Course

Introduction to Watercolor CEXTN28-202680

Sep 10, 2026 - Oct 8, 2026
Instructor: Erik Parra

$270 Enroll

Full course description

Introduction to Watercolor

Thursdays, 9/10-10/8/2026 

Location: Chinatown/ North Beach Center, room 1404

Instructor: Erik Parra

Watercolor is a beautiful and versatile medium that is well suited for studies, quick journal and sketches, or for painting in plein-air as well as for larger studio work. This workshop is designed to introduce students to all aspects of watercolor materials and techniques such as working with color, transparency, texture, wet into wet as well as dry brush and other tricks of the trade. You will be introduced to artists working in this medium through slide talks, books and local art exhibitions. Begin your exploration of this luminous and exciting medium and gain confidence working with watercolor. Take advantage of the spontaneity and inherent beauty of the watercolor medium, while engaging your personal vision through the unique experience that watercolor has to offer.

 

MATERIALS LIST

  •  Sketchbook or notebook for taking notes.
  • Watercolor Paper: 30 sheet pad of 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper, 9x12in. or 11x14in.
  • Optional Paper: 1 Sheet, 140lb., 22x 30in. artist grade watercolor paper
  • Brushes: #8 Round, #4 Round, 3/4” Flat Wash Brush
  • Optional Brushes in descending order of importance: ¾” mop, #4 script liner, #10 round, 1” Flat Wash
  • Tubes of Watercolor Paint in the following colors: (Please purchase as many colors as you feel inclined, but at the very minimum you will need the colors marked with an*. Also, I recommend using tubes of paint but if you have pans we can make that work.)
  • Lemon Yellow
  • Cadmium Yellow*
  • Cadmium Red Medium
  • Alizarin Crimson or Quinacridone Crimson*
  • Prussian Blue*
  • Cerulean Blue
  • Pthalocyanine Green*
  • Hookers Green
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Burnt Umber*
  • Palette: The plastic watercolor palettes available at any art supply store are fine as long as you have one or two deep wells for mixing large puddles of paint. I also suggest using plastic ice cube tray or plastic muffin pans.

Optional, but highly recommended: 

  • Two Cups for water
  • pencil
  • Plastic eraser
  • Sharp Utility/hobby knife
  • Masking tape
  • sponge
  • paper towel
  • carrying case

Instructor Bio:

Erik Richard Parra was born and raised along the vibrant border metroplex of El Paso, Texas/ Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. He was raised by a father who was a painter and a mother who was a school teacher in a “Midcentury Modern” house full of books, country music, sports, film, jazz, painting, and cartoons. He began drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil but started studying painting, seriously at the University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts. After graduation Erik moved to San Francisco, where he taught at the San Francisco Children’s Art Center. One year later he went on to study and ultimately receive his Master of Fine Arts degree in the 2-d area at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, on fellowship.

Upon completion of his MFA he moved to Brooklyn, NY where he maintained a studio, taught art and exhibited his artwork. After three years he accepted a temporary adjunct position teaching color theory at his alma mater, UW Madison. After this appointment Erik moved his studio back to San Francisco in order to collaborate on Fivepoints Arthouse, a dynamic artist run alternative exhibition space based on the traditional “art house” model. He worked as head curator for three years and developed the visual art programme for this project that hosted film screenings, live music and literary events in addition to curated art exhibitions for five years.
 
Currently he maintains a studio based in the Bay View section of San Francisco, California. Erik has exhibited internationally in alternative spaces, commercial galleries and museums. He has had solo exhibitions in San Francisco, Portland and Reno and group exhibitions in Berlin, Brazil, Los Angeles, London and New York. In the Bay Area Erik’s work has been exhibited at Blankspace Gallery, Johansson Projects, The Headlands Center for the Arts, Root Division, Southern Exposure, Kala Art Institute, the Berkeley Art Center and most recently at Eleanor Harwood Gallery. His work is widely held in private and corporate collections in the US and abroad. Erik’s work has been included in publications including New American Paintings, the SF Bay Guardian and the LA Times.

Erik has taught art to students of all ages in a variety of media including painting, drawing, serigraphy and ceramics. He has taught at many different types of spaces & programs including Southern Exposure and the San Francisco Arts Education Project. Currently he teaches at City College of San Francisco and at the California College of the Arts. Additionally, he works on commissions, lectures at universities, and garners residencies. Most recently he was awarded an inaugural Liquitex Research Residency.

Image credit: Erik Parra

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