Abstract Watercolor Workshop

Gary Johnson

Abstract Watercolor Workshop

Date: July 9 – 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily
Cost: $300 ANA members / $345  non-members ($45 yearly ANA membership included)

ANA Studio
300 N. 2nd Street
Rogers, AR 72756

If you’ve wanted to take an abstract watercolor workshop now’s the time!

Gary will teach his abstract by design workshop at the ANA Studio, 300 N 2nd St, Rogers, AR from 9:00 to 4:00 daily.

In this workshop, you’ll learn a process to enable you to create an abstract watercolor by design.  You’ll learn about gridding, about white space and its importance, you’ll develop several ways to create texture and the importance of line.  I’ll be discussing many of the elements and principles of design including value, texture, line and shape along with repetition with variety, and conflict (large vs. small, smooth vs rough) and Dominance (geometric vs. curvilinear) and cool vs. warm and how to apply them in a painting.

Registration: Click the registration buttom or register on the ANA website at: https://artistsnwarkansas.com/abstract-watercolor-workshop/. If you have problems registering call Gary at 479-249-5405 and he’ll advise on how to sign up.

Cost:  $300 for ANA Members.  $345 for non-members which gets you an ANA membership.  Note: it only costs $45 for an annual ANA membership which is renewable annually.

Cancellation Fees:  If you sign up and cancel by May 15, you will receive your full payment for the workshop.  If you cancel by June 1, you will receive 50% of your workshop fee.  If you cancel on June 15 or later, you will forfeit your workshop fee.  Note: the $45 for ANA membership is non-refundable.

Sign up now as there is limited availability.  Total enrollment will be 14 participants.  Enrollment window will close on July 15.

Materials List

• 140 lb Arches watercolor paper (full or half sheet). I want you to use Arches as it stands up to the abuse we will be putting this paper through. Many of the others wouldn’t hold up, believe me, I know from experience.
• Precise Extra Fine Roller ball black pen.
• Two Sharpies (black and red) permanent markers but not fine point.
• No 2H or 3H pencil and an eraser for watercolor paper. Try not to bring a soft graphite pencil.
• Razor knife (the small ones from home depot for a buck)
• Masking Tape: Both masking tape or the Blue paint tape I use both in this workshop. At least 1 ½ “ wide. 1/8” masking tape. We’ll use this for gridding the watercolor paper. Don’t worry if you don’t have this. I have plenty.
• Tracing paper: If you don’t have this, I have plenty
• Drawing paper:  Size 9X12. If you don’t have this, I have plenty
• Mat medium: If you don’t have this, I have plenty to share.
• Watercolors and palette: Try to bring a “wells around a large space type as you will need the space to mix large washers. Try to pick out at least 5-7 colors that are complimentary to one another on the color wheel.
• Assorted brushes: Prefer that you have at least a 1 ½ ‘ wide brush for broad washes; larger if you have one, but don’t go out and buy one. Too expensive to get one that you’d want to have in your brush array unless you’ve always wanted one. A variety of flat brushes and a few small rounds.
• Tooth brush for spatter
• Saran Wrap, wax paper
• Scissors
• Various Japanese papers: Don’t worry if you don’t have these, I have plenty to share.
• Water bucket: You know, the large yogurt or cottage cheese variety.
• Paper towels
• Blow dryer
• Mouth atomizer.
• Masking material (roll of plastic film that is adhesive backed Optional). Newspaper will work great.
• Apron
• Black and Red Acrylic paint: I’ll bring other colors if we decide to use these.
• Sponge with fairly closed cells for paint removal and to paint with by hand.
• If you have tweezers, bring them to handle small cut paper for collage.
• Anything else you might want to use to create texture.