Painting with Water-Based Media

Discover the expressive possibilities of watercolor and acrylic painting in this engaging four-week course designed for beginner and intermediate artists. Through guided exercises, demonstrations, and individual instruction, students will explore the unique qualities of water-based media while building confidence in their painting practice.

Learn the versatility of acrylic paint and the luminous transparency of watercolor while developing a strong foundation in painting techniques and composition. Students will experiment with brushwork, layering, wet-into-wet applications, direct painting, and color mixing in a supportive, hands-on environment.

Throughout the course, participants will strengthen their understanding of value, color, light, edges, perspective, and design principles such as balance, harmony, contrast, repetition, and unity. Subjects will include still life, landscapes, and portraiture, allowing students to develop both technical skills and personal creative expression.

Each class includes demonstrations, painting time, individualized feedback, and group critiques that encourage thoughtful discussion and artistic growth. Students may work from life or photographic references to create representational or abstract imagery.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 

• Create finished paintings using watercolor or acrylic techniques.
• Understand how to use materials, brushes, and painting tools effectively.
• Apply concepts such as composition, value, color, edges, and perspective.
• Work from observation or photographic references.
• Develop greater confidence and a more critical eye in their artistic practice.

Class Breakdown: 

Class 1: Materials review, value scale, brushwork, blending, underpainting, painting in layers vs direct painting.

Class 2: Still life, the importance of shapes, shadow shapes, form shadows, cast shadows.

Class 3: Landscape, 1-point and 2-point linear perspective, aerial perspective.

Class 4: Portrait, lights and darks, hard, soft, firm, lost edges, symmetry.

Materials not included

About the instructor

Will McGaul has been a professional art instructor since 2011. Will has exhibited in California and Florida. He is a member of the Miami Watercolor Society and the Gold Coast Watercolor Society. Will loves to share his passion for drawing and painting in his classes and workshops, and at the same time, simplifying the process and making it fun.