Watercolor for Absolute Beginners
Learn the basics of watercolor in a playful, relaxing, and non-intimidating way.
“Watercolor is such a difficult medium to master…”
This has been said time and time again. And it’s not wrong - watercolor is one of the hardest art mediums to learn, and to work with. It’s irreversible in a way acrylics and oils aren’t. The watery paint behaves in unpredictable ways, and mistakes are difficult to fix.
But these are also the reasons so many of us are drawn to watercolor painting. It has a magical, mystical quality to it, as if it has a will of its own. You never know what’s going to happen when you put brush to paper. You’re never fully in control. Which is why a finished painting can sometimes feel like a little miracle.
The first time I tried painting with watercolor, like many of us, I hated it. Since I had only ever painted with acrylics, I struggled to make the watercolors do what I wanted. I struggled to enjoy the process. And I hated everything I painted. I went back to my acrylics and forgot all about this dreadful, impossible medium. 😅
Until one day, back in the spring of 2020, when I - burnt out, depressed and on sick leave from my job as a freelance writer - decided to give watercolor another go. And this time, instead of pulling up a reference photo and trying my damnest to create a photo realistic masterpiece, I did the opposite. I started painting loose, wild, vibrant abstracts.
And that’s when I finally got it. I understood the true soul of watercolor, and how to work with it, not against it.
Watercolor became my teacher, helping me let go of perfectionism, fear of the blank page, and my need to control everything in the creative process. I could finally learn the basics of this medium in a playful, relaxing way, without overwhelm and frustration. And this time, I fell madly in love with watercolor painting.
That’s the experience I would like to give you, with this course.
Introducing: Watercolor for Absolute Beginners
If you’ve been curious about starting a watercolor practice, but feel a bit intimidated by all of the tips and tutorials out there - this course is for you.
You’ll learn:
- How to select good quality (affordable) watercolor painting tools and supplies.
- How to set up a comfortable and inspiring workspace in your home or studio.
- The basics of color theory and how to mix any color you want.
- How to select colors for your paintings that look great together.
- How to control the darkness, vibrancy, and transparency of your paints.
- How to control water - in your paint mixtures and on the paper.
- How to use household items to achieve interesting textures and effects in your paintings.
- And most importantly, you’ll learn how to face the blank page without fear, how to embrace the unexpected, and use this beautiful medium to express yourself and enjoy the calming, therapeutic effects of art making.
The curriculum
The magic of watercolor
Why watercolor? Let’s take a look at some of the unique perks of painting with watercolor, some common beginner challenges, and how best to approach learning this infamously tricky medium.
Everything you need to get started
Here, you’ll learn all about tools, and materials for watercolor painting. What you need, what you don’t need, and how to select the best watercolor supplies.
Setting up your watercolor workspace
In this lessons, I guide you through setting up your ideal workspace for watercolor painting, along with some extra tools you might want to consider getting.
Getting warmed up
How do you get over the nervousness of putting paint to paper the first time? By starting out really gentle, with some color swatching and brushwork doodles.
Your very first watercolor painting
Let’s face the blank page together, in a deeply relaxing exercise that you cannot ever fail at.
Color
“How do I know which colors to pick?” “What colors look good together?” “How do I mix any color I want?” This lesson adresses all of these common beginner questions.
Value
One important characteristic of color is "value": how light or dark a color is. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to control the value of your colors when you paint.
Color poems
Let’s explore the relationship between colors with a beautiful, relaxing exercise I call “color poems”.
Water control
Learning to paint with watercolor means learning how to control, and utilize the behavior of, water. In this lesson, I’ll teach you the 3 main methods of applying paint (and water) to paper.
Color explosion
You’ve practiced controlling your water. Now, let’s try un-controlling it for a bit, in a fun and meditative exercise I call “color explosion”.
Abstract nature painting
Your final painting project - the one where you’ll utilize all of the techniques you’ve learned in this course - is an abstract painting inspired by nature. 😌
After this course, you will...
✔️ Know how to source all of the tools and suppies you need for your watercolor practice.
✔️ Be all set up in your watercolor workspace, ready to start painting regularly.
✔️ See color in a new way, and be able to mix any color you see on your palette.
✔️ Understand the basic techniques of working with watercolor to achieve the look you want.
✔️ Have a few go-to exercises to turn to whenever you don’t know what to paint.
✔️ Feel more playful, relaxed, and confident in your art practice.
✔️ Have a small collection of vibrant abstract paintings under your belt.
✔️ Be ready to apply your skills to other subjects, such as landscapes, florals, or still lifes.
“I have been exploring watercolor for about 2 years now. I wish I had met her when I first began my journey. This class is PERFECT for a beginner with no knowledge of watercolor as well as a review for those with more experience. Louise is a wonderful teacher with a calming and peaceful teaching style.”
Watercolor for Absolute Beginners
✓ 11 video lessons ✓ Accessible on any device ✓ 7-day money back guarantee
Frequently asked questions
How do I access the course?
The course is hosted right here on my website. You will first create an account, then you’ll be able to log in at any time to access the course.
You can do this on your computer, phone, or other device.
Can I ask questions throughout the course?
Of course! There's a comment field underneath each lesson where you can ask questions. Or if you prefer, you can always reach me via email.
Can I upload my work and get feedback?
This is a self-paced course. There are exercises and projects in the course, but they’re there for your learning and enjoyment. Nothing is shared or submitted for feedback.