Recorded Live Classes
Artist Samples
Reference Photos
Clear Instructions
Paints (Watercolor)
Cobalt Blue: For the primary wash and sky reflections on the bronze.
Ultramarine Blue: For deeper shadows and mixing grays.
Burnt Sienna: Mixed with Ultramarine for warm grays and the background.
Lamp Black (or Ivory Black/Shadow Violet): For the deepest crevices and shadows.
Pyro Red: A small touch for the London bus detail.
Magenta/Quinacridone Red: (Optional) To warm up the background grey mixture.
Brushes
Medium Round Brush: With a sharp point for general washes and details.
Dagger Brush: Used with clean water to feather edges and create soft gradations.
Small/Tiny Round Brush: For fine details like fur strands and facial features.
Stiff Synthetic/Bristle Brush: Used as an “eradicator” for scrubbing/lifting paint and creating texture in the mane.
Wide Flat Brush: For the large background washes.
Drawing & Ink
Pencil: For the initial sketch.
Fine Liner Pen or Fountain Pen: For adding definition to the mane and face (optional, can be done in paint).
Tools & Misc
Kneaded Eraser: For lifting pencil lines without damaging the paper.
Exacto Knife: For scraping back highlights on the dried paint (sparkles on the bronze).
Toothbrush: For spattering texture on the stone plinth.
Paper Towels: For lifting color and blotting.
Water Spritzer: To wake up the paints.
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.
