How to create the feeling of timeless tranquility in watercolour? In this course, we will focus on painting endless space and time. Creating a feeling that nothing changes. The light, the fog, the endless space put together to create an endless timeless landscape. This will be a wet-in-wet painting, using a vast range of tonal values and subdued colour, but also one important ingredient, perhaps the most important. Try and guess what that ingredient is.

Learn how to become an independant artist, turning any subject into a great painting! This is a stunning subject, but it is not ideal for a painting. The subject is badly positioned, the context is not great and there really is no purpose or concept to the subject. This week I want to show you how I create my own purpose, so that when I have a great subject that needs a little help, I can still use it to create a finished painting!! When you are able to add to a subject in this way you become more independant as an artists, as you gain experience to modify subjects to make them your own.

This is GOLD! How to replace confusion with impact. The best way to create a strong painting! Don't you love this subject? There is so much going on, and the almost abstract set of shapes create interest and rythme...but it is chaotic!!! This sort of subject requires some serious simplifying but also some ideas that enhance the mood of the scene. Put it this way, this week I want to teach you how to replace confusion with impact. This is something I do very often as it is in my opinion one of the best ways to create a strong painting. This weeks LIVE will be great for people who find complicated subjects too complicated to attempt, but also for people wanting to make an impact in exhibitions and sales!! I will explain why this convinces a judge!

How to use design to transform any subject and make it stand out amongst all others! This is a beautiful subject, but look how flat it looks! Where is the light, the depth, the atmosphere? This week learn how to transform a subject using a strong design!! This little subject should make the perfect painting, not a postcard subject. Let me walk you through how I would confront this sort of scene, with this sort of flat feel to it. This course is ideal for anyone who is looking to develop their skills in strong composition and design, making their paintings stand out amongst others!

HOW to paint a classical subject in a NEW exciting way using atmosphere & emotion! I have chosen a classical subject that we often see in paintings. This subject is also often painted in the same way. Our goal in this course is to take a good look at this subject to understand HOW to paint it differently, in a way that looks anything but boring, as the scene is stunning! Also this week, how can we paint this sort of subject in a way that creates a unique and very atmospheric scene? If you want to increase the emotion and atmosphere in your paintings, this will be a great course for you!

Learn how to paint paintings, not just paint images!These are the TWO key factors we will focus on during this course : - STOP painting subjects and learn how to paint paintings ! - How to REALLY raise your paintings to a new level In this course you will learn that great paintings are created. They don’t just appear through spontaneity, technique and expression. A great painting is planned using shape and tonal values to create design and structure, colour to build mood and balance, brushwork to add originality and energy… Every aspect of a painting MUST work together towards the same idea to create an overall image that speaks loud, moves souls and impowers the viewer. In this course, you’ll learn a step-by-step process to help you to know HOW to combine all the essential fundamentals so your paintings are cohesive, expressive, and impactful — every time. Taking you from painting images to painting paintings !! You’ll discover: - Where to start when planning a painting - How to align shape, tonal values, colour and brushwork to build a REAL painting - How composition and brushwork guide the eye and enhance meaning - Access my guide BLUEPRINT to help you plan out future paintings. This course is for you if you want to: - Move beyond painting subjects to painting paintings - Gain confidence in making every decision work for the whole painting - Create paintings resonate with viewers Paintings need to be planned, constructed with intent and logic. Once you know what you want it is up to the WAY you apply the paint to create the finish you are after!

Brushwork : Learn the 5 essential brushstrokes in a painting for impact & mood. The TWO keys we will focus on during this course : - Brushwork is not decoration - Brushwork is NOT your style ; it MUST vary throughout the painting !! In this course, you’ll learn a clear, step-by-step repeatable guide to improve your brushwork to bring your paintings to life, giving every stroke purpose, energy and meaning. In this course you’ll discover: - How to use different strokes to create texture, form, and flow - How brushwork guides the viewer’s eye and builds focus - How to distract from hesitating brushwork. - A step-by-step method to learn 5 essential brushstrokes in a painting This course is for you if you want to: - Stop overworking your paintings - Create paintings of a higher level with your personality - Paint with confidence, energy, and control Brushwork is not random experimentation or creative folly ! It is the essence of the visual language. HOW you paint changes what your paintings says !! Master it to improve your paintings.

