Intermediate Watercolor

Intermediate Watercolor

Class | Available

37 Buena Vista Road West Hartford, CT 06107 United States
Clubhouse
Intermediate
9/9/2025-10/28/2025
6:00 PM-8:00 PM EDT on Tue
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$173.00
$153.00

Intermediate Watercolor

Class | Available

Week 1: Introduction & Foundations

Topic: Simple Barn Landscape

  • Demonstration of a classic barn scene

  • Intro to basic watercolor techniques:

    • Wet-on-wet

    • Wet-on-dry

    • Dry brush

    • Gradients and washes

  • Overview of watercolor materials: papers, brushes, pigments, and palettes

  • Students will follow along step-by-step with the demo

Week 2: Seascapes & Composition

Topic: Painting Seascapes

  • Demonstration of a coastal/seascape scene

  • Emphasis on planning a painting: thumbnails, value sketches, and focal points

  • Intro to horizon placement and leading the eye through composition

  • Students will create their own seascape based on the lesson

Week 3: Trees, Tone & Color Theory

Topic: Painting Trees

  • Focus on how to build depth using tonal value and color temperature

  • Discussion of color theory fundamentals

  • Layering washes to create light and shadow

  • Students will paint trees from references or imagination

Week 4: Floral Painting Techniques

Topic: Painting Flowers

  • Demonstration of various flower types

  • Emphasis on brush control and layering using prior techniques

  • Use of negative space and edges to create form and delicacy

  • Students will work on their own floral compositions

Week 5: Cityscapes & Atmosphere

Topic: Painting City Scenes

  • Demonstration of a simple urban scene

  • Emphasis on atmospheric perspective and light effects

  • Techniques for suggesting detail with minimal brushwork

  • Students will create a cityscape incorporating learned techniques

Week 6: Independent Project Work

Topic: Student-Directed Painting

  • Students select their own subject or continue a previous painting

  • Instructor guidance and feedback throughout the class

  • Emphasis on creative decision-making and personal style

Week 7: Portrait Painting Introduction

Topic: Faces in Watercolor

  • Intro to watercolor portraiture

  • Emphasis on values, shape-based painting, and facial proportions

  • Demonstration of a simple portrait sketch

  • Students will begin their own portrait studies

Week 8: Final Projects & Critique

Topic: Wrap-Up & Review

  • Open session to complete unfinished work

  • Individual instruction based on student needs

  • Final critique and group discussion of progress and learning

  • Guidance on continuing practice beyond the course


  • There are 2 buildings at 37 Buena Vista. The Clubhouse is the white building beside the upper parking area.

  • PAINT

    Typically I recommend Holbein, Daniel Smith, or Windsor Newton for watercolor paint brands. Colors I will be using throughout the class are:
    Cobalt Blue
    French Ultramarine Blue
    Cobalt Turquoise
    Viridian Green
    Permanent Alizarin Crimson
    Lavender
    Burnt Umber
    Raw Umber
    Burnt Sienna
    Yellow Ochre
    Cadmium Yellow
    Cadmium Red
    Neutral Tint
    Titanium White

    PAPER

    The most important aspect of this technique is using a rough or cold pressed watercolor paper. Arches, Saunders Waterford, or Windsor Newton are good papers, Arches watercolor blocks work as well. 11X14 or 12x16 are good sizes to be working with.

    BRUSHES

    Mop brush, size 14 or 18  (for washes and skies)

    Squirrel mop brush, size 0 or 2 (for trees and texture)

    Synthetic watercolor brush size 8, 10, and 12

    Other supplies

    Pencil, sketchbook, atomizer (small spray bottle), water cup, masking tape, dish sponge, white paper towels, and something to mount your watercolor paper to if you are not using a watercolor block. Corrugated plastic, or a hard board works fine for this. 

Douglas Fortin