Half Day Watercolour Art Class

Half-day watercolour workshop with bubbles, lunch and two artworks to take home


Portsea Gallery
Portsea Gallery
Instagram followers 4k followers

4 hours Class size 1 to 12 guests    

  $240 (Afterpay & PayPal Pay in 4 available)

A Warm Welcome to the Portsea Gallery!

A Warm Welcome to the Portsea Gallery

You'll arrive a few minutes early so you're relaxed, have an opportunity to meet the other students and don't miss any of the important information you'll need to get started. Allison Ermogenis (the gallery owner) will be here, ready to welcome you for the day.


Demonstration and Explanation

Demonstration and Explanation

Pete Porteous, your highly experienced watercolour tutor, will be set up and ready to guide you. You’ll watch and interact as Pete demonstrates the first painting you’ll create. You’ll learn how to approach your subject with confidence, covering colour mixing, composition, brushwork and texturing techniques to help you bring the theme to life.


Begin Your Work of Art

Begin Your Work of Art

Once you start, Pete will circulate throughout the session, offering tips, practical advice and encouragement, so you feel supported from first wash to final details.


Your Own Reference Sheet

Your Own Reference Sheet

You’ll receive a personalised reference sheet prepared by Pete ahead of time, to help you work smoothly and with clarity.


Bubbles and Light Lunch

Bubbles and Light Lunch

Time for a relaxing break with a delicious light lunch and bubbles! It’s also a lovely moment to compare notes with your fellow artists.


Begin Your Second Work of Art

Begin Your Second Work of Art

You’ll begin your second piece. Here's Pete's demo work from an earlier wildlife themed class.


Take Home Your Masterpieces

Take Home Your Masterpieces

By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with two beautiful artworks to take home and cherish. As an example, here's one of the works completed by a student in Pete's wildlife themed class.


You Can Do It (and Now You Can Do It At Home)

You Can Do It (and Now You Can Do It at Home)

Here's another student's work from the wildlife class. As well as your completed artworks, you're going to take away techniques and ideas you can use at home, new skills that continue long after the workshop.


Step into Portsea Gallery for a relaxed, friendly half-day watercolour workshop where you’ll learn how to paint with confidence and leave with two beautiful artworks to take home.
Please arrive a few minutes early for an 11:00am start. The class will end on time.
Allison Ermogenis will be ready to welcome you to your class. Then Pete Porteous, your very experienced tutor and a highly regarded watercolourist, will guide you through the day with clear demonstrations and practical, hands-on support.
You’ll start by watching Pete create the first painting, learning essential techniques such as colour mixing, composition, brushwork, and texturing. Next, it’s your turn. You’ll receive a prepared reference sheet, so you can focus on painting rather than second-guessing. Pete will circulate throughout the session with tips, advice, and encouragement as you bring your own work to life.
After that, enjoy a well-earned break with bubbles and a light lunch, plus a chance to chat and compare notes with your fellow artists.
After the break, you’ll be ready to jump back in. Pete will start the second part of the workshop with a short demo of the next artwork, showing exactly how to approach the subject and use the watercolour techniques you’ve been learning. Then it’s your turn. You’ll begin your second piece with Pete on hand to offer practical tips, encouragement, and guidance as you paint.
At the end of the workshop, you’ll take a moment to see what you’ve achieved together. You'll head home proud, inspired, and with two lovely watercolours you can cherish - and with new techniques to use at home.
What you can expect:
  • A friendly half-day workshop (four hours)
  • Demonstration and hands-on coaching from Pete Porteous
  • All levels welcome
  • Bubbles and a light lunch
  • Two watercolour masterpieces to take home
About Pete Porteous
Pete is a highly experienced art tutor who has been sharing his love of watercolour with students for many years. He has a Dip Fine Art and Design (Hons) from Caulfield Institute of Technology (now Monash University). He is a professional artist and if you walk around the gallery, you'll see some of his beautiful work on show! Pete enjoys working with watercolour because it allows him emotional expressions with speed and spontaneity. Recent awards include 2024 Malvern Artists Society joint exhibition, 2023 Chelsea Art Show highly commended in Watercolour and 2022/23 Queenscliff Art Prize People’s Choice Award.
What you'll get
  • Two completed watercolours to take home.
  • New ideas and techniques, and the confidence to use them at home.
Knowledge required
Beginner-friendly. All levels welcome.
What to bring
*Beginner Painters Supply List*
This will set you up for painting at home as well as for your first class.
A mix of suppliers will be needed so we recommend allowing plenty of time to organise:
Supermarket
Hardware shop for board
Specialist art supplies available from local art supply shops, Spotlight or online suppliers eg Seniors, The Art Shed, The Art Store.
  • watercolour paint pan (tubes if you prefer)
  • 2 sheets A4 sized watercolour paper (or no larger than A3)
  • watercolour Mop Brush - synthetic, a couple of different sizes to suit A4 paper
  • flat watercolour brush - synthetic, a couple of different sizes to suit A4 paper
  • kneadable eraser
  • ruler
  • HB pencil (or H4)
  • roll of masking tape or Scotch paper tape, (about 1cm wide, to tape your paper to the board)
  • plastic watercolour palette or dinner plate size plastic plates
  • MDF board to tape your paper to (or plywood if you don't have MDF but MDF soaks up more water).
  • hand-towel or absorbent cloth
  • roll of paper towel
*Intermediate & Experienced Painters Supply LIst*
  • your preferred watercolour paints
  • 2 sheets A3 sized watercolour paper or larger if you prefer
  • watercolour mop brushes of a few different sizes
  • flat watercolour brushes of a few different sizes
  • any other brushes that you'd like to bring
  • kneadable eraser
  • ruler
  • HB pencil (or H4)
  • roll of masking tape or Scotch paper tape, about 1cm wide
  • your preferred palette
  • MDF board to tape your paper to (or plywood if you don't have MDF)
  • hand-towel or absorbent cloth
  • paper towel
  • Pete will have retardant on hand should you need that.
Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, birthday or hens party.

This experience would also be a fun gift for her, gift for mum or gift for couples.


FAQ

Where can I park my car?
Free 2 hour parking in the village carpark across the road.
What can I do in Portsea before and after class?
Our shopping village is small and vibrant. There’s a choice of fabulous food venues just steps away from the gallery - Portsea Pub, Le Capucin café and Pompette bar. We have an amazing vintage shop, Sur la Mer, a treasure trove of highly curated archival fashion and homewares.
Location

Portsea Gallery - 1/3760 Point Nepean Road, Portsea VIC

Portsea Village, beachside - between Portsea Pier & Portsea Pub. Accessibility info: 3 steps up with handrail.

Half Day Watercolour Art Class location
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Your teacher

Portsea Gallery
Portsea Gallery

Instagram followers 4k followers
female Women-owned

YOUR HOST
Portsea Gallery was established in 2018, after I spent 10 years running Aegean Designs gallery in Santorini. I’ve created a relaxed, welcoming, and flexible art space right in the heart of charming Portsea Village.
Portsea Gallery is home to art classes, my studio, and a gallery featuring carefully curated works by a talented mix of established and emerging artists.
I’m very proud of our art classes—they’re led by highly regarded, professional artists who enjoy teaching and bring extensive tutoring experience.
All levels are welcome. Expect a friendly, comfortable atmosphere with bubbles and a delicious light lunch, surrounded by beautiful art, and guided by people who genuinely love helping you create. Our current classes include watercolour, acrylic, and mosaic.
We’d love to welcome you to Portsea Gallery for a fun, inspiring art workshop.
~ Allison

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