Transform your paintings through drawing — shape, space, emotion. The TWO keys we will focus on during this course: - Drawing is not about accuracy - Drawing IS ESSENTIAL for a painting, but not the way to think ! In this session, you’ll learn a practical, step-by-step repeatable method to help you better draw out your painting. This doesn’t mean figurative shapes, it means space, ratios, hierarchy and clarity. Your drawing is the architecture of your paintings. It is the backbone of every painting. During this course you’ll discover: - How to draw out a painting if your « can’t draw » - How to simplify complex subjects into strong shapes - Learn how to create a step-by-step method to build a solid drawing BEFORE you paint This course is for you if you want to: - Build confident, impactful paintings - Create mood and originality in your paintings - Use space to strengthen your compositions Learn how to draw with a purpose to create stronger paintings.

Make or break your painting using tonal values – Learn to Master them ! In this LIVE session, you’ll learn a clear, step-by-step repeatable guide to ALWAYS get your tonal values « right ». Tonal values are what makes or breaks a painting. To progress and produce good paintings you MUST master tonal values as they control the depth, volume, interest, light/shade and mood in a painting. You’ll discover: - How to simplify a subject into strong value masses (Structure) - How to create depth, light/shade and focus using your light and dark values - Why paintings look flat — and how values fix it - Access a step-by-step process to design values BEFORE you paint This LIVE is for you if you want to: - Make every painting, even the most simple sketch « work » - Stopfocusing and overworking details that don’t matter - Make your paintings look more professional by Mastering tonal values - Use tonal values to sell more paintings ! Every professional artist knows, you cannot compromise on tonal values, they are essentials – Master them !

Colour is your secret weapon ; make colour work for your painting, not against it. Learn the TWO keys we will build on this course : - Colour is not decoration - Colour attracts, holds and delivers emotion In this course, you’ll learn a clear, repeatable step-by-step method for using colour with intention — so your paintings feel unified, deliberate, and expressive instead of random, overworked or distracted. This week you’ll discover: - How and why to choose and limit a palette for maximum impact - How to use colour to create interest, depth, and visual hierarchy - Why dull and opaque colours are ESSENTIAL ; WHEN and HOW to use them. - Access a step-by-step method guide to help you choose and design colour BEFORE you paint This course is for you if you want to: - Stop guessing or just copying colour - Use colour to support the subject, not compete with it - Learn how to use colour to make your paintings stand out with elegance. This course goes straight to the heart of colour. No colour theories, real colour knowledge in application focusing on applying colour with purpose.

Strong paintings don’t happen by chance, they are designed. Learn how to compose a painting ! Learn the TWO keys we will build on this course : - Strong paintings don’t happen by chance. They are designed. - Composition is what guides the eye, creates focus, and gives a painting impact and purpose. In this LIVE session, you’ll learn an easy way to undersatnd and use composition and design in your paintings to create more professional looking paintings with a better result. During this LIVE you’ll discover: - An easy way to ALWAYS get your compositions working ! - How to create strong focal points and visual flow - How to identify and fix a composition that doesn’t «work » - Access a step-by-step method to improve the design of your paintings BEFORE you paint This LIVE is for you if you want to: - Create your paintings. Stop just copying the objects in your paintings - Understand why a composition works (or doesn’t) - Access a step-by-step plan you can use to create good composition in any subject This week learn a solid practical framework you can use immediately to improve every painting.

How to turn any subject into a painting ! Learn the TWO keys we will build in this course : - Paintings are not just images - Great paintings are built, not improvised. Learn a repeatable process to transform any subject into a convincing, expressive painting. During this course you’ll discover: - How to define a clear idea/concept before you paint - How to structure a painting so it reads as a painting, not just an image - Simplify your subjects by organising shapes, values, color with intention - Learn how to build your own paintings, step-by-step so you can stop copying photos. This course is for you if you want to: - Stop depending on reference photos. - Learn to build a painting around a clear concept - Create original watercolour paintings - Strengthen the foundations of every painting you create.

