Resources and classes for World Watercolour Month 2021
World Watercolor Month happens internationally every July. This event is all about celebrating watercolour and the wonderful community of artists who love this medium as well as an opportunity to dip your toe in to learning if it’s been on your heart.
I love a good 31-day challenge list but I don’t love prompts that can feel like they are adding to your to-do list and make you feel panicked or failed for missing a day - yuck! Time is precious and we all have different demands on our time, so my encouragement would be to intentionally carve out some time you can really enjoy for a watercolour project or class this month, you know what they say “Learn the rules so you can break them like an artist.”
When I learned to start painting as a child, there was no Youtube or PDF downloads for quick tips and tricks. It was offline and all came down to my two primary resources for learning: my grandmother and books. So much of my learning was in the making (and making lots of mistakes) - my gran was an encyclopedia of knowledge, being an artist herself, and I’m so grateful for the very personal experience I had.
Looking at what is available now, a watercolour education isn’t reliant on a degree or having an on-hand teacher or mentor like I had. It’s a combination of three things key knowledge + consistent application + developing creative confidence.
I have taken the greatest joy in creating classes both free and paid for budding watercolour artists to take steps in their journey to embracing this medium and using it to celebrate their creativity. You have more resources now than you could hope for to get started (from any artist around the globe!).
So what could be hindering you from starting? Here’s a shortlist of some things it may be:
Your opposition as a beginner:
Overwhelm you know there’s a lot out there, but you don’t know where to start or what to focus on and it puts you off from starting.
The comparison trap you have yet to begin or have just started and you’re already comparing yourself to people who paint every day for a living. It dampens your creativity where you really just need encouragement and enthusiasm.
Expectation vs Reality where you are frustrated that what’s in your head, isn’t what comes out on paper and you don’t know how to consistently repeat techniques
Your creative confidence is low it’s all so new and you know where you want to be, but you can’t help feel disappointed with where you are so you feel “why try anyway”
You’re not alone in these feelings because we all start there! So if watercolour has been on your “to learn list” why not make World Watercolour Month the time to make it happen? Below I have listed all of my available resources to set you up for a life-long journey of loving this medium that can teach us so much about creativity and ourselves.
🎨Answer to Overwhelm: Free Supply guide list
Don’t let supplies stop you from painting - you’ve got creativity in you. As one of my most frequently asked questions, I’ve created a FREE beginner supply list guide to help you make the best choices for your budget and skill level and take as much overwhelm out of your supply selection as possible!
🎨Answer to Comparison trap: Start simple free Watercolour mini-course
Nothing to get in over your head over and a perfect way to start! A fun and free watercolour mini-course where you’ll learn to paint varying layers of transparency and mix subtle colours and tones in creating your very own colour study.
🎨 Answer to expectation vs reality: Take a step-by-step class
For World Watercolour Month this July I am running a 15%off special on all of my composition classes with the code WATERCOLOURMONTH. In each class, you’ll learn how to mix the colours for the composition, how to paint each flower individually and then receive a class workbook to trace out the final composition for your frame-worthy piece!
• Lectures are recorded so you can pause and rewatch as needed
• You have 12 months to access this class so you have a year to learn and re-learn
• Bring the joy of creativity into your space and learn how to paint something new
🎨Answer to creative confidence: Sign-up for the course Watercolour Made Simple
My signature online watercolour course meets you where you (even if it’s messy) and supports you in celebrating your creativity step-by-step, making painting a healing, inspiring place of self-compassion and celebration of the gifts you have within. This is your bigger investment into building a solid foundation not only in skills but also in your confidence. This course is only available for sign-up twice a year but I am making it available this month at 15% off with the code WATERCOLOURMONTH 🌈You have two-year access to the course so you can learn, pause, progress and repeat all in space and time that works for you!
There is a healing and celebration that happens when we open ourselves up to new learning and creativity. I hope that the resources I’ve listed above encourage and uplift you in discovering your creative confidence and celebrating the kind of creativity you can embrace simply and beautifully in your everyday life.