Catch of the Day: Rainbow Trout

Service Description

Working from a reference image, participants will create a colourful rainbow trout on large watercolour paper. A prepared drawing will be provided and transferred using carbon paper, allowing you to focus on painting, colour, and expressive detail rather than drawing the fish from scratch. Artist and educator, Heather Savage, will guide you through building the painting in layers, beginning with transparent watercolour washes and gradually adding colour, contrast, speckles, and distinctive markings. You will look closely at the trout’s olive-green back, silvery body, pink lateral stripe, iridescent colour shifts, and scattered dark spots. Markers and other media will be used to strengthen details and add texture where needed. This is a focused but approachable project for adults who would like to explore watercolour and mixed media while creating a finished artwork. No drawing experience is required, and each participant can interpret the colours and markings in their own way. Skills explored: -Transferring a prepared drawing -Observing colour and pattern from a reference photograph -Building transparent watercolour washes -Mixing and layering colour -Creating texture through marks and speckles -Developing contrast and definition -Combining watercolour with drawing materials -Turning a photographic reference into an expressive artwork Workshop details: -Best for: Adults -Difficulty: Beginner-friendly. No drawing experience required. -Materials: All art materials are included. Participants will work on approximately 12 × 18-inch watercolour paper and leave with a completed mixed media rainbow trout painting.