Workshop Weekends I: Basic Watercolor Workshop at 10-A Alabama with Denver Garza

“Tell me, why did you sign up for this workshop”, asked Denver Garza, the facilitator of the Basic Watercolor Workshop I participated in last January 31, 2015. “I have been attending workshops, writing workshops, acting workshops, strorytelling workshops…now, I want to learn something new again and meet new people”, I told him. And after 3 hours, I, indeed learned something new!

The workshop was held at 10-A Alabama or the Resurrection Furniture and Found Objects Gallery. I learned that apart from being a furniture (and other found objects sanctuary) exhibits and workshops are being held there.

Resurrection Furniture and Found Objects Gallery, 10-A Alabama

Inside the gallery were cool stuff!

Geometry

Cinderella's missing shoe, I guess.

I learned about Sir Denver’s workshop through Facebook. It was shared by a friend. The workshop that I attended was the second workshop already; I wasn’t able to enroll the first time because of a prior engagement. I was impressed with Sir Denver’s watercolor paintings, thus, I enrolled. The workshop fee cost Php 950 if you have painting materials already. That’s Set A. If you don’t, you may opt to choose Set B that include watercolor and brushes for beginners, for P 1,450.

The workshop kit

Some of Sir Denver's awesome works

During the seminar we learned about the different watercolor painting tools, such as the various kinds of watercolor, brushes, papers, and pencils. There’s basically a student grade (cheaper, for beginners) and artist’s grade (more expensive, for the pros) for watercolor, brushes, and papers. Brushes have different kinds of bristles. Papers differ according to thickness --- the thicker, according to Sir Denver, is better because it’s more absorbent.

Our "syllabus" for theday

We also learned about stretching (or preparing) the paper to be used, and of course, the various kinds of brush strokes. We also reviewed the color wheel so that we could achieve the effect that we wanted on our artworks.

Sir Denver explaining the techniques he applied in his works

Our final activity was lifted from a Kukology exercise. We drew a circle, triangles, and squares. We painted them with watercolor. Then, Sir Denver interpreted them, based on Kukology (Sir Denver is a psychologist).

My Kukology output (I'm way better than this! Hahaha!)

It was a fruitful day, indeed. The best thing about the experience is gaining new friends. Above everything else, I realized is that watercolor painting workshop enhances not only your artistic skill, but your EQ as well. Sometimes, to achieve the effects that you wanted, you have to wait for the initial pain that you applied to dry before applying another stroke. As one of my new friends said, “it’s a test of patience.”

Me and Sir Denver in an obligatory photo-op, haha!

There will be a 3^rd session, I believe. I would like to continue painting and perhaps, enroll in the Level 2 of Denver Garza’s Watercolor Workshop Series.