FEE: $295.00 | Early bird special (-$25.00) expires March 26th, 2026!
Beginning Watercolor with Ellen Jean Diederich
MAY 14-16, 2026 – 10am-3:30pm Thursday-Saturday
HIA-Hospice Community Room South Entrance | 3800 56th Avenue S Fargo, ND 58104 | left parking lot- use the center door
MAY 14-15, 10 am to 3:30 pm $295.00 | Early bird special (-$25.00) expires March 26th, 2026!
*Bring your own lunch and beverage
Syllabus
Thursday: Understand the paint, the paper, and the process. We will go over supplies and arranging your palette too. Supplies will be available for purchase. Paint a subject with two colors.
Friday: Warm up by painting a flower while holding it in your hand. Paint a background around it. Integrate the background and foreground. Trace out one painting. We will start painting it together.
Saturday: Continue painting on piece we started. If you like a second sketch and demos willl be available to work on.
When you check in on Thursday, I will be there to help you with supplies at 9:00 am. If you need to start new or get a few colors, you can do that as the class proceeds. Feel free to ask questions via email with any supply questions to ellen@givinity.com . A supply list is included below. Bring everything you have on the supply list. I will bring my favorite paints, paper, and brushes available for purchase at discounted prices to make sure you have supplies that work.
There will be demonstrations, time to practice techniques, and create your own paintings. You may paint from the photographs provided, and/or bring your own. A welcome letter will be sent to you two weeks prior with more details.
Ellen Jean Diederich Supply List
START WITH THE STUFF YOU HAVE: Please bring your own favorites and a variety of brushes, including oil painting brushes, various tools, and any water media paints you have. Many items can be substituted and old brands can be used up before buying new.
PLEASE BRING: Photographs “you have taken” to paint from or print outs from images emailed from instructor, paper towels, masking tape, an ice cream pail, #2 pencils, 2” black bristle house brush with a short handle, supportive painting board (such as gator board or drawing board) HB or #2 drawing Pencil, White Pearl eraser, art gum eraser 18” ruler or straight edge, sharpie marker and an I-Pad (preferred) or cell phone.
SUPPLIES: These specified brands are used by Ellen, feel comfortable using the brands you currently have. Tubes of paint can be divided with others. The Robert E. Wood Palette is the best and most economic purchase you can add. Professional grade paint and paper is strongly recommended & it will definitely affect your painting progress. Many people have difficulty painting because of the paper & brushes they choose. For help with supplies, please arrive at 9:00 on Thursday. Ellen will have palettes, paints, boards, paper brushes and erasers to purchase.
Watercolor Tray $6.00 or Robert E. Wood Watercolor Palette
D ‘Arches 140# (or heavier) cold press or watercolor paper 2sheets
Brushes: WN (Winsor-Newton) Golden Scepter 1″ wash brush, ½ “flat also called a wash brush & #10 round
Brush WN 530 Script, WN #10 Round
9″ x 12″ Drawing Pad, Gum Eraser, & magic eraser
Gatorboard or Plexi-glass you can use to support your painting.
Masking tape, #2 pencils and erasers.
Winsor Newton Professional Grade Paints recommended
Minimum Palette: French Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Rose, Winsor Yellow Deep & Burnt Sienna &Hookers Green – other colors are available too!
Full Palette: Winsor Newton Professional Grade Paint-
Cerulean Blue, Winsor Yellow Deep, Raw Sienna, Cadmium Lemon, Cobalt Blue
Scarlet Lake, Cobalt Blue, Antwerp Blue, Winsor Green (Pthalo), Hookers Green
Burnt Sienna, Permanent Rose, Cobalt Turquoise Dark, French Ultramarine Blue
Indian Red, Rose Madder Genuine, Permanent Rose
Colors with Cadmium in name are now sold as Cadmium Free
**Additional colors “unnecessary favorites”