Why watercolour is the best medium for the creativity and development of an artist ! Liberty, transparence, fluidity, spontanteity, passion, mystery, emotion, atmosphere, strength… Watercolour has so many qualities needed for an artist to gain artistic freedom, in my opinion there is no other technique that comes close to watercolour on this level. Confidence, freedom and artistic progress all go together. In this course we will focus on HOW you can expand your artistic path, whilst being a free artist that does not need to follow trends or paint like other artists just to be accepted. Here we will focus on YOUR creativity and why watercolour is the best medium to develop your artistic expression and HOW !! IMPORTANT : Why watercolour is the best artistic medium today ! ESSENTIAL : How to not follow the trends and create your own paintings with confidence !! PROFESSIONAL : How to ensure confidence, freedom and artistic progress in your paintings, even if you are an amateur painter !!!

Learn to finish your paintings well !

HUGE LIVE: The biggest painting secret that transforms painters into Master artists! I’ve just uncovered something extraordinary — a discovery that explains what truly transformed the careers of William Turner, Monet, John Singer Sargent, Vermeer, and countless other masters. Something that took them from skilled painters to Masters… almost overnight. And the most astonishing part? You can reproduce the same shift. But through a single, overlooked principle that changes everything!

Learn why simple subjects speak strongly! When you want to increase your confidence you need to remove all hesitation in your paintings. This doesn’t just include how you paint your paintings, but what you leave in, what you remove and what you amplify. Confidence convinces. Hesitation weakens. To convince you need to not just paint with conviction, being bold doesn’t necessarily mean quality. In this course, I would like to focus on the fine line between bold and ‘anything goes’ when things nolonger work. This session is essential to raise the level of your paintings, your satisfaction with your paintings and your painting results. IMPORTANT : How to raise your confidence in your paintings, and paint paintings YOU like ! ESSENTIAL : How to be bold without going too far ? PROFESSIONAL : How to pull boldness, confidence and quality together !!! HUGE !!!

Want to create a painting that you LOVE ? Here’s what to do to get better results with your painting. Why do we look at our paintings and love some and feel nothing in front of others ? What is the « thing », the magic that inhabits some paintings and not others ? In this course, I would like to go back to one of my favourite paintings ; « Ian ». Now I do NOT like painting portraits during LIVEs, but there is something so important hiding in this painting that I want you to learn, and that is how to make any subject, not just portraits come to life, and make them breathe !! IMPORTANT : What makes a « special » painting that is different from others ? ESSENTIAL : What creates life in a painting ? PROFESSIONAL : Go beyond technique and make the public shiver from life-like émotions in your paintings.

Discover how I create emotion and atmosphere is this painting! My main preoccupation when I paint is to charge my paintings with what I FEEL about a subject, not what I see or think… How I FEEL so that they can feel it too. I have always painted like this and have always created paintings with a strong emotional charge, which later I realized was rare. I didn’t know that. I feel today that there are not enough artists tapping into their emotions. Many paintings are bold, strong, technical…not many have feeling. Let me show you in this course, how I do this, as we re-create my painting « One moment in time » so that you can gain confidence in passing YOUR feelings through in your paintings. IMPORTANT: How does feeling come across in a painting ? ESSENTIAL: How to touch the heart of the viewer ? PROFESSIONAL: Why emotional paintings are the ultimate standout paintings that are timeless and priceless !

Discover how I compose my paintings to add strength and show confidence ! The next six courses focus on maximizing your painting confidence and results. « White Spirit » is a painting I completed back around 2010. This very simple subject is all about strength of composition, a lot of the story is about balance, brushwork and colour. The entire painting was created to show strength and confidence. In this course I will explain how and walk you through the steps as we paint this subjects together. Look out this painting is to free-up brushwork !! IMPORTANT : The base of a painting is composition. Learn how to show confidence in a composition ! ESSENTIAL : Confidence and strength MUST be unapologenic, show conviction, convince. How to do this !! PROFESSIONAL : Learn the keys the judges look for to make sure your paintings appeal to judges and the public !!!

