WHAT TO EXPECT:
How to Watercolor Basics: Still Life is designed in the same, familiar format as my How to Draw Basics courses. That is, each class balances lecture, guided exercises, and in-class drawing assignments to create fun, engaging lessons that focus on the mastery of  techniques. Every class builds off the next, allowing for easy transition into more difficult topics and consistent repetition of ideas to ensure learners retain the vocabulary and techniques necessary to master watercolor. 

 In this class young artists will learn about watercolor materials, watercolor value studies, basic color theory, color charts, washes and glazes, composition and more. They should come away with multiple color charts, negative space paintings, composition thumbnails, and two still life paintings. And at the end, your learner should have the exercises they need to continue improving their artistic skills in addition to a passion for art! I am so excited to share my knowledge with your learner. 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE:
No background knowledge is required!

LESSON SUMMARY:
How to Watercolor Basics: 101 Materials & Playing with Paint: Our first lesson will begin with introductions and a course overview. After, learners will jump into a lecture that will discuss materials, basic vocabulary, and value studies. With this knowledge, your learner will create a value study using black paint. Then, they will paint an object using only black paint. This class will teach your learner about watercolor materials and how to take care of them, how to dilute and layer watercolors, important vocabulary, and how to complete a value study with watercolor. In addition, your learner will have clear expectations for the class. Your learner should come away with one watercolor value study and an object study. 

How to Watercolor Basics: 102 Color Chart & Monochrome Painting: Through a PowerPoint lecture, learners will be introduced to basic color theory and learn how to create a successful color chart. Learners will then be instructed to complete a monochrome painting of an object of their choice.This class will teach your learner basic color theory principles and vocabulary, what a color chart is, how to create one and how to use one, and allow them to continue practice mixing their paints. Your learner should come away with one full-page color chart and a monochromatic painting of an object or two.

How to Watercolor Basics: 103 Washes & Glazes: With the help of a brief lecture, learners will be taught about the three basic types of washes and glazing. After, learners will practice doing each type of wash in two ways: wet on wet and wet on dry. Then, learners will practice glazing by creating another simple color chart. This lesson will teach your learner a variety of basic watercolor techniques to refine the way in which they paint. They will learn several new vocabulary words, and get additional practice in painting. Your learner should come away with six wash squares and another color chart. 

How to Watercolor Basics: 104 Negative Space: Our fourth lesson will begin with another PowerPoint lecture that will teach learners what negative space is and why it is important to art in general. Negative space is that space around the subject (the positive space) and it is important to have a balance of both positive and negative space. Learners will complete a series of negative space drawings with an object of their choice. Then, they will recreate a reference photo using negative space painting techniques. This lesson will teach your learner the importance of negative space in watercolor painting, and how to do “negative” paintings. Your learner should come away with three small practice paintings, and one full-page painting of their reference photo of choice.

How to Watercolor Basics: 105 Free Painting: With five lessons under your learners belt, they have learned a lot of material. In order to ensure your learner retains everything that has been discussed in class, we will begin our fifth lesson with a review of the previous four. After our review, learners will be expected to finish any of the works or exercises they haven’t yet. Once all works and exercises from previous classes have been completed, learners will enter a free painting period. This free painting period will allow learners to practice all of the techniques we have learned (and reviewed!) and begin to define their own style. Practice makes perfect after all. During this class, learners will be encouraged to ask questions. This class is intended to give your learner the space to practice previously learned techniques in class and begin to develop their own style. Allowing for a practice and review session will be a vital part of how learners retain the information learned so far. Additionally, it will be a space for learners branch out and think creatively with no pre-defined assignment. 

How to Watercolor Basics: 106 Composition Fruit in Bowl Thumbnails: Our sixth lesson will center around composition. One of the most important elements to make your artwork impactful and unique is composition. This class is designed to teach your learner about what a composition is, and how to create a successful one through a PowerPoint lecture that introduces important vocabulary and practicing painting thumbnails.This course will begin with a brief PowerPoint lecture that will introduce important vocabulary such as open versus closed composition and explain the importance of composition on artwork. For the rest of the class, learners will practice composition by playing with the arrangement of fruit in the bowl, choosing colors, and painting various thumbnail sketches. Your learner will have an understanding of what composition is and how to create a successful one using the methods introduced in class. With this knowledge, they will be able to create more interesting and impactful artwork and be ready to continue to create a still life. They should come away with between four and six composition paintings. 

How to Watercolor Basics: 107 Fruit Bowl: Our seventh lesson will be entirely dedicated to working on and completing our classic still life subject, the fruit bowl. Before class begins, your learner should have prepared another fruit bowl to paint. For the duration of class, they will be working on their fruit bowl paintings. Learners will be encouraged to paint the forms and proportions they see, but to be creative with color choices and process. Your learner should come away from class with a completed fruit bowl painting and mastery of basic watercolor skills. 

How to Watercolor Basics: 108 Final Still Life: Our fourth lesson will be entirely dedicated to the completion of your learners final in-class assignment, the themed still life. Still lives are one of the most important works in an artist’s portfolio because they promote naturalistic thinking, the ability to represent a variety of objects, the ability to maintain consistent proportion, and the ability to capture a variety of textures. By this point, your learner has completed all the steps necessary to feel comfortable assembling and drawing a still life. This class is intended to promote individual and creative thinking skills in addition to being a culmination of all that your learner has learned so far. After this class, learners should have mastery of observational skills, basic color theory, values, and composition. They should be comfortable assembling and drawing still lives on their own. Your learner should come away with one full page still life watercolor painting. Once learners have completed their still life, they should upload them to the classroom page.