In this course, we move into the experiential side of painting—where color, value, and movement are guided not only by the reference, but by what you’re feeling in the moment of creation.

Rather than being bound to exact colors or fixed tonal values, you’ll learn how to let your painting evolve naturally. As the work progresses, subtle shifts in color and tone become part of the story—reflecting mood, energy, and your personal response to the subject.

This approach allows the rose and calla to become more than representations. They transform into expressive forms shaped by intuition, emotion, and artistic choice. By working this way, you’ll develop a deeper personal connection to your paintings—each piece becoming uniquely yours, a living, breathing expression of both the subject and the experience of painting it.

Paint not just what you see, but what you feel.

Through two dramatic paintings—a softly unfolding rosebud and an expressive calla—you’ll learn how to reinterpret nature through a more conceptual lens. We’ll move beyond literal petals and stems, focusing instead on shape, depth, negative space, and flowing transitions that capture the essence of the flower rather than its exact details.

Over the six weeks, you’ll have time to absorb these ideas, experiment, and allow your understanding of abstraction to deepen. This extended format encourages reflection and exploration—giving you space to apply what you’re learning in a thoughtful, personal way rather than feeling rushed.

You’ll explore how to simplify complex forms, exaggerate curves, and use light, shadow, and color to create paintings that feel both organic and expressive. These lessons encourage freedom, intuition, and a deeper understanding of abstraction—while still staying rooted in nature’s beauty.

What You Will Learn

• Shift from representational painting to expressive abstraction
• Simplify complex floral forms into strong, flowing shapes
• Use negative space and exaggerated curves to create dynamic compositions
• Build drama and depth through layered values and intentional edge control
• Learn when to loosen your brushwork and when to refine
• Translate the rose and calla into conceptual, emotional statements
• Gain confidence in a more intuitive, expressive watercolor process
• Apply these techniques to landscapes, florals, and imaginative work

This course is ideal for artists ready to stretch creatively, loosen their approach, and see florals in a bold, transformative way—while building expressive watercolor techniques you can carry into any subject.

Throughout the course, you’re encouraged to take what you’re learning and apply it to your own paintings as well. While we’ll work through the rose and calla together, these concepts are meant to be carried beyond the demonstrations—inviting you to experiment, explore, and translate the ideas into subjects that inspire you personally.

If you’ve already taken the Dramatic Calla workshop, please check your email for a special invitation and exclusive offer.

About Birgit O'Connor

A master of transparent watercolor and with Master Signature Status of the (NWWS) NorthWest Watercolor Society, (LWS) Lousiana Watercolor Society, (CWA) California Watercolor Society.

Top-selling books include “Watercolor in Motion,” “Paint Watercolor Flowers,” and “Watercolor Essentials.” she has also been published in over 60 other national and international publications, such as Splash, Watercolor Magazine, American Watercolor Magazine, International Artist Magazine, Australian Artist Magazine, the New York Times, SF Gate, Watercolor Magazine, Dobry Zank (Poland), and L’Art de aquarelle (France).

A featured instructor with many Art Centers and Watercolor Societies throughout the United States and Canada, and faculty member of Watercolor Live 2020, 2021, 2023. Additionally, her work has been juried into several national and international exhibitions. She has also served as a judge and juror for numerous shows, including the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. Her memberships include Cambridge Who’s Who, Who's Who in America, and Who’s Who in American Women.