3-Day Watercolor Workshop: Light and Atmosphere in Watercolor - Sean Friloux

Title: Light and Atmosphere in Watercolor 


Location: Audubon Park and the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts studio campus.

Audubon Park offers centuries-old live oaks, lagoons, birdlife, and changing light conditions that make it ideal for plein-air watercolor study. The park includes a picturesque lagoon, extensive oak canopy, and open vistas.  

Day 1 — Seeing Shapes, Values & Atmosphere

Morning (Audubon Park)

8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: Fountain at St. Charles Ave. entrance

Topics:

Simplifying complex landscapes

Thumbnail sketches

Establishing strong value patterns

Capturing morning light

Demonstration:20-minute watercolor landscape

PleinAir Exercise:

Limited-palette landscape study or sketch

Afternoon (Studio)1:00PM – 4:00PM

Critique and instruction:

Editing photographs vs. painting from observation

Color temperature and atmospheric perspective

Common watercolor mistakes and corrections

Studio Exercise:

Rework morning studies into a stronger composition

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Day 2 — Trees, Water & Reflections

Morning (Audubon Park)

8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: Fountain at St. Charles Ave. entrance

Subjects:

Southern live oaks and Spanish moss

Water reflections

Lost-and-found edges

Negative painting techniques

Demonstration:

Painting the character of an oak canopy

PleinAir Exercise:

Tree portrait study

Reflection study

Medium-format landscape

Audubon Park’s famous oak canopy and lagoon provide excellent subjects for studying texture, reflections, and organic form.  

Afternoon (Studio)

1:00 PM – 4:00PM

Topics:

Design and focal points

Strengthening compositions

Color mixing workshop

Critique Session:

Group review of outdoor paintings

Individual coaching

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Day 3 — Creating a Finished Piece

Morning (City Park)

8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Students select a personal subject:

Lagoon scene

Bird Island views

Oak alleys

Goals:

Independent painting

Instructor coaching

Refining personal style

Afternoon (Studio)

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Final Project:

One fully resolved watercolor (11”×15” or 15”×22”)

Topics:

Finishing touches

Edge control

Presentation and matting

Closing Critique3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Each participant presents:

Approx 3–6 studies1 finished painting

Discussion of process and next steps

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Suggested Materials

• 140 lb. cold-press watercolor paper, suggested Arches brand
• 1” Mop brush
• Round brushes (#8, #10)
• Limited palette (Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, Pyrole Red, Raw Sienna, Lemon Yellow) suggested Daniel Smith brand
• Folding plein-air chair
• Water container
• Sketchbook
• Sun protection and hat
• Beginner through advanced
• Morning plein-air instruction and afternoon studio refinement

This format balances direct observation in Audubon Park with structured studio critique and is very much in line with traditional representational watercolor instruction