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Title of Workshop: Lighten Up, Loosen Up
Richard Stephens Watercolor Workshop Overview

When you take a Richard Stephens workshop you will be exposed to three main things. Informative technical information sprinkled with humor and  anecdotes, entertaining and educational painting demonstrations and lots of one on one time with Richard as he helps you through your individual painting process. Richard has a true passion for watercolor and enjoys the opportunity to share his knowledge and experience with students of all levels.

A day starts with a short presentation on the “topic of the day” determined by the level and interest of the class. It is not so much a lecture as it is a conversation. Richard encourages feedback and questions as he feels we learn from each other and everyone has something important to share. Richard will do at least one complete painting demonstration a day. He constantly explains what he is doing, and more importantly, why. Most demonstrations last about an hour and the students learn techniques, creative use of the “tools” of watercolor such as brush choice and manipulation, color mixing and water/pigment relationship. There is always strong emphasis on the elements and principals of design. After the demonstration the students will start on their own paintings or the class will work together on exercises designed to reinforce the theme, “Lighten Up, Loosen Up”.

Richard offers individual advice as per subject selection, designing the image on the page and technique based on the unique style and goal of each student.
In summary, a Richard Stephens workshop is informative, challenging and fun. It is not about competition or turning out a great painting during the workshop. It is about being exposed to a process of watercolor painting that has been successful for him and perhaps some of that process finding a voice with the students and their work.

SUPPLY & MATERIALS LIST

BRUSHES: For this class you will need only a few basic brushes. Synthetic brushes are less expensive and will work just fine for our projects and exercises.
• 1” Flat(or larger) • 1/2” Flat(or smaller) • Large Round(# 6,8 or12) • Small Round or Rigger(For making fine lines).  I do a lot of my painting with mop brushes. If you have them already please bring them. If you don’t have them, I don’t require you buy any as they are rather expensive. If you are a more experienced painter I’m sure you will have a variety of brushes. I will also bring extra brushes for students to borrow.
PALETTE: Nothing fancy required here. Actually a white dinner plate or butcher tray will do. Inexpensive plastic palettes with “wells” for keeping colors separated are available at local art supply stores or on line. These come with lids that keep your pigment from drying out and would be worth the investment.
PAINT: Tube colors are strongly recommended but cake or pan colors will do if that is what you are used to. For the sake of expense we will work with a minimum of colors. You certainly can purchase all the colors you want but the following will be all you actually need for this class.
Reds: Alizarin Crimson and Pyrrol Red
Blues: Ultramarine and Cerulean
Yellows: Lemon Yellow and Yellow Ochre
Greens: I mix my greens, but Sap Green is a good, organic green to bring,
Browns: Burnt Umber and Raw Sienna
Small tube of White Gouache or Titanium White WC and Payne’s Gray(for value sketches)
Optional Colors:, Quinacridone Gold and Turquoise
PAPER: I suggest 140 Lb. Cold Press watercolor paper. Full sheets are 22” x 30”. We will cut these into 1/2 and 1/4 sections for most of our projects. Watercolor blocks or pads are acceptable and come in a variety of sizes. You will also need a small Sketch Pad or Bristol Paper( 8” x 10” or 11” x 14”) for designing and value sketches.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS: The following items are things you
probably have around the house but are important tools in the painting process:
• Water resistant gatorboard, masonite, coated plywood, plexiglass, formica or lucite. Needs to be slightly larger than 15” x 22”(1/2 sheet w/c paper). • Water container that will hold at least a pint of water and wide enough for your widest brush • Sponge • #2 Pencils • Masking Tape • Spray Bottle/Mister • Paper Towels or Tissues • Kneaded Eraser

PLEASE BRING PHOTOGRAPHS OR OTHER IMAGES FOR SUBJECT MATTER:

I will bring many, many photos that students are welcome to use for their painting subject if they do not have something of their own. I will also have several original paintings in plastic sleeves that students can use. I have no problem with students copying another painting for educational purposes. Obviously one would not claim them for their own or enter them in shows.

A native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Richard Stephens earned a Bachelor's
Degree in Art from the University of Central Arkansas in 1969. After serving in the Army as an Illustrator, Stephens began his professional career in 1971 with a design firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. Three years later he opened his own graphic design studio in his hometown providing design and production services for a wide range of commercial accounts.

Having been introduced to the medium in college, Stephens's re-discovered transparent watercolor in the early 90's. He quickly garnered a reputation nation wide for his confident, loose, impressionistic paintings. His works have won awards in numerous national competitions and he has earned signature member status in several major Watercolor Societies. For the past 22 years Stephens has shared his passion for the medium by conducting painting workshops around the country. The son of schoolteachers, Stephens' comfortable personality and easy style is well adapted to the classroom.
Stephens said, “It is the quest for the excitement, that rush, understood
only by other artists that have been blessed (or cursed) with the experience, that gives me reason to continue in the elusive process of making art. "Making Art" certainly means producing my own work. But it also means sharing with my students my knowledge, experience and passion for watercolor. I love to teach. I have discovered that through teaching, more than any other endeavor, I continue to learn.”

PUBLICATIONS:
• In 2005 Watercolor Magic magazine named Stephens one of 10 artists in their annual "One's to Watch" edition
• He was again featured in Watercolor Magic in June 2007 with an article including several of his paintings and drawings with emphasis on his
teaching process and philosophy.
• Stephens had his paintings selected for inclusion in the 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2024 edition of SPLASH, The Best of Watercolor, a book published every two years representing the best of watercolor in America. His work is also represented in SPLASH RETROSPECTIVE.
• Richard was featured with an article in “Creativity Workshop” section of the June, 1013 edition of Watercolor Artist magazine.
• In 2014, Richard was honored with a six-page article in the French publication, The Art of Watercolour, widely considered the top watercolor publication in the world.
• In 2014, Richard was awarded the Grand Prize Award in the Daniel-Smith
Customer Art Competition.
• In 2015, Richard was again included in the French publication, The Art of
Watercolour, widely considered the top watercolor publication in the world.
• The Arkansas Arts Council named Richard the “Arkansas Individual Artist of the Year” for 2018.
• Bold Brush on line competition monthly winner OUTSTANDING WATERCOLOR 2023 and again in 2024.
• 2025 Richard won the Gold Award in the Mid Southern Watercolorist
Annual Open Exhibition.
• 2025 Richard won Purchase Award in the Arkansas Arts Council Annual
Small Works on Paper Competition.
• 2026 Richard had a painting accepted in the Fabriano in Acquarello
International Show in Fabriano, Italy.
• Richard expresses his social and political opinions through editorial cartoons. Rather than drawing in a traditional editorial cartoon way (although he does that sometimes), Richard’s TYPETOONS, as he calls them, are an extension of his graphic design background and skills. He uses typography to create a cleaver or insightful comment. The Hot Springs Sentinel-Record has published approximately 80 of his TYPETOONS on their editorial page.
* Honored to be a member of Whiskey Painters of America

Although recognized for his landscape, architectural and figurative work Stephens feels the real subjects of most of his paintings are his brushwork
and the light he tries to capture and amplify through value contrast and an unexpected color pallet. Believing that drawing is the foundation for all good art and design, Stephens often allows his pencil work to show through and become an engaging element in his watercolors. Stephens says, "My goal is to interpret, not to render. I want to engage the viewer, entertain him and share my vision. When people view my work that is the last step in the painting process. Of course I want people to like my work, but like it or hate it, I don't want them to be indifferent.”

Richard Stephens
raswatercolors@gmail.com
http://www.raswatercolors.com
28 Huntleigh Drive
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901
Cell 501-622-9286