Learning from Frederick McCubbin. How to create emotion in your paintings !! Welcome to a new season of Watercolour LIVE ! Join me for my Watercolour LIVE series « The Dawn of Impressionism : From Past to Present ». In this new series I invite you to join me as we study the work of past artists across different mediums and styles. My goal with new series is to gain knowledge from past artists, as we observe the colour, tonal value, composition and technical choices they made in their work, in order to save time in our own painting progress. In this course we will study the work of Australian Impressionist artist Frederick McCubbin (1855–1917). McCubbin was an Australian painter born in Melbourne, Australia and a key figure of the influencial group of artists known as the Heidelberg School. He is known for his story-telling of Australian bush scenes which capture emotion. McCubbin’s painting « Lost » is among his most celebrated works, capturing his mastery of conveying emotion through a single scene. In one image, he crafts an entire narrative—one that continues to resonate more than a century after its creation, something that few artists are able to achieve. This Monday, 22 December, we’ll look at how you can create strong stories in your paintings. Many paintings today are technical great, yet emotional poor. This week we will focus on how you can create more emotion in your paintings, using some of the things that Frederick McCubbin mastered. IMPORTANT : What Frederick McCubbin knew about creating emotion in paintings. ESSENTIAL : Learn how McCubbin created emotion in his paintings. PROFESSIONAL : What makes Frederick McCubbin’s paintings so important for today’s art scene and aspiring artists today. HUGE !!

Learning from Arthur Streeton (part 3). How to use colour and texture to create strong landscapes !! Join me for my Watercolour LIVE series called « The Dawn of Impressionism : From Past to Present ». In this new series I invite you to join me as we study the work of past artists across different mediums and styles. My goal with new series is to gain knowledge from past artists, as we observe the colour, tonal value, composition and technical choices they made in their work, in order to save time in our own painting progress. In this course we will continue to study the work of Australian Impressionist artist Arthur Streeton (1867–1943). This week we will take a close look at how Streeton mastered atmosphere in his paintings ! Even very early on in his painting career, Arthur Streeton focused on the impression of a subject, not the objects within it. His ability to take what was essential in a subject and remove any distractions, allowed him to amplify mood, atmosphere and create strong design in all of his work. Many paintings today are technically great, yet emotional poor. In this course we will focus on how you can create more mood and atmosphere in your paintings, using some of the things that Arthur Streeton developed. IMPORTANT : What Streeton learned about atmosphere. ESSENTIAL : How Streeton was able to create strong mood in every painting. understanding in your own paintings. PROFESSIONAL : What makes Arthur Streeton’s painting stand out from all other artists today. This is very important !!

Learning from Arthur Streeton (part 2). How to turn a landscape into a work of art !! Join me for Watercolour LIVE « The Dawn of Impressionism : From Past to Present ». In this new series I invite you to join me as we study the work of past artists across different mediums and styles. My goal with new series is to gain knowledge from past artists, as we observe the colour, tonal value, composition and technical choices they made in their work, in order to save time in our own painting progress. In this course we will continue to study the work of Australian artist Arthur Streeton (1867–1943), taking a close look at how he turned a landscape into a painting. Arthur Streeton was an Impressionist artist, he knew how to paint representational art, however he was more interested in finding the magic within a scene and turning the scene in front of him into a stunning painting. Streeton was a pioneer in Impressionist art, one of the world’s best, focusing on a mood or atmosphere often telling a story within a scene. His mastery of design and composition enabled him to become one of the greatest Impressionist artists of all time. My career as an International judge has show me Streeton’s strengths in design and composition are one of today’s weaknesses in watercolour. So let’s dive into what Streeton discovered when it comes to taking a scene and knowing how to turn it into a work of art. IMPORTANT : How Streeton turned a subject into a work of art. ESSENTIAL : How Streeton mastered design and composition in this paintings. PROFESSIONAL : Why Streeton’s design work is the solution for today’s aspiring artists.

Learning from Arthur Streeton (part 1). How to use colour and texture to create strong landscapes !! I am so excited about my new Watercolour LIVE series called « The Dawn of Impressionism : From Past to Present ». In this new series I invite you to join me as we study the work of past artists across different mediums and styles. My goal with new series is to gain knowledge from past artists, as we observe the colour, tonal value, composition and technical choices they made in their work, in order to save time in our own painting progress. Each artist has been chosen for the strength they developed which I believe offers an opportunity for current artists to develop. In this course we will focus on one of my favourite artist of all time: Arthur Streeton, focusing on his magical use of colour and texture in his paintings. Arthur Streeton (1867–1943) was an Australian landscape painter born in Mount Duneed, Victoria. He became a leading figure of the Heidelberg School, Australia’s key Impressionist movement. Streeton is known for luminous depictions of the Australian bush, notably the Hawkesbury River and Blue Mountains. His breakthrough came with his painting Still Glides the Stream (1890) which we will look at this Monday to understand why it led to a breakthough in his career. Streeton’s paintings were central to development and quality of Australian art. Although unknown outside of Australia, Streeton is a true Master and his paintings can easily fetch around $5,000,000 Australian dollars today. IMPORTANT : What Streeton learned that established him as a leading impressionist painter. ESSENTIAL : How you can apply Streeton’s understanding of colour and texture in your own paintings. PROFESSIONAL : What makes Arthur Streeton one of the best artists in Australian art and also in the global Impressionism movement.

