David Webb's palette in Getting Started with Watercolour Painting

Getting Started with Watercolour Painting

Watercolour / Beginners / Landscape

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Course details

Over 5 hours of tuition in bite-sized segments, to give you a thorough grounding in painting with watercolours. Learn essential techniques that will help you to avoid common mistakes in watercolour painting.

Ideal if you are a newcomer to watercolours, we have designed this self-paced course to give you the tips and tools you need to get started, from preparing your materials to executing your work. The course offers a step-by-step approach and is structured in chronological order, ensuring that each concept builds on the previous one, making it easier to grasp and apply the techniques progressively.

seascape, painted in watercolours by David Webb

The course is taught by experienced artist and illustrator David Webb. David worked as an illustrator, mainly of natural history subjects, for over twenty years. He has written and illustrated various art books and regularly contributes articles to Leisure Painter magazine. Later on in his career David rediscovered his interest in painting with watercolours in a looser, more painterly style as opposed to his more detailed illustration work.

Drawing upon a wealth of experience, this carefully designed course harnesses David’s extensive background in watercolour painting. It offers an insightful and structured step-by-step approach, guiding you through the essentials of this beautiful art form. Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, you’ll find the tools and techniques presented here invaluable for your journey through the vibrant world of watercolour painting.

“The mistakes and problems commonly associated with watercolour are all things that I’ve had to overcome, and so it is quite satisfying to be able help a student to overcome their frustration and enable them to enjoy the medium”. David Webb

The course contains easy-to-watch demonstrations and exercises to complete at each stage. Begin by mastering brush and wash methods such as flat wash, graded wash, wet-into-wet and dry brush techniques, while learning to control paint-to-water ratios and avoiding common errors. Learn essential colour mixing techniques using cobalt blue, crimson and Indian yellow and how to create secondary and tertiary colours. Practice colour mixing both on the palette and directly on the paper, as well as layering washes to create glazes.

To consolidate your skills, complete three guided projects: painting a tree, working from a photographic reference and painting outdoors (en plein air). These projects help to develop your understanding of composition, form, light and shadow, and detail, helping you capture the essence of a scene. You will enhance your ability to notice details while sketching and gain confidence in mixing the necessary colours at home.

With six months of access, you will have ample time to learn at your own pace, watch the high-definition instructional films, and practice the exercises, helping you build confidence in using watercolour. It will serve as an excellent foundation for your ongoing journey with watercolour painting.

Course Content

This is a self-paced course consisting of five core chapters to set you up to paint with confidence.
Within these chapters are bite sized videos that will take you through the watercolour painting process step by step. A total of over 5 hours of instructional videos, to set you up on your watercolour painting journey.

Chapters include:

Setting Up: Introduction to the course, including information on brushes and paints, types of paper and workspace set up.

Brush and Wash Techniques: Learn essential watercolour exercises that focus on the right materials and the crucial paint-to-water ratio. Explore various painting techniques such as flat wash, graded wash, wet into wet, and dry brush. Discover techniques for applying watercolour while maintaining wash consistency and avoiding common mistakes.

Colour: Learn essential colour mixing techniques and build familiarity with colour combinations. Try methods of mixing colours both in a palette and directly on the paper and practise building up layers of washes to create glazes.

Stretching Paper: Learn how to stretch paper, an essential part of watercolour painting to prevent paper buckling and to achieve a smooth painting surface.

Projects: To further practice and develop your watercolour skills, David will guide you through three projects that build on brush and wash techniques and colour mixing. Elements include composition and frameing, building shapes and creating form, establishing tonal values, softening edges, depicting light and shadow, creating water effects, adding details and capturing the essence of a scene. The three extended projects in this course include: Painting a Tree, Painting from a photographic reference and Painting en Plein Air


What you will get out of this course

  1. An understanding of the properties of watercolour paint so you can have more control of the paint and get the effect you want.
  2. Confidence in colour mixing so you can develop your own personal palettes that you can recreate rather than rely on guesswork.
  3. The ability to put together your own watercolour painting kit and the knowledge to get the most out of it.
  4. Confidence in layering paint to create glazes.
  5. The skills to use watercolour paints to capture the essence of a scene.

Who would this course suit?

Whether you are a complete beginner in watercolour painting or looking to build your confidence with this medium, this course is an excellent starting point. With demonstrations and exercises to complete at each stage, it will help you gain confidence in using watercolours effectively.

Getting Started with Watercolour Painting

Watercolour / Beginners / Landscape

Purchase

Taught by

My teaching involves drawing, composition, understanding the importance of tonal values and the techniques required to paint successfully with watercolour. As its name implies, watercolour is a very fluid medium. It is transparent and relies on the whiteness of the paper to shine through a series of washes built up from light to dark.

