Available Tutorials
On this page you are able to browse through the most recent watercolour projects and discover what's available through membership. If you're not a member and would like to join the Online Watercolour School click 'subscribe' to find out more about the different pricing plan options or if you would like to join my In-Person classes complete the contact form and I will get in touch with you! Not sure if you want to commit yet? Why not become a website member for FREE and try out some of my 'Free to Members' videos and get painting!
Christmas Gift Tags
In this lesson I will show you how to create 6 different gift tag designs which you can use to add a special touch to your gift giving. These designs aren't just for Christmas though ~ why not adapt them to add that special touch to a birthday or anniversary gift too?!
Each of the designs are perfect for beginners as they are quick to paint as they use the direct brush method ~ there is no drawing required. To start, I will show you how to design simple shapes for your tags. Then you will work onto dry, using colours of your choice to build up small elements such as leaves and berries using basic brush strokes. All of the ideas are interchangeable so be as creative as you wish!
Folk Art Forest
In this lesson you will learn how to select and simplify natural forms to create a range of stylized tree shapes. You will use these to develop your own imagined landscape. You will select and layer your designs thinking about the overall design and layout of your painting. Once ready, you will curate your own colour scheme, taking into consideration how colours can be used together for different effects. You will work onto dry, layering colours as you add your own design ideas. Once your painting is complete, you can choose to embellish your designs using colour pencils, metallic pens/paint, colour markers, gel pens etc.
Paint Pears!
In this lesson you will get to grips with one of the key watercolour techniques, working into wet and layering multiple colours. I'm going to encourage you to develop your own composition through the creation of thumbnail sketches. To begin, you will layer colour, building up values to create form. You will then add detail, working onto dry in a range of hues to add the russets. To complete your painting you might like to add a frame using colour pencil.
Flowering Artichoke
In this lesson you will create a simplified drawing of a flowering artichoke. You will start by working onto wet to establish a soft base colour and then use masking fluid to reserve areas to create the thistle-like top. You will then work onto dry mixing a range of colours on the surface whilst looking closely at how the colour combinations alter as you tackle each of the individual bracts (leaves). You will add texture to the flowering crown building up the individual strands using a range of hues and a fine brush. Once complete, you will work onto wet to add areas of shadow to create the illusion of form.
Duck Feather
In this lesson you will learn how to draw a feather from real life thinking about shape, line and proportion. I will show you how to draw your feather step-by-step and then how to apply colour wet into wet to achieve soft, natural edges. To build up the blue and teal hues you will work onto dry, mixing the colours directly on the paper to achieve a natural blend. You will work wet into wet to create the soft barbs at the base of the feather and then work onto dry using a Rake to add fine details using stippling on the main body of the feather and fine brushstrokes to recreate the soft, uneven edges.
Pretty Cottage Windows
In this lesson you will have the opportunity to try your hand at either one or two of the painting tutorials. Both tutorials cover a range of the basic watercolour techniques so this is a good one to try if you are new to watercolour. Much of the colour will be applied onto dry, giving you more control of the paint on the paper. You will build up areas from light to dark and use a damp brush to blend and merge colour on the surface of the paper. You will create detail using a fine brush and add texture using the 'dry brush' technique. If you are a more experienced painter you can add your own ideas and change the colours and planting schemes or perhaps use your own photo reference as a starting point.
The Blue Frog
In this lesson you will create a frog portrait, looking closely at the range of values from light to dark to achieve the illusion of shine and three dimensions. You will start by masking the highlights to reserve the white of the paper. You will then gradually build up the colour working in layers, starting with your palest colours first and dropping in darker values to create the illusion of form. You will work wet into wet to blend and layer colour as you apply the stronger values. Once the main body colour is complete you will remove your masking fluid to reveal the white highlights. You will then work onto dry to add the detail of the markings, paying close attention to how the colours change across the surface of the body.
