LEVEL 2 ONLINE COURSE

Intuitive Botanicals

Exploratory Abstract Painting with Watercolours ‍ ‍£15

After purchase of the course, you’ll receive a FREE watercolour techniques video, as a ‘thank you’ for registering.

Will be £15

Equipment List

About This Course

A beginner-friendly step-by-step day course to get you playing with paint and unleashing your own creativity. Playful mark-making replaces intimidating drawing to free up your joyful creative exploration.

We will begin by setting a colour palette to ensure that your abstract creations feel cohesive and present as a series. You will learn how to dissect an inspiring image (in this case, from our garden as usual) and let nature do the heavy lifting for you. You will also learn how to mix your colours accurately.

Next come the shape and texture palettes. You will experiment with a range of observations taken from the reference images provided, with sketchy drawings to note down what you see. If this is not for you, you can borrow Caroline’s drawings, which are included in your downloadable handouts.

Now you are ready to experiment with different types of mark-making using a selection of watercolour brushes as well as found objects.

You’ll also learn basic watercolour techniques, such as wet-on-wet and wet-on-damp, and how letting the paint take charge with its natural characteristics can lead to beautifully unpredictable results. Caroline will also discuss how gouache can be used to add opacity to your work.

Finally, your palettes of colours, shapes and textures, and mark-making experiments will be combined to make interesting abstracted outcomes. Once learnt, this process becomes an opportunity to bypass ever feeling creatively stuck again. Composition will be free-flowing, joyously playing with paint.

With no experience necessary and no drawing required, all you need to bring with you is your sense of adventure and play, and be open-minded about experimenting with the materials. Your course materials will be available to download for five weeks so that you can keep them forever.

You are welcome to join us in our free Facebook group called ‘Creative Space’ for feedback from Caroline.

FAQs

This course includes a series of instructional videos that .take you through a range of playful projects that build towards an abstract botanical outcome.
Each project will get your creativity flowing while you explore exciting activities to fill your sketchbook with ideas.
You will then bring all of your creative play and exploration together in an outcome that is unique to your own creativity.
If you prefer you can simply jump ahead to the final project and follow Caroline’s composition or use her drawings for your own composition ideas.
You will create finished artworks, but importantly you will also learn lots of fun techniques along the way if you choose to undertake all of the projects.
Caroline has included helpful handouts with an equipment list, and .sketches ready for you to get started.
Your tutor will be Caroline Tatham, a qualified lecturer who has a lifetime of experience teaching creativity.
Not at all. We specialise in supporting and encouraging those with no previous experience. You just need a ‘can do’ attitude!
There is a full equipment list on our web page and also in the handouts.
Feel free to use your own colour combinations if you prefer, it’s all about play and exploration.
Quality paints are expensive but also have more pigmentation. This will enhance the techniques in this workshop making them more evident.
Quality paper will also produce a better result. 100% cotton paper will give the best results.
It is, of course, fine to start with cheaper materials and invest in more expensive ones as your experience and interest in this wonderful medium grows.
Just be kind to yourself if some of your results are a little more subtle with cheaper materials.
Do not worry! We are all creative and Caroline specialises in connecting people to their inner creative voice.
You just need to be willing to give it a go. Absolute beginners are most welcome.
You will gain a greater understanding of the tried and tested techniques of watercolour painting.
You will also develop an understanding of playful sketchbook exploration and how to find your own creative voice.
Finally, you will create a beautiful feather artwork.
Yes! You are very welcome to join our free online community ‘Creative Space’ where we offer encouragement and feedback to posting members.
In this free group, there is a bank of free archived resources, such as weekly botanical art prompt sheets, designed to inspire your artwork (#CreativeSpaceNatureSpark). As well as reference photos, reference images, sketches and equipment lists, from our archived Fun-Sized Art School FREE art initiative.
There is also the chance to win prizes in the group challenges.
Please see the button below.
This course is suitable for all levels of art experience, but is particularly aimed at intermediate creators.
Whether you are new to watercolour painting or are more experienced and just want to develop skills, this course will get you going!
If you are feeling creatively stuck, this course will set you off on a new artistic tangent.
This is an instant access course.
This course costs £15.
You can complete this course at your own pace. The course videos and handouts are available for you to download for up to five weeks from the date of purchase. Once downloaded, you will have the course forever!

After purchase of the course, you’ll receive a FREE watercolour techniques video, as a ‘thank you’ for registering.

About Your Tutor

Caroline Tatham is a passionate artist who loves helping people to discover their own innate creativity.

She studied at the Royal College of Art and has taught at a range of colleges and art schools, including Central Saint Martins School of Art in London.

Caroline is a qualified lecturer and has loved running the Cotswold Gardening School since 2010. She specialises in teaching creative design to a professional standard for those with no previous experience, helping them achieve results they never imagined possible. She is proud to have 30+ years of teaching experience under her belt.