Jean-Francois Arnaud
Paint the Light Not the Details
About Jean-Francois:
Jean-Francois Arnaud is a French artist whose work is deeply inspired by travel, observation, and a lifelong passion for visual storytelling. He has developed a simplified and expressive approach to watercolor that is both effective and intuitive. His approach is based on a limited palette of four primary colors: royal blue, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, and indigo. This simplification of colors, inspired by his background in printing, helps to better understand color construction and achieve greater chromatic harmony. With just these four colors, you can paint almost anything.
However, a successful painting is not just about color—strong drawing skills are essential. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Angoulême, he places great importance on the accuracy of lines and the structure of the subject. His teaching revolves around two main pillars: mastering a simplified yet effective technique and developing a keen eye for composition and expression.
Artist website: jf-arnaud.com/
Artist’s Statement
My training at the Beaux-Arts provided me with both technical and artistic knowledge. But through years of practice, I came to understand a fundamental truth: artistic expression can only fully emerge once the technical foundations are firmly in place. Art comes after technique — it is a journey, not a shortcut
Workshop Objectives:
During my workshops, I place strong emphasis on the acquisition of core technical skills: drawing, colour theory, and composition. These three pillars form the backbone of any watercolour work. Once these elements are mastered, students can fully focus on artistic expression, no longer held back by technical gaps.
Travel Sketch
Jean-Francois Arnaud
Pyrenees
Jean-Francois Arnaud
WASH Workshop Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation of a workshop by the person registered six (6) weeks or more prior to the first day of the workshop is 100% refundable less a $50 registration fee.
- Cancellations with less than six (6) weeks before the start: you may find a substitute to take your place or ask the workshop committee registrar to assist you, if there is a waiting list. It is the responsibility of the person registered to make his/her own reimbursement arrangements with the substitute. The workshop committee will not be involved.
- Once the workshop begins, there will be no refunds for no-shows or withdrawals.
- WASH reserves the right to cancel workshops due to insufficient enrollment or other reasons beyond our control. If WASH cancels a workshop, applicants will receive a full registration fee refund. Any non-registration fees including hotel, airfare, car rental fees, etc. are not covered by WASH.
- For more information, please contact our workshop chairperson by email at workshops@washsfac.org