Spring Garland
In this lesson you will learn how to create a range of flower and foliage shapes using just your paintbrush and no drawing! First I will show you how to build up petal and leaf shapes in the techniques videos. Once you have mastered the basic techniques you will select your chosen Spring elements and arrange these in your own wreath composition thinking about size, scale, shape and colour. This project is perfect for painting hand-made cards!
Winter Water Tower
In this lesson you will use a range of resist techniques to describe a snowy skyline. To begin you will use masking fluid to create the settled snow. You will then use a combination of white and grey Oil Pastels across the surface of the paper to create the falling snow. You might also like to use clear wax to add more snow if desired. Once complete you will tint your background with a grey wash to add a muted hues. Colour will be added using both the wet on dry technique and the wet into wet technique. If desired you can also add a gouache spatter for a misty snow effect.
Artist Master Class ~ Clarice Cliff
In this lesson you will discover the vibrant patterns of the Art Deco designer Clarice Cliff. In this project you will become the designer as you select both the patterns and the pottery shapes to create your own composition. This tuorial is great if you're a beginner as you can choose to just draw and paint one object or if you fancy a challenge you can create a whole page! Once you have decided upon your composition you will use the outline shapes to add the pottery pieces and then hand draw the designs using pencil. Once your drawing is complete, we will look closely at the Cliff colour palette and try to recreate her use of colour. This is a great way to improve your colour mixing skills. Colour will be applied onto dry so the shapes remain crisp and achieve the Art Deco style. Once complete, you can add the fine outlines using a black fineliner pen.
Pheasant Feather
In this lesson you will learn how to draw a feather from real life thinking about shape, line and proportion. I will show you how to draw your feather step-by-step and then how to apply colour working in layers to build up the base colours followed by the pattern. You will mix colour thinking about values and how these change from one section to another. You will work wet into wet to create the soft barbs at the base of the feather and work onto dry using a Rake to add the barb details to the main body of the feather. You will also add texture and detail using a blade to scratch the surface of the paper.
Winter Wolf
In this lesson you will create your background working wet into wet using a cool colour palette. You will develop your own composition by lifting out colour to describe trees, and then use salt to create a snow-flecked appearance. For the wolf you will work in two layers. The first will be wet into wet, blending colour on the surface to achieve a soft, base colour. You will add the fur colours working onto dry, mixing colour on the paper. Then you will add the soft fur texture, using a combination of a wet brush and more salt. To complete the painting you will again work onto wet giving form to the foreground and create detail and contrast by adding soft, wintry trees using charcoal.
White California Tree Poppy
In this lesson you will learn how to create form in a white subject by looking at the shadows. To begin you will use masking fluid to reserve small areas of the white of the paper. You will work wet into wet to build up the base layer of the central yellow stamens and then use detail to give the stamens realism and form. You will add multi-coloured cast shadows, working onto dry and blending colours on the surface of the paper. For the white petals you will look closely at the different values from light to dark and loosely recreate these in paint before adding texture using clingfilm. To complete the painting you will add a dark background to give the white petals a strong contrast which will make them appear even whiter and brighter.
Highland Cow
In this lesson you will learn how to create movement in your painting by using the direct brush method. You will first mask highlights to reserve the white of the paper and then apply pale washes of colour wet into wet to build your base layer. Once dry, you will use direct brush and a range of hues and values to build up the multi-directional hair. This is an excellent way to improve your brush technique as you will need to alter the pressure of your brush to achieve different weights of line. Once complete, you can add more dynamism to your painting by adding a little spatter.
Globe Artichoke
In this lesson you will learn how to develop your own ideas, thinking about scale and composition. You will then discover how to blend and merge colours on the surface of the paper as you complete each bract. You will learn how to create the illusion of form to achieve a three dimensional feel. This project will encourage you to consider how to alter the value and hue of your colours as you work across the surface of the artichoke.
Abstract Bottles
In this lesson you will learn how to select and create your own composition and use this to develop two separate, abstract paintings. You will discover how to select and test transparent pigments which you will then mix and layer to achieve a range of values. I will show you how to paint using the 'positive' painting technique layering colour wet onto dry. Then you will use the 'negative' painting technique to develop a more complex result.
