Paint the light, not the details

Watercolor Workshop with Jean-François Arnaud

Workshop Structure

Day 1: The Method and the Importance of Values

We will begin by exploring my method: organizing the palette, breaking down colors, and structuring values. After a demonstration, you will create a small-format study to familiarize yourself with this approach. In the afternoon, we will work on a more developed composition, focusing on value perception—one of the foundations of Impressionist painting. Understanding values allows you to structure an image before even adding color.

Day 2: Simplification and Composition

In the morning, we will do a visual memory and gestural exercise to help loosen up your brushwork. Then, we will work on a subject in miniature before expanding it to a larger format. This exercise will introduce a key concept for plein airpainting: simplification. Knowing how to refine a scene, prioritize elements, and decide what to emphasize is essential for painting with spontaneity. We will also cover how to compose a well-balanced and dynamic image, avoiding unnecessary details.

Day 3: Letting Go and Artistic Expression

This final day will focus on finding your artistic voice and allowing your brushwork to flow freely, while still maintaining discipline in the process. I will guide you through this journey, helping you not just to become a painter, but to become an artist. Do you see the difference? This is precisely what the École des Beaux-Arts in France teaches: to develop individuality and artistic singularity.

Workshopsprache ist Englisch. Verständnislücken schließen sich durch die Demos. Im Notfall gibt es einen “Übersetzer”.

Bei der Unterkunftssuche sind wir behilflich!

About the Artist

Jean-François Arnaud is a French watercolorist based in Florida. With a background in fine arts and printing, he has developed a unique approach that combines technical precision with expressive spontaneity. Inspired by Impressionism and mode painting, his work focuses on the balance between structure and fluidity, allowing colors to vibrate and shapes to emerge naturally. Passionate about teaching, he shares his knowledge through workshops, helping students simplify their technique, refine their composition, and express their individuality