Watercolor Academy News
Our Vision, Purpose and Mission
We believe that art portrays the meaning and beauty of life
We created the Watercolor Academy to promote genuine artistic values, classical painting techniques and the rich heritage of traditional fine art. In Watercolor Academy, we teach traditional, time-honored watercolor painting techniques. We show how to create realistic, vibrant, and skillful watercolors. We encourage to seek inspiration in the cultural traditions of the Great Masters, nature, and life.
Watercolor by Vladimir London for VII International Biennial
In this video, you will see how Vladimir London created this artwork for the 7th International Biennial exhibition, using a very special watercolor medium that he invented to improve characteristics of traditional gum-arabic binder. Such medium was inspired by the ancient recipes of Punic beeswax mentioned by Pliny and Vitruvius two millennia ago.
How to Paint Landscapes in Watercolor
When it comes to painting landscapes in watercolor, many artists stick to one or two painting techniques, which rather limits their creative possibilities. To help you to expand your skills in this area, I will present several methods and techniques that are taught in the Watercolor Academy course. Those students who take Watercolor Academy personal tutoring will get special lessons on this topic.
How to paint a Watercolor Portrait
Video by Vladimir London
In this video, you will discover how to make a special frame for stretching wet watercolor paper and how to paint a watercolor portrait using dry-brush-on-moist painting technique and wet-on-dry variegated wash.
Watercolor Education vs Training
Question from Linda
I'm thinking about signing up for the watercolor academy and I'm looking through your website clicking on the info as well as watching some of the demo videos...
Painting with Cheap Watercolor
As a Watercolor Academy tutor, I often get such questions as "What watercolor paints to buy?" or "What are the best paints?", or "Do I really need so expensive watercolors?" I want to illustrate that to make a good watercolor artwork, the most important thing you must have is not some expensive art material, but skills.
How to Prolong Watercolor Paint Drying Time
In this video, you will discover a new method of watercolor painting with the use of a special chemical that prolongs watercolor paints drying time. This method is invented and tested by Vladimir London and Natalie Richy, fine artists and art tutors of the Watercolor Academy course. You will also see how to make two watercolor portraits that fine artists prepared for the International Watercolor Exhibition.
Great Pairs of Colors
In this video, you will discover how to keep a record of great pairs of colors that you may come across when making watercolor artworks
Goethe's Theory of Colours - Book
This book was translated from the German and published in London in 1840. It contains many interesting insights on the theory of colors by Goethe, (1749 - 1832), German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, critic, and amateur artist, considered the greatest German literary figure of the modern era.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales's Watercolor Exhibition - Prince Charles Watercolor Art
A recently opened watercolor exhibition that features 79 landscapes by Prince Charles gives a great opportunity to see the world though Prince's eyes and get a bit closer to the mind of the Artist.
Mr London receives a letter from Buckingham Palace
It's not every day that I get letters from Her Majesty The Queen, but today was one of those occasions. The letter from Buckingham Palace arrived unexpectedly. The Deputy Correspondence Coordinator was very kind to keep in touch and convey the Queen's message.
How to Paint a Portrait - Part 1
How to Draw a Portrait for Watercolor
In this video, you will discover how to draw a portrait and transfer it onto watercolor paper. Good portrait drawing skills don't come overnight. You have to know human head proportions and anatomy, use the necessary constructive drawing principles, and, of course, be able to control your pen-work with precision
How to Paint a Portrait - Part 2
How to Preserve White Paper When Painting Wet-into-wet
In this video, you will discover how to preserve white paper when painting wet-into-wet
How to Paint a Portrait - Part 3
How to Preserve White Paper When Painintg Wet-on-dry
In this video, you will discover how to preserve white paper when painting wet-on-dry
How to Paint a Portrait - Part 4
How to Paint Decorative Design in Watercolor
In this video, you will discover how to paint decorative design in watercolor
How to Paint a Portrait - Part 5
How to Paint a Portrait in Watercolor
In this video, you will discover how to paint a portrait in watercolor
How to Paint a Portrait - Part 6
How to Outline Watercolor Portrait in Ink
In this video, you will discover how to make a mixed media artwork by using the wash-and-outline method
Learning Painting and Drawing Online
Discover the best painting and drawing online courses
Finishing Steps in Watercolor Painting
The finishing steps in watercolor are as important as the whole painting process beforehand. This can make or break the final look of an artwork
Light perspective in Watercolor
Light perspective deals with colors and tonal values in realtion to the distance of the object from the source of light
Aerial Perspective in Watercolor
Aerial perspective describes how the atmosphere affects the appearance of objects, depending on the distance from the viewer
Linear Perspective in Watercolor
Linear perspective is a geometrical system that is used to depict space and distance in drawing
Going Beyond Traditional Watercolor Painting Techniques
In addition to conventional painting techniques, I will also list some less mainstream ways of working in watercolor
Retouching Watercolor Painting Technique
The retouching method is painting in very small brushstrokes with a small size brush
Scumbling Watercolor Painting Technique
The scumbling method is another way of applying spattered spots and marks on an artwork surface
Stippling Watercolor Painting Technique
The stippling method is applying splattered spots and drops of paint onto an artwork
Wash-and-Outline Watercolor Painting Technique
The sequence of steps in the "wash-and-outline" technique is in reverse, compared to the "outline-and-wash" method
