Charging and glazing are two watercolor techniques used for mixing, blending (unifying), diffusing, lightening, adding value, and even making subtle color changes (balancing, adjusting, fixing, etc.)

Have you tried these techniques but ended up with something muddy or dull or opaque? I have a few simple exercises to share that will help you understand the ins and outs of these two techniques and how to apply them to your paintings.

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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Supplies:

Round paintbrush (anything that is not thirsty - avoid Neptunes)

Flat / One stroke brush (1/2" - 1")

Transparent watercolors (Any paint that does not cover a black sharpie line will work. If the black line shows more or less, then it is semi-transparent. If the black line is not covered at all, then the paint is transparent. I will have a tutorial on Instagram to show how to discover which of your...

Watercolor painting is beautiful in and of itself, but let's explore a way we can enhance it with another lovely technique, cross-hatching. Cross-hatch illustration also stands on its own in its beauty when done right, but I like to use it as a way to make my paintings pop off the page. Incorporate these two styles and mediums in to one for a work that is detailed, colorful and immensely satisfying. 

Topics Covered

• Cross-hatching techninque
• Watercolor pencil usage
• Learning to see and recreate light & shadow
• Combining cross hatch and watercolor to form a unique composition

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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Materials Needed

• Watercolor paper or thick mixed media paper
• 3-4 purple, green, blue, Watercolor pencils or traditional pan/ tubes
• Pencil & Eraser
• Thick & Thin Fine liner (Must be waterproof. I used .3 and .8 size Copic. Micron is great...

Today, we will create lovely carnations that will never wilt. You can use any color of your choice. You can use a wedge paintbrush or a paintbrush with an angled edge. A wedge paintbrush is a must have in your collection of paintbrushes. I have some suggestions under "Watercolor" (Community) for where to get these brushes. They are often on sale so shop around!

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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Supplies:

 Paintbrush:

 - Wedge brush or Triangle brush (ex: Beste or Silver Ruby) 

 - Round brush (size 6 or smaller)

 Paint:

 - Any color that you would like your carnations to be will work (pinks and greens)

 - Paint used in the video: Quinacridone Rose, Hansa Yellow, Serpentine Genuine and if you want to get a nice yellowish green, you can mix Sap Green with Hansa Yellow)

- Watercolor paper: Use what you have! It's the best way to get...

In this jam packed class, you'll learn to use watercolors to paint pomegranate, fig, wheat, barley, dates, grapes and olive plants, all known as part of 'Seven Species' (Deuteronomy 8:8). We will run through watercolor basics, both in terms of recommended materials and techniques, and you will also learn my approach to sketching from a reference as well as finally painting a detailed piece. 

Topics Covered

• 'Seven species' background, context and deeper meaning
• Wet on wet technique 
• Wet on Dry
• Sketching skills
• Detailed yet loose watercolor painting 

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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Materials Needed

• Watercolor paper - I'm using Canson Aquarelle 300g
• 1 small round brush, 1 detail brush - I use Size 1 Princeton Select Round size and 0000 
• Paints - pans or tube. Must have Yellow, blue, red/ purple - I use a Kuretake pan set
• Glass...

In this class, you will learn to create your very own homemade paints from simple products you have at home - coffee & tea! You'll also use basic watercolor techniques and learn to apply them on an actual painting.

Topics Covered

• Paint creation
• Watercolor washes
• Wet on wet technique 
• Wet on Dry
• Painting a loose rose
• Envelope design

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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Materials Needed

• Watercolor papers (size A3 recommended)
• Two fruit based tea bags
• 1 tsp instant coffee
• Glass of hot/ boiling water
• Clean cool water
• Any round paintbrush
• Paper towel 
• Q tips (optional)
• An Envelope
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue stick
• Book recommendation: Make Ink 

Homework Challenge
Want to see our students homework? Search the hashtag #kcatea on Instagram to see samples from this week's homework. Our students who participate in this challenge get...

If you think painting with watercolor, acrylic, or oil-based paints is fun, wait until you try painting with walnut ink. It's a beautiful medium to work with and so versatile.

Topics Covered

• Making walnut ink from walnut ink crystals
• Various ink painting techniques
• Painting a simple landscape 
• Painting a flower
• Creative ways to write with walnut ink 

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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 Materials Needed

• pointed nib
• oblique or straight nib holder
• variety of round paintbrushes, small to medium size
• small paint palate or small plates or bowls
• walnut ink
• watercolor paints, optional
• pencil
• two glasses of water
• paper towel
• watercolor paper- size of your choice

Homework Challenge

Want to see our students homework? Search the hashtag #kcawalnutink on Instagram to see samples from this week's homework. Our students who participate in this...

Got mail to send? Have you thought about decorating the front (and back) of that envelope? How many times have you seen a beautifully decorated envelope and thought to yourself, "That's gorgeous!" but stopped because it either looked too difficult or time consuming? Well, envelope art can be as simple as putting some creative lettering on the front or complex with intricate flourishes and designs. This class is about finding that middle ground with floral borders that you can easily create a handful at a time and have envelopes ready to address and mail!

Topics Covered

• Examples 
• Finding inspiration from what is inside the envelope
• How to decant watercolors from your pans to a palette
• A large loose floral element on one corner (front and back) and outlining it to make it pop
• Using a masking tape to create a border
• How to use a wedge brush and a round brush for each floral element
• How to create a floral border with just paint and another with outlines and a last one without...

In this class you'll learn to design your very own hand painted and embellished postcard using gold leaf, watercolors and a little ancient history.  You'll get a quick background on the menorah motif, as well as a thorough tutorial on gold leaf application and some beginner watercolor techniques. Calligraph a short message on the back of your postcard and ship it off to a loved one who celebrates the Festival of Lights to illuminate their day! 

Topics Covered:

• Gold leaf for illustrative elements & calligraphy
• Wet on dry watercolor technique
• Ancient art history context 
• Appropriate holiday greetings

Want to join us for class? It's offered on-demand and now available to enrolled students. Enjoy this video and printable worksheets today!

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Materials Needed:

• Artificial gold leaf & adhesive size
• Link to The Israel Museum's virtual Menorah Exhibit
• Strathmore Watercolor Postcards or Watercolor paper
• Pencil and Eraser
• Watercolor paints
• Watercolor...

Nothing says "Welcome and Merry Christmas!" than a holiday wreath hanging on a front door. Wreaths exude a sense of joy and a desire for peace, as its circular shape symbolizes unity and never ending love and life. Spring and Summer wreaths represent new life and growth. Autumn wreaths represents change and the circle of life. Christmas wreaths have deep and symbolic religious meaning, but over time, have come to represent the spirit of Christmas and the holidays. For me, leaves represent the tree of life, symbolizing health and growth, the pine needles represent peace (the Tree of Peace), the holly leaves represent hope, and the poinsettia represents good cheer. We will be combining all four elements to create a beautiful Christmas wreath, using watercolor techniques that you can use to make holiday cards and decorate envelopes. 

Topics Covered: 

• Creating leaves and poinsettia petals
• Creating pine needles
• Creating holly leaves
• Revisiting all four elements 
• Step...