Finding Inspiration May 11, 2026

Finding Inspiration

Register

Required Book:

“Painting Nature: Techniques, Tutorials and Projects”; Gemma Koomen; Quadrille; ISBN 978-1837832750

 

(All Books Can be purchased at Brewster Book Store)

 

Suggested Books:

  1. “Botanical Watercolor Painting for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Create Beautiful Floral Artwork”; Cara Olsen; Page Street Publishing; ISBN 978-1645675921
  2. “Wildflower Watercolor: The Beginner’s Guide to Painting Beautiful Florals”; Sushma Hegde; Page Street Publishing; ISBN 978-1645676775
  3. “Thinking in Watercolor: A Daily Practice to Unlock Your Creativity & Discover Your Inner Artist”; Jessie Kanelos Weiner; Artisan; ISBN 978-1648293320
  4. “Watercolor Mixing Deck: Landscapes”; Charles Evans; David & Charles; ISBN 978-1446316726
  5. “Watercolor Mixing Deck: Architecture”; Charles Evans; David & Charles; ISBN 978-1446316719
  6. “Charles Evans’ Watercolour Rescue: Top tips for correcting your mistakes and preventing them in the first place”; Charles Evans; Search Press; ISBN 978-1782219422
  7. “Charles Evans' Pocket Book for Watercolour Artists: Over 100 Essential Tips to Improve Your Painting”; Charles Evans; Search Press; ISBN ‎978-1782216377

Recommended Supplies:

Highly Recommended:

  1. Smartphone camera
  2. Journal with watercolor paper (cold press)
  3. Soft pencil (HB, H, or #2) 
  4. Pencil sharpener
  5. Technical drawing pen
  6. Refillable brush pen
  7. Colored pencils (watercolor pencils work well)
  8. Watercolor set (Art Toolkit)

Optional:

  1. Backpack or shoulder bag
  2. Binder clips
  3. Small ruler
  4. Small mixing palette
  5. Small sponge 
  6. Small rag 
  7. Small water bottle 
  8. Small water spray bottle
  9. Small syringe (no needle)
  10. White gel pen 
  11. Color wheel
  12. Small hand lens or magnifier

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May 11, 2026 – 10:00 - 12:00 am – Finding Inspiration – Brewster Book Store

Description: Inspiration grows from attention, and this session is designed to help participants discover what draws them in the natural world. Through guided outdoor or observational exploration, participants learn to identify moments of interest—whether it’s the curve of a shoreline, the color harmony in seasonal foliage, or the interplay of light and shadow on a simple object.

We introduce techniques for collecting inspiration, including nature journaling, thumbnail sketches, written reflections, and color notes. Participants experiment with creating quick visual studies that capture the essence of a scene rather than every detail.

Topics Covered:

  1. Scientific ideas such as seasonal change, habitat, and light conditions
  2. An understanding of why certain scenes look and feel the way they do
  3. Building a personal library of inspiration
  4. Training the eye to recognize beauty, pattern, and story in everyday surroundings