Why Follow this Class?

Learn watercolor painting in a step-by-step, simple and relaxing Beginner Landscape.

I have made it easy to follow even for those who have never held a paintbrush before! A no-pressure, relaxing painting lesson with basic materials and no drawing skills are needed.

In this lesson you will learn:

How to set up your paper on a board
The basic techniques of wet on wet, and how the variation of density of paint gives different effects
How to create realistic clouds, easily
How to paint a reflective body of water
How to paint vegetation without getting bogged down with details
The basics of composition and how to create a feeling of perspective
How to use salt to create texture

Sometimes it can be daunting actually getting our paints out. We can be stuck for inspiration and looking at other people’s work makes watercolor painting seem so complicated. In this lesson, we will not need to do any drawing, so that already eliminates part of our fear! Then by creating a finished landscape - maybe it will even be your first - you will feel not only empowered to paint more often and feel less intimidated by the medium, but you will also realize how therapeutic and relaxing watercolor painting can be. And remember, action creates motivation!

Without having restraints given by trying to copy a photograph, you will learn that accidents along the way are normal and that you can change your mind as you go along and do corrections, to actually use those unexpected outcomes; accidents that can inspire your next brushstroke even.

Quite a metaphor for our lives if you think about it.

This is a good place to start to build up your skills as a watercolor painter if you are a beginner, you don’t need any previous experience.

Materials :

A small palette of watercolors. I used the Winsor and Newton Cotman travel box, which are good quality and cheap to buy, but any student-grade watercolor paints will do with the following colours or similar:

Yellow Ocre

Lemon Yellow

Cadmium Yellow

Burnt Sienna

Alizarin Crimson

Burnt Umber

Sap Green

Viridian

Ultramarine Blue

Phtalo Blue

Chinese white

Cad red pale

Some 300g/140lb watercolor paper (semi rough, cold pressed). I used Arches from a small block.

Two brushes:

One larger for covering larger areas with washes.

One for smaller marks (but not tiny!)

I used size 3 and 14 squirrel mops (real hair)

A pot of clean water

White masking tape

A drawing board or scrap of quite sturdy plywood

Oh! and by the way, I haven't used any background music (my taste in music may not be similar to yours) so listen to your favourite music as you paint!

Dara McGowan

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