Fruit Sensation
In this lesson you will learn how to create illustration style fruit slices using the direct brush method. You will create your own design using the fruits of your choice to make an individual, lively painting. You will use a range of basic watercolour techniques including working wet on dry to build up the simplified shapes. You will drop in colour wet into wet and blend colours together to add interest and detail. You will layer colour and use the lifting out technique to create hi-lights. Throughout the painting you will develop your creative confidence by making choices about composition, colour and scale.
Wee Watercolour ~ Decorative Eggs
In this lesson you will learn how to use a range of different techniques to create beautiful, decorative egg designs. You will develop your own designs and apply paint using your own colour theme. You can select and combine a number of techniques to create your own ideas and individual designs. You will learn how to use masking resist to create pattern. Plus how to use the 'direct painting' technique to draw a range of different designs. Once complete, you will discover a range of ideas on how to embellish and decorate your eggs to make them eggstra special! I will also show you how the completed eggs can be used on cards, in a frame or even as a decoration!
Puffin Portrait
In this lesson you will learn how to create a portrait of a Puffin in flight. You will first consider your composition and scale of drawing, to give a greater illusion of airiness. Then you will discover how to focus the viewer's eye by working onto dry to complete the head and beak. To add the illusion of soft plumage you will work both wet into wet and also onto dry ~ introducing a wet brush to create backruns and subtle changes of values.
Winter Landscape
In this winter landscape you will discover how to use a range of different tools and techniques to help loosen up your painting technique. You will work wet into wet and use salt to add texture to the sky. In the mid-ground you will use the dry brush technique and scratching out to add texture and detail. Then in the foreground you will layer colour to create a tapestry of interwoven organic forms using expressive brush strokes, scratching, spatter and water spray. Finally, you will incorporate ink pen to add areas of detail using lively, expressive drawing.
Wee Watercolour ~ Christmas Tree Decorations
In this set of 5 different videos you will learn lots of basic watercolour techniques. Each video is self contained so you can do just one or try them all. These 'Wee' Watercolours are simple to complete and are great for beginners or they would make a fantastic introduction to painting for younger artists (with some adult supervision). You will work using collected items around the home including wax, crayons, string, cardboard and cookie cutters! You will discover wax resist, layering and printing. You can also develop your own ideas and embellish your completed designs with metallic markers, coloured pencils or felt tips. Once complete you can use these as gift tags or even make decorative bunting.
Artist Masterclass - The New Yorker
This original painting by A Kronengold adorns the cover of the October 1932 edition of the New Yorker magazine. By studying this painting you will discover how the artist used perspective and a limited colour palette to create this dynamic image. Did you know that recreating the work of other artists will encourage you to try new ideas and techniques? In this project you will use masking fluid to reserve the highlights and then work onto a coloured ground. You will work mainly in Monochrome and learn how to mix a wide range of tones, by just adding water to your paint. You will also learn how to use additional media such as chalk pastel to add hi-lights and how to apply typography onto your work.
Harvest Mouse
In this lesson you will learn how to create the illusion of a fur texture. You will layer colour using soft, light values working wet into wet to create a fluffy base layer. You will then use a Liner Writer or Rigger Brush to add directional strokes of colour, building up values from light to dark to create a fur texture and to give the mouse form. You will also learn how to use a range of values to create expression in the eyes, using masking fluid to reserve the highlights first. For the poppy seed heads you can experiment with the Derwent Graphitint Colours and to finish use colour pencils to add the fine details.
Summer Daisies
In this lesson you will learn how to create your own composition. You will reserve the white of the Daisies using masking fluid with a ruling pen and the Cow Parsley using masking fluid with a textured sponge. You will layer colour wet into wet and reserve colour using masking fluid and textural grasses using wax. You will then layer more colour using stronger values. To finish you will build detail using directional brush strokes and spatter onto dry. To complete the flowers you will add colour to the Cow Parsley using sponging techniques and create form in the daisies using a range of values.
