Are you wondering how to learn watercolor painting but aren’t sure where to start?
Watercolor painting is a beautiful and relaxing hobby, but it can be intimidating for beginners.
You may have seen beautiful watercolor paintings and thought to yourself, “I wish I could do that.” Maybe you’ve even attempted painting with watercolors before, but it didn’t entirely turn out how you wanted it to.
Or maybe you took a watercolor painting class years ago and would like to get back into it? Either way, watercolor painting is a beautiful and relaxing hobby that anyone can enjoy. The great thing about watercolor painting is that it’s straightforward to get started with and doesn’t require a lot of expensive supplies.
But where do you start? How do you learn watercolor painting if you’re a complete beginner?
Taking an online course is one of the most effective ways to learn watercolor painting. There are many different courses available on sites like The Great Courses, so you can choose one that fits your skill level and interests. You’ll be able to learn at your own pace and get feedback from an experienced instructor, all from the comfort of your home.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the best ways to learn watercolor painting online.
Why Learn Watercolor Painting?
Watercolor painting is a beautiful and unique art form that has been around for centuries. It is a popular choice for artists of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals.
There are many reasons why watercolor painting is prevalent among artists.
Watercolor painting is so popular because it is a very versatile medium. Watercolor paint can be used to create a wide variety of looks, from very light and airy paintings to dark and moody ones. Watercolors also have a wide range of uses, from landscape paintings to portraits.
Another reason watercolor painting is so popular is because it’s relatively easy to get started with. Unlike some other art forms, you don’t need a lot of expensive supplies to begin painting with watercolors. All you really need is a set of watercolor paints, watercolor brushes, and some watercolor paper.
If you’re good at watercolor painting, you can even turn it into a career. Many professional watercolor painters make a living off of their art.
Finally, watercolor painting is simply beautiful. The colors that can be achieved with watercolors are stunning, and the medium itself has a very ethereal quality. Watercolor paintings have a natural luminosity and translucency that other painting mediums simply cannot replicate.
While a learning curve is involved in becoming proficient at watercolor painting, the medium is relatively forgiving and easy to experiment with. This makes it an excellent choice for beginners who are just starting to explore their artistic side.
Online Courses Offer the Easiest Way to Learn Watercolor Painting
When it comes to learning watercolor painting, online courses offer the best of both worlds. There are numerous benefits to taking an online course, including the following:
- Courses are self-paced: Online courses allow you to learn at your own pace. As a result, you’ll have more time to devote to the topics that interest you and less time to those that don’t.
- You can rewatch lectures: In a traditional classroom setting, lectures are usually only available to be attended live. This can be a problem if you miss a session or don’t quite understand something the first time around. With online courses, you can always go back and watch lectures again.
- Courses are available anytime, anywhere: One of the most appealing aspects of online courses is that they may be accessible from any location on the planet, at any time. All you need is an internet connection. This makes learning watercolor painting very convenient, especially if you have a busy schedule.
- You can pick from a range of courses: When you’re learning to watercolor paint online, you have a wide range of courses. No matter your skill level or interests, you’re sure to find a course that’s right for you.
- Courses are usually more affordable: Online courses are often more inexpensive than traditional ones. They don’t require the same overhead costs, such as renting a space or materials.
Now that we’ve gone over some of the advantages of taking an online course let’s look at some of the best online resources for learning to watercolor paint.
The Great Courses
The Great Courses
With 800+ courses and expert professors across multiple categories, The Great Courses lets you learn just about anything you'd like at your own pace, from wherever you want. Now everyone can afford to get a college-level education from renowned institutions like Smithsonian, National Geographic, and Mayo Clinic.
The Great Courses is the best online platform to learn watercolor art.
From watercolor basics to advanced techniques, The Great Courses has classes to help you rapidly improve your watercolor skills as you learn from the world’s top experts.
Some of the best classes for those looking to improve their painting skills include:
- How to Paint
- Startup Library: Painting with Watercolors
- Simple & Stunning Watercolor Techniques
- Realistic Watercolors Step-by-Step
- Improve Your Paintings: Luminous Watercolor Mixing
These self-paced classes each offer a number of in-depth video lectures, with watercolor lessons for those of all skill levels. Whether you’re trying to learn how to mix paints to create a beautiful watercolor palette, basic color theory, or advanced brush stroke techniques, these courses have it all.
The Great Courses has apps for iOS, Android, Roku, and Kindle Fire. Plus you can access My Digital Library online, giving you multiple ways to enjoy your courses from wherever you want on your favorite devices. You can also order their classes on DVD if you want a physical copy.
Simply put, The Great Courses offers all the resources you need to take your watercolor skills to new heights.
Click here to get started with The Great Courses today.
Skillshare
Skillshare (free 30-day trial) is an online learning platform that offers various courses, including watercolor painting. Skillshare has over 18,000 courses available, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for you.
One of the best features of Skillshare is that it offers a Premium membership, which gives you access to all of the courses on the platform and some other great features.
If you’re looking for an affordable, convenient way to learn watercolor painting, Skillshare is a great option.
Check out our Skillshare review to learn more.
Click here to try Skillshare free for one month.
LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is an excellent platform for artists of all skill levels who want to learn watercolor painting. LinkedIn Learning has a variety of courses available, ranging from introductory level courses to more advanced ones.
LinkedIn Learning is one of the most user-friendly platforms available. The platform is easy to navigate, and the courses are well organized. You can also filter classes by skill level, so you’re sure to find one right for you.
Another great thing about LinkedIn Learning is that it offers a free trial. This means you can take a course for free to see if it’s something you’re interested in before committing to a paid course.
LinkedIn Learning is an excellent option if you’re looking for a user-friendly platform with a wide range of courses.
You can learn a lot more about the different plans and features in our LinkedIn Learning price guide.
Click here to try LinkedIn Learning free for 30 days.
Udemy
When it comes to online learning, Udemy is one of the most popular platforms. With over 185,000 courses available, this site has something for everyone.
Udemy offers a wide range of watercolor painting courses taught by award-winning artists. These include a beginner’s course, an intermediate course, and a course on painting landscapes for watercolor art.
In addition to these, Udemy also offers courses on portraiture. This is ideal for anyone interested in painting portraits of people, pets, or nature. It covers everything from choosing the right colors to mixing the perfect skin tones.
The courses on Udemy are very affordably priced, and you can often find discounts of up to 90% off the average price.
Udemy is an excellent resource for those who want to learn about watercolor technique. With so many courses available, there is something for everyone. Udemy boasts a class for everyone, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned painter.
Check out our Udemy pricing guide or our Udemy review to learn more.
Click here to get started with Udemy.
Final Thoughts on How to Learn Watercolor Painting
With the advent of the internet, learning new things has become easier than ever before. In the past, if you wanted to learn watercolor painting, you would have to find a class in your area. But now, with online courses, you can learn from the comfort of your own home.
Learning watercolor painting online is a great way to improve your skills and explore your artistic side.
This article has gone over some of the best online course platforms for learning watercolor painting. Be sure to check them out and see which one is right for you. If you take advantage of their free trials, you can explore each platform and find the perfect fit. And who knows, maybe you’ll find a new hobby that you love.
Have any questions about how to learn watercolor painting? Let us know by leaving a comment below.