Watercolour Workshop with Pete James
5:30 pm Friday October 30th until 4:00 pm Sunday November 1st, 2026
All spaces filled!
All places for Pete James' workshop at the Painting Place in Cambridge have been filled.
Please contact us to be added to a waitlist.
Or contact Rosebank Art Centre about the Pete James workshop they are running Tuesday 3 November to Thursday 5 November.
Part 1 of 3: “Why am I painting this picture — what attracts me to this scene?”
What is this about?
The motivation to paint this picture
Composing/designing from a photo reference
The different shapes of structures and differing textures
Values
Part 1 of 3 of this Cambridge Watercolour Workshop with Pete James covers at least three paintings — the first value plan, the second image with your own palette, and then a painting executed from a reference of your own choice, again with your own palette selection.
Workshop details
This Cambridge Watercolor Workshop will be presented over five “sessions” with a separate painting/demonstration/workshop in each session.
Participants will attend all five sessions — there is a 2½ hour session Friday 30th October and 3 hour sessions each morning and afternoon on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November.
Friday 30th October 5.30 pm – 8.00 pm
Saturday 31st October 9.30 am – 4.00 pm
Sunday 1st November 9.30 am – 4.00 pm
Each section of the workshop produces a demonstration painting, where participants copy using the approach and tools taught in each session. Full notes are provided.
It is anticipated artists will have some experience of watercolour painting. Participants will provide their own materials, and a full list of suggested materials and supports will be provided prior.
The workshop will be held at the Painting Place, 51 Thornton Rd, Cambridge.
Part 2 of 3: “Painting into the light — Dark/Light contrasts for maximum effect”
What is this about?
Painting in layers top-to-bottom/far-to-near/light-to-dark
Painting without much drawing
Preserving the light
Part 3 of 3: “Watching paint dry”
What is this about?
Different edges from different paper, brush, and paint wetness
Masking fluid
Scrubbing out and lifting
Pete James
Pete James has been painting watercolour for 25 years. He is a Watercolour New Zealand committee member, and has run workshops and plein air "paintaway" weekends for a number of years.
Pete is a keen outdoor artist, favouring land and marine scapes. He says he finds painting from life a whole lot simpler and more rewarding than studio work — outdoors it is easier to get to the essence of the thing.
All places are now full. Please contact us or email cambridgeartsociety2024@gmail.com to be added to a waitlist, or see the information at the top of the page about the extra workshop being run at the Rosebank Arts Centre in Te Awamutu.