NEW BONUS LESSON ADDED: Paint beautiful koi fish and build on everything you've learned in the challenge!

🎉 Summer Giveaway – Win 1 Year of Skillshare Premium!

Complete all 8 paintings from the challenge (including the new koi fish bonus lesson) and upload your project by August 31st to enter. One lucky student will win a 1-year Skillshare Premium membership!

Read full giveaway details here →

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Ready to learn watercolor step by step—without the stress? This class is a 7-day watercolor challenge designed to help you build confidence, develop strong painting habits, and master the most important watercolor fundamentals.

Whether you're a complete beginner or just feeling stuck, this class offers simple, approachable lessons that guide you through sketching, texture techniques, shading, and expressive painting—without overwhelming you.

Each day includes:

A short, focused technique exercise
A fun, beginner-friendly demo painting

And now there's a Bonus Day 8 lesson featuring a beautiful koi fish project—perfect for practicing expressive watercolor effects with minimal layers.

What you'll learn:

Drawing fundamentals: essential skills to observe and sketch your subjects confidently
Watercolor fundamentals: tools, materials, setup, and core techniques
Sketching basics: quick, proven methods to draw any subject
Watercolor effects: wet-on-wet, splatters, salt, lifting, masking, and more
Shading: how to shade with both pencil and watercolor
Tips & tricks to loosen up and enjoy the painting process

How this class works:

This class is designed as a 7-day challenge. Each day, you'll complete one short exercise and one demo painting. Lessons are beginner-friendly and real-time paced, so you can paint along without rushing.

You’ll find downloadable resources under “Projects & Resources,” including materials PDF, sketches, references, step-by-step images, and scans to guide you.

By the end of this class, you'll feel more confident with your tools, understand how watercolor behaves, and most importantly—enjoy the process of painting.

You'll also have a clear understanding of how to approach different subjects—from first observation to sketch to final painting. This class will help you develop your eye for structure, values, and composition, while building the muscle memory and confidence to continue exploring watercolor on your own.

I'm excited to see your projects—especially your koi fish bonus paintings!

See you in class, Jane-Beata

Kathleen Barnes

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