Watercolor + Illustration

Watercolor & Ilustration

When: Saturday, (DATE AND TIME HERE)

Where: Marlborough Arts Center

Cost: (PRICE HERE), $10.25 for paintbrush (optional)

Class Size: 10 students

Instructor: Marika Hahn - Instructor's website

The Watercolor + Illustration Workshop (for INTERMEDIATE skill level painters) uses Liquid Watercolors provided by the Marlborough Arts Center and is designed for adults with an understanding of basic watercolor techniques including wet on wet, dry brush and a solid control of brush strokes. This medium is transparent and colors are easy to mix and flow beautifully. Participants preferring to use watercolor in tubes are welcome to use their preferred medium. 

The workshop begins with a watercolor warm up and demonstrations showing specific techniques needed to accomplish completed paintings. Wet on Wet, Wet on Dry, Layering/Glazing and Brush Stroke Techniques are part of building skills. The class approaches watercolor using graphic illustration with an emphasis on fun! Each workshop offers a different theme/inspiration with references supplied. This workshop is not intended for beginners.

There is a BEGINNER Workshop on the same date from 2 to 5 PM.

FLOWERS + PERSIMMONS: Watercolor is the perfect medium for blending subtle pastel colors into deep vibrant colors. Demonstrations of wet on wet showing how to blend the colors will have participants practicing and honing their skills. 

Adding unexpected (in a floral composition) shiny and vibrant persimmons will make illustrating this composition rewarding and above all, FUN. This is an interactive class with demonstrations and personal one on one painting with Marika. Reference photos of peonies, hydrangeas and persimmons are provided for each participant.

Materials List

Liquid watercolors and pallets will be provided for use during class by the Marlborough Arts Center. The  proper brush is very important to learning the brushstrokes used in class. The instructor would like students to have one Princeton Velvetouch #10 brush (NOT LONG). The brush is available for purchase for $10.25 when you register.

Supplies each participant must bring to class are the following:

  • Strathmore 400 series #140 Cold Press watercolor paper pad, 9×12
  • #5H or 6H pencil
  • Kneaded eraser
  • 2 pint-size water containers
  • Old brush for mixing colors

About the Instructor: Marika Hahn

Instructor's website

Marika Hahn lives in New York City and is inspired by nature. She dreams of gardens, fruits, veggies, flowers, wildlife, and creating art with watercolor. This medium defines her work. Exploring color and using brushstrokes for shapes and patterns is part of teaching Watercolor + Illustration.

Marika is a graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology, majoring in Fashion Illustration and Advertising Design. She studied Children’s Book Illustration at The School of Visual Arts. She was an Artist in Residence at Bellevue Cancer Center and Chelsea Infusion Center/Mt. Sinai. She watercolor painted with patients having chemotherapy, which was more than a distraction for patients. Many people used their time learning and practicing watercolor techniques, gaining impressive skills, as well as producing lovely finished paintings.

Her portfolio reflects illustrations done for Simon & Schuster, Workman Publishing, Ballantine Books, and magazines including Cosmopolitan and Glamour. Marika is currently teaching at The JCC Manhattan, The National Council of Jewish Women NY, and The Creative Center for people living with Cancer and Chronic Illness. She teaches Watercolor + Illustrations Zoom classes.