One year ago, The Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Course appeared among TPK’s educational offerings. Today, I’m bragging on students and chatting about why this course is the best virtual watercolor course available.
In April of 2021, I found myself in an unexpected position. I had a 3-month-old newborn (to be clear, that wasn’t the unexpected part) … and lots of peace and quiet. Unlike my first child, who had been a wailer from day one, my second baby was placid and sleepy. When I wondered what to do with what felt like “bonus” time, I realized that I was in the perfect position to put together a beginner’s watercolor course. After three months of designing, filming, and editing, the The Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Online Course was ready and launched in July of last year.
Since 2015, Painting with Watercolors for Beginners has been one of the most read articles on the TPK Blog. Based on that article’s popularity, I knew that a watercolor online course would be a popular addition to the Digital Catalog. With over 10 hours of video lessons, The Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Online Course is the most content-packed course on this website. All video lessons include quizzes and homework assignments, so you can expect to spend 25 hours or more watching the videos and completing your homework. While you could finish the course in a month, a more realistic goal is three months. That said, you have all the time you need: your access to the learning material never expires. In the video below, I’ll walk you through exactly how to enroll in the course and what to expect:
Note that the course requires a few key supplies. You can find a list here.
First of all, it’s been fun to see students’ work in the Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Course Facebook group. In that group, people share their progress and cheer one another on in such a cool and encouraging way! I’ve really enjoyed seeing variations on the basic exercises and observing how everyone has a different approach to learning.
The basics are pure fun, though. I worried that after the foundational lessons, I’d “lose” people in Lesson 4, which focuses on contouring. Contouring isn’t as exciting as other exercises; it’s technical and repetitive, but very necessary. To my delight, learners have shown up to that lesson invigorated and willing to work. Several people who completed the course commented that out of all the lessons in the course, they learned the most in Lesson 4!
After contouring, learners move on to projects like a peony, a building, and a butterfly. There’s a portrait unit at the end that can be arduous. I can’t say I was surprised, though, when learners rose to the occasion. Everyone has brought their own style and strengths to the course, and the portrait unit was no exception!
The cherry on top came for me when student Christl M. sent me a book she’d helped to illustrate. She said:
“I took a week-long intensive course in how to design and make a children’s book. There were six women in the class. We were given the Edward Lear poems, and chose two of them each. … My two pages are the young lady with the big nose and the old person of Nice (with the geese). … We had ONE day to come up with our design, and one day to paint each page. *I wouldn’t have had the confidence to do this without your online watercolor class.* Your gift keeps on giving!”
I love seeing people’s coursework. Some of the most fun projects to look at, though, are the original projects that the coursework empowers people to make. Christl’s book is a great example of that, as are the mimosa and the galaxy artwork by course student Alice P.
Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Course student Paloma M. used her new watercolor skills to make mystical and playful pieces. I particularly love her skull artwork, about which she said:
“This (October) is the most wonderful time of the year in Mexico, and using some techniques in the course I made this!!” – Paloma M.
After completing the course, student Audrey S. decided to make a portrait of her house. She said:
“Completing TPK’s Watercolor Online Course (especially the architectural video) has motivated me to tackle my house-portrait. I stood out front and took a snapshot of my house from across the street, completed a pencil-sketch, and today I just finished outlining the pencil-sketch with black waterproof ink. This has been very time-consuming, but I’m getting much satisfaction from it. I’ll gradually add watercolors over the next few days! Thank you Lindsey!”
Audrey shared updates, taking recommendations and feedback from fellow students, until the house portrait was finished:
Many, many other students created original cool projects, too. This is just a small sampling of what people shared on Facebook! If you’re enrolled in the course, you can join the Facebook group (find a link to join on the main course page) and browse through the “Media” section. Note that you don’t have to join the Facebook group to take the course. It is 100% optional!
For me, one of the interesting aspects of an on-demand course is how learners approach it. Learner Rose H. told me:
“You are such a wonderful teacher! I’m enjoying working through this course at an intentional pace, slowly savoring each activity and lesson. I’ve been watching each video twice. The first time, I take notes. The second time, I practice along with you. I’m enjoying the practice activities. I love the idea that you expressed about unexpected things happening while using watercolors, and the unique nature of each piece. There are so many life lessons in all of this! Thank you so much!” – Rose H.
Meanwhile, student Tracey T. wrote:
“I’m really enjoying the watercolor course. I’m a mom of three young kids who works full time during the week, and I have my husband hang out with the kids for at least an hour every weekend so I can decompress, learn, and make something pretty. It’s been so great for my mental health, and my watercolor skills are quickly developing!” – Tracey T.
To learn any new skill, commitment is key. So, if you do enroll in the course, make a promise to yourself to incorporate it into your routine for the next three months or so. It’s a wonderful companion for evening or weekend downtime, and it offers a relaxing pastime that’s just challenging enough. I like Rose H.’s approach of taking notes, then doing the project along with me. The course is something to be savored, not conquered.
It’s important to do all of the exercises in the course, even if you find a few of them challenging. That’s the point: to solve problems and make progress! That way, when you endeavor to create your own watercolor pieces, you’ll have plenty of experience under your belt. I really wanted to make sure that the course would walk you through everything, and, based on the feedback I received in the last year, I am confident that the course meets its goal. So, when you start the course, trust that I’ll meet you exactly where you’re at and help you to build up!
“I highly recommend this watercolor course! I loved Lindsey’s teaching style. She guides you through specific exercises and projects of increasing level of difficulty as you progress through the course. By the end of the course you realize you have learned the basic skills needed to paint any object, not just the specific subjects covered in the course. For me that was invaluable and I’m looking forward to trying the other watercolor tutorials on the TPK site.” – Julie G.
Reflecting on the past year of the Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Online Course, I am thrilled to see the growth, progress, and joy that it has brought to students. I invite you to embark on your own watercolor journey by enrolling in the course, too.
The Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Online Course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive and immersive learning experience. With over 10 hours of video lessons, quizzes, and homework assignments, you’ll have all the tools you need to develop your skills and unleash your creativity. From foundational techniques to more advanced projects like florals, buildings, and portraits, you’ll gradually build your expertise and gain confidence with each lesson.
I understand that everyone has their own pace of learning, which is why students enjoy lifetime access to the course materials. Take your time, savor the experience, and enjoy the flexibility to revisit the content whenever you desire. With downloadable resources and a supportive community of fellow learners in TPK’s dedicated Facebook group, you’ll have all the support you need throughout your watercolor journey.
We are excited to welcome you into the watercolor community and witness your artistic growth. Celebrate with TPK as we enter year two of the Ultimate Beginner’s Watercolor Online Course. Embrace the possibilities, explore your creativity, and paint your world with beauty.
Happy painting!
Warmly,
inspiration in your inbox
TPK’s innovative newsletters and tutorials are a regular artistic treat. Join the 125K+ subscribers who have already discovered The Postman’s Knock, and receive 10% off your first Digital Catalog order.
