Contemporary Watercolours: From Experiment To Outcome 1

£120

About The Course

This pre-recorded course is perfect for absolute beginners, while also being suitable for more experienced artists looking to kick-start their creativity. If you’re feeling creatively stuck, Caroline will get you re-engaged with your sketchbook, as it has been written to encourage creative play and investigation of new techniques to help you to think differently about how you create art.

Caroline will share tried and tested techniques such as: wet on wet painting and understanding your watercolour brushes, as well as fun exercises.

By the end of the course, you will have a sketchbook brimming full of wonderful images and new techniques to launch a whole new chapter in your creative journey. 

There will be a mini project to complete every working day, delivered  in the form of pre-recorded videos. Each video is around 15-30 minutes each, often with two videos a day. Each Friday there will be a major project to complete over the weekend.

What to Expect Each Week

Week 1: You will be experimenting with mark-making and colour mixing around the topic of patterns. You will then incorporate your pattern research into a final artwork of a top-down still life. 

Week 2: Investigating layered painting effects, as well as imaginary florals with a contemporary twist. You will also learn how masking fluid can help you to build up interesting layers in your work. This will lead to the creation of a fanciful bird portrait in a botanical setting.

Week 3: Inspiration from the grandeur and decorative elements from Versaille. We’ll be working towards a front-facing still life, set in a pretty landscape. We’ll be playing with composition and simplified plant-forms as well as discovering how templates can help make art easier. 

Week 4: All about wildlife in a contemporary landscape setting. We’ll be using photographs as reference and experimenting with ideas such as atmospheric perspective. The final piece will be a wildlife study in a nostalgic, retro landscape.

Extra Time

Within the dedicated course’s virtual classroom, access is extended for two weeks after the projects are posted, for continued feedback from Caroline and the chance to revisit any projects you might have missed.

If you’d like even more time to complete the coursework and share your creations, you can join our free online community Creative Space, where you can continue to post your project work for as long as you’d like.

Click the button below to join Creative Space today

Why People Love The Course

I forgot that I used to love to sketch when I was younger. Funny how life gets in the way of creativity. Thank you for the encouragement, Caroline, I've learnt so much. -Jodi T

This class is the best I’ve ever taken in terms of the content provided and the obviously huge amount of preparation that Caroline has put into it. I am extremely grateful that I was gifted this class but after the first week I would happily have paid for it, it’s such good value. -Carol A

Thank you so much Caroline for your enthusiasm and tuition. You have given me the confidence to try new processes. I have also learnt to be patient as I normally like to dive straight into a painting. Thank you also to my fellow classmates for your encouragement and it’s lovely to see other people’s slant on each lesson. -J Dry

Thanks Caroline. I can't believe I can do a painting like this so soon! Thanks to your excellent tuition. -Brian A

“I can thoroughly recommend this class, loved every minute of it” -C Able

“A privilege to attempt this with such detailed tuition. Thanks Caroline! Couldn't have done it without you x” -Sue KR

“A BIG THANK YOU to Caroline for creating this innovative course. I have loved learning these different techniques and look forward to applying this new knowledge to future pieces. If you decide to do more online courses in the future I'll definitely sign up!” -J Dry

FAQs

  • Caroline will demonstrate an array of useful tried and tested watercolour painting techniques and daily exercises which will build to an end of week final piece. There will be 4 final pieces in total. The course consists of prerecorded videos and helpful, clear handouts

    You will share your outcomes each day for feedback and encouragement from Caroline and the opportunity to chat with fellow students. There are also handouts to help, including cut-out and use templates and examples of composition and drawing.

    A major project will be set each Friday to be completed over the weekend. Your course also includes and extra 2 weeks of feedback in case life gets in the way and you need a little more time. There are supporting images for the course on Pinterest as well.

    Materials are not included in the course cost.

  • Materials are not included in the course price, please see the equipment list button below.

  • 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!

  • Materials are not included in the course cost.

    You will find a list on this web page - just click the button below. We strongly advise using the recommended materials to achieve the best results.

  • 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 have an understanding of Caroline's creative process and how this can inspire your own creative artwork.

    You will have a sketchbook of ideas and technique examples as well as four finished artworks, a pretty plate pattern, a bird portrait with imaginary florals, a still-life piece inspired by Versaille as well as a nostalgic winter landscape.

  • Yes! You are very welcome to join our online community ‘Creative Space’ where Caroline offers encouragement and feedback to posting members. In this free group, Caroline also shares weekly botanical photographs to inspire your artwork (#CreativeSpaceNatureSpark).

    There is also the chance to win prizes in the group challenges.

    Please see the button below.

  • This course is suitable for anyone who wants to expand their creativity in a safe and supportive atmosphere. If you long to create beautiful artwork but find that lack of experience gets in the way then this course will fast-track you to a confident creative practice.

  • The actual course starts 24th February - 21st March 2025.

    You will be able to access welcome course content a week before the course, on the 17th of February.

    There are also 2 weeks of extra time for posting your work within the virtual classroom, after that, you may post any artwork in Creative Space, my online community. Please see the button below.

  • The early bird price is £100.

    After the early bird offer is over (9th February), the course cost will be £120.

    Art materials not included.

Get A Taste Of What’s To Come…

Kindly note that you may receive emails from us about your course with ‘Cotswold Gardening School’ as the sender name. This is due to 'Caroline Tatham Art' existing under the umbrella of 'The Cotswold Gardening School', the design school that Caroline has run for 15 years, so please do not be alarmed. To avoid course notification emails going into your spam folder, we recommend adding Cotswold Gardening School to your Safe Sender List. Thank you