Advanced Composition, Color Harmony & Expressive Interpretation

This 6-week interactive course is designed for students with some watercolor experience who are already familiar with my teaching approach.

If you’re brand new to watercolor, I recommend starting with one of my foundational courses first. When you’re ready to move beyond the basics, this course will help you take the next step.

What You’ll Work On

In this course, we’ll develop two advanced compositions, working from reference photos and learning how to translate them into stronger, more dramatic paintings.

You’ll move beyond copying photographs and learn how to simplify, interpret, and re-design your reference so your paintings feel intentional, dynamic, and cohesive.

What You’ll Learn

• Layer and glaze with warm, cool, and complementary colors for richer color intensity
• Strengthen divided compositions by bridging color and value
• Retain highlights while working boldly with water
• Use value more effectively to create depth and focus
• Avoid thick, hard edges that flatten a painting
• Direct the viewer’s eye through movement and contrast
• Simplify and harmonize complex reference photos

These skills can be applied to all of your watercolor paintings—not just the class projects.

Who This Course Is For

• Intermediate to advanced watercolor artists
• Students familiar with my teaching style
• Painters ready to challenge themselves and grow
• Artists seeking deeper understanding of composition and color

What Students Are Saying

“I absolutely love this course and the painting compositions! I’ve had lots of ‘ohhhhs’ and ‘ahhhs’ from friends and family.”
— Annette Rink

“You deconstruct complicated photographs into abstract shapes and transform them into gorgeous paintings. Your step-by-step instruction is the best quality I’ve found.”
— April Jackson

“I’ve improved my skills more rapidly than at any other time in the past 25+ years.”
— Sue Warnock

“Birgit’s classes give me the motivation and confidence to keep painting.”
— Susan Cauddill

Ready to Take the Next Step?

This course is designed to stretch your skills, sharpen your artistic decision-making, and help you create more expressive, confident watercolor paintings.