Watercolor Workshop with Lana Cease
Wednesday & Thursday, October 8 & 9 ⋅ 10:00am – 4:00pm
$220 for both days | $125 first day only | Zoom option available | Lunch included

Join award-winning watercolorist Lana Cease for a dynamic two-day workshop exploring the magic of neon at night. Using the iconic Katz Drug Store sign from Kansas City—now housed at the Lumi Museum—as inspiration, you’ll learn how to capture the vivid glow of neon against the richness of a night sky. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, this workshop will help you build confidence in painting complex lighting effects while creating highly realistic compositions.

Through step-by-step demonstrations and personal guidance, Lana will share essential watercolor techniques such as masking to preserve crisp edges, layering darks without losing vibrancy, and mixing luminous blacks. You’ll practice balancing soft washes with precise line work to make neon come alive on paper. As part of Lana’s nationwide tour celebrating historic neon signs, this class offers not only technical growth but also a meaningful way to help preserve American roadside nostalgia through art.

Supply List
Please bring your own supplies to class. Quality materials are strongly encouraged for the best results.

• Paper: Fabriano or Kilimanjaro 300 lb cold press full sheets; smaller blocks of Fabriano or Arches cold press (we will paint on an 11x14 block). Do not use Canson XL or similar chain store products.

• Brushes: Black Velvet Silvers—rounds (2, 4, 6, 8) and flats (½”, ¾”, 1.5”). Use three wells for cleaning. Viva paper towels (plain, no print).

• Masking Fluid: Winsor & Newton (or Jack Richeson), plus a pickup tool and artist tape.

• Palette: Porcelain/ceramic Tom Lynch palette with a large mixing well. Avoid plastic palettes.

• Paints: Professional-grade paints recommended. Preferred brands include Daniel Smith, Sennelier, DaVinci, American Journey, QOR, and M. Graham. Core colors include:

  • Pyrrol Red & Pyrrol Red Deep

  • Fire Engine Red

  • Quinacridone Magenta

  • Permanent Orange

  • Cadmium Yellow Medium

  • Gamboge

  • French Ochre

  • Hooker’s Green, Sap Green, Phthalo Green

  • Phthalo Blue, Ultramarine, Indigo, Moonglow, Cobalt Teal

  • Sepia, Permanent Brown, Dioxazine Purple

  • Black (mixed from Sepia + Indigo; Ivory Black optional)

Use what you have, but invest in fewer high-quality materials rather than cheaper student-grade products.