Technique Lessons

Watercolor Techniques Class Preview: How to copy an oil painting using watercolor. How to paint patterns. How to paint layers. How to sketch and color different sections of the whole art piece without being scattered. How to manipulate colors to give your painting more emotion. How to paint using primarily warm colors. How to fix mistakes and remove watercolor when you mess up. How to give your shadows depth and dimension. Paints: Holbein Artists’ Watercolors Indigo Cobalt Blue Cerulean Blue Cobalt Green Turquoise Blue Phthalo Blue Leaf Green Chromium Green Oxide Olive Green Cadmium Yellow Lemon Naples Yellow Quinacridone Gold Gamboge...

"What Should I Paint?" Watercolor Class Preview: How bad scenery can be your answer to, "What should I paint?" How to turn bad reference photos into inspiration for your next painting. How to analyze and plan a painting where you'll fix the reference photo as you go. How to sketch a wharf scene omitting basic shapes and re-compositing objects of interest. How to mix primary and complementary colors to achieve color balance and textures effectively. Using a toothbrush for the "splatter" technique on particular colors such as white paint. Paints On The Palette (Various Brands) Lemon Yellow Orange Bright Orange Permanent...

Watercolor Class Preview: How to study snowy trees to prepare for a painting How to sketch realistic snowy trees without too much symmetry How to draw and paint negative space How to paint a winter scene of snowy trees and a bush Learn how to paint shadows on snow Learn about composition and how it affects a painting How to use the “lost-and-found” technique Learn how to use contrast to create depth in a painting Paints On The Palette (Holbein Artists' Watercolors) Opera Permanent Alizarin Crimson Permanent Violet Mineral Violet Cobalt Blue Cerulean Blue Peacock Blue Manganese Blue Nova Ultramarine...

Watercolor Class Preview: How to paint an animal portrait from start to finish How to sketch effectively from a reference photo Why drawing simple shapes when you first begin your drawing Why it is best to draw lightly and not too heavy when making your sketch Why it is important to start with the light color values first and working your way to the darker values as you go How to create animal fur texture using a special brush technique How to create a focal point in order to bring attention to your painting How squinting can help you see the...

Watercolor Class Preview: How to plan steps for a mixed media painting How the watercolor resist technique uses masking tape or painter’s tape How to use a masking pen for special star effects How to use oil crayons with watercolor for special effects What is glazing and how to apply the technique How to use a watercolor technique with rubbing alcohol to create special effects How to use wet-on-wet watercolor techniques to create colorful background effects How to use colors to make elements pop Paints On The Palette: Naples Yellow Cadmium Lemon Cadmium Yellow Cadmium Red Alizarin Crimson Rose Tyrien Perylene Violet...

Watercolor Class Preview: How to paint an abstract landscape Learn about the variegated wash technique and how to execute it effectively in your painting How to make a preliminary sketch of a landscape painting using a reference image What to capture in your initial sketch and what to avoid How to access the values in your painting using a reference image How to paint a dramatic sky using a wet-on-wet variegated wash technique How to paint hard to reach places or awkward angles in your painting Why it is important to paint light colors before darker colors How to control...

Watercolor Class Preview: Steve Curl gives a live lesson to a live audience, complete with questions from the audience Learn about composition and design and how to get the best out your rectangular paper space Learn about the golden mean and how its guidelines can help you decide on the composition of your painting Learn about the beginner shape mistakes to avoid Learn about viewfinders and how they can help you when planning and capturing your painting Learn about the benefits of being a plein air painter, which is painting directly from nature How to create a thumbnail sketch to...

Watercolor Class Preview: Learn some basic techniques and tricks you can use in your watercolor painting Learn about liquid frisket, how to prep your paintbrush to use frisket, and how apply frisket to your watercolor paper to preserve areas of white before you begin painting How to mix and apply a gradient wash to your watercolor paper Learn a wet on dry wash technique and a wet on wet wash technique and the different effects you can achieve Learn the advantages and disadvantages of using synthetic and natural hair brushes How to soften a hard edge of a section of...