Elephant Portrait
In this lesson you will learn how to draw an animal portrait from scratch. You will discover how to plan your composition, and create a simple outline looking at scale and proportion. Find out how to use your pencil as a measuring tool and how to use the negative space to make your drawing more accurate. You will add detail and build tone using a range of graphite pencils before applying your watercolour. You will then apply loose layers of paint using 3 values to build form.
Fruit Patisserie
In this lesson you will reserve highlights using masking fluid, then apply colour using a variety of techniques. You will mix colours on the surface of the paper, work wet on dry and wet into wet as you layer a range of values to create form. You will also glaze colour across the surface to alter the hue & vibrancy of the paint. To complete your painting you will use the lifting out technique to create the strawberry pip details.
Colourful Spring Nest
In this lesson you will use a combination of collage, direct brush and masking resist to build up layers of colour. You will be encouraged to develop your own composition, considering the format and scale of your painting. This painting can be personalised at every stage and you will be encouraged to think about your colour palette ~ how the colours mix on the surface of the paper. You will also add texture by creating backruns, spatter and salt.
Artist Master Class ~ Flower Fairy
In this lesson you will discover the illustration style of Cicely Mary Barker. You will work using a palette of delicate pastel colours to recreate the Snowdrop fairy. You will learn how to mix light, ethereal colours. How to merge colour wet into wet. How to layer colour to create depth and form. You will also consider your use of line by adding ink to your finished piece.
Miami Facade
In this lesson you will learn how to use non-granulating paint, to create a flat watercolour wash. You will apply the paint wet onto dry and discover how to move the paint evenly across the surface of the paper. Once your base colours are complete you will overlay transparent colour onto dry to achieve different hues. You will then enhance this technique using masking fluid and a ruling pen to create fine details and beautifully straight edges. I will also show you how to use the same ruling pen to apply watercolour paint and achieve neat lines of colour.
Artist Master Class ~ Beatrix Potter
In this Artist master class you will discover the work of Beatrix Potter and learn how she used soft pastel colours to create her beautiful illustrations. You will layer colour wet into wet and wet on dry building up depth and detail. Lastly you will add a touch of fine line pen to complete the look.
Rusty Car
In this lesson you will experiment with different techniques and discover how to create the illusion of glass, chrome, peeling paint and rust. You will use masking fluid as a resist. Salt to add texture. The wet onto wet technique to create softness and the wet onto dry technique to create hard edges. You will also learn how to create form by layering colour from light to dark.
Rainbow Zebra
In this lesson you will learn how to enlarge an image using a drawing grid. Create form (the effect of three dimensions) using softly blended colour. Experiment with exciting vibrant colour and learn how to blend them together to create new ones. Learn how to add dynamism to an image using spatter.
Cinque Terre
In this lesson you will learn how to use a variety of wet and dry media and combine these to create a mixed media painting. You will learn how to approach a painting without a drawing, by blending and mixing colours on the surface of the paper. You will create depth by layering colour onto dry using a square brush and you will learn how to create a simplified line drawing using ink pen. To complete the painting you will add touches of colour pencil to add accents and interest to the landscape.
Sunlit Landscape
In this lesson you will create depth and contrast in your landscape. You will use under-painting to establish your values and give your finished painting a sense of warmth and sunlight. You will also create the illusion of distance using aerial perspective and use sponging techniques to build up foliage.
Geese
In this lesson you will learn how to tackle a white subject, looking at the range of values (light to dark). You will discover how altering values can provide greater contrast and give your painting more depth and definition. To do this you will use a range of different brush techniques including dry brush, stippling and direct brushwork to create a range of textures. You will also work wet into wet to create the illusion of distance.
Macarons
In this lesson you will learn how to create form by building up layers of colour using a range of values from light to dark. You will practise working work wet into wet to achieve softly blended colour and wet on dry to achieve the illusion of the macaron holes. You will also see how to add a touch of spatter at the end to give the finished painting a dynamic, lively appearence.
