The bear necessities - Line and wash masterclass with Liz Chaderton

In this two-hour masterclass you will paint a wonderful brown bear using line and wash and in the process explore flowing washes of watercolour, expressive ink mark making and the impact of altering colours to add emotion to the artwork.

You will explore mark making and capture the essence of the subject. The lessons you will learn can be applied to many subjects, not just bears!

Line and wash is where drawing and painting meet, each bringing something to the painting. The line often adds definition and contour, while the washes add character and emotion. The order you work in is a personal choice, though you will want to ensure each layer is dry before moving on. Here you will start with watercolour and then add ink to bring life to your artwork.

First you will think about the composition and how cropping or changing your reference can help to tell a story. You will explore colour choices and see how you can either mix unexpected colours to give an overall impression of 'real' colours (in this case brown) or go for totally arbitrary colours. Following the tonal map is key. Finally you will add line work and decide what role both the line and wash should play.

Webinar information

• To register for the webinar, simply follow the "Book the webinar" link above and this will take you through to Art Supplies with Painters Online shop. Here you will need to add the webinar to your basket and follow the checkout process. 
• Once you have purchased your webinar, you will receive a confirmation email from Art Supplies with Painters Online. You will also be able to find all of the webinars you have booked in your "my account" area on the website. Simply navigate to "My upcoming live webinars" and here you will find your join link for the live webinar, any reference photographs and materials lists all in one place!
• The webinar will take place on Zoom and will last for approximately 1 hour including a Q&A session (these are approximate timings and may vary slightly).
• During the webinar, you'll have the opportunity to submit your questions and chat with fellow attendees using the Q&A and 'chat' buttons at the bottom of your screen. 
• The webinar will be recorded and will be made available to all registered attendees the day after the live session, for a one month following the masterclass. 

If you're not sure how to join one of our Zoom webinars or masterclasses, or if you've not used Zoom before, check out our handy how-to guide.

Read the guide

About Liz Chaderton

Liz Chaderton is a full time artist based in Berkshire. She has written five practical books including one on painting birds in watercolour and another on animals published by The Crowood Press.