Recorded Live Classes
Artist Samples
Reference Photos
Clear Instructions
1. Paper
Type: 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper (Essential for absorption and light reflection).
Weight: 300 gram (140 lb).
Brands Mentioned: Arches, Canson, or similar high-quality brands.
Format: Portrait (Vertical) orientation for this specific session.
2. Drawing Tools
Pencil: Mechanical pencil with 4B lead (soft lead for sketching).
Pen: Fine liner pen (0.2mm size) for architectural details and texture at the end.
3. Palette & Paints
Alex primarily uses Daniel Smith watercolors. He uses a metal folding palette (Holbein).
The Color Palette (Specific colors used in this session):
Blues: Cobalt Blue (Sky), Ultramarine Blue (Shadows/Cooling).
Earth Tones: Burnt Sienna (Greys/Warmth), Raw Sienna (Sunlight), Yellow Ochre (Signage).
Reds: Pyrrol Scarlet (Bright awning red), Deep Scarlet (Darker awning), Quinacridone Red (Cool red/Magenta for shadows), Quinacridone Sienna (Vibrant orange for sunny facades).
Greens: Green Gold (Foliage).
Darks: Lamp Black (used sparingly for figures), Shadow Violet.
4. Brushes
Brands: Escoda, Raphael (Natural and Synthetic blends).
Shapes/Sizes needed:
Small Rounds: For details.
Large Mop: For washes.
Wide Flat Brush: For large shadow shapes and covering the page.
Rigger Brush: Long, thin bristles for lines, wires, and awning stripes.
“Cheap” Brush: A stiff, plastic bristle brush (e.g., a cheap kid’s brush) used for stippling tree texture.
5. Miscellaneous
Water: Two water containers.
Tape: Masking tape (to secure the paper and create clean borders).
Cleanup: Paper towels.
Texture Tool: An old toothbrush (for splattering texture).
Alex Hillkurtz was born in England and grew up in California where he is a renowned storyboard artist for feature films, television, and commercials. His film credits include “Argo”, “Almost Famous”, “It’s Complicated”, and many others.
Alex currently lives in Paris with his film editor wife, Tiffany, and enjoys discovering the hidden corners of the city that sketching and plein air painting allow.
He uses the language of cinema to inform his images, moving beyond what one sees, and depicting what he wants others to see.
He believes that in our too-crowded lives, sketching and plein air painting invite us to move at a more deliberate pace… a true sense of place, and sometimes unexpected stories are revealed.
Alex recently published the book Sketching Techniques for Artists.
Course Content
Course Includes
- 1 Lesson
About the instructor
Alex Hillkurtz
From the bustling studios of Hollywood to the quiet cobblestone streets of Paris, Alex Hillkurtz has lived the artist's dream. His journey from renowned storyboard artist for films like "Argo" and "Almost Famous" to watercolor master in the City of Light is one of passion, dedication, and artistic evolution. Now teaching from his charming Paris studio, Alex combines his cinematic eye for composition with the timeless techniques of European watercolor masters. His approach captures not just the architecture of Paris, but its soul - the way morning light dances on ancient stones, the romantic shadows of café awnings, the gentle flow of the Seine. "Paris taught me that watercolor isn't just about technique - it's about capturing a feeling, a moment in time. Every brushstroke should tell a story." - Alex Hillkurtz Through his courses, Alex shares not just technical skills, but the romantic vision that makes watercolor painting so enchanting. Whether you're sketching your first Parisian café or mastering advanced architectural techniques, Alex guides you with the patience of a master and the heart of a dreamer.
