Watercolor for Absolute Beginners

From Joan Iaconetti (Instructor):

For over 25 years, I worked as a non-fiction writer and a travel photographer. Fourteen years ago, I took up watercolor on a lark, and soon became pleasantly obsessed with it. Unfortunately, the two classes I took (both with accomplished professional artists) never covered the basics of working with watercolor, and left me confused and frustrated. As I taught myself from books, I began to put together the course I wish I'd been able to take - this course, Watercolor for Absolute Beginners.

​Most basic art classes just set up a still life and tell the students to start painting. That's fine, but it doesn't answer the dozens of questions that beginners have about how to use watercolors. Tubes or pan paints? What kind of paper and brushes are best? Damp paper or dry? How do I get those glowing effects without creating mud?

The Watercolor for Absolute Beginners class is different. It's designed from the start to "build in" success, with the right paper, paints, brushes, simple exercises, and patient instruction.

It's the right course for you if:

• You have never painted before and you suspect you "have no artistic talent"
• You have tried watercolor, but “just made a big mess”
• You have had some success with watercolor, but don’t know how to create the effects you've admired in watercolor books or in galleries

Unlike acrylics or oils, watercolor paints have a mind of their own - rich and juicy, yet unpredictable and hard to control. But learn to work with them, and they'll do most of the work for you. You'll study exactly how to handle the paints to get the beautiful effects only watercolor can provide.

No special artistic or drawing skill is necessary. Really.

Anyone, including you, can learn to do it - all it takes is practice and persistence. So take the pain out of painting. If you'd like to express yourself with watercolor, this is the easiest place to start.