Sketching and Watercolours – Expanding Skills (Stage 2)

• Experienced guidance from a practising artist specialising in watercolour
• Developing the ability to observe and interpret the world around you
• Expressive mark-making and confident brush handling
• Exploration of tone, contrast, texture, colour and form
• Capturing movement and understanding perspective
• Building towards more complex compositions and subject matter
• Experimentation with impressionistic, illustrative, abstract and experimental styles
• Supportive group discussion and constructive feedback

• Week 1: Revision of materials, examining tone and mark making – still life
• Week 2: Four components of watercolour: loading, control, blending and edges – natural form
• Week 3: Resist techniques – botanical study
• Week 4: Ink and watercolour – street scene
• Week 5: Landscapes in traditional watercolour
• Week 6: Landscapes in mixed media
• Week 7: Alternative surfaces for watercolour
• Week 8: Additional water-soluble media – animal study
• Week 9: Self-initiated project
• Week 10: Self-initiated project

At the end of the course you'll:

• Approach watercolour painting with increased confidence and technical control
• Demonstrate understanding of both foundational and more advanced watercolour techniques
• Apply washes, layering and paint manipulation effectively across different papers and subjects
• Combine observational drawing with expressive painting approaches
• Experiment with a range of styles and subject matter to develop your personal artistic voice
• Produce a body of experimental and more resolved watercolour works
• Participate in constructive peer discussion, sharing and reflecting on your progress
• Feel equipped to continue developing your practice beyond the course

You can request a certificate to confirm your achievements, providing you've a 100% attendance record. To request a certificate please get in touch with us at academy@aub.ac.uk and confirm your name and the title of course you've completed.

Will I be assessed?

No, there is no formal assessment. You’ll group share your work at the end of each session with the intention to support, inspire and encourage each other’s learning. 

As the course progresses your tutor will measure your overall performance and offer essential guidance and feedback, so you know how you're getting on.

Age

Suitable for adults aged 18+.

Level

Ideally, you’ll have some prior experience in drawing or sketching and now wish to expand your skills into watercolour.

If you’ve already experimented with the medium, this course will support you in refining and developing your individual style. However, no previous experience using watercolour is essential – enthusiasm and a willingness to experiment are most important.

Experience or qualifications required

None – we have no formal academic entry requirements for our short courses.

If you'd like to discuss if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us: academy@aub.ac.uk or 01202 363222.

£375

Any additional costs

You may need to purchase additional materials for this course – please see the ‘What to bring to class’ section.

Additional materials and resources will be provided by AUB and is included in your course fee.

• Watercolour paints (you may wish to attend the first lesson before purchasing)
• Set of watercolour brushes (optional to purchase after first session)
• Sketchbook
• A3 drawing board
• Watercolour paper pad or sheets, tutor recommends 100% cotton (optional to purchase after first session)
• Sketching equipment: pencils, ink, pens, application tools (discussed at first session)