Why take this class: In this class, you’ll paint a fresh, vibrant rock pool and waterfall using expressive watercolour techniques that celebrate movement, texture, and light.

We’ll work step by step, starting with simple composition and loose washes before gradually building depth in the rocks, foliage, and flowing water. You’ll learn how to suggest movement in water using brush direction, lift paint to create sparkle, and add texture with playful techniques like salt, spatter, and plastic wrap.

This class is ideal for all watercolour painters who want to loosen up, explore texture, and gain confidence painting landscapes with water. By the end of the class, you’ll have a complete landscape painting and a toolkit of techniques you can use again and again in your own work.

Key Techniques

Planning composition and masking areas
Wet-on-dry washes for water and reflections
Using brush direction to suggest movement
Creating rock texture with salt
Shaping form using tonal values
Plastic wrap (cellophane) techniques for foliage
Wet-on-damp layering for rocks
Lifting paint to create waterfalls and highlights
Adding sparkle with white gouache, ink, or acrylic
Spatter techniques for texture and atmosphere

A warm welcome to my class! Watercolour is an enchanting, magical medium, and by the end of this class, you will have the skills needed to create this joyous landscape scene of a little river waterfall tumbling over the rocks. The course is packed with exciting ideas and techniques. I will show you exactly how to paint every aspect of the scene from start to finish - you’ll get a real glimpse of what goes into my painting as you work alongside of me up-close and personal. I will remove the mystery of watercolour and show you how to discover new ways to unleash your creativity as you join me on this inspirational journey of start-to-finish demonstrations and techniques. As the video unfolds, you will see how colours work together, how to step into impressionism and push colour to capture the mood and essence of your subject. This class will inspire you to use watercolour in a range of different ways. Best of all, you’ll gain a real sense of accomplishment by creating your own beautiful, evocative River Waterfall painting.

Is this class for me? Absolutely, 100% yes! Watercolour basics are very simple to learn - like everything else it just takes practice to master, whilst also allowing the watercolour to ‘do its own thing’ and not trying to overly-control those ‘happy accidents’. All are welcome. If you are a complete beginner, you will learn the simple methods needed to paint with confidence. There are also techniques and ideas for those who already have some experience but want to loosen up a bit, become more expressive, and enhance their watercolour skills. You don't need to know how to draw, as I provide a template of the drawing for you to download and trace - so you can just concentrate on the fun of painting.

What will we explore? This course is packed with:

* Start-to-finish demonstrations so you can see first-hand how to build up the painting every step of the way. I verbally explain the entire process in a friendly and easy-to-understand manner.

* I’m a big believer in ‘learning by 'doing' rather than by lecture, so you will paint right alongside me, up close and personal and learn the skills in a practical way.

* Step-by-step guidance and best practice for a range of creative watercolour techniques - I'll be guiding you gently through the whole thing (eg, simplify a subject, paint water, wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, layering colour, blending and softening, adding depth and contrast with tonal values, using masking fluid to preserve white paper, using brush strokes to add texture to foliage, to name but a few!)

* Some of my favourite studio tips and tricks for successful working practices and saving time (eg, use scrunched up plastic or foil to stamp foliage colour, use salt to create abstract texture, use sandpaper and white gouache to add ripples, layer colour, use a watercolour pencil to add cracks to rocks)

What do I need? A selection of watercolour paints (at least one red, blue and yellow): a few watercolour brushes, paper, palette, water sprayer, paper towel, pencil, rubber, water pot - you'll probably already have some of these items in a cupboard somewhere.

Alright, let's do it! Come join me for a fun, creative class! Let's get going. Just follow the video boldly along, and you’ll soon have the knowledge and confidence to produce your very own River and Waterfall painting that zings with colour and energy.

I can't wait to see what you create!

My Artwork: I’ve been teaching people how to paint with watercolour for many years - you can see more examples of my artwork on my website: http://www.carriemckenzieart.co.uk

Donna Gannaway

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