Watercolor Specialization: From Beginners Sketches to Compelling Artworks

Inspiration / Julia Trickey

There has always been a demand for accurate portrayals of plants to aid identification, given their use for medicinal purposes and for dyeing fabrics. Although Botanical Art as an art form goes back hundreds of years, there are many contemporary botanical artists still painting in this realistic style. Here I will introduce you to some of my favourites and explain what I admire about their work.

Inspiration / Sarah Stokes

In this lesson, I will share some of the artists and conservationists that have influenced my work.

Inspiration / Urban Anna

I will share my main sources of inspiration. A couple of artists influenced my work, and I have learned from others. There are inspiring countries and cities I visited, but also online sources that filled my head with ideas.

Inspiration / Emma Thrussell

Next, I will share with you some of the main artists and works that have resonated with me and inspired me through the years.

Inspiration / Reha Sakar

Lastly, I'll tell you how I get inspired for my watercolor paintings. In addition, I will show you who and what helped me to develop my style and workflow.

Module 2

11 lessons (2h 44m)

Art Fundamentals and Visual Language

Now, I will talk about art fundamentals and visual language. Then, I will explain my principles and approach to watercolors. I will also show you some examples of compositions. It is very important that you always work on your composition fundamentals!

Introducing the Materials

I’ll start this lesson by introducing you to the materials you’ll need on this course. It can be hard to know what to look for when you’re starting out with watercolour, so I’ll talk you through what to consider when choosing sketchbooks, watercolour paint and brushes.

Dancing with Your Brushes

And now we will start to make marks! I’ll show you how to begin, how to familiarise yourself with your brushes and warm up your hands.

Taking Your Paintbrush for a Walk

Painting with a single line, we’re going to use our brush to explore a collection of objects - and discover playful ways of working in our sketchbooks!

In this lesson we’re going to let go of control and explore what happens when we add paint to wet paper. Expect the unexpected!

Flurry Burry

Here you will see me demonstrate a range of watercolour techniques using the key elements of water and colour. By varying the amount and proportions of these elements on your brush, you can create different effects and textures used for botanical painting.

Watercolor Techniques

Mixing and Matching Colours

Now, I will show you how to mix and match any colour, starting with just three paints. I will explain my version of the traditional colour wheel and discuss the character of watercolour paints. I will demonstrate how to recreate bright and muted colours using a limited palette. You can add other colours to your paint box, but having a basic understanding of how to mix any colour you need, starting with a limited selection, will help you navigate the choice of paints on offer.

Fruit can be shiny, juicy, stripy, dimpled, and incredibly varied. In this lesson, I will show you how to use different watercolour techniques to replicate some of these textures.

Painting Textures

The first notion I will teach you is how to make a value scale and how to layer up your watercolour paints. This will allow you to create a sense of depth.

Values and Layering

Next, I will show you how to create gradients and lighting with your watercolour palette. These can not only add texture to your piece but also create an extra layer of realism.

Gradients and Lighting

Limited colour palettes are a great way to show your own style in your art. Here I will explain ways you can build your own palette with colours that work for you and bring you joy. You will then use these for your project.

Color Palettes

Module 3

It's time to have some fun! In this module, I will teach you how to combine our understanding of colour, watercolour techniques, experimental mark making and collage to create playful illustrations.

4 lessons (1h 2m)

Abstracted Aviary

Now we’ve explored working with layers of colour, let’s combine this with detail to start creating playful illustrations in our sketchbooks!

Playing around with the unpredictability of combining wet materials, let’s explore ways of using this technique to create experimental images.

Diving into Discord

For the final lesson in this module, we will experiment with different tools and techniques to create watercolour patterns and textures, collaging these marks to create playful illustrations.

Playful Collage 1

16m

Playful Collage 2

Let's finish our frog collage. Remember that it's important to let yourself be taken by the flow of it. Try not to stick to a fixed plan when creating your composition.

To start with, I will show all the materials you will be using in this course. I will show my favorite tools and talk about how you are going to use them.

Module 4

In this module, you will delve into the world of urban watercolor illustration, guided by Astrid. You’ll learn to capture the hidden beauty of city life through watercolors and fine liners. From perspective to shading, you'll discover unique techniques to bring everyday scenes to life, culminating in a charming bookshop project.

12 lessons (2h 35m)

The Materials

Why Urban Illustration Never Gets Boring

People often ask me, don’t you want to paint something other than buildings? My answer is no; it never gets boring. In this lesson, I will tell you more about the possibilities and show you different ways to spice up a reference picture. Not one facade looks the same, and if the reference doesn’t meet your expectations, add extras like color or texture.

Perspective and Shading

I will tell you more about the one-point perspective and shading in this lesson. These two matters are crucial to making your artwork look three-dimensional and realistic.

Working with Watercolor

Now, I’ll show three ways to paint with watercolor and mix colors. I will show the different qualities you can achieve while mixing watercolor paints with water and with each other using two colors.

