Big brush, small paper
Posted: September 8, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alvaro Castagnet, watercolour, workshop 23 CommentsI’ve just finished jotting down three pages of notes from a weekend workshop in Montreal with the great watercolour painter Alvaro Castagnet. I’m sure plenty more will be added to my notebook as I process all that I tried to absorb over the two days.
A short time ago, I was lucky to see a brief Instagram post advertising the studio workshop, and I jumped at the chance to see Alvaro in my very own city. I’m sure it filled up quickly. Over the two days, we didn’t paint much but we were treated to five half-sheet demos. Three urban scenes, one landscape and one interior. That’s a lot of painting to watch, but all of it was fascinating. And after a spring and summer of being the teacher, it was a joy to be a student again. To watch, to listen, to have time to think about what was happening on Alvaro’s palette and the paper.
If you know Alvaro’s work, you probably know that mood and atmosphere are often used to describe it. He uses lots of greys, reds and blacks in his watercolours. And watching him paint is a bit like catching a glimpse of a chef at work in a busy restaurant kitchen. He draws quickly, he moves back and forth as he grabs brushes and mixes colour, he slashes paint across the paper, he shouts for emphasis, he splatters opaque washes on top of darks, and at the very end he seasons with dabs of white. His demos are done in an hour. It’s exhausting to watch, but oh, so entertaining.
And sprinkled into all of that he describes his thought process and doles out buckets of advice. “Don’t draw, PAINT!” “Values and temperature first!” “Paint small but use a BIG brush!” “Make every brushstroke beautiful!”
We were discouraged from taking notes as he painted lest we miss something happening on the palette or the paper. That was fine with me, but that’s also the reason I jotted down my notes today before I forgot something important.
My first day painting was garbage, but on the second day we painted along with him, as he did each step. I tried to pay more attention to my brushstrokes and the lost and found edges in the painting. Here is Alvaro’s demo.
And here is my version of the same NY scene, done in under an hour before we took a break for lunch.
If you ever see that Alvaro is reaching in your city, or if you can attend a travel workshop with him, you won’t regret it. It’s high-level teaching that really gets you thinking about how you paint. I’m so grateful that I had a chance to learn with him.
Quite honestly…yours looks BETTER!!!!!!
Carolyn, this is just my interpretation of what he did. Let’s see what happens when I try to do it on my own : )
You did a fantastic job! I love your painting as much as I love his. You didn’t give up all that is yours which I truly love and respect. I would be too intimidated to be painting in his presence. Good for you!
Pamela, it was intimidating for sure. But I persisted, as did everyone in the room. We had a fun group and we all felt like we had experienced something extraordinary together.
I have taken his workshop and it IS exhausting . . . . . just watching him paint! The craziest thing is how, at a very late stage in his demo, it can look awful; and I found myself thinking he can’t pull this one off. And then he DOES! And it’s a masterpiece!!!!! He is a very talented magician!
He sure is, Carla! That’s what makes it so much fun to watch.
His is beautiful, but so is yours, Shari. Just watching him on video is beyond, I cannot imagine sitting actually in front of him and watching him at it. As I recall (it’s been a while since I watched him), his look like a total mess until Voila! he pulls it all together. It does not happen like that for us normals. But, as you said, very entertaining.
Rita, that is exactly what happened almost every time. We all wondered how it would pull it together and suddenly it was done and it was gorgeous.
Your’s is gorgeous. I’m taking this workshop way down in NJ next weekend.
Ashley, I’d love to see what you do!! Have fun!!
What a wonderful learning experience!
And I love your painting style also!
It sure was! Thanks so much, Betty.
What an amazing opportunity. Your NY street scene: outstanding!
I feel very fortunate to have experienced this, Judith. Thanks for having a look!
I agree. I like your version very much. Thanks for describing his way of painting 🙂
Thanks Chris!
Fascinating! And I’ve forwarded your post on to Keith who did a workshop with Alvaro I’m guessing 10 years ago or longer and enjoyed just as much as you did.
Tony, so nice to hear from you. I remember very well that Keith also took a workshop with Alvaro. And I was wondering if he enjoyed it as much as I did. I’m glad to hear that he did. Say hi from me please!
Good Morning dear friend Shari,
Fantastic work, very truly speaking, I have no words.
All the best and good luck
Wish you happy days always.
Regards and blessings,
Uma🙏
I like his work too, it’s very moody and will keep an eye out for a workshop, maybe he will come to Toronto. Good for you taking the class and sharing with us your experience. Thank you!
wow…what a treat! i like yours better too..
Thank you!
You definitely got a lot out of the workshop since this is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing this with us.