Spend a fun day learning how to capture the world in watercolors as you paint your very own piece. In each class you will finish one painting of the given subject, all levels are welcome and lots of personal coaching will be provided. NO DRAWING SKILLS NEEDED! Drawings for All Subjects provided in Class.
All Workshops are limited to 6 students, sign up early to reserve you seat. Call the gallery to sign up for class and for more information 805-643-6400!
Please arrive 5 minutes early, class will start on time. All class reservations must be paid in advance and cannot be canceled or changed less than 72 hours prior to class. Sorry, no exceptions.
All Workshops are limited to 6 students, sign up early to reserve you seat. Call the gallery to sign up for class and for more information 805-643-6400!
Please arrive 5 minutes early, class will start on time. All class reservations must be paid in advance and cannot be canceled or changed less than 72 hours prior to class. Sorry, no exceptions.
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Poppies that Glow
Saturday, June 6th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Bring your paintings to life with luminous color in this vibrant watercolor class focused on glowing poppies. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to capture the delicate, light-filled beauty of these iconic flowers using layering techniques, rich pigments, and soft blending. We’ll explore how to create that “glow” effect by building transparent washes, enhancing contrast, and letting light shine through your petals. You’ll also practice shaping organic forms, adding depth, and using expressive brushwork to make your poppies feel alive and radiant. Perfect for beginners and continuing students alike, this class offers step-by-step guidance in a relaxed, creative environment—no drawing experience needed. |
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Tropical Sunsets
Saturday, June 27th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Escape to the coast and capture the magic of a glowing tropical sunset in this relaxing watercolor workshop with Phyllis. You’ll be guided step-by-step as you create a vibrant beach scene filled with radiant skies, shimmering water, and soft sandy shores along with tropical flowers. Perfect for beginners and continuing students, this class focuses on building confidence while exploring expressive, beautiful watercolor effects. No drawing experience needed—just come ready to relax and create. You’ll leave with a stunning tropical sunset painting that captures the warmth and beauty of the coast—your own little escape on paper! |
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Edible Still Life Groupings
Saturday, July 11th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Celebrate the beauty of fresh, vibrant vegetables in this colorful watercolor workshop! In Edible Vegetable Still Life Groupings, you’ll learn how to paint artful arrangements of garden favorites—think heirloom tomatoes, leafy greens, peppers, carrots, and more—while exploring composition, color, and texture. This class focuses on creating balanced, eye-catching groupings and capturing the unique character of each vegetable. You’ll practice layering transparent washes to build rich color, adding highlights and shadows for dimension, and using expressive brushwork to bring out natural textures—from smooth skins to crisp leaves. Perfect for beginners and continuing students, this workshop offers step-by-step instruction in a relaxed, creative environment. No drawing experience needed—just come ready to play with color and bring your veggies to life! You’ll leave with a fresh, lively painting inspired by nature’s palette—perfect to display in your kitchen or gift to a fellow food lover! |
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Plumeria Flowers
Sunday, July 19th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Capture the soft elegance and tropical beauty of plumeria flowers in this relaxing watercolor workshop. Known for their creamy petals and glowing centers, plumerias are the perfect subject for learning how to blend color, create depth, and achieve that luminous watercolor look. In this class, you’ll be guided step-by-step as you paint these iconic blooms, focusing on smooth gradients, subtle shading, and gentle transitions of color. You’ll explore how to create that signature “glow” in the center of each flower while keeping petals soft, fresh, and dimensional. Perfect for beginners and continuing students, this workshop offers a calm, creative environment where you can build confidence and enjoy the process. No drawing experience needed—just come ready to paint and unwind. |
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Ocean Shimmer
Saturday, July 25th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Capture the beauty and tranquility of a glowing sunset reflected across sparkling water in this relaxing watercolor workshop with Phyllis Gubins. In this step-by-step class, you'll learn how to create luminous skies, blend vibrant sunset colors, and paint shimmering reflections that dance across the water's surface. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this workshop will explore watercolor techniques including wet-on-wet blending, layering transparent color, creating soft atmospheric effects, and adding highlights that bring the scene to life. You'll leave with a beautiful coastal-inspired painting filled with warmth, light, and movement. All skill levels are welcome. Come enjoy an inspiring afternoon of creativity and discover the magic of watercolor as you bring a radiant sunset to life. |
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Venetian Cityscapes
