Instructor:
andie thrams

Join Andie and TreeSong for this continuing series of seasonal online classes to empower field journal keepers, plein air artists, and makers of all levels to paint with increasing ease both indoors and out. Step-by-step sequences explore watercolor and gouache painting techniques, drawing, color studies, tools of the trade, field journal approaches, artist book creation, botanicals, composition & design, tips for painting outdoors, and how these practices can kindle joy and deepen our connection to nature and each other.

All experience levels are invited. 
 

Classes will be recorded and available to download for ongoing use.

This series will share Andie’s tried and true painting techniques for capturing a sense of the wild complexity of the natural world. Working from live subjects, photos, looking out the window, or sitting outdoors, we’ll create a series of seasonal studies together through a step-by-step sequence. We’ll mix colors, work wet into wet, and build luminous layers of watercolor to conjure up the particular magic of each season in our painting.

Also shared will be effective techniques for layering gouache (opaque watercolor), ink, and colored pencil within our work to add light over dark shapes and bright details.

Andie’s creative process is designed to deepen our connection to the natural world through careful observation and intuitive responses. Q&A will be encouraged. Participants will end each class with a series of painted studies for future reference and inspiration, along with tips for completion. 

Tuition: $50 per class (REGISTRATION THROUGH BUTTONS BELOW)

NOTE: We highly recommend that you purchase and watch the Watercolors in the Wild: Art Essentials — Tools, Templates & Grids recording in preparation for the series (see below).

Art Essentials — Tools, Templates & Grids recording

This class is highly recommended as a foundation for the series

Learn to create the templates and grids we’ll often use in this series. Put the grid system to use, and explore what you can do with a myriad of art supplies. Delve into inks, paints, brushes, pens, markers, pencils, pastel, calligraphy tools, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, palettes, book arts tools, and more! Demos and Q&A will empower you to build a personalized art supply kit.

COST: $50

THE AMAZING DOUBLE PRIMARY COLOR WHEEL RECORDING

Another foundational class

It’s called a “double primary” color wheel because it is painted with two each of the three primary colors: two reds, two yellows, and two blues. From these six specific primaries, we’ll create a beautiful color wheel with a stunning range of colors!

COST: $50

PAINTING AUTUMN LEAVES IN WATERCOLOR (PART 1) RECORDING

Each found autumn leaf is a microcosm we can explore and record through observation, study, and painting.

COST: $50

PAINTING AUTUMN LEAVES: ADDING DETAILS WITH GOUACHE (PART 2) recording

Ink, gouache (opaque watercolor), and colored pencil will invite us to add layers and details to our leafy paintings from the PAINTING AUTUMN LEAVES IN WATERCOLOR (PART 1) class (or you may also work with other leaves you may have already painted).

COST: $50

painting lichens with watercolor and gouache recording

Lichens and mosses provide delightful subjects for practicing watercolor and gouache painting techniques.

COST: $50

painting spring landscapes with watercolor and gouache (part 1) recording

Working from spring subjects, photos, looking out the window, or sitting outdoors, you’ll create a series of spring-inspired studies through a shared step-by-step sequence.

COST: $50

painting spring landscapes with watercolor and gouache (part 2) recording

Andie demonstrates varied techniques for layering gouache (opaque watercolor) and colored pencil within your watercolor paintings. It is recommended that you take part 1 to be best prepared for this class.

COST: $50

About the instructor:

Visual artist Andie Thrams uses watercolors in wildland forests to create paintings and artist’s books that explore biophilia and solastalgia. Merging the lineages of field journals and illuminated manuscripts with contemporary art and science awareness, her work weaves botanical imagery and hand-lettered text to evoke interconnections within western ecosystems. 

To see more of Andie’s work, click here.

Watercolors in the Wild: paint A FOREST SUNSET WITH WATERCOLOR & gOUACHE

saturday, mAY 6, 2023, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before May 20th to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 20TH.

Working from photos or from life, create forest sunset studies and paintings through a shared step-by-step sequence. Mix colors to evoke the dark greens of a forest at dusk, and the warm corals and reds at sunset. Paint wet into wet, glaze with watercolor to build luminosity, and experiment with capturing forest details with ink, gouache and colored pencil. Painting forests at sunset is one of my favorite activities, and I look forward to sharing this process with you!

Watercolors in the Wild: surface design magic & spring flora folio, part 2

saturday, APRIL 15, 2023, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before April 29th to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 29TH.

