Over six weeks, we'll work through Starflower Spray step by step, exploring positive and negative painting, water control, value, layering, edges, and color to create flowers that feel luminous, dimensional, and full of life.

Rather than simply copying the reference photo, we'll look for shapes, relationships, and opportunities to let watercolor do what it does best—allowing beautiful color and form to emerge naturally.

What You'll Learn

Simplify Unusual Flower Shapes
Learn how to break complex flowers into manageable shapes and forms without becoming overwhelmed by detail.

Create Intricate Flower Centers
Explore layering, value, and controlled brushwork to develop beautiful centers while maintaining freshness.

Use Positive & Negative Painting
Discover how painting both the subject and the spaces around it can define edges, preserve light, and create depth.

Build Form Through Value
Use soft shadows, transitions, and value changes to give petals and leaves dimension without overworking them.

Layer Transparent Color
Build richness and depth gradually while maintaining the transparency and luminosity that make watercolor so beautiful.

Develop the Background
Learn how to connect shapes, soften selected edges, and allow the background to support the flowers rather than compete with them.

Details

Includes a 6-week workshop experience. This includes follow-along, step-by-step lessons and demonstrations, which feature an active comment box for you to submit paintings for personal review and problem-solving. This includes bi-weekly live meetings scheduled to allow you time to work on your painting.

The bi-weekly live meetings offer additional guidance, personalized feedback, and a chance to connect with fellow artists—creating a sense of community and accountability as you deepen your skills and develop your artistic voice.

Meeting dates Sept. 23-Nov. 4

• Sept 23 Wednesday
• Oct. 6 Tuesday
• Oct. 21 Wednesday
• Nov. 4- Wednesday
  
  

Live Meeting (Pacific Time): 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM PT

Other time zones:

• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
• 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT
• 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM MT

Find your Timezone

Immediate access to the traceable line drawing and general information.

Once the course opens, you will have access to the step-by-step lessons and painting reviews.

More Than One Painting

Our goal isn't simply to complete Starflower Spray.

By slowing the process down over six weeks, you'll have time to understand why we're making each decision and how water, value, edges, color, and negative space work together.

These are techniques you can apply again and again to other flowers and subjects—and use to approach your own paintings with greater confidence.

Your Workshop Includes

• Six weeks of guided watercolor instruction
• Step-by-step lessons
• Reference photograph
• Traceable line drawing
• Downloadable workshop materials
• Lifetime access to the workshop content and replays

Suggested for intermediate to advanced watercolor artists, but all levels are welcome.

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