Saturday, August 1st 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Step into the charm and romance of Venice in this inspiring watercolor workshop! In Venetian Cityscapes, you’ll learn how to capture the beauty of winding canals, historic architecture, and shimmering reflections that make this iconic city so magical. You’ll be guided step-by-step as you paint a classic Venetian scene—exploring perspective, loose architectural details, and the interplay of light on water. This class focuses on simplifying complex buildings into approachable shapes while using expressive brushwork and soft washes to create atmosphere and depth. Perfect for beginners and continuing students, this workshop offers a relaxed and encouraging environment where you can build confidence and develop your own style. No drawing experience needed—just come ready to travel through paint! |
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Watercolor Water Lilies
Saturday, August 15th 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Step into a peaceful, painterly world as you bring the beauty of floating water lilies to life in this relaxing watercolor workshop. Inspired by the soft reflections and dreamy color palettes of garden ponds, this class focuses on capturing light, movement, and atmosphere on water. Guided step-by-step, you’ll learn how to: ✨ Layer transparent washes to create depth and glowing color ✨ Paint soft reflections and ripples on water ✨ Build delicate lily pads and blossoms with expressive brushwork ✨ Use wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques for beautiful effects Whether you’re new to watercolor or looking to refine your skills, this class offers a supportive and inspiring environment to explore your creativity. You’ll leave with a finished painting full of light, color, and tranquility—perfect to display or gift. |
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Beach Scenes
Sunday, August 23rd 1-4pm $55 or $70 with all supplies, including an 11x14 mat for your finished painting Capture the relaxed beauty of the coast in this inspiring Watercolor Beach Scenes class! Join us as we explore the soft, flowing techniques that make watercolor perfect for painting oceans, skies, and sandy shores. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to create luminous beach landscapes—from gentle waves rolling in to glowing sunsets over the horizon. We’ll cover essential watercolor skills including: 🌊 Blending smooth skies and gradients 🏖️ Creating texture for sand and shoreline 🌅 Layering colors for depth and atmosphere 🐚 Adding simple details like seashells, dunes, and distant figures Phyllis will guide you step-by-step while encouraging your own creative style, making this class perfect for both beginners and continuing students. No drawing experience needed—just bring your love of the beach! All supplies are included (or bring your own), and you’ll leave with a beautiful coastal painting ready to mat and display. Come relax, unwind, and paint your way to the shore. |
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Watercolor Supply List
Phyllis’ Watercolor Supply List
Professional artist-quality materials are essential for good results. Your paintings and your enjoyment will only be as good as the tools you use.
Why Artist-Quality Watercolor Supplies Are Required for Classes
Watercolor is a unique medium that depends heavily on the quality of the materials being used. While student-grade paints and papers may seem like a more economical choice, they often make learning watercolor much more difficult and can limit a student's success in class.
Artist-quality paints contain a higher concentration of pure pigments, producing richer colors, better transparency, and smoother blends. Student-grade paints contain more fillers and less pigment, resulting in weaker color intensity and less predictable results. Many of the techniques taught in class—such as glazing, color mixing, and creating luminous washes—are much easier to achieve with professional-quality paints.
Paper quality is equally important. 100% Cotton Artist-grade watercolor paper is designed to absorb and hold water properly, allowing colors to flow, blend, and lift as intended. Lower-quality paper tends to buckle, pill, tear, and produce uneven washes, making it difficult to practice techniques successfully.
Using artist-quality materials helps students focus on learning watercolor skills rather than struggling against the limitations of their supplies. It creates a more consistent learning experience for everyone in the class, and allows students to achieve results that accurately reflect the techniques being taught.
Investing in quality materials from the beginning will save you money in the long run because the supplies perform better, last longer, and provide a more rewarding painting experience.
The following is a list of Necessary and Required Materials for all of our Watercolor Workshops and Classes.
WATERCOLOR PAPER:
A Cold-Pressed or Rough texture good quality 100% cotton watercolor paper is essential. Arches 140# 9”x12” pads are preferred and are available online from Amazon, Jerry’s Artarama and Blick. The yellow, brown, blue or white covered pads of Student Grade paper (not 100% Cotton) sold at Michael’s will not work in our classes, as explained above.
PALETTE: A full-size watercolor palette with a lid is highly recommended. Please have your tube paints emptied into your palette and ready to use when you arrive. Your palette should also have an area for mixing your colors or you should have a separate porcelain palette for mixing. In a pinch, a white dinner plate will do for extra mixing space.
BRUSHES: There is no “magic” watercolor brush. Please bring an assortment of Round & Flat Watercolor brushes in a variety of sizes. Other specialty brushes will be demonstrated and made available to use, if needed, in class. Watercolor brushes that are synthetics or blends are fine. Bring what you are most comfortable using. We love the Silver Brush brand and offer those in our class supplies.
PAINTS: At Red Brick Art we use & recommend only professional grade tube watercolor paint as opposed to student grade paints. Our favorite paints are Golden’s QoR Watercolors for their rich, brilliant colors. They flow beautifully and a little goes a long way so they will last much longer.
Other professional grade watercolors are available from Holbein, Mission Gold, M.Graham, Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton.
