The Control of Water in Watercolour

Control of Water in Watercolour by Arnold Lowrey

British master Arnold Lowrey has written a wonderful article that helps overcome the big problems in watercolour – the proportion of water and pigment.

“Most watercolours fail because too much water is used and the results are a wishy- washy mess. So, let’s come to grips with this important subject” – Arnold.

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- I achieved what I set out to achieve in watercolour painting
  
  Thank you for a wonderfully successful and happy course. You worked extremely hard to achieve so much in difficult conditions what with the adverse weather and the volcano ash. I achieved what I set out to achieve in watercolour painting, and Tim enjoyed it far more than he had anticipated. You had gathered an interesting group of people from all round the world for us to chat to in free times.
  
  —Hilary Goodwin (UK)
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  —Dan Marshall (USA)
- De esta pasión que nos uneDe esta pasión que nos une
  
  Hola Angela, vuelvo a felicitarte por tu trabajo y por dar en todo momento lo mejor de ti. Ha sido un placer conocerte y espero que volvamos a encontrarnos en algun lugar común de esta pasión que nos une. Un beso.
  Hi Angela, I again congratulate you on your work and always give you the best of you. It was a pleasure meeting you and hope we meet again somewhere in this common passion that unites us. A kiss.
  
  —Lydia Cuevas (Spain)
- Que volví con muchas ganas de pintar
  
  Pues la verdad es que volví con muchas ganas de pintar y de tratar de poner en práctica lo que había aprendido.
  The truth is I came back eager to paint and try to put into practice what they had learned.
  
  —Marta Camiña (Bilbao-España)
- Très bonne organisation!
  
  J’ai aimée la très bonne organisation (chevalets, papiers, thé, gàteaux, etc.) et l’amitié!
  
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- 1000% improvement
  
  Everything was good in the course. I appreciate the course very much but also the very good mind setting of all the other students. Special attention for the organisation: NO trouble for us means focus on the painting... AND IT WAS VERY GOOD! On Monday 24 I had "zero" knowledge of watercolour. At the end I had a 1000% improvement and happiness to be getting this feeling, many thanks for that! I’ll never forget! Joseph was telling so many jokes but he was also taking care of all and of course a really good professional in training after years of experience. Very friendly! Super to meet him! Thank you so much!
  
  —Patrick Arcidiacono (France)
- I feel much more confident in planning and executing a watercolor
  
  For me this week was like a dream and with my thoughts I´m still “en la Costa Brava”. The landscape, the weather, Joseph as a painter and teacher, great. I'm still finding his remarks and comments about watercolor I never heard of before somewhere in my head and I feel much more confident in planning and executing a watercolor.
  
  —Dieter Jauernig (Germany)
- To my dreamy mind I thought I was in a PICASSO workshop witnessing passion, mood and brilliance of a painter
  
  A BIG THANK YOU is in order for yet another terrific workshop with our favourite watercolorist ALVARO… To my dreamy mind I thought I was in a PICASSO workshop witnessing passion, mood and brilliance of a painter.
  
  —Genevieve Buchanan (UK)
- A great step forward
  
  Everybody started on their own level and everybody could make a great step forward!
  
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- I’ll fondly remember this joyful evening and delicious feast again and again
  
  I’d like to thank you for your excellent flexible organisation and above all, your kind personal care. You helped me in every way from the beginning to the end. My last evening in Girona was unforgettable. I’ll fondly remember this joyful evening and delicious feast again and again.
  
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- Joseph is such a tremendous teacher
  
  The class was exceptional, lovely people and a great group of Spanish folks. The locale was beautiful, great accommodations and food. I'm home two weeks and have not come down from the cloud yet, enjoyed the entire class. Joseph is such a tremendous teacher, I will be forever grateful to him for introducing me to MR. BEAD!
  
