Watercolour lessons offered at park’s conservatory

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This article was published 06/10/2004 (7704 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE arrival of fall — after a dismal summer — likely has many people looking for an inspiring getaway.

That’s what Jennifer LaBella hopes her two-day Watercolours in the Park sessions will be.

The watercolour artist and landscape designer will conduct her art classes at Assiniboine Park Conservatory on Oct. 21 and 28. The classes are a continuation of the popular watercolour classes the artist held in the conservatory during the summer.

“It’s like a mini-holiday, two full days during the week where you can forget everything else and relax,” says LaBella. “In the conservatory the air is warm and humid. There is soft light from the skylight, and the fountain is trickling. There’s lots to paint, and lots of inspiration.”

The two full-day workshops are for everyone from beginner to more established artists. Participants paint at their own pace, and most will complete a painting a day. At the end of the sessions, LaBella will put their work on the wall and invite the group to respond to the efforts of others.

It’s an informal workshop, with LaBella presenting basic background on working with watercolours, colour theory, composition and design, and value studies encouraging participants to include a good range of values or shades in their work.

“Many people say watercolour is a lot harder than other mediums,” says LaBella. “It takes practice. You have to learn how water and paint behave on paper. You can’t always predict, that’s the fun of it. It’s rewarding, but unpredictable.”

There’s no need to worry about creating a fantastic painting, says LaBella. “It’s about learning technique and exploring the medium.”

LaBella explains that watercolour painting is economical because you can keep adding water and reusing the paint on your palette. There are no fumes and brushes clean up with water.

From beginner to more advanced, LaBella says everyone learns from this workshop.

“I always learn something,” she says. “I learn from others, and even from people who have never painted before. They have a refreshing new perspective.”

Participants will paint what they see, including plants and objects in the warm and lush conservatory environment.

To register for Watercolours in the Park, call the conservatory at 986-5537.