Watercolor Realism: Daisy and Bumble Bee

Taught by Sherree Rodriguez
Ages 18+
Class FAQs

Have you ever wished you could paint flowers, leaves, and garden treasures with
luminous color and beautiful detail — and feel proud of the results? This welcoming,
confidence-building class will gently guide you into watercolor realism, using transparent
layers, thoughtful color mixing, and approachable techniques that help create depth,
glow, and texture.

This is a wonderful class for beginners and returning painters who want to slow down,
learn real watercolor skills, and feel supported every step of the way. No drawing
confidence needed — we’ll use transfer techniques so you can focus on learning the joy
of painting without pressure.

We’ll start with a segment on color mixing using a thoughtfully chosen watercolor
palette, so your paintings feel rich, vivid, and lightfast. You’ll learn why these paints work
beautifully together, along with simple techniques to identify great paints in the future.
If you’ve taken a class in this series before, you’re absolutely welcome back! We’ll be
painting fresh subjects, exploring new approaches, and deepening skills with additional
techniques.

You’ll learn to:
– Build luminous, layered color
– Create realistic texture and detail
– Use transparent staining pigments to your advantage
– Paint garden subjects with clarity and confidence

This is a warm, low-pressure class with room to ask questions, explore, and enjoy the
process. We’ll even pause mid-way for a snack and stretch break — please feel free to
bring something to enjoy.

You’ll leave with new skills, a finished or nearly finished watercolor piece, and a
renewed sense of creative joy.

Required:
Arches Watercolor Cold Press paper, 140 #, cut or torn to size 9x 12, or a 9x 12
watercolor block. If you are not using a block, plan to bring a board to tape your
paper to, with the tape listed below. You may need more than one 9x12 piece, so
please bring extra of the same paper.

Professional Quality Watercolor paint is required. Please do not bring student-grade
(Cotman) paint. See the inspiration photo for the color range.

Paints we will use in this class.

Please try to bring these specific, professional grade pigments and brands. If a
substitution must be made, then go with the paint number in a different brand. It will not
be the same but will be closer than a paint with a similar name.

• M Graham Nickel Azo Yellow (PY150)
• Winsor & Newton Winsor Blue Red Shade (PB15)
• W&N Permanent Rose (PV19)

Additional Supplies you will need:

• An assortment of synthetic watercolor brushes (round) in sizes: 1, 3, 6, 8, or a
  similar range of sizes
• Scrubber Brush - small to medium sizes, as related to the brush sizes listed. 
• Quart-size Containers for water (2)
• A roll of paper towels
• Spray bottle for water
• Fine tip pencil, such as a Graphgear 300 mechanical pencil with HB .7 ml lead
• Kneaded eraser
• White eraser, like Faber-Castell
• A palette with several inches of flat space for mixing paint, such as  Mijello Fusion
  24  or Art Advantage Airtight watercolor folding palette box. The most important
  factor is a broad, flat mixing field.
  
• Gray graphite paper (to transfer drawing)
• Ivory or white artist's tape - 1/2 or ¾”, such as Art Alternative brand; (please avoid colored tape)