Painting Brickwork and Pavement

For an architectural illustrator, painting brick walls is an essential part of the process. There are several ways to paint bricks, and in this lesson, I will tell you more about this.

In the first step, I’ll show you why a particular building and its reference photo make the perfect subject to paint.

Choosing a Shopfront

The Sketch Phase

In this lesson, you'll learn to sketch out the composition using the reference photo of the bookstore. In this stage, you will create the framework for your artwork with a pencil.

Now, you are getting started with your masterpiece. In this lesson, you will learn how to draw a shopfront with a fine liner. I will teach you how to draw the basic composition and add as much detail as possible.

Drawing with Fineliner

The Coloring Stage: Layering and Larger Surfaces 1

Coloring the drawing takes a kind of strategy; you have to think before you start to paint. In this lesson, I will show you which parts of the drawing to paint first and why.

The Coloring Stage: Layering and Larger Surfaces 2

I will continue showing you how to color your artwork. Here, I will share my best tips and tricks to achieve an incredible piece of art!

The Coloring Stage: Brickwall and Details

The final part of the coloring is very time-consuming and sometimes needs a steady hand. In this second part of the coloring stage, I will show you how I paint the brick wall and color the rest of the illustration.

You have come to your illustration project's final and most satisfying stage, bringing the painting to life. In this lesson, I will show you that using a single shading stroke makes a lot of difference.

Finishing Touches

In this lesson, I will explain how to create a realistic drawing of our subject from life and from photographs. I will show you how to draw larger than life accurately and how to transfer the drawing onto watercolour paper.

Module 5

Here you can apply all that you have learnt so far to produce a realistic fruit study in watercolour. Starting with an accurate drawing, I will show you how to proceed with your painting in stages, focusing on one task at a time. This is your opportunity to develop your own style by choosing a subject that inspires you and using the techniques that you prefer, to create a unique, accurate fruit portrait.

7 lessons (1h 21m)

Observational Drawing

If your subject has tiny white highlights, pale veins, or a dimpled surface, you might consider using masking fluid to protect these areas before painting initial washes. In this lesson, I will show you when and how to use masking fluid at the start of any botanical painting.

Masking Fluid

Initial Layers 1

Now, I will show you how to paint the initial layers of your picture and discuss how to choose which watercolour techniques to use.

Here, I will continue showing you how to work on the first layers.

Initial Layers 2

Adding Textures

It's time for you to look at how to build up the colours of your subject and which techniques to use to introduce appropriate surface texture and character.

15m

Finishing Touches

Using a full range of tonal values brings any study like this to life, and adding even the smallest touches of dark colour can make a huge difference.

Adding the Background and Adjustments

A black background can add drama to a painting, so in this lesson I will demonstrate how to create this with gouache, how to mix the correct consistency and how to apply this to your painting. As such a dark background is a huge contrast to the original white paper, the study often needs some final adjustments, which I will also explain here.

Module 6

In this module, I will be showing you all the materials you will need for this course and we will start by looking at how important tone is. We will explore how watercolour is used to build up layers and how different brands and pigments vary in quality and application. We will then end by using black paint to paint a white horse.

6 lessons (1h 43m)

Tonal Values

To start with, in this lesson, I’m going to explain what value is, why it’s so important and how to see it.

In this lesson, I’m also going to show you how to draw a horse from a photograph using the gridding technique.

Gridding

How to Use Watercolour to Build Tone 1

Now, we’ll be looking at the basic layering techniques of watercolour, together with the differences between the qualities of paints, brushes and paper that you use.

How to Use Watercolour to Build Tone 2

Have you ever wonder how to work with the second layer? I will show you how to work with them, so you can get nice effects that will make your work better. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to do different effects by working the layers in different ways. Besides, I will give you some tips for you to know better your material, that way you will be able to do magnificent paintings.

It's time to start working on our horse. I will do it monochromatic so you will learn more about tonal values. To start painting it we will first focus on the eyes, ears, and nose, I will share with you some tips for you to work those areas.

Painting the Horse 1

Perfection is not going to be very important yet! For now, I will teach you how to get the values in the right place. If you are having problems with keeping the shapes of your paintings, don't worry because you will learn how to get those shapes back again.

Painting the Horse 2

15m

Module 7

You will learn how colours merge on paper by painting a cat, how to interpret complex patterns into loose colour studies by painting a fox. Next, I'll share some tips and tricks on how to mix a full range of colours in the painting of an eye. Lastly, you'll learn to breakdown and paint more complex areas such as fur, antlers and multi layered areas.

10 lessons (2h 34m)

First Approach to Colour 1

In this lesson, we will be working with just four colours from the tube and allowing them to mix on the paper to create a painting of a Siamese cat.

First Approach to Colour 2

You will learn how to mix the colours without concentrating them too much so you can get better tones and textures. You will see how to darken some places so your painting could look more realistic. We will bring this cat to life by working on its face, but sometimes watercolors are not enough for that, you will see how you can make some extra fine details with a pen.

