At Auckland Watercolour Society, we host a monthly Challenge/Workshop and a Plein Air session. We also have exhibitions during the year.

Join us to explore the world of watercolour art with fellow enthusiasts throughout the year.

Watercolor palette with various colors, paintbrushes, and a couple of grapes on a wooden surface.
Apr
26

Plein Air Painting April

Kumeu

26 April Soljans Winery 366 State Highway 16 Kumeu 0892    

Painting  from 10-12. There is a restaurant or bring your own for a picnic lunch. Hopefully, there will be some nice autumn colours;

Meeting 9.45 at Cellar Door

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Cash and Carry
Apr
29
to 25 May

Cash and Carry

Annual Cash and Carry exhibition is a great opportunity to view and purchase a variety of art work from a number of different artists who are members of the Auckland Watercolour Society.

Buy a painting Take it home with you.

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May
12

Monthly Workshop and Challenge

Challenge    Threatened Species of NZ

Workshop    Adeline  will be running this workshop, and she is preparing an exciting afternoon, sharing some of the tips and tricks she learnt on the Hazel Soan course she recently  attended. Hazel Soan  is a highly respected international artist and came to NZ in April 2025.

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May
31
to 1 Jun

May Tawharanui

Some are staying 2 nights, 30th and 31st  May at Campbells Beach,(Bachcare)near to Tawharanui. If you want to stay, arrange own accommodation or there may be a spare bed in the Campbells Beach accommodation, please ask us.   

Painting Saturday morning and afternoon at Tawharanui  meet outside the toilet block  at Anchor Bay at 9.45 am.

Windy or unfavourable weather, we will be at El Kedira, with limited cellphone coverage.

Shared dinner at El Kedira, 26 Campbell Road, Saturday. Great facilities available. Come and socialize for an hour or two. 

Sunday morning,  painting at Campbell Beach. Cottage to be vacated by 10 am.

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Mar
10

Monthly Workshop

Hi members,

A brief reminder about the workshop this Monday, 10th March, 12.30 at Glenfield Hall, Hall Road, Glenfield.

Nicoletta an experienced illustrator of children's books, and a member of AWS, will be teaching us layering in watercolour. Bring your paints and paper, and your interpretation of My Origin the monthly challenge. We have 4 new members this month, and look forward to meeting you all.

People on HBC, we carpool, meet at EAC, 11.30 am.

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Feb
22

Plein Air Painting February

Huia

The journey there is straightforward, use google maps, and follow the signs. Meet at Huia Lookout, at 9.45, on the city side of Huia. Great views up, down and across the harbour, plenty of room for several artists.  There are also great painting options at Little Huia, water, headlands, bridge, boats launching.

Meeting 9.45 at Huia lookout. 

Bring lunch and drink, there is a café at Huia.

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Feb
10

February Monthly Workshop

Challenge - Beneath the Waves

Workshop - Headlands presented by Marina.

HEADLANDS AND CLIFFS MONDAY FEB 10

Aiming to get 3 smaller exercises finished.

~Using a tonal scale for aerial perspective and recession.

~scraping back with credit card or palette knife for vertical cracks and crevices on dark craggy cliffs

~using strong paint on rigger brush over under wash for horizontal striations on clay cliffs

~one hard edge and softening off for modelling and light direction

 

BRING YOUR OWN REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR:

a) dark rocky craggy cliffs 

b )earth/ochre coloured clay and sandstone cliffs 

Magazine cuttings, photos, coffee table books etc. DON'T FREAK OUT if your reference pictures are complex.  You only need to use areas of line and texture for reference to put on the cliff shape you choose to draw. Remember you can photograph a complex picture and zoom in or use a magnifying glass on a magazine/book photo to see details.

 

I will only supply reference for the tonal exercise.

 

Bring your painting kit and a few pieces of paper

including sponge for water control, small towel, tissue, old credit card, 2 waterpots, small atomiser, burnt umber/sepia/indigo amongst your usual paints, assortment brushes plus a rigger and a good size mixing palette or plate, hairdryer,scrap paper .

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Jan
25

Plein Air Painting January

Alice Eaves Bush Orewa

Meet between 9.30 and 10am at the entrance from Kensington park off centreway road, into Eaves Bush Parade and Parkside drive.

Plenty of parking.

Pathway takes you to bridge over Nukumea stream.

Please wear clean foot ware and use the foot ware cleaning station to prevent kauri dieback spread.

Lots of options for subjects, gardens, a lake, the stream, new and historic buildings.

Enjoy a morning painting in this beautiful park with other artists. Lunch together at midday and discuss what you have painted

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Jun
29

Plein Air

This month is Matariki. Matariki, also known as the Seven Sisters, is a group of stars that appear in the night sky in New Zealand during the winter months. The Māori New Year begins with the rise of Matariki. Meet at the front entrance to the museum at 10am. Bring your paints and something to sit on and paint your masterpiece. Anyone is welcome to join us.

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