Between Thought and Thing: Expressive Works on Paper
Saturdays, 10/25-11/22/2025, 11:00am-2:00pm
Location: OCEAN CAMPUS, room VART 102
Instructor: Kara Maria
Join instructor Kara Maria and explore the unique formal, technical, and expressive possibilities of drawing and painting on paper with dry and water-based materials. In this workshop we will combine appropriated and invented images to create pieces that navigate the relationship between our exterior and interior realities. Students will create their own series of works on paper. Techniques and demonstrations will include: wet-on-wet, and wet-on-dry painting, layering, tracing, transfer, collage and décollage, and masking, among others. Open to beginners and returning students!
Necessary Materials list:
• photos, photocopies, magazine/newspaper images, inkjet or laser prints, etc.
• watercolor block(s) – at least one, any size or shape (I prefer to use hot-pressed, smooth, paper – but any type will do)
• drawing paper or sketch paper pad – any size, for experimenting with materials and working out ideas
• tracing paper – one pad or roll
• transfer paper – Saral is a good brand, it comes in different colors, choose at least one – comes in graphite, red, blue, yellow, and white. They also sell sample packs that contain all five colors.
• small set of acrylic paint – at least five colors: red, yellow, blue, black, white
• acrylic matte medium
• small set of variety of soft brushes – at least one small, one medium, and one large brush – a mix of flats, filberts and rounds would be good
• at least one very small, thin, pointed brush for making fine lines
• graphite pencils (at least one – HB or F)
• colored pencils (at least one – any color you like)
• scissors
• X-acto knife
• palette for mixing paint – plastic or disposable would be fine
• plastic containers for holding water and mixing diluted colors
• sponge
• kneaded eraser
• white, plastic easer
• pencil sharpener
• glue – I recommend Mod Podge or Yes paste
• Artists’s tape – removable, will not damage paper
• masking fluid
• razor blade (the straight kind)
Optional materials:
• other papers: watercolor, bristol, cover stock - anything you might like to draw and paint on, (heavy papers will be the easiest to work on), found papers – such as old book pages, stationary, wallpaper, marbled paper, wrapping paper, etc. for collage or ground for drawing, sketch book
• additional colors of acrylic paint; matte vinyl paint (Flashe); watercolors; gouache; ink – anything water based that you might like to work with
• other mediums – for acrylic, watercolor, etc. – there are a lot to choose from, bring what you want
• more brushes
• more graphite pencils (consider bringing a set)
• more colored pencils (consider bringing a set)
• charcoal, pastels, crayons, markers, etc. – anything you might like to work with
• small cutting mat
• ruler/straight edge
• pink pearl eraser
• workable fixative (if using charcoal or pastels)
• Latex gloves
• thumb tacks
• wintergreen oil (I will demonstrate how to use this for transfers)
• blender pen (I will demonstrate how to use this for transfers)
Instructor Bio:
Kara Maria is a visual artist working in painting and mixed media. Her recent work reflects on Earth’s biodiversity crisis and the role of animals in our increasingly unstable environment. Maria received her BA and MFA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has previously taught at CCA, SFSU, UC Berkeley, SFAI, Santa Clara University, and St. Mary’s College – including adult education courses at SFAI and Anderson Ranch Arts Center.Maria’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive; the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento; the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; the San Jose Museum of Art; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, among others. A native of Binghamton, New York, Kara Maria now lives and works in San Francisco, California.