Pen-and-Wash Watercolor Painting Technique
The pen-and-wash technique can also be called, "outline-and-wash". The sequence of this method is described by its name
Alla Prima Watercolor Painting Technique
The Italian term "alla prima" means 'at once' or 'first time'. This painting approach means creating watercolor artworks in one session
Drawing with Clean Water Watercolor Painting Technique
When mastered, drawing with clean water gives great looking results
Grisaille with Glazing in Color Watercolor Painting Technique
A monochrome grisaille lacks colors by its definition. A combination of grisaille and glazing in color can enhance an artwork
Grisaille Watercolor Painting Technique
Grisaille is the technique for painting in one color, usually gray monochrome. Its name comes from the French "gris", which is gray
Dry-brush Watercolor Painting Technique
To give an artwork a more impressionistic look, solid borders and shapes can be broken up and splattered to give a shimmering look. This is when the dry-brush method becomes handy
Wet-on-Dry Watercolor Painting Technique
To keep solid borders between colors, an artist can use the wet-on-dry technique. This is painting on a dry surface
Wet-into-Wet Watercolor Painting Technique
The wet-into-wet watercolor painting method is great for depicting atmospheric effects and the aerial perspective
Glazing in Watercolor Painting Technique
Glazing is painting in transparent layers of color-tints. It is the fundamental approach in watercolor
Wiping Out and Washing Out in Watercolor Painting
Both wiping out and washing out painting techniques are good for taking paint off white paper and for removing colors in layers
Variegated Wash in Watercolor Painting
Whewn you need to fuse several colors in one place without mixing them together, the variegated wash technique becomes very handy
Granulated Wash in Watercolor Painting
A granulated wash is not a separate method as such: this term describes a possible appearance of a plain or gradated wash
Gradated Wash in Watercolor Painting
Gradated wash goes from darker values at the top to lighter ones at the bottom or vice versa, from light to dark
Plain Wash in Watercolor Painting
Plain Wash is the simplest of all watercolor washes. When you need to a paint layer with an even color and tone, this is the one to use
Watercolor Painting Methods and Techniques
Professional watercolor artworks are not created by accident. They are imagined, planned, and painted with confidence in each step
Preserving White in Watercolor Painting
If you want to improve your watercolor painting skills, then preserving white is the most important skill to master
Tonal Values in Watercolor
Tonal values refer to the lightness and darkness of the colors in an artwork. Arguably, values are more important here than colors
Color Theory - Contrasts of Colors
When it comes to contrasts, we need to examine colors' hue, values, temperature, and how they influence each other
Color Theory in Watercolor Painting
Discover the difference between color, hue, pigment, dye, and paint, as well as learn primary, secondary, tertiary and complementary colors
Outlines and Contour Drawing for Watercolor Painting
Good painting is drawn well. There are many right and wrong ways to transfer a drawing onto watercolor paper
Painting on Wet Un-stretched Paper
Instead of fixing paper mechanically with glue, pins or staples, you can paint on loose sheets without them becoming buckled
Using Commercial Stretchers for Stretching Watercolor Paper
There are commercial stretchers that are specifically made for watercolor. They come in different designs and do the job quite well
Stapling Watercolor Paper to the Board or Stretchers
Stapling paper to the board is the most secure way to fix it without gluing
Gluing Watercolor Paper with Paper Tape
This is an inexpensive and quite simple methods of attaching watercolor paper to a board
Preparing Supports for Watercolor Painting
In this article, you will learn how to prepare watercolor paper for painting
Arranging a Working Space for Watercolor Painting
A watercolor artist can paint in a studio or outdoors. In both cases, efficiently arranging a working space will help workflow go more smoothly
Other Materials for Watercolor Painting
There are some other materials for watercolor painting that you will need to set up your working place
Art Materials - Watercolor Mediums
Various watercolor mediums can be used for mixing paints to alter their characteristics or to protect or prime paper
Art Materials - Watercolor Paints
Watercolor paints are the third necessary ingredient for good watercolor
Art Materials - Watercolor Brushes
After watercolor paper, the next most important element is watercolor brushes
Art Materials - Watercolor Paper
Good quality paper is the most important art material in watercolor. Choosing paper that works best for you is essential
What Makes Good Watercolor Artwork?
Art skills, good quality watercolor paper, professional watercolor brushes, high quality watercolor paints
The Place of Watercolor in the History of Arts
In this artcile, I will briefly describe the place of the watercolor medium in the history of arts
What is Watercolor?
In this article, you will discover what IS and what is NOT watercolor
To learn how to paint in watercolor, enroll now
Watercolor Academy Online Course
A self-study, self-paced course where you can learn how to paint in watercolor by watching video lessons and doing assignments
- Unlimited access to 80 watercolor painting video lessons
- Lifetime membership without deadlines
- Unlimited support from the Academy tutors
- Constructive critique of your artworks
- Member access to the Academy's Art community
- Place in the Academy's Students Gallery
- Exclusive members-only newsletter and bonuses
- Watercolor Academy Diploma of Excellence in your name
One-time payment - Lifetime membership
$297 USD
Personal Tutoring online + Online Course
One-to-one, unlimited and custom-tailored to your skills and needs Personal Tutoring by the Watercolor Academy teachers
- Everything in Online Course, plus:
- Dedicated team of art tutors
- Assessment of your current level of art skills
- Personalized curriculum tailored to your skills and goals
- Up to 100 art tasks with by-task assessment
- Unlimited one-to-one personal coaching with detailed per-task instructions and feedback
- Artwork critiques and results-oriented guidance
One-time payment - Lifetime membership
$997 USD