RECOMMENDED COLORS: This is a personal choice, so I am giving suggestions. First, select a warm (yellow shade) and a cool (blue shade) of each of the primary colors of Red, Yellow and Blue, plus any colors you especially enjoy.
Select ONE of each color category for starters. You will need both a Warm shade & a Cool shade of Red, Blue, Yellow & also Green, plus a few earth tones and darks. Also add a few impact colors that may spark your creativity, such as opera & teal.
OTHER NECESSARY SUPPLIES: Masking tape and a waterproof board or solid surface to secure your watercolor paper while painting. Paper towels, a cloth rag for blotting water from your brush, masking fluid & an applicator, an old toothbrush, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (original without soap) cut in small pieces, scraps of watercolor paper for testing colors, kneaded eraser, plastic eraser, small water spray bottle and color wheel for reference.
Red Brick always supplies water containers, light boxes, mechanical pencils & hair dryers for all watercolor classes, so you don’t have to bring those.
**You may rent all the needed supplies to use in class for $15 per class session
Professional artist-quality materials are essential for good results. Your paintings and your enjoyment will only be as good as the tools you use.
Why Artist-Quality Watercolor Supplies Are Required for Classes
Watercolor is a unique medium that depends heavily on the quality of the materials being used. While student-grade paints and papers may seem like a more economical choice, they often make learning watercolor much more difficult and can limit a student's success in class.
Artist-quality paints contain a higher concentration of pure pigments, producing richer colors, better transparency, and smoother blends. Student-grade paints contain more fillers and less pigment, resulting in weaker color intensity and less predictable results. Many of the techniques taught in class—such as glazing, color mixing, and creating luminous washes—are much easier to achieve with professional-quality paints.
Paper quality is equally important. 100% Cotton Artist-grade watercolor paper is designed to absorb and hold water properly, allowing colors to flow, blend, and lift as intended. Lower-quality paper tends to buckle, pill, tear, and produce uneven washes, making it difficult to practice techniques successfully.
Using artist-quality materials helps students focus on learning watercolor skills rather than struggling against the limitations of their supplies. It creates a more consistent learning experience for everyone in the class, and allows students to achieve results that accurately reflect the techniques being taught.
Investing in quality materials from the beginning will save you money in the long run because the supplies perform better, last longer, and provide a more rewarding painting experience.
The following is a list of Necessary and Required Materials for all of our Watercolor Workshops and Classes.
WATERCOLOR PAPER:
A Cold-Pressed or Rough texture good quality 100% cotton watercolor paper is essential. Arches 140# 9”x12” pads are preferred and are available online from Amazon, Jerry’s Artarama and Blick. The yellow, brown, blue or white covered pads of Student Grade paper (not 100% Cotton) sold at Michael’s will not work in our classes, as explained above.
PALETTE: A full-size watercolor palette with a lid is highly recommended. Please have your tube paints emptied into your palette and ready to use when you arrive. Your palette should also have an area for mixing your colors or you should have a separate porcelain palette for mixing. In a pinch, a white dinner plate will do for extra mixing space.
BRUSHES: There is no “magic” watercolor brush. Please bring an assortment of Round & Flat Watercolor brushes in a variety of sizes. Other specialty brushes will be demonstrated and made available to use, if needed, in class. Watercolor brushes that are synthetics or blends are fine. Bring what you are most comfortable using. We love the Silver Brush brand and offer those in our class supplies.
PAINTS: At Red Brick Art we use & recommend only professional grade tube watercolor paint as opposed to student grade paints. Our favorite paints are Golden’s QoR Watercolors for their rich, brilliant colors. They flow beautifully and a little goes a long way so they will last much longer.
Other professional grade watercolors are available from Holbein, Mission Gold, M.Graham, Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton.
RECOMMENDED COLORS: This is a personal choice, so I am giving suggestions. First, select a warm (yellow shade) and a cool (blue shade) of each of the primary colors of Red, Yellow and Blue, plus any colors you especially enjoy.
Select ONE of each color category for starters. You will need both a Warm shade & a Cool shade of Red, Blue, Yellow & also Green, plus a few earth tones and darks. Also add a few impact colors that may spark your creativity, such as opera & teal.
OTHER NECESSARY SUPPLIES: Masking tape and a waterproof board or solid surface to secure your watercolor paper while painting. Paper towels, a cloth rag for blotting water from your brush, masking fluid & an applicator, an old toothbrush, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (original without soap) cut in small pieces, scraps of watercolor paper for testing colors, kneaded eraser, plastic eraser, small water spray bottle and color wheel for reference.
Red Brick always supplies water containers, light boxes, mechanical pencils & hair dryers for all watercolor classes, so you don’t have to bring those.
**You may rent all the needed supplies to use in class for $15 per class session