Poppy Seed Heads
In this lesson you will learn how to create a loose interpretation of poppy seed heads. You will learn how to mix colour on the paper, and how to create texture using both backruns and dry brush. You will also develop your mark-making skills, using pen onto wet and dry, plus how to create movement using spattering.
Lily Illustration
In this lesson you will create a range of values (light to dark) using paint and develop an understanding of how to create matching tones using pencil shading. This will help you to really see and recreate painted values in your work ~ thus giving your paintings more depth and realism.
Artist Master Class ~ Edmund Dulac
In this lesson you will discover the work of Illustrator Edmund Dulac. One of the renown illustrators from the 'Golden Age of Illustration', Dulac has a beautiful, romantic style and a sensitive use of colour. Studying his work will allow you to unpick his use of techniques and understand how to add atmosphere and mood. In recreating this painting of 'Gerda and the Reindeer' from 'The Snow Queen', you will use a range of the basic watercolour techniques including using wet into wet, wet onto dry, layering and glazing whilst considering your use of line and brush marks. We will later add detail using pen work and a fine brush to really capture his style. This is quite an involved painting as it takes time to layer the paint and build subtle changes of colour ~ but you will discover the incredible level of skill and time it takes for a professional illustrator to bring stories to life.
Autumn at Hever
In this lesson you will learn how to adapt a photograph to create an atmospheric autumn landscape. You will start by applying muted colours onto wet to create softly blurred edges and the illusion of distance. You will add foreground colours onto wet to softly build up blended autumnal hues in the tree canopy. Then you will layer colour, adding soft details working onto dry, blending away hard edges with a damp brush.
Eagle Owl
In this lesson you will work using the two main watercolour techniques. You will use a combination of wet into wet to describe soft feathers and you will work onto dry to achieve crisp detail and focus on the eye. You will use masking fluid to reserve bright highlights in the eye and feather details and then build layers of colour working first onto wet to create a soft background wash. You will add detail into the eye, gradually building up colour and values to create realism. You will then work onto both wet and dry as you build up the textures on the face looking closely at the colours as you apply directional brush strokes. For the plumage on the body you will work onto dry allowing colours to mix and blend on the surface, using water to soften edges and add salt to achieve soft, dappled colour. To complete the painting you will use the lifting and scratching out techniques to exaggerate highlights and texture.
Italian Vineyard
In this lesson you will discover how to adapt a reference photograph to add interest and perspective to a landscape. You will also learn how to select a colour palette to create the illusion of distance, plus a range of techniques to enhance the illusion further. You will work mainly wet onto dry to add foreground detail whilst you consider your use of values (light and darks). You will also use the wet into wet and lifting out techniques to develop your sky. Colour will also be mixed on the surface to create softly, merging hues and values, whilst texture will be added using the dry brush technique.
Artist Master Class ~ Henri Edmond Cross
In this Artist master Class you will discover the work of French painter and printmaker Henri Edmond Cross. Working in the late 19th Century, Cross is described as a 'Neo-Impressionist'. To recreate his style you will experiment with mixing colours, thinking about their hue and their value (light or dark). You willl also look closely at his techniques to achieve a similar style. You will work applying colour onto dry building up smalll directional brush marks. You will mix colours on the surface of the paper, encouraging the colours to transition softly.
Sailing Boat Reflections
In this lesson you will discover how to paint the illusion of intricate reflections. To begin you will reserve some of the white paper using masking fluid, looking closely at the fine reflected lines in the water along with other areas where there is fine detail woven between strong colour. You will then establish the cast shadows onto the boat and into the water working onto dry. Once complete, you will add colour mainly using the wet on dry technique to build up blocks of colour. Soft shadows will then be added onto wet to create a sense of form. You will also use the lifting out technique to create soft sheen on a few surfaces and the illusion of dappled light.
