The Heritage Fine Arts Guild Presents: Susan Corser – Expressive Watercolors using Wet-on-Wet Technique

The Heritage Fine Arts Guild Presents: Susan Corser – Expressive Watercolors using Wet-on-Wet Technique

Workshop Description: Using wet-on-wet techniques, with florals as our subject, this workshop will encourage us to focus on the more expressive aspects of painting, starting with value sketches to visualize the overall composition. We then begin the painting on heavy watercolor paper, applying a layer of clear water before adding paint to create soft edges for the painting’s major shapes. We gradually add more layers of water and paint to develop the image, adding harder lines where needed to create the desired composition. Other media such as pen and ink, oil pastels, etc., can be added if desired to create texture and interest. Class suitable for beginners as well as more advanced painters.

Workshop Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Ascension Lutheran Church, 1701 W Caley Ave, Littleton, CO
💲 Cost: $35 for Guild members | $75 for non-members
📝 Register: https://www.heritage-guild.com/workshopsevents.html. Payment serves as registration.

Materials:
• Watercolor Paper: Preferably watercolor blocks 11” x 14” or larger. If not using watercolor blocks, you’ll need to use good quality (e.g. Arches) 140 or 300 lb paper that’s been soaked and stretched onto an MDF or other type of artboard (see below for instructions). Bring extra paper in case you have time to start a second piece (we can soak and stretch this one at the church). Or bring two boards with stretched paper.
• Watercolor Brushes: Flat: One large flat brush preferably 2” (or large round mop brush) and a medium flat, 1” or ¾”. Round: Mediums (#12 or #14) and a large round, preferably #16 or larger, a few smaller brushes such as #8 or #10 round and ½” flat. Inexpensive synthetic brush for masking fluid, (e.g. #6 round)
• Masking Fluid: Bottle of Miskit or other brand of liquid frisket/masking fluid.
• Pencils/Eraser: A mechanical or other light pencil and a softer pencil for value sketches (e.g. Prismacolor Ebony)
• Paper Towels
• Water Containers
• Watercolors and Palette: Any colors acceptable as long as they include the 3 primaries (red, blue, yellow) and some neutrals (e.g. burnt sienna, burnt umber, raw sienna, yellow ochre). Helpful to have warm and cool versions of the primaries. Some purples or pinks can be helpful with flowers, such as ultramarine violet.
• Sketchpad: Any size
• Sponge
• Pens/Crayons (optional): Pen and ink, calligraphy pens, oil pastels, etc are encouraged but not required.
• Link to Soaking/Stretching Instructions: https://www.artsupplies.co.uk/blog/a-guide-to-soaking-and-stretching-your-watercolour-paper/
o Notes for Soaking/Stretching:
 I do not apply French Polish to my MDF board and haven’t had any problems.
 For the gummed tape I use Builder Board Seam Tape by Surfacesheilds available at building supply stores or Amazon.
 Be aware that both 300 lb and 140 lb papers will likely wrinkle a bit when you paint (depending on how much water you apply), but this style is intended to be “loose” and thus a bit of color ponding can add to the composition or you can pick it up with some paper towel.

About Susan:
Susan Corser has been painting and drawing since childhood, focusing on figure drawing in her early years, transitioning to landscapes after moving to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1991. She now splits her time between Steamboat Springs and Denver. Her primary medium is oils, although she also enjoys watercolor and mixed media. Susan enjoys teaching art and has taught private and group lessons in watercolor and mixed media.

This workshop is made possible in part by funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) and the Littleton Arts & Culture Grant. We are grateful for their continued support of the arts in our community.

Register now and explore watercolor with Susan Corser
Visit heritage-guild.com to sign up and learn more.