Apply what you’ve learned so far, go big, and create a basic book arts structure! This two-part class invites spring flora into making a folding folio with pockets, designed to hold your class artwork for future reference and inspiration. In Part 2, we’ll add finishing touches with gouache, colored pencil, and mica. All will come together as we fold, glue, and complete our folios.

Watercolors in the Wild: surface design magic & spring flora folio, part 1

saturday, march 11, 2023, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before March 25th to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 25TH.

Apply what you’ve learned so far, go big, and create a basic book arts structure! This two-part class invites spring flora into making a folding folio with pockets, perfect to hold your class artwork for future reference and inspiration. In Part 1, you’ll create shimmering paper surfaces on large sheets, inspired by spring flora, using watercolor, ink, and mica. End Part 1 with painted paper, ready to fold and finish in Part 2.

Watercolors in the Wild: mark, gesture, & composition magic

saturday, february 11, 2023, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before February 25th to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 25TH.

Create a collection of sampler pages exploring mark-making and composition basics using ink, pencil, and paint on paper. Studies in black and white examine design concepts including, balance, contrast, movement, value, texture, symmetry, rhythm, pattern, and focus. Understanding these essentials deepen our ability to magically reveal what we love in the natural world through art making!

Watercolors in the Wild: Art Essentials — Tools, Templates, & Grids

saturday, JANUARY 21, 2023, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

Learn to create the templates and grids we’ll often use in this series. Put the grid system to use, and explore what you can do with a myriad of art supplies. Delve into inks, paints, brushes, pens, markers, pencils, pastel, calligraphy tools, erasers, sharpeners, rulers, palettes, book arts tools, and more! Demos and Q&A will empower you to build a personalized art supply kit.

the artful Field Journal: paint a sparkly winter landscape with watercolor and gouache

saturday, december 10, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before December 24 to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 24TH.

As the leaves fall, the beautiful skeletons of trees and other plants are revealed. Using pencil, ink, watercolor, and gouache, we'll capture the calligraphy of twigs and trees against a winter sky.

the artful Field Journal: painting autumn landscapes with watercolor and gouache

saturday, november 19, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before December 3 to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 3RD.

Working from fall subjects, photos, looking out the window, or sitting outdoors, we’ll create a series of autumn-inspired landscape studies through a step-by-step sequence. We’ll use templates from our Autumn Color Studies class to create gridded spaces where we’ll mix colors, work wet into wet, build luminous layers of watercolor, and work light over dark with gouache and colored pencil.

the artful Field Journal: autumn color studies

saturday, october 22, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before November 5 to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 5TH.

Create a series of studies with a focus on the oh-so-sublime and beautiful colors of fall! We’ll begin by using a template to design gridded pages, moving on to careful step-by-step paint mixing sequences, followed by more fluid approaches and working with pure color.

the artful Field Journal: painting spring landscapes with watercolor, part 2

saturday, april 23, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before May 7 to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 7TH.

Andie will demonstrate varied techniques for layering gouache (opaque watercolor) and colored pencil within your watercolor paintings. It is recommended that you take part 1 to be best prepared for this class.

the artful Field Journal: painting spring landscapes with watercolor, part 1

saturday, march 12, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before March 26 to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 26TH.

Working from spring subjects, photos, looking out the window, or sitting outdoors, we’ll create a series of spring-inspired studies through a shared step-by-step sequence.

the artful Field Journal: painting lichens with watercolor and gouache

saturday, february 26, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before March 12 to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 12TH.

Lichens and mosses provide delightful subjects for practicing watercolor and gouache painting techniques.

the artful Field Journal: binding a basic field journal

saturday, january 22, 2022, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before February 5 to receive a link to the recording. NOTE: THE RECORDING WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE 5TH.

Start off the year with a brand new handmade field journal about the size of a smart phone!

the artful Field Journal: Painting Winter Flora with Watercolor and Gouache

saturday, december 11, 2021, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before December 25 to receive a link to the recording.

This final class in our fall series will use aspects from all our previous autumn classes to conjure up a bit of wintery magic.

The Artful Field Journal: Adding Layers and Details to Your Autumn Leaves with Ink, Gouache and Colored Pencil

saturday, november 20, 2021, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before December 4 to receive a link to the recording.

Ink, gouache (opaque watercolor), and colored pencil will invite us to add layers and details to our leafy paintings from the November 13 class (or you may also work with other leaves you may have already painted).