Bluebell Minis
In this lesson you will learn how to select and crop images to use in your own composition of mini paintings. You will work to develop your own arrangement of images considering size and scale. I will guide you through each of the individual paintings using a range of basic techniques. In the main you will work onto dry using the direct brush method to build up colour and detail to create an illustration or sketchbook study page. You can select from any of the studies, which include: a close up flower, a cluster of stems, plus three different landscapes depicting bluebells in their woodland habitat. Once complete, I will show you how to create a subtle frame around each painting using templates and an embossing tool.
White Relief Carving
In this lesson you will learn how to mix a range of values from light to dark using just one colour and varying amounts of water. This is a great skill to master, especially if you're new to watercolour. Once your colours are mixed I will show you how to create a tonal scale to help identify different values in your painting. Once complete you will use your single colour to recreate the image of a white relief carving. I will show you a variety of ways of how to identify different values in your photo reference, and how to apply a range of basic watercolour techniques including: wet into wet, wet on dry, dropping-in, mixing on the surface and blending.
Zebra Finch
In this lesson you will learn how to paint this sweet little finch. You can decide how many birds you would like to paint and in which pose, to create your own composition. To begin we will use masking fluid to reserve the white speckles and the high-light in the eye. We will then work in sections to add colour and detail. You will work wet into wet to create the soft plummage and then wet onto dry to add stronger shapes and fine detail.
Porlock Landscape
In this lesson you will learn how to adapt a photograph and alter the format and composition to create a panoramic painting. To create a Japanese woodblock/Anime style you will outline the shapes in the foreground using a waterproof pen and then work using a limited palette of muted hues.
You will mask some hi-lights along with the breakwater posts and then apply a wash over the sky, lifting out clouds. You will work onto dry and drop in colour for the distant hills. In the mid-ground you will layer colour onto wet and in the foreground you will work onto dry adding the sand and then wet into wet to create the soft reflections. For the rocks you will work onto each one individually mixing colour on the surface.
Artist Master Class ~ William Morris
In this artist master class you will discover the work of William Morris. Morris is renowned for his textile and wallpaper designs which were created in the late 19th Century. You will select your chosen design and then apply it to your chosen silhouette shape. Once your design is complete you will add colour wet on dry to build up the layers from light to dark. In this tutorial you will have the opportunity to really develop you colour mixing and matching skills. This will involve really looking at the hue and value of each colour. Once your silhouette shape is complete I will show you how you can take it one step further and create cards, gift tags, gifts or even 3D decorations.
Station Suitcases
In this lesson you will draw onto your watercolour paper with water soluble fine line pen so that the ink will dissolve and mix with the paint as you apply it. This will create the illusion of an aged look. You will add colour to your suitcases, directly from your pans mixing and merging colour on the surface. You will then add texture by dropping in colours. Once dry you will add shadows onto dry to give your painting a sense of form. You will add detail using dry brush and also use a scalpel to scrape the surface of your paper to create the illusion of the worn surfaces. To complete your painting you can choose to add a back ground. Add just an outline drawing for a simple, contemporary look, or activite your ink pen with water to create areas of tone.
Beach Huts
In this lesson you will learn how to create your own composition, thinking about size and scale. You will be encouraged to develop and incorporate your own ideas so you finish with a painting as unique as you! Once your design is complete you will mask areas you wish to reserve and then consider your own colour palette. For this painting you will work onto dry, adding colour to personalize your individual huts. Your painting can remain as an illustration or you can enhance the painting by adding cast shadows to create a sense of form. A simple background can also be added if you wish.
Fun Fruit & Vegimation!
In this lesson you will learn how to create a stylized outline drawing of an everyday object such as fruit & veggies. You will add watercolour onto dry and create form by building up simple tonal values. You can also choose to embellish your illustration using colour pencils and fine line pen. Once complete you might like to create your own cartoon characters using the outline drawings provided. Use your design skills to select or create your own outfits, facial expressions and limbs to achieve a personalised character. Once complete I will also show you how to create a short animation of your character using a simple Stop Motion animation technique.
