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Marathon
with Anna Parshenko

5 days of drawing animals and birds

Material: watercolor

Number of artworks: 5

Duration: 6 hours

Access: lifetime

Program of the marathon

Day 1

White Swan

At the lesson you'll:

  • use the classic technique of watercolor painting "from simple to complex" in the animalier genre;
  • apply the "soft touch" technique in practice;
  • learn how to carefully "fuse" one watercolor shade into another;
  • learn how to create winning grey natural shades.
Day 2

Bengal Tiger

At the lesson you'll:

  • learn how to form a complex object using simple geometric shapes;
  • use a limited color palette to convey a variety of shades;
  • learn to depict the fur of an animal without drawing every detail;
  • use white pigment and the masking fluid to convey the softness of the Bengal tiger's coat.
Day 3

Carnivorous Lioness

At the lesson you'll:

  • learn how to use a pencil sketch as the first layer in a drawing;
  • apply the "soft touch" technique to create volume on the flat surface of the sheet;
  • "cut out" the light areas in the drawing, imitating the external features of the lioness;
  • use glazing to convey the variety of shades of the animal.
Day 4

Wise Panda

At the lesson you'll:

  • learn how to form an object using simple geometric shapes;
  • use rare black watercolor paint as the main means of conveying the appearance of the animal;
  • learn how to "manage" watercolor on the wet surface of a sheet;
  • learn how you can use the space on the work surface and the natural color of the paper in the subject.
Day 5

Black Panther

At the lesson you'll:

  • apply the "soft touch" technique to create volume on the flat surface of the sheet;
  • learn how to add bright "open" colors as a substrate to the velvet complex black of the panther;
  • use glazing and the natural transparency of watercolor paint to convey the variety of shades of the animal.
  • "bypass" the light areas on the surface of the sheet with paint.

Participate in all five broadcasts to get access to the «Rusty Cat» bonus lesson

At the lesson you'll:

  • use all the techniques and approaches that were involved in the subjects of the marathon.
  • learn how to use white pigment and the masking fluid to convey the softness of the fur.
  • use a flat synthetic brush to correct the watercolor spot and add texture to the drawing;
  • apply the "soft touch" technique to create volume on the flat surface of the sheet;
  • you will learn how to show the rusty natural color in a portrait of an animal.

The marathon is held by Anna Parshenko

  • I am a watercolor artist with a higher pedagogical education
  • Winner of international watercolor competitions
  • Member of the Professional Union of Artists of Russia
  • Member of the organizing committee of the Association for the Promotion of Culture and Art "Creative Union"
  • My animal paintings are held in private collections in Russia, Belarus, the USA, Portugal, Germany, Poland
  • I have been teaching since 2019

Anna's watercolor works

Works of the marathon participants

Materials for the course:

Watercolor paints Paints
 

Watercolor paints:
At least 12 colors from a professional or semi-professional line.
I will use ShinHan Art watercolor paints in tubes.

Alternatives:
Nevskaya Palitra, Gamma, Malevich (preferably in tubes). If you have a pan set, pre-moisten the paint with a spray bottle before starting.

Brushes
 

I will use calligraphy and traditional brushes.

Please prepare (ideally):

  • Two round brushes (medium size) for main work. Prefer goat or kolinsky sable. Squirrel is acceptable but you’ll need to control water.
  • One flat synthetic brush.
  • A liner brush with a fine tip, preferably kolinsky or synthetic.
  • A small round squirrel brush (No. 3).
  • A wide wash brush made of goat hair.
  • A round squirrel brush (medium size).

Good brush brands: ArtAvangard, Roubloff, Belka Brush Shop, “Siniy Feniks” store, Pinax

Where to buy: “Krasny Karandash” store (has everything listed), Ozon marketplace (has everything listed), “Siniy Feniks” store (for calligraphy brushes), 5krasok.ru (Baohong cotton paper), Belka Brush Shop (for brushes)

Paper
 

100% cotton paper, cold press (medium grain)
I will use Fabriano Artistico Traditional White, cold press, 300 gsm.

Alternatives: Baohong cold press 100% cotton, Palazzo cold press 100% cotton, Malevich cold press 100% cotton, Saunders Waterford cold press 100% cotton, Canson cold press 100% cotton

Additional materials Materials:
 
  • Plastic or ceramic palette
  • Painters’ masking tape for fixing the sheet
  • Plexiglass board (larger than your sheet) or any waterproof table surface
  • Cup or bucket for water
  • Dry wipes or paper towels
  • Tracing paper at least A4
  • Graphite pencils, eraser, kneaded eraser, scratch paper for exercises and color tests (cellulose watercolor paper)
  • Drawing paper at least A4
  • Masking fluid
    • I will use Lefranc & Bourgeois
    • Alternatives: any masking fluid or titanium white gouache
  • Hair dryer

Sign up for the marathon:

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Get +42 marathons with +178 paintings and watch them at your convenience

  • Number of marathons: 42
  • Number of paintings: 178
  • Access: 1 year unlimited
3 $

per marathon

Subscribe to Marathon Unlimited

Annual payment 119.88 $

  • 3 video lessons of the marathon;
  • bonus lesson «Rusty Cat» for attentive viewers;
  • lifetime access.
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