A Field Guide to Watercolor
Thursday, 5/21-Sunday 5/24/2026 Enrollment deadline is April 20, 2026
Enrollment fee: $1195
Use promo code EARLYBIRD for 10% off your enrollment. Discount expires January 31, 2026
Over this long weekend we’ll be exploring the magic that is watercolor painting. The class will dive into more technical aspects of color and how watercolors work (aka wet into wet techniques, blooming, lifting, flat washes, etc), balanced with fun prompted exercises to test out some of the tricks and theories you’ll be learning. We'll even do a short segment on making your own watercolor! Students will emerge with a better understanding of individual pigments/colors, color wheels and schemes, paint transparency and opacity, etc.
We’ll meet each morning to do a color mediation together and set our intentions. Then we’ll do some guided instruction allowing plenty of time to cover your questions on techniques or general practices. Please come prepared with any questions about materials/ ideas/ etc. and things you’d like to explore. After lunch we’ll do some plein air painting and color collecting, as well as treasure hunts for things we want to paint/ document in our sketchbooks. Let the grounds and views inspire you. After dinner there will be optional sketchbook hangouts and time to share and get feedback on what you’ve been making and learning.
Please bring any sketching/ painting supplies you have and want to practice with, but all basic materials will be provided.
What's included:
Private bedroom and bathroom in a one of the historic Jesuit Retreat Center buildings, all meals (Thursday night dinner through Sunday lunch), coffee, snacks, all basic materials for the watercolor workshop, instruction, and time to relax and explore.
What's not included:
Transportation to and from the retreat. Bring sturdy shoes/ boots for hiking if you'd like to explore the trails.
Please reach out to us at ccsf.extension@ccsf.edu if you would like to set up a payment plan of two or three equal payments.
Email ccsf.extension@ccsf.edu if you have questions.
Refund and Cancelation Policy: If the workshop is canceled, a full refund will be issued.
Please send all refund requests via email to ccsf.extension@ccsf.edu
Before March 1, 2026, 100% refund less a $25 processing fee
March 1-April 1, 50% refund less a $25 processing fee*
After April 15, no refund available for any reason, including illness, travel, or other personal circumstances. (*If you can find a replacement to fill your spot, we will issue a full refund.)
Instructor bio: Lisa Solomon is a studio artist, educator, and graphic designer. She received her BA in Art from UC Berkeley in 1995 and her MFA from Mills College in 2003. She has exhibited and worked with galleries both nationally and internationally, is in numerous private and public collections, and is continually tweaking artworks in her backyard studio. She resides in Oakland, California, with her husband, daughter, two dogs, two cats, and many, many spools of thread.