Oast Houses
In this lesson you will use a lot of different basic watercolour techniques to build up a sunlit landscape. To begin you will work wet into wet to add the sky, lifting out cloud shapes. You will work onto dry to add form to the clouds, blending and softening with a damp brush. You will establish your base colours working wet into wet and then add more depth and detail using both the wet into wet and wet on dry techniques. To build up the foliage you will use the direct painting technique, mixing colour on the surface, plus the dry brush technique to add texture to the grasses.
Seagull Splash!
In this lesson you will learn how to develop a range of textures using a variety ot techniques and tools. You will make your own tin foil applicator to reserve the white of the paper using masking fluid. You will apply colour wet into wet and create texture using salt, plus backruns by introducing a wet brush. For the seagull you will work onto dry, blending and softening edges and layering colour to create form. You will also have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of brushes including a Hake, a Rake, a stiff-bristled brush and a selection of round brushes and a Liner Writer.
Artist Master Class ~ Constant Duval
In this Artist Master Class you will learn about French graphic artist Contant Duval. You will consider his use of shape and colour as we translate this Lithograph into a watercolour. You will learn how to create a flat and a variegated wash to establish the background colours. Then you will also work onto dry, using the glazing technique to overlay colour to create different hues. You will also learn how masking fluid can be used to aid the application of flat colour and to reserve areas of established colour.
Spring Frame
In this lesson you will learn how to create a range of beautiful spring flowers just using your brush. Using the direct brush method you will consider the amount of pressure you use and the direction of each stroke to create Crocus, Grape Hyacinth and Forget~Me~Nots without using a pencil. This technique will develop both your brush techniques and hand-eye coordination as you learn all of the shapes. Once you have discovered how to create the flowers you will design your own composition and colour theme. To complete your flower frame I will show you how to apply and transform lettering using a range of techniques and media to create a truly personalised painting.
Belgravia Shop Front
In this project you will learn how to translate a photograph into a line drawing to create a simplified illustration. You will then simplify your colours and apply these mainly onto dry. You will consider value ~ creating muted colour for the windows and bold colour for the exterior. Later you will add a sense of depth using darker values to add shadows. For the optional brickwork you will measure, draw and then mask the brick patterns on top of a base colour. To add colour you will work wet into wet mixing colours on the surface. To complete your painting you have the chance to use a white paint/ink marker to add the shop lettering and any high lights.
Artist Master Class ~ Cyanotype
In this Artist Master Class we will be looking at the photographic process known as Cyanotype. This early form of photography really lends itself to the recreation of natural forms. In this lesson we will reserve the white of the paper using masking fluid before applying loose colour over the top. We will create a soft natural look using water to develop soft edges and 'blooms'. We will layer the masking fluid and darker tones of Prussian Blue to produce a layered image akin to a Cyanotype. To finish we will use a dip pen and the lifting out technique to draw more subtle shapes and create depth.
Festive Illustrations
In this lesson you will have the opportunity to recreate a range of winter inspired illustrations. You can select which ones you would like to paint and then use your imagination to develop your own designs and colour palette to really make them your own. You will work using resist techniques to reserve the hi-lights. Then apply colour mainly onto dry. You will develop form and work wet into wet then drop in stronger values. Once complete you can even embellish the paintings with metallic markers. Perfect for use on cards and gift tags.
Autumn Lamp
In this lesson you will learn how to build loose layers of colour to create a vibrant Autumnal painting. You will work wet into wet, adding spatter to establish your background shapes. You will then layer colour using a range of techniques including: working wet onto dry to establish strong leaf shapes. Using a water spray and a damp brush to dissolve and soften edges. You will strengthen areas creating edges by painting the negative space and develop areas of contrast by layering darker hues. To complete your painting you will draw the lamp using a water-based fine line pen which you will blend and dissolve with water to create a softer drawing.
Holiday Snaps
In this lesson you will learn how to use lots of the basic watercolour techniques to create different landscape and holiday scenes. You will work on a small scale in the Polaroid format using wet into wet to blend colours on the surface and you will work wet onto dry using direct brush to build up detail and textures. I will also show you how to develop and display your paintings using different techniques.
