Loosen Up - Workshop 1

Join Us - In Tropical North Queensland for this magic Workshop!

@ The Tanks Arts Centre - Cairns Botanical Gardens -

Thursday 18th September 2025 - 10am to 2.30pm

46 Collins Ave, Cairns, QLD, Australia 4870

South Wind

In this watercolour painting workshop presented by Alison Fincher we will discover how NOT to paint within the lines! 

If you are struggling to break away from neat and tidy, this is the workshop for you.  You will have the opportunity to explore painting freely in watercolour without feeling out of control.

In her work Alison celebrates the natural wonder of the coastal area where she lives on The Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria.  Alison paints with fluid, expressive brushstrokes, to capture the changing light, the movement and the rhythms within her subjects, from the dynamic energy of the water to the peaceful presence of the birds that frequent the shores.

Join Alison to explore subjects of natural content.  A variety of images will be available for participants to use during the workshop; this will allow you to choose something that you will enjoy painting rather than painting the same as everyone else in the group.  Images for inspiration will include sea, sky and land, that can be painted with freedom, in an interpretative style rather than photo-realistic detail.

Watercolour painting techniques will be discussed, as well as key considerations in designing a successful painting.  The aim of the workshop will be to extend the skills of participants and to help them to find their own painting style.

The workshop is suitable for those with some painting experience, who may be new to watercolour or who wish to further develop their existing watercolour technique.  

Materials to Bring -

Paints: 

I mostly use Winsor and Newton professional water colours, and also some Daniel Smith.  Following is a list of my most commonly used colours. For our workshop you don’t need to purchase all of them specially, but you should have some blues, reds and yellows in your palette. 

Winsor and Newton colours:

• Cerulean Blue
• Cobalt Blue
• French Ultramarine
• Cobalt Turquoise Light
• Light Red
• Winsor Red or Cadmium Red
• Permanent Rose
• Burnt Sienna
• Winsor Orange or Cadmium Orange
• Winsor Yellow
• Raw Sienna or Yellow Ochre

Daniel Smith colours:

• Shadow Violet
• Payne’s Grey

A tube of white gouache is also useful.

Palette:

A moisture-sealing folding palette is convenient when you are away from your studio.  Choose one with a dozen or more colour wells and plenty of space for mixing.

Brushes:

I suggest that you bring 3 brushes – a big ‘fat’ one for watery washes, a medium one with a good point, and a fine rigger style for finishing detail.  They don’t need to be the most expensive, but should be of reasonable quality.  I use both natural hair and synthetic brushes all the time.

Some of my favourites include:

• Neef Series 4000 Cat’s Tongue Squirrel Mix.  I use Sizes 12 and 8 regularly.
• Tintoretto Series 1407 Sintetico Vajo Kazan.  I use several sizes when painting; Size 4 is a good all-purpose option.
• Rigger brushes have fine elongated bristles.   You don’t need an expensive one for this workshop.  Either synthetic or natural hair is suitable. I use both, for example from the da Vinci Colineo synthetic range.

Paper:

Quality paper makes a big difference to your painting outcomes, so I recommend using 100% cotton watercolour paper, such as Saunders or Arches, 300gsm.  I often paint on Rough for land and seascape subject matter, but you may also choose Cold Pressed, which has a smoother surface.  Quarter sheet or half sheet size will be suitable for our workshop, according to your preference.  I suggest bringing one full sheet (56 x 76 cm) torn in half, which will give you the option of 2 x half or 4 x quarter sheets for the day.   

Other materials:

Backing board:

Can be any stiff, lightweight, waterproof board, for supporting your paper eg: ply, corflute.  Ideally slightly larger than paper size. 

Tape or bulldog clips:

For securing your paper to the backing board.  I don’t put tape all around the edge of my paper; I just use tape or bulldog clips in the corners.

Pencils:

HB or B graphite pencil and / or a grey tone water colour pencil for drawing prior to painting.

Sketchbook:

Any ‘visual diary’ kind of sketchbook is fine.  Can be cartridge or watercolour paper. 

• Kneadable eraser
• Water pot
• Small spray bottle
• Small hand mirror
• Paper towel
• Tablet or other electronic device if you wish to upload a digital version of the painting image you choose.

 Alison Fincher - Profile

Alison Fincher lives and paints in Barwon Heads. 

Working primarily with watercolours, acrylics, ink and pencil, her pictures span different genres, with images depicting water, land, people and life scenes.    In addition to watercolour works on paper and on canvas, Alison paints in watered acrylics on canvas, with acrylic paint built up in layered washes, creating images with a transparency reflective in style of her loose watercolour paintings.   

Whilst Alison takes the opportunity where possible, through her sketches and paintings, to capture the spirit of the many other places she visits, the Bellarine Peninsula remains the inspiration for the majority of her work.  

Refund Policy |

You can book your Workshop with confidence - knowing that we will refund the Workshop Fee - less $AUD10.00 Booking fee to cover bank and admin charges - provided we are notified in writing via our CONTACT FORM - dated one week prior to the commencement of the Australian Watercolour Muster Biennale - 2025 i.e. 10th September 2025.

Cancellations after this date will be refunded at 50% of the Booking Fee, at the discretion of the Curator of the Australian Watercolour Muster - Wyn Vogel - depending on the critical circumstances and again notified in writing via our CONTACT FORM - with your phone number and details of the Workshop / Event you are wishing to cancel. A booking fee of $AUD10.00 will be applied to these late cancellations. 

There will be no refund if the Student doesn't advise of their inability to attend at least 24hours prior to the Workshop date and/or doesn't arrive at the Workshop!