First Steps
BEGINNERS & BEYOND
Student feedback
'With regard to 'First Steps', I am really enjoying the course.
You are not only an extraordinary botanical artist but also a great teacher. I do think so.’
CM, Rome, Italy
May 2020
First Steps
Features all basic equipment knowledge and watercolour techniques for a confident start
Please read the T&C’s.
Make the right start or take a refresher
How will you enjoy creating botanical art if you struggle and feel out of your depth?
A solid foundation of materials knowledge, basic brush handling skills and confidence across a variety of watercolour techniques is essential.
The key to confidence is practice. Little and often. Relax into this in your own home without the pressure of the classroom.
This course draws on many years experience of face-to-face teaching beginners and those seeking a refresher the most direct way to consistent results.
What is the structure?
This course is designed to cover not just the 'how to'... but also 'why' and 'when' of watercolour for botanical art.
Short streamed videos will show me demonstrating each technique. Exercises allow you to try them, at your own pace, and repeat until you gain confidence.
Bringing all the techniques together you will then follow along with a step-by-step painting to consolidate your knowledge.
What will you learn?
- Choosing art materials and brushes
- Setting up a good workspace
- Understanding paper…why use hot pressed?
- The properties of watercolour pigments
- Watercolour wash technique - various kinds
- The water to pigment ratio
- Glazing technique
- Dry Brush technique - various kinds
- Working on damp paper
- Working on dry paper
- How to remove pigment and tidy edges