FAQs

Art Courses

Do I need any previous art experience?

Not always. We offer courses for all levels, including complete beginners, intermediate students and more experienced artists. You can look for the experience level listed on the individual course page to find the most suitable option for you. If you need any guidance on what course might suit you best, contact on our friendly team on 01736 797180 and they will be able to help.

Online Art Courses

How do I log in to my online account?

To log in to your account, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to our website: www.schoolofpainting.co.uk
  2. Click on the ‘Log in’ button (usually found near the top right of the page)
  3. Enter the email address and you used when booking
  4. Click “Log in” to access your account

Once logged in, you’ll be able to view your bookings, outstanding payments, online courses and any relevant account information.

If you’ve forgotten your password, simply click ‘Forgot password?’ on the login page and follow the instructions to reset it.

If you have any trouble accessing your account, please email us and we’ll be happy to help.

Can I learn painting online from home?

Yes. Our online painting courses allow you to learn from professional artists wherever you are. You can pause demonstrations, revisit lessons and work through practical exercises in your own time.

Are online art courses suitable for beginners?

Many of our online art courses are suitable for beginners. Course descriptions explain the recommended level, materials and experience so that you can choose a course that feels manageable and relevant to your interests.

How do online art courses work?

Once you have purchased an online course, you can access it through your account and work through the video tuition and supporting resources at a time that suits you. Access periods vary from 60 – 180 days, just check the individual course page before booking.

For live webinars, once you book a place, we will share a link with you in advance so you can join us at the relevant start time – this is typically via Zoom. A recording of the webinar will be shared with you after the webinar so you can re-watch in your own time.

Do you offer online art courses?

Yes. We have more than 90 online art courses covering painting, drawing, colour, landscape, abstraction, mixed media and other creative subjects. The courses are taught by practising artists and can be followed from home at your own pace.

How do I choose the right art course?

Start by considering how you would like to work. You may want to learn a particular medium, improve a skill such as drawing or colour mixing, explore a subject such as landscape or still life, or develop a more personal approach. Each course page explains the content, materials, level and teaching approach to help you decide. Our friendly, helpful team are always available to help further.

Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options or email [email protected].

Who teaches your art courses?

Our courses are led by practising artists – including Jill Eisele, Alice Mumford, Iona Sanders and Neil Canning – all with extensive knowledge of their chosen subjects and materials. Each tutor brings their own artistic experience, working methods and approach to teaching, giving students the opportunity to experience a wide range of ideas and techniques.

In Person Courses

How large are your art classes?

Our studio courses are taught in small groups of around 10 to 12 people, allowing tutors to provide individual guidance alongside group demonstrations and discussions.

What is included in an art course?

Course fees include professional tuition from a practising artist and use of the School’s studio facilities. Materials and equipment are all included in our in person courses, workshops and life drawing sessions – so you can just turn up and get started. Teas and coffees are also provided throughout the day.

Can I attend an art course on my own?

Absolutely. Many students come to St Ives School of Painting independently. Courses offer a welcoming and sociable environment, with plenty of opportunities to meet other people who share an interest in making and learning.

How do I get my work home?

Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and for our 3 day courses we will give you a plastic folder with a handle. These are also available to purchase for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.

Please note: For the course Bigger, Bolder, Braver with Boo Mallinson, we will provide a large A1 size plastic folder for your work but please consider how you will be able to transport the larger canvases home safely before signing up for the course as we will not be able to store large paintings in the studio. On this course you will be painting on a 50cms x 50cms and a 1m x 1m canvas alongside smaller pieces.

For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home, postal costs will be borne by you.

What do I need to bring?

You don’t need to bring anything with you unless we specify beforehand. All materials, aprons and tools are provided, however some people do like to bring along their favourite set of brushes or sketchbooks.

What do I do for lunch?

Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.

What times do courses run?

Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.

Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival


Can I bring my dog?

The studios are busy places with lots of equipment and not suitable for bringing a pet dog. We can accommodate assistance dogs with prior notice so we can make suitable adjustments. If you wish to bring an assistance dog please call 01736 797180 or email [email protected]

Choosing an Art Course

Do you run life drawing classes in St Ives?

Yes. We hold regular life drawing sessions in St Ives, including Thursday evening and Saturday morning classes. These welcoming, tutored sessions are open to a range of experience levels and provide an opportunity to practise drawing from a life model. Our life drawing sessions are held just a 5 minute walk from our studios at The Island Centre.

Do you offer art courses for adults?

Yes. We run art classes and courses for adults throughout the year, from accessible introductory workshops to more intensive courses for people looking to deepen their creative practice.

What types of painting can I learn?

Our courses cover a wide range of approaches, including oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolour, gouache, landscape painting, still life, portraiture and abstraction. We also offer courses exploring colour, composition, mark-making and creative confidence.

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