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- Finally I have learnt how to paint The Way I Always Dreamt Of
  
  What a fantastic painting course-the AMAZING SIGHTS of Catalonia “sing” from my sketchbooks. Thank you for making this possible and Charles for sharing the secrets.
  
  —Cheryl Williams (UK)
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  —Asuka (Australia)
- We both have had the most amazing time
  
  We both have had the most amazing time, made some wonderful new friends and enjoyed every minute of it despite the weather. I feel so priveledged to have been able to watch Charles every day and have him look at my own offerings.
  
  —Jenny Hawke (UK)
- One of the most enjoyable art experiences I’ve had
  
  I also would like to thank you and ‘Vincent’ for making my painting holiday with Charles Reid in Girona one of the most enjoyable art experiences I’ve had and hopefully I can join you again sometime.
  
  —Michele Hermes-Kass (Australia)
- Thank you for being so SUPPORTIVE AND HELPFUL
  
  Thank you very much again for being so SUPPORTIVE AND HELPFUL making our trip so memorable.
  
  —Blanche Pepper (Ireland)
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  —Ahmet Ogras (Turkey)
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  —Tatjana and Galina (Russia)
- Maestro, SEI GRANDE! :)
  
  Thank you Alvaro for all that you have been sharing with us during last week. Your words won’t be forgotten and neither the wonderful experience I had. Maestro, SEI GRANDE!
  
  —Marissa Gabetta (Italy)
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  —Jose Luis y Carlos (España)
- Ojala pudiéramos estar siempre pintando por ahí!!!
  
  Angela, felicidades por tu organizacion del curso con Alvaro Castagnet, ha sido genial y he disfrutado mucho con todos vosotros. Ojala pudiéramos estar siempre pintando por ahí!!! Un abrazxo muy grande y felicidades de nuevo!
  Angela, congratulations on your organization with Alvaro Castagnet course has been great and I really enjoyed you all. I wish we could be always painting out there! A very large abrazxo and congratulations again!
  
  —Montse Albareda (Spain)
- JZ is an amazing revelation with his clarity of thought and vision and of course a fantastic painter
  
  JZ is an amazing revelation with his clarity of thought and vision and of course a fantastic painter. What he states is often “blindingly obvious”, but why didn´t I think of it I ask myself!
  
  —Peter Robson (UK)
- I will come back next summer.
  
  I would and will come back next summer. You have a lovely organisation and a good heart. Thank you very much!
  
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  —Ovidiu Iovanel (Romania)
- It was without doubt, my best course ever!
  
  Just to thank you and to let you know that I had a great time and it was without doubt, my best course ever!
  
  —Peter Robson (UK)
- …a perfect match!
  
  Comparing with some workshops in France, this place has a remarkable environment which is really inspiring. Some interesting sea views and boats which are just there are giving the right atmosphere. Joseph is quite unique as a teacher but even more as a person. Together with the organisation of Angela this worked out as a perfect match!
  
  —Jan van Loock (Belgium)
- It was an amazing workshop, nice place, nice weather, very nice people
  
  It was an amazing workshop, nice place, nice weather, very nice people and Joseph; he is a great teacher and friend. Thank you for making such a wonderful and unforgettable time for me.
  
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  —Patrick Arcidiacono (France)
- I learned a lotaprendí muchísimo
  
  I did not learn something - I learned a lot. Green paint, listening to your thoughts on what is art was something very special and very rewarding for me. Now, says Mone, I hope to move it to my watercolors. Thank you very much for being you Alvaro.No aprendí algo, aprendí muchísimo. Verte pintar, escuchar tus pensamientos sobre lo que es el arte fue algo muy especial y muy enriquecedor para mí. Ahora, como dice Mone, espero poder trasladarlo a mis acuarelas. Muchas gracias por ser como eres Alvaro.
  