Learn how to paint emotion in your paintings using light and atmosphere ! Paintings are all about visual communication. Artists aim to express their ideas and stories through their art, and share these with the public via their paintings. Paintings with an emotional charge can deeply touch the public and artists who are able to inject their true authentic feelings and messages into their paintings connect the most profoundly with the greater public. Understanding how to begin to include your own emotions into your paintings is not easy for many people as today’s society encourages us to protect our feelings as opposed to displaying them for all to see and also we tend to learn techniques to improve our paintings which focus on actions and methods and not expression. The realm of the visual arts is more subtle and more suitable for expression, and therefore your paintings can become a real outlet for your feelings and an authentic point of connection between your art and the public. In this course we will talk more about how you can do this. IMPORTANT : What is the language of emotion in paintings ? ESSENTIAL : How to identity the feelings you wish to pass on in your paintings !! PROFESSIONAL : How to connect to with your public !!

HUGE LIVE!! Learn the steps that separate a standard painting from a major work! Most of the paintings we create are, let’s say, standard pieces. Every now and then, we may choose to paint a major work, create a commissioned piece, or simply challenge ourselves to see how far we can push our results. There are many differences between painting a standard piece and creating a major painting. In this course — and the one that follows — we’ll focus on teaching you some of these crucial steps. It’s essential to know them even if you don’t yet feel ready to create a major work, as they provide a framework and a clear path to progress faster and move to a higher level, instead of simply repeating the same kind of paintings. I’ll open this course by showing how the Masters approached this. We’ll go back in time and learn from the artists of the past how they managed to paint masterpiece after masterpiece. During the mini opening session on October 27th, I’ll explain why many artists today are not achieving the same kind of progress. Both sessions are essential to your artistic growth! IMPORTANT: What steps can you take to move beyond standard artwork, using the Masters’ work as a guide? ESSENTIAL: Learn how to apply this knowledge in your own watercolour paintings! PROFESSIONAL: Understand the key differences between watercolour and oil when producing major works!

Learn how to design a painting with strong light and shade design like an Italian Master ! Caravaggio’s strong light and shadow technique « chiaroscuro » was used to create drama, impact and strength. Watercolour is NOT a wishy-washy technique. Learn this week how you can improve your tonal value work, all the way to designing light and very dark values in a painting, whilst maintaining fluidity and transparency ! We will start this course with a mini course on tonal values and how to maintain intensity whilst maintaining transparency, particularly over large surfaces. Then we will paint a dramatic street scene and work in colour choice to impact the result and mood. NOT TO MISS !! IMPORTANT : How to draw develop a strong tonal value contrast in your paintings ! ESSENTIAL : Learn how to ensure your large surfaces of dark values stay fluid and transparent AND remain dark !! PROFESSIONAL : Learn how to use colour with chiaroscuro strength !!!

Master light, contrast and mood in a street scene !!! Street scene paintings are beautiful, but they need life or they can look empty, even abandoned. Cars, people, boxes, rubbish bins…people and objects create life, animate the scene and also add smaller interesting shapes into what is often just large buildings. The heart of the success of a street scene painting is not the street (surprise), it is the design of the light and the shadows, and the inclusion of life into the scene. We will start this course with a mini course on how to simply a street scene subject and create a strong design using light and shade. IMPORTANT : How to simplify a street scene subject and create a design ! ESSENTIAL : Learn how to incorporate people, cars, boxes…to add life and create a stronger composition !! PROFESSIONAL : Let’s go one step further and develop the dance between figurative and abstract shape !!!