Spider Web
This lesson is a great introduction to some of the most basic watercolour techniques ~ as such, it might appeal to a younger audience. Note: If you decide to try this project with your 'wee one' please remember to supervise them at all times. In this lesson you will learn how to use masking fluid to create a simple resist pattern. You will then select colours and learn how to mix them on the surface of the paper using the Wet into Wet technique. You will also discover how you can embellish your work using iridescent medium, plus add more detail using the wet onto dry technique.
Moroccan Mosaic
In this lesson you will learn the 'mosaic' technique. This illustration style can be adapted in many ways and will encourage you to think about your colour palette and how you can simplify an image into basic shapes to enhance the mosaic feel. You will have the opportunity to apply colour in a variety of ways, depending on what effect you would like to achieve. You will work wet onto dry to achieve areas of flat colour and you will also learn how to mix and merge colour on the surface. To achieve the mottled background you will work in layers, first working wet into wet to create soft, blends of colour and then onto dry to create delicate hard edges.
Eric Ravilious
In this lesson you will discover the techniques Eric Ravilious used to create his striking, stylized landscapes. You will consider your use of colour to create muted values. You will also develop your brush work skills, learning how to create form using directional brush and layering techniques similar to those used in print making. You will also learn how to add texture using dry brush.
Echinacea & Bees
In this lesson you will learn how to create your own composition thinking about size and scale. You will create your image using direct brushwork building up layers of colour from light to dark to give the illusion of form. You will work onto dry to create hard edged silhouettes, then create soft edges and backruns by introducing a wet brush into the paint.
Vintage Book Stack
In this lesson you will create form using graphite pencils to build up the initial layers of tone. You will then overlay muted watercolours, wet onto dry, across the graphite to create the illusion of aged books. You will also use a variety of techniques to create the different decorative styles on the book spines. These include: masking resist, direct painting, wet onto wet and the use of gold metallics to apply the lettering with pen.
Sunlit Winter Woodland
In this lesson you will learn how to compose a landscape without a drawing. You will discover how to use 'lifting out' techniques to describe light. You will also work wet into wet to achieve diffused colour and wet onto dry to define shapes. You will develop texture using dry brush, detail using a natural sponge and create highlights using a scalpel.
Lake District Landscape
In this lesson you will learn how paint reacts when you place it onto very wet paper, semi-wet paper and onto dry. You will also experiment with water and learn how to create cauliflowers, blossoms & blooms in your paint to achieve natural, organic shapes. This technique will help you to understand how to control your paint therefore showing you how to achieve a looser, less controlled style.
Autumnal Wreath
In this lesson, let nature inspire you and learn how to develop your brushwork skills using direct painting techniques. Use your brush to draw basic shapes and develop these using different colour and layering techniques. Then discover how to use a selection of autumnal elements to create your own composition.
Hydrangea Abstract
In this lesson you will learn how to blend colours so they beautifully transition from one to another. You will work wet into wet to create a softly blended background, then develop your painting using layers of colour. You will create each petal individually working wet ino wet and create new colours by dropping in different hues. You will also build up form and detail as you layer each stage of the painting. Once you have developed the technique you can add more sections to your painting to form your own abstract.
Potting Shed
In this lesson you will develop your drawing and mark-making skills using ink pen. You will take control of the finished look of the painting by discovering how to select and mix a range of different colours of your choice and by making decisions on how much colour you use. This will help you to give this illustration style painting a personalised feel.
Keys
In this lesson you will create 5 different watercolour keys using a range of techniques. You will use watercolour paint to create 3 of the keys using resist and salt to create texture. In another you will mix colour on the paper and in the third you will layer colour to build up hues and values. I will also show you two alternative watercolour methods using watercolour pencils and Graphitint pans.
Landscape Skies
In this lesson you will learn how to paint three different types of sky to us within a landscape painting. You will use lifting out to create clouds in a summer sky. You will create a stormy sky mixing colour on the paper, layering, lifting and backruns. You will also create a sunset sky by blending colour washes.