray Gallery and the Great River Watercolor Society will be the host of the watercolor workshop, “From Sketchbook Studies to Watercolor Works: A Creative Process,” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 in Room 436 in QU’s Francis Hall, 18th and College.

Brian Anderson will review the process of using a portable sketch journal to capture images of people, places and things around the environment. He will discuss a variety of quick sketching techniques and note-taking as well as sketching narrative sequential scenes.

Participants will work in either pen or ink augmented by watercolor or go directly into watercolor sketching. Anderson will provide printed reference materials to go along with the demos and exercises. The morning session will include a discussion on sketching and collecting notes and playing with contrast. Participants will select a sketch to do quick watercolor studies and play with color. After lunch, participants will complete a 9×12 watercolor, taking time to share and ask questions.

Anderson was inspired by his father, who showed him how to draw airplanes and boats, and his grandmother, who painted regional landscapes and portraiture in Idaho. He started drawing at a young age. He began a Meetup group in 2006 called the Saint Louis Drawing and Painting group. Art-making has since become an ongoing and regular part of his expression as an individual and in group settings. He also ran popular figure drawing sessions at the Saint Louis Artist Guild in Clayton, Mo., and participated with Urban Sketch groups for several years.

Anderson enjoys drawing and painting people, places and things in the Saint Louis area like city landmarks, sights, architecture. He also finds inspiration from places that bring people together, such as churches, markets, coffee shops, diners, seasides, boating docks, sports games and main streets.

The cost of the workshop, which includes lunch, is $40 for GRWS members and $50 for non-members. For additional information and registration, contact GRWS treasurer Sue Ann Winking at 217-223-4362 or rummesue@quincy.edu.