Live Online Watercolor Workshop

Take the techniques you’ve been practicing and bring them together in a beautiful, luminous rose.

In this focused watercolor workshop, we’ll move beyond individual exercises and apply the principles of form, light, value, water control, and edges to a complete painting.

At first glance, a rose can appear complicated—layers of petals curling, overlapping, disappearing, and emerging again.

But we don't need to paint every petal or every detail.

Instead, we'll simplify what we see into larger shapes and value relationships, allowing light, color, and carefully placed darks to create the illusion of form.

From Shape to Form

The beauty of this painting comes from understanding how light moves across the petals.

Together, we'll explore how to:

• Simplify a complex rose into manageable shapes
• Use value to turn flat shapes into dimensional forms
• Preserve luminous areas of white and light
• Create the feeling of petals curling and turning
• Use soft and hard edges to suggest depth
• Build rich color without losing transparency
• Connect darker shapes rather than outlining individual petals
• Know what to simplify—and what to leave alone
  

Putting It All Together

This workshop is a natural continuation of Creating Form: Flowers, giving you an opportunity to take the techniques explored in that focused workshop and apply them to a complete painting.

But you do not need to have taken the previous workshop to join us.

I'll guide you through the process step by step, from identifying the largest shapes and values to developing the deeper colors and subtle transitions that give the rose its form.

Rather than copying the reference petal by petal, we'll learn to see the structure beneath the details.

Workshop Details

Live Workshop (Pacific Time): 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM PT

Other time zones:

• 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
• 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM CT
• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM MT

A 4-Hour Live Online Watercolor Workshop

Replay included

Materials

Keep your materials simple. We'll work with watercolor paper, a few good brushes, and a limited selection of colors. A complete materials list will be available after registration.

This Workshop Is Perfect For You If...

You love painting flowers but sometimes find complex petals overwhelming.

You struggle to create dimension without overworking your watercolor.

You want your flowers to feel luminous rather than heavy or outlined.

Or perhaps you're simply ready to slow down, enjoy the process, and create a beautiful finished painting while strengthening skills you can use again and again.

Included

• Live online watercolor workshop
• Step-by-step instruction
• Lifetime replay access
• Downloadable reference photo
• Line drawing
• Value reference
• Workshop guide
• Access to the workshop materials and replay whenever you'd like to return and paint it again

Meet Your Instructor

For more than 30 years, I've taught watercolor artists through workshops, online courses, and international art events.

My teaching focuses on helping artists move beyond simply copying a reference photograph to understanding water, light, value, shape, and design.

Rather than focusing on perfection, I encourage students to observe, simplify, experiment, and allow the unique qualities of watercolor to become part of the painting.

I look forward to painting with you!

Birgit O'Connor



Former Juror, Transparent Watercolor Society of America

Watercolor is one of the most rewarding and forgiving mediums you'll ever paint with. I hope you'll join me as we explore its beauty together.

Continue Your Watercolor Journey

If you enjoyed this workshop and would like to continue exploring watercolor, I invite you to browse my collection of books, workbooks, and practice guides designed to help you build confidence and continue your creative journey.

Explore the Collection