Get The Best From This MediumWatercolor Bootcamp
Learn the tricks to handling beautiful, unique medium
A handful of techniques are all that are needed for the most sophisticated painting
What to Expect
What You’ll Learn
This course is mean for those learning track is meant for those with very little experience in watercolor, from rank Beginners to those who may have “dabbled” a bit. AND, for anyone who is still struggling with blooms, streaks, and muddy passages, no matter how much experience.
The lessons start with the most basic information and techniques, combines easy paint projects and includes videos to help you evaluate your finished work.
❋ Learn The Four Basic TechniquesWatercolor painting comes down to a few basics. You’ll use all of them in every painting.
❋ Avoiding The Major ProblemsBlooms - Streaks - Mud. These are the major consequences of poor technique. All have the same underlying cause.
❋ Looseness With ControlThe expressive nature of watercolor requires freedom and fluidity. Build confidence in your ability to ‘let go’!
❋ Edges And TexturesExplore the expressive possibilities with available textural techniques
How It Works-
Browse our upcoming events to find the one that feels right for you. We host events year-round in all different locations and climates.
-
Sign up and pay all required fees to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the retreat start to receive a 50% refund.
-
After booking, we'll send you a Welcome Packet with everything you need to know—detailed schedules, packing list recommendations, add-ons to consider, and more.
-
We'd recommend booking your transportation to and from the event as soon as possible, to ensure you can arrive without any complications or delays.
-
Now all that's left to do is pack your bags and get excited for your new adventure.
Big Ideas,
Real Impact
Thoughtfully crafted to elevate what matters most.
Driven by curiosity and built on purpose, this is where bold thinking meets thoughtful execution. Let’s create something meaningful together.
Week 3 - Pre-Class Tutorials
These tutorials present two more important watercolor painting ideas. The first is a “how not to” video that addresses a common impulse to avoid. The second presents the idea of allowing color to mix on the paper, rather than on the palette.
Tutorial 1 : Wet-In-Wet Technique
We have a couple natural tendencies when starting out in watercolor. Both are usually detrimental to successful paintings.
Pre-determining and generalizing our color choices. This is especially true when working from a photo
Doing too much mixing on the palette - can lead to overly dull, neutralized color and 'mud'
This is a tutorial to watch only - you don’t want to copy what’s happening within!
Tutorial 2 : Dry-In-Wet Technique
A Crucial But Often Overlooked Technique
The best way to mix color so as to keep it fresh, luminous and with incomplete mixing that simulates subtle light effects on the landscape.
This tutorial demonstrates the method on a simple barn scene at a small (about postcard) size.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
PAINT -Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna
BRUSHES - Medium Size Round (#14 or #16)
PAPER - Two sheets of Professional Grade Watercolor Paper, about 5” x 7” each. Saunders (St. Cuthbert’s Mill) 140lb Cold Press Paper is Recommended - rather than the Arches paper mentioned in the videos.
OTHER MATERIALS - Support Board and Tape for the edges : ARTISTS TAPE is recommended rather than masking or drafting tape.
Week 2 - Pre-Class Tutorials
Add two additional techniques to your repertoire and learn the wash that makes any shape or object more visually interesting.
PLEASE NOTE: THE VIDEOS RECOMMEND USING ARCHES 140LB COLD PRESS PAPER.
MY CURRENT RECOMMENDED PAPER IS SAUNDERS (ST. CUTHBERTS MILL) 140LB COLD PRESS PAPER.
Tutorial 1 : The Graded Wash
The graded wash is really a version of the Wet-In-Wet technique. Gradations add much to a painting, not the least of which is the visual interest and ability to represent subtle light effects. It is a technique that should be learned, mastered, and used often in your work.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
PAINT -Ultramarine Blue, Raw Sienna
BRUSHES - Medium Size Round (#14 or #16)
PAPER - One sheet of Professional Grade Watercolor Paper, about 7” x 11” each. Saunders (St. Cuthbert’s Mill) 140lb Cold Press Paper is Recommended - rather than the Arches paper mentioned in the videos.
OTHER MATERIALS - Support Board and Tape for the edges : ARTISTS TAPE is recommended rather than masking or drafting tape.
Tutorial 3 : Graded Wash Applied
Practice using the graded wash to enliven the painting with passages that create the subtle light effects apparent in most landscape scenes.
This is more a sketch than a painting but can be developed into a more finished work of your own. Doing so requires a more complete finished sky areas and just a bit of added detail.
Download the drawing layout and image of completed painting below.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
PAINT : Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Red, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna
BRUSHES : Large (#18 or larger), Medium (#14 or #16), Small(#8or #10) Rounds and a Rigger
PAPER : A piece of watercolor paper about 6” x 8”. Saunders (St. Cuthbert’s Mill) 140lb Cold Press Paper is Recommended - rather than the Arches paper mentioned in the videos.
OTHER MATERIALS - Support Board and Tape for the edges : ARTISTS TAPE is recommended rather than masking or drafting tape.
Tutorial 4 : Blooms, Streaks, Mud
There are three main things that can go wrong with watercolor
Blooms
Streaks
Mud
All three have the same underlying cause. This lesson shows what causes the problems and how, sometimes, they can be fixed.
Tutorial 3 : Drybrush & Lift Techniques
These two round out the list of essential watercolor painting techniques. They are used less frequently than wet-in-wet and dry-in-wet but are especially useful for adding texture and a sense of detail without getting fussy.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
PAINT - As noted in video
BRUSHES - Medium Round (#14 or #16), 1/2” Flat
PAPER - A couple small sketches of landscape scenes to practice the techniques