  —Társila Jiménez (Spain)
- I’m still getting over that amazing, unbelievable week in Girona
  
  …I’m still getting over that amazing, unbelievable week in Girona, but in the office already and working! Have a good rest after all the hard work you did, and we’ll keep on touch. My impressions from that great week are still with me
  
  —Irina Litinsky (Canada)
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  —Dave Betty (UK)
- I enjoyed very much all the outdoor painting
  
  Thanks for a great course with Mr. Bead Joseph. I enjoyed seeing a part of Spain I hadn't seen before and meeting the other artists. I enjoyed very much all the outdoor painting even though it was a bit of a challenge being with such experienced painters.
  
  —Maureen Goette (South Africa)
- It was very worthwhile for me!
  
  It’s my first time to attend a workshop in a foreign country. I learned a lot. Joseph’s lessons were very systematic and he really has the aim to teach. I learned new techniques and I’m going to practise them back in Japan, putting this experience and knowledge into practice. It was very worthwhile for me. I had a wonderful time and if it’s possible I’d like to come back. Many thanks to Joseph and Angela and the other staff.
  
  —Masato Ueda (Japan)
- I found it challenging, stimulating and very enjoyable
  
  Anyway I would like to thank you and Elizabeth for providing such a wonderful experience in Girona, I really enjoyed it and I found it challenging, stimulating and very enjoyable. The locations were fantastic and I particularly enjoyed the coastal villages but Girona was equally enchanting. Mixing with people from different countries and cultures was also excellent. Alvaro is a very gifted artist and he creates such wonderful paintings but I think his methods caught a few of us out; many of us had never been faced with the approach he takes so I was found it hard and lost confidence in myself.
  
  —Dave Betty (UK)
- Everything was always arranged perfectly
  
  Many thanks for a superb course. The tuition goes without saying but I feel I must say how superbly you organised everything without any fuss. We never had to worry because we knew everything was always arranged perfectly.
  
  —Arnold Lowrey (UK)
- Una organización “de 10”!
  
  Inmejorable, creo que he aprendido mucho. Ahora tengo que practicar y poner a funcionar todo lo que llevo dentro! Si volvería? De hecho ya es mi segunda vez. Y ya estoy recomendando EPC en mi entorno! La organización es “de 10”, por todo lo que ponen de su parte para que todo funcione bien. El profesor es muy atento, más teniendo en cuenta que no nos entendíamos!
  
  —Rosa Casado (Spain)
- Thanks for a wonderful week
  
  Thanks again for a wonderful week and for all your help and assistance which was much appreciated.
  
  —Charles Kelly (UK)
- Life Changing…!
  
  A challenging yet stimulating experience with a great artist and tutor. Joseph’s workshops was the best ever. A great workshop, an excellent teacher in a great location all by the courtesy and help of EPC. Thank you! I think I will be a much better painter from now on. I came to improve my painting so Joseph’s choice of varied subjects and his explanations were fantastic – life changing for me! If you like watercolours you will have loved this. Magnifico! I would reccomend EPC because I think you provide a learning environment that combines art with enjoyment.
  
  —Dave Betty (United Kingdom)
- I always come away so motivated and a little more knowledgeble about watercolour
  
  Just a quick note to thank you for all your organisation skills for what I thought was an enjoyable workshop, and I loved meeting you and all the other painters I had lots of laughs and I painted sort of ok. I always come away so motivated and a little more knowledgeble about watercolour. I adored the Costa Brava coast.
  
  —Lea Burt (Australia)
- It was an unforgettable time
  
  Mi alma esta en Girona hasta ahora, paseando por las callas estrechas,mirando a las casas viejas y bonitas, deseando pintar. Pero todo tiene su final…..que lástima… How I am missing all of you! It was unforgettable time. Thanks to everybody for wonderful company. Tenía suerte de conocer a gente como ustedes.Ojalá que nos encontremos otra vez…….It is cold in Russia now, I would like to go back…
  
  —Galina Shapovalova (Russia)
- Testimonial video by Larry
  
  —Larry Folding (USA)