"Plein Air Painting in Watercolor" with Catherine Hillis (May 2026)
PLEIN AIR PAINTING IN WATERCOLOR
with Instructor Catherine Hillis
WHEN:
2 FULL-DAYS
Saturday & Sunday (10am - 4pm)
May 2, 3, 2026
WHERE:
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
(Exact location TBD)
REGISTER NOW! DON'T WAIT!
Join renowned artist Catherine Hillis for an exhilarating 2-day plein air watercolor workshop tailored for beginner-intermediate and advanced students. Enhance your outdoor painting skills amidst nature's beauty with expert guidance. Discover the art of painting "en plein air," where you'll capture landscapes directly from your surroundings. Catherine will help you select the perfect equipment to match your style and choose ideal locations for painting.
In this class, you'll gain practical insights on setting up your workspace and Hillis will show you how to follow structured steps in order to create vibrant watercolors. Experiment with a watercolor sketchbook, if you prefer a more flexible format. We will explore diverse subjects, like landscapes, gardens, and marshes while mastering composition and perspective. Enjoy daily onsite demonstrations that provide practical guidance and inspiration.
Whether you're new to plein air painting or a seasoned artist, this workshop offers a supportive environment to elevate your skills. Don’t miss this chance to learn from a master instructor and take your watercolor painting to new heights—sign up now for an enriching artistic experience!
SKILL LEVEL:
This class is great for beginner-intermediate and advanced students.
REFUND POLICY:
Ticket purchases to Art League of Hilton Head events are final. Credits or Refunds will not be given for missed or classes/workshops.
If a class or workshop is canceled by Art League of Hilton Head a full refund will be given.
| Materials Included: | No materials are included in this class. A list of materials you should bring with you will be provided upon registration. |
| Requirements: | SUPPLIES LIST: Click Download a Printable Supply List There is no substitute for good quality paper and paint. If you already own watercolor supplies, please bring what you have and don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions. Remember to only bring the essentials and make your equipment lightweight and portable. Backpacks and fanny packs are good choices. PAPER: A small Arches 140lb cold pressed or rough watercolor block. 12"x16" or smaller or a watercolor sketch book to paint in. SKETCHBOOK: You may prefer painting in a sketchbook and sitting on a stool or wall instead of using an easel. Sketchbooks will also be used for studies. BOARD: This is only needed if you are using separate sheets of paper Instead, bring a gator board/corrugated plastic board or something similar and masking tape. Keep it small and lightweight ACCESSORIES: Portable stool/chair (ALHH has stools available if you arrange pickup/drop off ahead of time); sunblock, bug repellant, portable water container and water, paper towels, pencil, kneaded eraser, a small spray bottle for water. Bring a phone or iPad for taking pictures, snacks, money, lunch, hat, trash bag, water to drink, etc. UMBRELLA: Not necessary because we can often find shade. I use the EASEYL umbrella. EASEL: Not necessary. Also, our host may have easels available, or you can sit on a bench/wall and paint on your lap. I use the En Plein Air easel because it's light yet durable. PALETTE: Your choice: make it light and portable. Most people like a pan palette. I use the Quiller Palette or similar which is very large but it's what I've always used. I advise you use something smaller BRUSHES, PENCILS, ERASERS: Your choice. I use a medium round mop (#8), a small round for details (#4) , some riggers, and a 2” flat. I have many more brushes but the ones above are my hard workers. Here are some reasonably priced brands: Raphael Soft Aquas, Princeton watercolor brushes, Cheap Joe’s Dream Catcher line and Golden Fleece line and Stephen Quiller’s brushes. I use #2 pencils, kneaded and white erasers. PAINT: Use only professional grade paints. I use Daniel Smith, Dick Blick, American Journey, Mijello, Da Vinci, A. Gallo, etc. My colors can change but today here are some of the colors on my palette - Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Quinacridone Rose or Alizarin Crimson, Red Hot Mama or Pyrrole Scarlet, Quinacridone Magenta, Bumblebee Yellow or Hansa Yellow and Lemon Yellow, Permanent Green, Perylene Green, Neutral Tint, Sepia and Burnt Sienna. I think these are essential. Also on my palette are Permanent Green, Viridian Green, Serpentine Green, Lavender, Cobalt Violet, Manganese Violet, Quinacridone Purple, Raw Umber and Sepia. Suggested Art Suppliers:Jerry's Art-o-rama, Cheap Joe's, and Dick Blick QUESTIONS: Academy@artleaguehhi.org |
| Instructor: | Catherine Hillis |
| Instructor Bio: |  CATHERINE HILLIS has enjoyed the arts all her life. She won awards for her artwork as a child and was a musician in high school and college. Catherine acted and modeled in print and television ads as a youngster, later majoring in Theatre at the University of Georgia. She knew she would always be involved in the arts in some way. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts, cum laude, from the University of Georgia, Hillis continued her Master of Fine Art studies at the University of Texas. Her journalist husband's career took her to different cities, finally settling in the Virginia and Washington D.C. area, where she established her reputation as a fine art watercolor artist and a popular instructor. In late 2017, she moved to St. Simons Island, on the coast of southern Georgia, to continue her work, inspired by the low country, the beach, and the spirit of the area. Hillis works both in the studio and outdoors. During the past few years, the artist has traveled extensively to Plein Air competitions, fulfilling her love for painting nature and history. She is drawn to scenes that are often forgotten or neglected and find the intrinsic beauty in them. Hillis believes that observation is her best teacher and she is known for the effect of light and movement in her work. Hillis has won hundreds of awards and honors at competitive shows regionally and nationally. She's earned eight Signature Memberships from national watercolor organizations and was one of 40 elected members of the prestigious Washington Society of Landscape Painters. The artist regularly competes in international watercolor exhibitions as well as Plein Air competitions and invitational shows. Her painting, "Gift From the Sea," was recently included in an international watercolor exhibition in the Quingdao Laotian Museum of Art, China and she served as an artist in residence in Dinan, France (2007) and at Hot Springs National Park (2010). Catherine Hillis was a respected instructor teaching classes at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA, and at Frederick Community College as well as workshops nationally and abroad. Her watercolor paintings are included in museum, corporate and personal collections and have been published in many venues, including Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, American Artist Magazine, Splash 12, Splash 14, Splash 18, the Artistic Touch series of water-media books, The Washington Post, the Best of America Watercolor Artists & Artisans, Volume 1 and the Best of Virginia Artists & Artisans 2005. Hillis teaches a series of brief watercolor lessons on MonkeySee.com. Visit Catherine's website for more information regarding galleries, original artwork and classes You can also email Catherine at catherine.h.hillis@gmail.com. |
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