Beginning Watercolor Workshop- May 14-16, 2026 Fargo, ND

Bring your own lunch and beverage.

$295.00 (-$25.00Early bird special expires March 26th, 2026!)

With Instructor Ellen Jean Diederich TWSA, RRWS, WSA, WW

Have you been wanting to paint when you see dreamy colorful watercolors flash by on the web or on Facebook. Maybe you haven’t painted for a while, and you just need a refresher.  It is so much fun when you get a good start.  Please sign up today for my Beginning Watercolor Workshop. We will start with basic skills and then work on subjects.  Sketches are provided to trace so you can paint along, or you may also work from your own photographs.

Syllabus

Thursday: Understand the paint, the paper, and the process. We will go over supplies and arranging your palette too.  Supplies will be available for purchase.   Paint a subject with two colors.

Friday:   Warm up by painting a flower while holding it in your hand.  Paint a background around it. Integrate the background and foreground. Trace out one painting. We will start painting it together.

Saturday: Continue painting on piece we started.  If you choose, a second sketch and demos will be available to work on.

When you check in on Thursday, I will be there to help you with supplies at 9:00 am. If you need to start new or get a few colors, you can do that as the class proceeds.    Feel free to ask questions via email with any supply questions to [email protected] . A supply list is included below. Bring everything you have on the supply list. I will bring my favorite paints, paper, and brushes available for purchase at discounted prices to make sure you have supplies that work.

There will be demonstrations, time to practice techniques, and create your own paintings. You may paint from the photographs provided, and/or bring your own. A welcome letter will be sent to you two weeks prior with more details.

Ellen Jean Diederich Supply List

 START WITH THE STUFF YOU HAVE: Please bring your own favorites and a variety of brushes, including oil painting brushes, various tools, and any water media paints you have. Many items can be substituted and old brands can be used up before buying new.

PLEASE BRING: Photographs “you have taken” to paint from or print outs from images emailed from instructor, paper towels, masking tape, an ice cream pail, #2 pencils, 2” black bristle house brush with a short handle, supportive painting board (such as gator board or drawing board) HB or #2 drawing Pencil, White Pearl eraser, art gum eraser 18” ruler or straight edge, sharpie marker and an I-Pad (preferred) or cell phone.

SUPPLIES: These specified brands are used by Ellen, feel comfortable using the brands you currently have. Tubes of paint can be divided with others. The Robert E. Wood Palette is the best and most economic purchase you can add. Professional grade paint and paper is strongly recommended & it will definitely affect your painting progress. Many people have difficulty painting because of the paper & brushes they choose. For help with supplies, please arrive at 9:00 on Thursday. Ellen will have palettes, paints, boards, paper brushes and erasers to purchase.

•  Watercolor Tray $6.00 or Robert E. Wood Watercolor Palette
• D ‘Arches 140# (or heavier) cold press or watercolor paper 2sheets
• Brushes: WN (Winsor-Newton) Golden Scepter 1″ wash brush, ½ “flat also called a wash brush & #10 round
• Brush WN 530 Script, WN #10 Round
• 9″ x 12″ Drawing Pad, Gum Eraser, & magic eraser
• Gatorboard or Plexi-glass you can use to support your painting.
• Masking tape, #2 pencils and erasers.

Winsor Newton Professional Grade Paints recommended

Minimum Palette: French Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Rose, Winsor Yellow Deep & Burnt Sienna &Hookers Green – other colors are available too!

Full Palette: Winsor Newton Professional Grade Paint-

• Cerulean Blue, Winsor Yellow Deep, Raw Sienna, Cadmium Lemon, Cobalt Blue
• Scarlet Lake, Cobalt Blue, Antwerp Blue, Winsor Green (Pthalo), Hookers Green
• Burnt Sienna, Permanent Rose, Cobalt Turquoise Dark, French Ultramarine Blue
• Indian Red, Rose Madder Genuine, Permanent Rose

Colors with Cadmium in name are now sold as Cadmium Free

**Additional colors “unnecessary favorites”

Optional Materials:  Feel free to bring: Brayers, Speedball cut easy Blocks, Speedball linoleum cutter, metallic watercolors, Gouache, Acrylic paints, Matt medium, soft gel gloss, collage items & watercolor pencils (box of 36 or more) recommended. These are not part of the curriculum.