Crafting Together: Illustrate an Autumnal Sunset with Watercolor and Ink by CBTV Live

CBTV | 59 min 34 sec

Illustrate an Autumnal Sunset with Watercolor and Ink
Illustrate an Autumnal Sunset with Watercolor and Ink59:34

CBTV Live

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Capture the beauty of a winter sunset in this fun, beginner-friendly one-hour Zoom class with illustrator Claire Loon Baldwin. You’ll create a glowing watercolor sunset sky using playful techniques for blooms and bleeds, then learn how to use a dip pen and ink to draw delicate silhouettes of bare tree branches. Your finished paintings make beautiful place cards for holiday meals, as well as gift tags, or just stand-alone artwork. No previous watercolor or drawing experience necessary; this class is great for artists of all levels.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Paper: Hot press 140lb watercolor paper, at least 8 x 10”
- Canson - budget-friendly
- Strathmore - affordable mid-range option
- Arches - top quality, more expensive
Black ink - recommend using waterproof ink, as it can be painted over without smudging.
Pen cleaner - essential for cleaning waterproof ink off your pen nibs throughout the drawing process.
Pen set with removable nibs. Please note we will be using nibs designed for drawing, not calligraphy. The Speedball sketching set is a great starter kit. You can also buy a nib holder like the Tachikawa Comic Pen Nib Holder, and your own drawing nibs.
Pencils for sketching
Staedtler eraser
Two jars to hold water
Paper towel
Scratch paper: a less expensive option that you feel comfortable using for experiments, but still 140 lbs + watercolor paper.
Watercolor paints
- Koi, set of 12 - budget-friendly
- Winsor & Newton set of 12 - affordable mid-range option
- Top quality option: Daniel Smith watercolors - Indanthrone Blue, Hansa Yellow Medium, New Gamboge, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Turquoise, Pyrrol Scarlet, Lamp Black, Cobalt Blue, Phthalo Green (blue shade), and Imperial Purple to start
Paint palette - this can be as simple as a platter from the thrift store. Ceramic is best, enamel is a great travel-friendly option, and plastic is durable and affordable.
Brushes - note that brushes should have a nice flex and tip to them, and as they age, they’ll fray and need to be replaced. Short-handle brushes will work best for the smaller-sized pieces we're creating. For a good all-inclusive budget brush kit, we recommend the Princeton Golden Taklon starter kit.
If you’d like to purchase individual brushes, here are the ones we recommend:
- A synthetic round #1 brush (for smaller details)
- A synthetic round #4 brush (a versatile go-to option)
- A synthetic flat ¾” brush (for filling in large spaces)
- A synthetic round brush in a large size - such as size 6 through 10