Learn to paint natural, expressive figures and add a third person to your scene with balance. How to paint people that are not niave and stiff. We will add a third figure to this scene, WHERE and HOW ? Painting larger, key figures in a painting is often too daunting both to draw and to paint. However, avoiding people in your paintings is a mistake as they add life, movement, mood…they will also teach you how to open up a subject, guide the eye around the painting, learn how to expand your use of brushwork…the sky is the limit !! I will do a mini course on drawing and painting people in the beginning of the course, to help you understand their basic structure and role. From there we will paint this beach scene and ADD a third main figure and several smaller figures to turn this photo into a painting whilst we learn the art of painting small figures and key figures, both individually or in a group. NOT TO MISS !! IMPORTANT : How to draw and paint major figures alone or in a group ! ESSENTIAL : Learn how to incorporate people into a scene !! PROFESSIONAL : Learn the language of figure painting and their role in a painting !!!

Learn how to paint people alone and in groups. Essential to create life and master composition !!In this course we will focus on painting major figures in a painting. Painting people is scary and most amateurs figure’s look unnatural or over detailed. How can you create figures that look good yet don’t attract the eye too much ? Many paintings are improved due to the addition of people, however if you cannot paint people well your figures risk ruining your paintings. How can you get passed this stage ? Figures in a painting create life, tell a story, create atmosphere… In this course we will use people to create a composition and guide the eye of the viewer throughout a painting, this is HUGE !! Learn also how to distract and block the eye with people. This is HUGE for landscapes, marines, street scenes, café scenes… IMPORTANT : How to paint major figures alone or in a group in a painting ! ESSENTIAL : How to paint figures well and make them enhance your paintings, rather than ruining them ?!! PROFESSIONAL : How to use figures strategically in your compositions !!!

How to free up your brushwork and loosen up your paintings! Your brushwork is your signature style, how do you loosen up your brush strokes and move away from an amateur look to your work ? In this course we will look at what creates convincing brushwork and strokes are just mess, and what is the difference between the two ? We will also learn this how you know what sort of brushwork is logical for you and your style ? How can you develop this ? IMPORTANT: How to loosen up your brushwork ! ESSENTIAL: How to develop brushwork that suits you and allows you to create a signature style !! PROFESSIONAL: Master the art of line and shape where personality and emotion are felt with every stroke !!!

The ULTIMATE lesson in painting : Design and emotion !! In this course we will focus on how patterns create the design of your painting. This lesson will show you how important an abstract base to any painting is, and how to go about creating a strong design in order to achieve a strong painting. What is the role of colour, tonal values and shape in a strong design? How are they different from these facets in real life? Why simplifying is essential to make a strong design work and why should you learn to master strong design in every painting? IMPORTANT: What is design?! ESSENTIAL: How to build a strong design WITH emotion !! PROFESSIONAL: How to use design and emotion to get a strong painting EVERY time !! No more failed paintings !

Learn how to paint boats with drama and a strong design and atmosphere ! There are times when we want to paint strong subjects with a soft atmosphere. How do we do it ? By understanding how to paint the effects of strength of subject and mood, you will be able to adapt to any subject. The goal is that these seemingly opposite characteristics work in the same painting. To do so, in this course we will use our shapes, tonal values and colour to create a hierarchie of TECHNIQUE !! With this new series starting in this course we will be delving deeper into atmosphere, emotion and mood in our paintings !! IMPORTANT : What is hierarchy of technique ?! ESSENTIAL : How to use technique to create one atmoshere in the subject and a second atmosphere in the overall subject. FUN !! PROFESSIONAL : The Art of subtle changes and understanding where real strength comes from in art and how you can use this in your paintings !!!

Make art from the ordinary — turn “nothing” into meaning with storytelling and quiet emotion. Let’s learn how to successfully paint what appears to be nothing !! How to take a boring subject and turn it into art !! Any subject can make a great painting, and often we search for postcard subjects, but often humble everyday objects better paintings, WHY ? Because they are more relatable, people can project their own memories, ideas and feelings onto a subject they understand. In this courseI want to see how to create meaning in a painting (do you remember Van Goghs painting’s of chairs ??? Look them up), and learn the Art of story telling through paintings !!!