The Artful Field Journal: autumn leaves in watercolor

saturday, november 13, 2021, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before November 27 to receive a link to the recording.

Each found autumn leaf is a microcosm we can explore and record through observation, study, and painting.

The Artful Field Journal: the amazing double primary color wheel

saturday, october 2, 2021, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

You may register after the class date and before October 16 to receive a link to the recording.

It’s called a “double primary” color wheel because it is painted with two each of the three primary colors: two reds, two yellows, and two blues. From these six specific primaries, we’ll create a beautiful color wheel with a stunning range of colors!

The Artful Field Journal: The Ideal Field Kit

Registration closes at 8:30am the morning of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!

saturday, september 25, 2021, 9:30am - 12:00pm pacific time
via zoom (CLASS WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS)

A myriad of wonderful art supplies are available to us, and it can be very challenging to decide what to include in our kits. We’ll take a detailed look at some of the best options out there for journals, paints, pencils, inks, brushes, cases and packs for carrying your art gear.

the artful field journal: winter wonders

Registration closes at 8:30am the morning of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!

saturday, january 16, 2021, 9:30am - 11:30am pacific time
via zoom (classes not recorded)

Without leaves, the very beautiful skeletons of trees and other plants are revealed! We’ll use pencil, ink, and paint to capture the calligraphy of twigs and trees against a winter sky in our journals. The focus will be on the unique gestures of plants found where you live, and on your own individual gesture and mark. We’ll work both carefully and wildly, slow and fast, to allow our inner energies to merge with those we observe around us. Andie will also share how to add a bit of sparkle to your winter field journal.

the artful field journal: composing colorful pages

Registration closes at 8:30am the morning of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!

saturday, february 13, 2021, 9:30am - 11:30am pacific time
via zoom

class will be recorded, recording available for two weeks.

During this class, Andie will share a few of her ever-evolving and fun techniques designed to jumpstart a field journal practice for all abilities. You’ll learn how to magically design quilt-like pages to organize your sketches, notes, and paintings within your journal. Demonstrations and guided exercises will teach ways to capture seasonal color and shapes, and explore ways to combine text and imagery on your pages. 

the artful field journal: early spring color studies

Registration closes at 8:30am the morning of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!

saturday, march 27, 2021, 9:30am - 11:30am pacific time
via zoom

class will be recorded, recording available for two weeks.

We’ll take a deep dive into the delicious realm of color, with early spring flora, especially green, as our focus. We’ll carefully observe, mix, and learn out how to get accurate onto your journal pages. Information on types of paints, pigment properties, transparency/opacity, staining, etc. will be shared. Andie will also discuss her recommendations for colors to include in a watercolor field kit. You’ll fill your journal pages with luminous color studies and details for future reference. 

the artful field journal: leaves and petals

Registration closes at 8:30am the morning of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!

saturday, april 17, 2021, 9:30am - 11:30am pacific time
via zoom

class will be recorded, recording available for two weeks.

Leaves and flower petals will inspire our series of studies using different brushes and brushstrokes as we observe, sketch, and paint. You’ll cover your journal pages with beautiful leafy and floral shapes, patterns, and gestures!

the artful field journal: Botanical studies in watercolor

Registration closes at 8:30am the morning of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!

saturday, may 15, 2021, 9:30am - 11:30am pacific time
via zoom

class will be recorded, recording available for two weeks.

Building on our last class (or starting from wherever you may be), we’ll continue to look at botanical forms. We’ll discuss the beauty of plant pattern and variation, and experiment with observing, sketching, and painting basic botanical shapes and gestures. We’ll also look at ways to add details and layers of color. Your journal pages will begin to fill with botanical studies for future reference.

the artful field journal: Adding Gouache and Colored Pencil to your Watercolors

Registration closes at 8:30am the morning of the class. Be sure and reserve your spot!

saturday, may 22, 2021, 9:30am - 11:30am pacific time
via zoom

class will be recorded, recording available for two weeks.

Gouache (opaque watercolor) and colored pencil allow us to add light over dark colors in our journal paintings. This means we can work more freely, with less concern about “saving” the white areas—really helpful when working outdoors! This painting class will provide fun and straightforward ways to add layers, detail, and complexity into all your nature studies. We’ll be sure to include time for Q&A during this final class in our Spring Artful Field Journal Series.