Painting a Loose Colourful Study

We will now explore how to create a loose watercolour study from a photograph using five colours.

Let's now apply the first two layers of paint to the fox.

Painting the Fox

In this lesson you will learn basic colour theory and how this can help you paint animals more successfully.

Colour Mixing

You will then go on to paint a colourful eye with a full palette of colours.

Full Colour Palette

16m

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 1

In this lesson, you will learn how to render particularly difficult areas of an animal portrait such as antlers, horns, fur and complex multi layered areas such as chins.

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 2

Leopard spots can be difficult to work because if you don't do it right they would look just like a spot in there. I will teach you how to blend those spots and how to apply the middle tones so you can get the textures and colours you need. Then, you will learn how to work in darker zones. The most important part of this lesson is you see how mixing colours and using different brushes will help you make a very realistic painting.

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 3

Sometimes I like to give my paintings a wash off a colour that I think it's needed. Also, I will teach you how to apply the last details by using your fingers and a very thin brush. Finally, I will show you another example to work shadows and get some texture. You will learn how to paint the antlers. Remember, most of the time when you work on getting the right textures and tonal values it's about looking for the right colours and applying them correctly.

Masterclass in Texture and Shadow 4

Working with animals that have some kind of horns is going to take you some time because those required a lot of it. I will finish the example with the antipole. You will learn how to check all the tonal values, when to stop to make sure that everything is making sense, and how to blend the color to achieve the middle tones so you can get the textures and colours you need.

It's time to paint! Here I will show you some watercolor techniques, so let's splash some water, paint, and do some scratching!

Module 8

To begin with, in this module, you'll learn how to use some watercolor techniques! Then, I will teach you how to paint using a moody and beautiful photo by Fan Ho as a reference. For this painting, only Payne's gray will be used.

5 lessons (54m)

Watercolor Techniques

Let's get the line work done in this lesson! Before starting to paint, I will prepare a sketch of the piece, paying attention to drawing the shapes correctly.

The Sketch

First and Second Wash

Now, I will apply the washes: I will do a couple of layers of distant shapes with lighter washes, starting the second wash once the first one is dry.

Next, I will come closer to the camera. This means that it's time to achieve darker midtones. I will build the depth slowly, from far elements to closer ones.

The Midtones

The Fisherman and Final Details

In this lesson, I will paint the fisherman and add some details. In particular, I will add highlights and wires to connect things together.

Module 9

Have you ever paint a sunset scene? here you will learn the best tips and tricks to paint a sunset scene with many wires and poles in Kyoto, Japan. This is a very interesting, busy image. Don't let it scare you. I will show you how to simplify and paint it with fewer details but also make it look very, very rich.

4 lessons (33m)

Value Studies and Line Work

Value studies are extremely important before painting. Are you curious to know why? Here I will tell you everything about them!

First Wash and Buildings

In this lesson, I will start painting a beautiful sunset. I will apply light and mid-washes. Remember, the first wash is just colors.

It's time for the midtones, the hardest part! Here I will show you how to get the electric poles in the paper, from far elements to closer ones.

The Electric Poles

The Wires and Final Touches

Finally, I will add the wires and put the highlights in. There will still be time to splash some paint on the piece, but not on the sun!

Module 10

Let me teach you how to make a painting of a stag using wet into wet, layering and splashing techniques.

5 lessons (1h 11m)

First Layer 1

In this lesson, I will run through the palette and paints and then paint the eyes, nose, and ears to establish anchor points.

Now I will work on how to paint the first couple of washes working both wet into wet and wet into damp, establishing the first, light sections of colour.

First Layer 2

Let me show you how to darken the eyes and nose and add subsequent layers to the rest of the stag, lifting colour where necessary and reapplying darks.

Second Layer 1

During this second part of the lesson, you will learn how to correct your painting when it is becoming quite messy. Remember you will need to work in the same direction as the fur. Besides, I will show you where and when it's the perfect time to stop adding any more mix of colours in some areas, so you don't end up ruin all your work. As details are quite important, you will see how to work the exact details to help your painting to look more real.

Second Layer 2

Last, but not least, I will make any final amendments to tone, colour and texture and also add some splashes.

Finishing Touches

Generating and Sketching a Character

Module 11

Time to dive into a new project! I will show you, from beginning to end, how to create a character by sketching and transferring the design, painting with watercolours, and finishing with coloured pencil details. At the end of this unit, you will have all the tools to start working on your own character.

6 lessons (1h 29m)

To start, I will share my process for generating a character idea and finding my colour palette using my references.

Refining and Transferring the Sketch

I will now explain how to refine the sketch you just made and then trace the final design onto the watercolour paper.

Painting in Watercolours 1

Now, I will start painting! Here I will show you, step by step, how to paint a character in watercolours. I will start by doing some light washes, going from warm to cool colours.

Painting in Watercolours 2

I will now focus on gradients and shadows. Then I'll be adding colour to the surrounding elements, making sure to keep a good balance between warm and cool colours. Once that is done, I will start layering the watercolours.