Paint with heart — turn everyday objects into mood, light, and intimacy inside an artist’s studio. The Art of painting STUFF !! Here we will paint an artist’s studio (no, this is not my studio, my studio is FAR messier !!). In this course will be all about how to create HEART in your paintings. This subject no doubt resonates with us all. It means something to us ; the time, emotions and growth we experience in our studio is transformative to our lives and the person we are. Our studio is intimate, reflects who we are and how we develop, HOW can you create such strong FEELINGS in your paintings ? This course touches on the essence of painting : WHY do you paint ? To achieve feeling in your paintings we will focus on light and shadows to create mood, the Art of painting abstract shape to create a strong design and intrigue but also intimacy to create HEART !!

Paint the poetry of backlighting — create mood and movement with light, shape and subtle colour. Learn the Art of the contre jour (backlighting), café scenes are amazing subjects, there is so much going on, often too much. Backlighting allows to you to create silhouettes and focus on bringing the spectator’s eye where you want them to go, whilst simultaneously BOOSTING maximum mood. This sort of scene seems like it is all about tonal values and shape, but colour is actually a powerful tool for the overall mood. With this subject I want to focus on how to effectively paint backlighting and sihouettes without them looking stiff and flat. This is actually a vital aspect of painting for suggesting shapes in any subject!

Turn a simple photo into a great painting — learn to redesign your subject with artistic intent Turn an unlikely photo into a painting using creative thinking !! Some photos look great, but would make bad paintings UNLESS you know how to work the subject. This little red boat scene has a lot of appeal…as a photo. BUT, if painted like the photo would not create a good painting. Let’s first look at WHY some subjects need work and how to go about redesigning a subject for a better painting result. The goal with any painting is to create unity and bring people into YOUR world of ideas. This is where your creativity is born !!

From complex to compelling — simplify and structure Honfleur into a strong, design-led painting. Knowing where to start, how to simplify your subject and how to finish your painting is EVERYTHING !! In this course we will work through what APPEARS to be an extraordinarily complex subject of Honfleur, Normandy, France. We will focus on WHY and HOW it is essential to strip your subject down and re-build it. Every subject has a core, how do we find it ? We then want to create a strong design using shape and tonal values. We will focus on CREATING a strong design with this subject to show you how you can apply this to any subject to create a great painting, rather than just copying the subject !!

Design with purpose — paint clarity and unity with the soft beauty of Fort La Latte, Brittany. Use the space on your sheet with PURPOSE !! Most people paint their paintings focusing on the objects of their subjects : trees, houses, pots… This is not going to get you a painting with a strong message or purpose, it will however get you a painting full of objects. One mistake we make when we are learning is that we feel more is better. You may relate to this ; you want a great sky, or show the volume of a pot, or the texture of a door… The area of your sheet needs to be broken up between design, visibility and impact…NOT objects !! In this course we will paint a beautifully soft scene of the La Latte Fort in Cap Frehel, in Brittany France to unblock this issue and learn how to paint a united painting that has a strong effective purpose !!

Master light and mood — paint the glow, not the objects, in a magical Venetian canal scene. When it comes to a strong painting you don’t want to paint objects : trees, boats, eyes, buildings… you want to create shapes that work together with the colours and tonal values you choose and ensure they work together. Most beginners make the mistake of focusing on the objects. Don’t make this mistake. In this course, we will be painting a Venice canal, focusing on the light and the patterns the light and shadows create in the subject, rather than the objects (windows, bridge, boats…). We will be painting these things…or should I say rather we will be suggesting them. The light will impose colour choice and the rythme. From there we will learn how to create a gorgeous glow that dominates the entire painting. This is massive mood making !!

Learn how to paint details without overworking — inspired by Venice’s Santa Maria della Salute. in this course I want to focus on the Art of painting details !! So join me here as we paint my favourite building in the world ; the Santa Maria della Salute in Venice. WHY ? My goal with this stunning subject is to focus on how to paint details effectively to FINISH your paintings well, without overworking, without looking niave and clumsey and getting your details to enhance your finished painting. Knowing how to finish a painting is possibly more important than how you start it !

How to layer a subject to create feeling of space and depth. What will you learn in this course ? Let’s paint the magnificent Melbourne, Australia. Welcome to my home, as we paint the most beautiful city in the world !! In this session you will learn : - How to create the illusion of depth. - How to locate the perfect focal point ! - How to paint street scenes easily.

