Hill Country Council for the Arts
102 City Park Rd, Boerne, TX
Tuition: $450
Students are responsible for bringing their own supplies. Materials listed below.
April 28 – April 30, 2026
9:00AM-4:00PM Daily
Experience an in-depth, three-day watercolor workshop with award-winning plein air artist Richie Vios, known for his expressive brushwork, architectural precision, and ability to capture the emotion and atmosphere of a scene.
Each day will begin with a classroom session focused on watercolor techniques, composition, value, and color application, followed by afternoon plein air sessions. Richie’s teaching emphasizes simplifying the watercolor process while maintaining strong artistic intention. Through his signature Watercolor Clock method and focus on the four pillars of watercolor painting, participants will gain a clearer understanding of water consistency, timing, and control to produce confident, expressive works.
Students learn how to paint Landscapes, Seascapes and Cityscapes. They gain a series of experiences in painting essential elements such as trees, mountains, and water, as well as how to depict moving objects in cityscapes, including cars and vehicles.
Students learn how to manipulate the water-to-pigment ratio in order to paint confidently with minimal strokes, resulting in artworks that appear loose yet rich in detail.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Richie N. Vios (SLPAPA, AIS, SWS) was born and raised in Cebu City, Philippines, and comes from an accomplished artistic family. After earning a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1995, he worked as a faculty member and later as an architectural designer in Florida before returning to the Philippines to establish his own architectural practice. Over time, Richie’s passion for watercolor painting became his primary focus, blending his architectural training with an expressive artistic vision.
Now based in Austin, Texas, Richie is recognized nationally for his vibrant plein air works and serves as a sought-after instructor and demonstrator. His numerous honors include:
• 1st Place – Telluride Plein Air, Colorado (2025)
• 2nd Place – Door County Plein Air, Wisconsin (2025)
• Best Urban Landscape – Knoxville Plein Air, Tennessee (2025)
• Best Architecture Award – Plein Air Maui, Hawaii (2025)
• Best Waterman Award – Easton Plein Air (2024)
“I believe that the mark of a good artist is to be able to capture the different facets of life in his painting, the mood, ambiance, etc. In a sense, not just illustrating or recording what he sees but expressing what he feels. The subject in front of me is my inspiration, complemented with my imagination, charged with my passion, and a personal artistic impression embodied in my watercolor works.”
Watercolor Brushes:
#8 Nylon Synthetic round brush
#12 Red Sable or Taklon round brush
#18 or the Biggest size you can buy Squirrel round brush
or Buy Grabie Synthetic Squirrel Hair Set (9 Brushes)
Highly recommend Escoda Signature Synthetic Brush Set by any of the following
( Joseph Zbukvic, Alvaro Castagnet and Amit Kapoor )
Pencil:
Mechanical Pencil 0.9
Watercolor Pigment:
Tube
1.Cadmium Yellow
2.Cadmium Red
3.Cerulean Blue
4.Yellow Ochre
5.Alizarin Crimson
6.Cobalt Blue
7.Burt Sienna
8.Ultra Marine Blue
9.Sepia
10.Dioxazine Violet
11.Indigo
12 Lamp Black
Special Colors :
Permanent White Gouache
Cobalt Teal
Watercolor paper:
140 lbs cold press
Size: min of 11×14 Arches or Canson XL, recommend: Sauders Waterford
Recommended brand
1. Daniel Smith
2. Winsor & Newton
3. Michael Hardings
4. Chrumbacher
5. M Graham
Note: Buy the best watercolor professional brand that you can afford.
Also things to handy during the class:
1.Hair dryer.
2.Foam board bigger than 11×14 size.
3.Mixing Pallete.
4.Paper Towel
5.Water Container
6.Mr.Clean Durafoam Magic Eraser
Physical Address
102 City Park Rd
Boerne, TX 78006
Mailing Address
PO Box 2024
Boerne, TX 78006
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