Watercolor & Ink: The Art of Line and Color
with Michelle May at Juniper Rag Contemporary
Explore the creative possibilities of combining permanent Micron pens with watercolor in this hands-on workshop at Juniper Rag Contemporary. The precision of ink and the fluid, unpredictable nature of watercolor offer a wonderful balance between control and spontaneity—and plenty of room to experiment.
We’ll explore the basics of ink drawing, including line weight, contour, texture, and mark-making, before introducing watercolor washes, transparent layers and color blending. You’ll discover how ink and watercolor interact, how to build a composition using both mediums, and how a few simple techniques can produce surprisingly expressive results.
Designed for beginners who have basic drawing skills, but this is not a road block. We can work around this. The class is also for artists that are curious about trying something new, emphasizing exploration over perfection. No prior experience is really necessary—just bring your curiosity and a willingness to experiment and have a good time.
What to bring: Your pencil, and a couple Micron pens, watercolor pad, paints, artist tape and brushes, along with a Masonite board or similar firm backing to tape your paper onto. Bring the supplies you have and come ready to play. A sketchbook would work too.
Come experiment with line, color, and the happy surprises that happen when two mediums meet.
Ink techniques — Permanent Micron pens
Contour drawing: Outline shapes using continuous or deliberate lines.
Line weight: Vary pressure or pen sizes to create contrast and emphasis.
Hatching and cross-hatching: Build shadows, depth, and tonal variation with parallel or intersecting lines.
Stippling: Create texture and shading using dots.
Gesture and expressive lines: Use loose, energetic marks to suggest movement and form.
Patterns and texture: Experiment with repeated marks, lines, and shapes.
Negative space: Define forms by paying attention to the spaces around them.
Thursdays are watercolor days at Juniper Rag! We welcome you to our boutique gallery for intimate, welcoming space for making art, learning new techniques, and trying something different. Each week brings a new workshop and another reason to pick up a brush.
Space is limited to just 8 participants so everyone has room to work and learn. Advanced registration is encouraged. Drop-ins are welcome when space is available.
Come curious. Leave with a few new skills, a handful of experiments, new people and maybe a new favorite ways to make art.
What you'll take away
By the end of the workshop, you'll have:
A working familiarity with watercolor enhanced by line drawings or ink marks.
A better understanding of how water, pigment, ink and paper interact.
Several ways to create and enhance drawings with watercolor or watercolor paintings with pen.
Practice blending colors, layering washes and creating artwork enhanced by line art.
A few small paintings to take home.
The confidence to continue experimenting with these on your own.
No prior watercolor or drawing experience is necessary.
This is an introductory, hands-on workshop designed to help beginners and curious artists get comfortable with the medium through demonstration, experimentation and practice. If you have ever wanted to try, we promise you will have fun and explore the medium in a supportive and relaxed atmosphere.
Michelle May
Artist and Co-Founder of Juniper Rag
JR Workshops to Strengthen Artists Behind the Art—
Unlike traditional art instruction, our workshops focus on strengthening the artist behind the artwork for all levels of mediums. By combining the expertise of our professionally led workshops and Juniper Rag's artist-centered philosophy, participants gain practical skills and transferable tools, greater creative awareness, stronger confidence and a deeper appreciation for the remarkable ways artistic practice supports mental health, resilience and personal growth.
These experiences are designed not only to help introduce people to creativity, but to help experienced artists make better work—and to help them build healthier, more fulfilling creative lives.
Max attendance for our workshop is set to 8 artists for an intimate and personal experience.
Artists, please feel free to bring your favorite materials or new experimental media. Anything goes. Water is available.
Location: Juniper Rag Contemporary, 138 Green Street, Studio 201, Worcester, MA
Material List for Watercolor Workshops
Paints: a set of tubes or pan watercolors including your primaries with warm & cool, red, yellow & blue and burnt Sienna. All you need is red, yellow and blue to make the others!
Paper: A few cut or manageable pieces of 140 lb cold or hot press sheet paper, or a block or loose sheets, so you can use several pieces.
Brushes: An assortment of your favorites, including 1 large round, size: 10 or 12 or larger. 1 medium round size 6, a fan brush, thin brushes. You do not have to spend a lot on brushes. Just the basics.
Tape: Any artist tape that will not pull up the paper fibers will do.
Palette:
A mixing tray or palette, or simply a white plastic plate
A light weight plastic or masonite board to tape paper down
Artist masking or painters tape
Pencil 2B or whatever you have.
Pencils and pens: We recommend #1 and #2 pencils and Micron pens to try with different nib sizes. (ex: .5 and .8)
Optional:
Salt
Alcohol
Clear or white wax crayon
Frisket
CC Lowell in Worcester on Pleasant Street can set you up with everything you need.
We will provide water vessels and paper towels.
Register here (if the class is cost prohibitive, please shoot us a message at info@juniperrag.com):
Explore the creative possibilities of combining permanent Micron pens with watercolor in this hands-on workshop at Juniper Rag Contemporary. The precision of ink and the fluid, unpredictable nature of watercolor offer a wonderful balance between control and spontaneity—and plenty of room to experiment.