How to paint a subject when the background, middleground and foreground are all important ? Let’s paint the fabulous Lake Garda in Italy !! In this session you will learn to : - How to paint subjects when the background, middle ground and foreground are all important. - How to guide the eye of the viewer successfully around your painting. - How to to paint reflections.

Learn how to create the feel of light, shadows, texture and impact all in the one painting ! Let’s work through painting peeling paint, crumbling stone and bright light ! In this session you will learn to : - How to create lots of texture that adds credibility to your subjects. - Use transparent, opaque and granulating colours to boost the illusion of texture. - How to use composition to avoid creating an overly symetrical subject.

How to use colour and tonal values to create volume and depth, whilst also creating texture. What will you learn this week ? Dig out your old nic-nacs as we paint old boxes and the illusion of wood, metal and texture !! In this weeks LIVE session you will learn : - How to create the effect of different materials in watercolour. - Master the illusion of volume and depth in objects. - Why colour will make ALL the difference to making texture feel real !!

Mesmerizing colour unity, soft edges, MAXIMUM mood and transparency ! Transparency, transulent shapes and shadows to create the ultimate hypnotic feel. In this weeks LIVE session you will learn : - Use colour unity and proximity to create hypnotic mood. - How exactly you can master atmosphere in every painting. - Focus your shapes around tonal values and edges to enhance the effects in all of your paintings !

How to master colour repetition !! We often speak about colour harmony, colour contrasts, colour balance…but colour repetition is one of the strongest ways of using colour, so how does it work? Colour repetition is one of the simplest ways to create powerful, unified paintings. - Learn how to use colour to builds rhythm, balance, and strong visual design without overwhelming the viewer. - Learn how colour repetition draws the viewer into your painting, guided by the invisible thread of repeated hues. - Learn how to make colour repetition, with bold or loose techniques to create unparellelled interest, control and elegance. This course will show you how small colour choices make a massive impact. Master repetition, and your watercolours will speak with unforgettable power.

Learn how to paint ALL complex subjects EASILY with COLOUR UNITY!! In watercolour, colour unity is the hidden force that holds a painting together and gives it undeniable presence. It builds a strong, clear structure that immediately captures the viewer’s eye and keeps them engaged. With colour unity, your subject is no longer just a series of disconnected shapes — it becomes a powerful, cohesive design that demands attention. Here’s what you’ll discover during this LIVE session: - How using a limited palette creates instant cohesion and bold visual strength. - How strong colour relationships make your compositions feel deliberate, magnetic, and unforgettable. - How colour unity simplifies complexity, giving your paintings a more striking, memorable impact. Use colour unity when you want to create a hypnotic effect — the kind that leaves viewers rooted to the spot, unable to walk away. When colour speaks with one voice, your paintings won't just stand out — they’ll dominate. This is a must-learn skill for artists who want to succeed in competitions or boost their art sales!

Master the power of colour juxtaposition ! In this course, you’ll discover how colour juxtaposition can instantly elevate your paintings. By the end of this course, you won’t just paint better — you’ll see the world differently !! Welcome to the World of COLOUR !! - You will learn what colour juxtaposition is, and how to use it in your paintings. - You'll learn how placing warm colours next to cool colours, light next to dark, Bright next to dull enhances the impact of even simple subjects. - Ordinary objects — like boats, will suddenly feel alive and powerful. - You’ll gain confidence in using bold and unexpected colour combinations.

How to create the illusion of grandure, cliffs and massive space, without overworking your subject. What will you learn in this course ? How to organise the space of your subject to create the illusion of a BIG subject ? How to use brushstokes to create the illusion of detail to enhace the feeling of space and grandure ? What is the difference between painting plein-air and studio work? Can you create the « plein-air » feel in the studio? Use light and reflections to create a focal point and mood. The Impressionist painters captured the cliffs of Étretat and Honfleur, France, with vibrant, dynamic brushstrokes, emphasizing the ever-changing light and atmosphere. The towering white cliffs and dramatic arches of Étretat, framed by the sea, became symbols of natural grandeur and movement. These landscapes, often painted en plein air, express both the raw beauty and the fleeting qualities of nature, with an emphasis on color and light over fine detail.

How to make your paintings hypnotic!!