Back to All Events

Watercolor Basics: Atmospheric Perspective

  • Workshop SLC 153 2100 South South Salt Lake, UT, 84115 United States (map)

Watercolor Basics with Kaori Fairbourn

Dates: Wednesday, September 15th, 2021

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Cost per session:
$45 with no supplies included / $65 with all supplies included


Atmospheric Perspective - Class description

How do artists create the illusion of depth and distance on a flat surface? Landscape painters explore techniques like color saturation and detail placement that create atmospheric perspective.

Atmospheric perspective refers to the effect the atmosphere has on the appearance of an object as viewed from a distance. As the distance between an object and a viewer increases, the contrast between the object and its background decreases, and the contrast of any markings or details within the object also decreases. This class will focus on landscape painting using only neutral colors (black, sepia, grey, and umber) to perfect your own atmospheric perspective.


Supply List

We provide: Paper towels, cups, watercolor paper, and artist tape. Additionally, we can provide all painting supplies for use in this class for an added fee. 

  • Paper: watercolor paper – Canson, Arches, Aquarelle or Fluid. You can either get them in blocks or you can get one big piece 16x 20 and then cut them to a 11x 14 size or 10x8.

  • Hot Press if possible.

  • Paint: Black, sepia, grey, and umber. Brand – Daniel smith, koi watercolors, Winsor & newton, Blick’s or M.Graham – or any of their palettes.

  • Brushes: 4, 6 and 8 round brushes – recommended: Princeton, Blick’s, master’s touch (Hobby Lobby, affordable) – if you want to get something cheaper that is fine.

  • Other: Palette (for mixing) – any kind is okay.

Recommended art store – Blick’s, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby.


About the instructor

Kaori Fairbourn was born in Kobe, Japan and is now currently residing in SLC, UT. She has had the opportunity to live in 3 different continents as a child which has helped her mind expand to the beauty of landscapes and sceneries. She has studied Art and Art History at Utah Valley University and coupled with her extensive travel experiences and her love for colors has helped influence her to become the artist that she is today. Kaori has done numerous commissions in the past which specializes in wedding invitation designs and landscape paintings.

She believes that watercolor has not only impacted her creativity but also has given her the power to let her mind rest and breathe through the everyday stress in life. Her hopes and wishes in life are to help anyone feel at ease and joyful as they see her paintings.

Follow her on Instagram.