Water Media Explorations with Linda Gerhard
Branching Out. Holbein Primary Gouache set on Stillman and Birn sketchbook, toned paper.
Faces to the Sun. A. Gallo Mid-Century Collection opaque watercolors on hot-pressed paper.
Location – Peter Becker Community. Maplewood Estates, 815 Maplewood Drive, Harleysville, PA 19438. The class is located upstairs in the craft room. Take the stairs (or elevator). When the stairs divide, take the left stairway and turn right at the top (straight ahead off the elevator, passing the stairs). The classroom will be on your left just before the exercise room. For parking, there is a visitor parking lot across the street from the main entrance of Maplewood Estates.
Date/Time: Tuesday mornings, 10:00-12:00 – June 23, June 30, July 7, July 14. Not able to attend all four classes? See our Flexible Schedule options!
Open to adults of all skill levels.
Join me for a 4-week exploration of opaque water media. This techniques-based class will provide an introduction to using opaque watercolor and gouache (pronounced gwash). Lessons will include discussion of paint characteristics and application techniques. Those who prefer to work in transparent watercolor may do so and are welcome to attend!
Lessons will focus on working with a limited color palette to mix a wide range of colors and neutrals using just the primaries (primary red or magenta, cyan or primary blue and primary yellow) plus black and white. You’ll discover the vibrant depth of color these richly-pigmented paint formulations offer.
Students will work with their own reference photos or still life objects. Practice exercises will be done in a small format, perhaps 5”x7”. Due to the quick-drying quality of opaque watercolor and gouache, many paintings are completed as 8”x10” or smaller. Opaque watercolor and gouache paints are mixed with much less water so working on a smaller scale will be beneficial.
For questions about the class or course registration, please email Linda Gerhard – lingerart@aol.com or call 267-416-2287.
Supplies
*Students must bring their own supplies.
All students must bring a covering to protect table surfaces
Paints – For this class, you may work with your medium of choice - gouache, opaque or transparent watercolor paints. For gouache, paint squeezed fresh from the tube provides better opacity and flow. A set of primary colors, plus black and white is all you need. The Holbein brand offers a professional-grade, 5-tube set of gouache consisting of primary magenta, cyan and yellow, plus white and black and is available on Amazon for about $45. Alternatively, a set or individual tubes for a warm palette could include – primary or spectrum red, ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow, plus black and white. You may prefer to purchase less expensive pan sets available from other manufacturers, although I have not tested them and have no experience with the quality. Opaque watercolor pan sets are available on Amazon as well. If you choose to work with transparent watercolor, bring your favorites!
Brushes – Sturdy synthetic brushes designed for use with gouache or acrylic paints are good choices for working with gouache and opaque watercolor. I do not recommend using fine natural sable or squirrel brushes as they are likely to wear out quickly. I like flat-style brushes over rounds for opaque watercolor and gouache, but that is a personal preference. Use the style and size you are comfortable working with. You will not need large wash brushes for this class as we will work on a smaller scale.
Paper – 140lb cotton watercolor paper is preferred. I like hot-pressed paper because the smoother surface allows for better flow with opaque paints. Cold-pressed paper can be used, but has more texture and may require greater effort to achieve smooth paint application without white paper show-through. The real magic happens when opaque paints are used on toned or black paper! Feel free to use your preferred paper.
Other supplies:
- A palette with ample mixing space or paper palette pad can be used with gouache.
- Paper towels or absorbent cloth – you will use more paper towels than with transparent watercolors.
- Two water containers – one for clean water, one for rinsing paint from brushes.
- A fine mist spray bottle
- Pencil and kneaded eraser
- Painter’s tape and backing board to secure work while painting, or a watercolor block.
- *Optional, but highly recommended – “The Masters” Brush Cleaner and Brush Preserver. Manufactured by the General Pencil company, this cleaner is safe and gentle for all brushes, including fine sable watercolor brushes. A one-ounce container will last a very long time and it is the best brush cleaner I’ve found. These pigment-rich paints can be tough to clean from brushes by rinsing with water alone. Available on Amazon, Jerry’s Artarama and other art suppliers. While rinsing brushes well at the end of class will suffice until you get home, I recommend thoroughly cleaning with brush cleaner at home to ensure no paint is left to dry in the hairs before storing.
For questions about the class or course registration, please email Linda Gerhard – lingerart@aol.com.
This is a four-week session consisting of four two-hour classes held on Tuesday mornings, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Begins June 23, 2026, ends July 14, 2026.
Not able to attend all 4 weeks in the session? See our Flexible Schedule enrollment options! Pay for only the dates you select to attend!
Cost: PVAC Member: $80; Non-Member: $88.
PVAC members must be logged-in to receive the member price.
CLASS LIMITED TO 9 PARTCIPANTS
To pay for registration by check, note that the payment is for the Water Media Explorations class. Make the check payable to Perk Valley Art Center and mail to:
Perk Valley Art Center
PO Box 474
Schwenksville, PA. 19473
If you are paying by mail, your check must be received prior to class start date to guarantee your reservation in the class.
Cancellation/Refund Policy – Paid registration fees will be refunded only if the instructor cancels the entire 4-week session.
