Beginning Watercolor & Mixed Media

Materials included to borrow

Each person takes home a beautiful completed still life artwork!

Ages 14 +

Get creative in this season-inspired still life sketching workshop, perfect for beginners! Learn to capture an autumn arrangement, featuring farm-fresh flowers, fruit and gourds in vibrant hues. We’ll explore how to use watercolor along with colored pencils, water-soluble crayons, and other media for expressive results!

We'll cover how to:

• Develop a pleasing still-life composition, focusing on shapes
• Mix watercolors to match or complement the arrangement
• Use dynamic marks to capture the character of flowers and fruit
• Incorporate colored pencils, pastels, or water-soluble crayons for texture and detail

The class meets indoors at Cura Contemporary. Please bring a bag lunch (or grab a bite to go nearby).

Materials provided to borrow:

• Watercolor pan sets, pencils, fineliners and brushes to borrow
• Brown kraft paper
• Various media to try including colored pencils, pastels/crayons
• we will have some smaller watercolor paper, but it is best if you bring your own.

Materials to bring:

• Mixed media sketchbook, at least 8x11 inches in size (any brand, e.g., Stillman & Birn, Strathmore Mixed Media) - regular or toned paper
• watercolor paper
• Optional small set of water-soluble crayons (e.g., Caran d'Ache Neocolor II, Faber-Castell Gelatos)
• Optional sssorted pastels, colored pencils (water-soluble or regular)
• Optional:
• Small portable watercolor pan kit, with water container and brushes - (Note: I do not recommend the small W&N Cotman Sketcher’s box, due to the provided colors.)
• Fineliner pens and sketching pencils (2B or softer)
• Small set of water-soluble crayons (e.g., Caran d'Ache Neocolor II, Faber-Castell Gelatos)
• Assorted pastels, colored pencils (water-soluble or regular)

When: Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10AM - 1:30PM

Ages: 14 +

Skill Level: Beginner

Price: $90

Location: Cura Contemporary in the Edes Building | 17395 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill CA, 95037

Parking Information: Here

About the artist:

Suma CM is an award-winning artist and instructor who enjoys working in watercolor, oil, and other media. She has been a two-time faculty member at the Plein Air Convention and has taught several sketching/painting workshops in the Bay Area and online. She serves as an Advisory Board member for the nonprofit Urban Sketchers and previously was on its Executive Board.

View Suma’s work on her website and on Instagram.

Questions: Please contact [email protected]

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Host or Publisher Cura Contemporary Gallery