Watercolor Painting 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
11Lessons
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19Exams &
Assignments -
2,278Students
have taken this course -
9Hours
average time -
0.9CEUs
Course Description
In this course you will learn the basics of one of the most enduring art forms in our culture: watercolor painting. It is the easiest way of expressing yourself through art and has a long history of teaching great painters their first lessons in subjects ranging from proper technique to design principals. Most books and courses out there demand a large amount of self-study and miss the point of learning to paint--to have fun! Included in the course are tips from professional painters, examples of some of the great watercolor work ever created, and instructions that can take you from never having picked up a brush to completing your first full painting in no time. It is also sure to make sure you learn the right things at the right time, and that you have time to let the knowledge soak in before rushing off to the next concept.
We'll make sure you aren't intimidated by the long aisles of the art supply store stacked with thousands of different types of paint, brushes, and other tools. You'll be able to talk the talk as well as walk the walk as we share the meaning behind things like the "belly-width" of your brush or the "value" of your paint. You'll be able to share your gift with others in no time, and become a part of an international community of artists going back hundreds of years. Whether you are just looking for something new to do in your spare time or perhaps starting a new career, this course is developed for you.
Watercolor is the first form of art that many new artists come across. Watercolor kits are much cheaper than gathering the expensive vials of paint and easier than learning how to mix the perfect set of hues into the color you need when it comes to oil painting. In fact, most elementary school art programs will see each child pick up a brush at least once, soaking it in water, brushing it along little tablets of color, and dabbing the brushes against a thick piece of construction or cold press textured paper. Here young children produce their first tree, their first bird, their first portrait of a friend, before terms like "subject" or "still life" enter the fray.
Watercolor is something that anyone can do, and that can be done pretty much anywhere. And yet, if this form of art becomes ingrained upon the soul as it has done with millions of other people, there are professional tools and techniques that can take your hobby to the next level. Knowing more about watercolor can bring you closer to art in general, allowing you to better understand the paintings you visit at art galleries or museums.
Yes, watercolor is for more than just grade-schoolers learning to reproduce the world around them. In fact, watercolor may be the world's oldest form of painting. Alongside charcoal cave drawings and stone carvings, ancient people would combine water with different forms of pigmentation, blending together a color that could be used to paint upon the walls of caves and upon stone or wooden icons. As civilization developed, so too did this form of art. The Egyptians used watercolor to paint upon papyrus and parchment.
The watercolor paintings many people are first exposed to are not the European works, but those of the Chinese and Japanese masters. In this part of the world watercolor is the dominant artform, while in Europe and the US, oil or acrylicpainting has generally more popular. Here, painting is done on paper but also on screens, to create ornate doorways, wall coverings, and even clothing. Another popular use of watercoloring is in the illuminated manuscripts of Europe, where bright light can pass through the paper and paint to create a brilliant effect. Almost every famous artist has works done in watercolor, but the great books of the middle ages almost all have a famous manuscript done in watercolor, bringing to life their pages in a way that only watercolor uniquely can.
So you see, watercolor is more than a basic form of transforming your thoughts into art. It is not just a stepping stone to more complex artistic mediums. Watercolor in and of itself is one of the most important methods of creating art. By engaging in watercolor painting you are connecting yourself to your ancient ancestors, to the most artistic brilliant minds who ever lived, and to a culture of contemporaries that carry on this great form of art into the future.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1: An Introduction to Watercolor
Lesson 1 Video
Review 2 Articles: 50 Beautiful Watercolor Paintings; Famous Water Color Painting Artists
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: Introduction
Complete: Lesson 1 Assignment
Lesson 2: Getting Started
Lesson 2 Video
Review Article: Watercolor Painting Art Tools
Complete: Lesson 2 Assignment
Lesson 3: Choosing Your Equipment
Lesson 3 Video
Review 2 Articles: How to Put Together Equipment for Watercolour Painting; Beginner's Guide: Watercolor Painting Supplies
Review Video: Watercolor Brushes - How To Choose The Best Brushes For Your Artwork
Complete: Lesson 3 Assignment
Lesson 4: Working with Color
Lesson 4 Video
Review Article: 10 Watercolor Painting Tips for Beginners
Complete: Lesson 4 Assignment
Lesson 5: Watercolor Techniques
Lesson 5 Video
Review Article: WATERCOLOR and #8211; TECHNIQUE
Complete: Lesson 5-1 Assignment
Complete: Lesson 5-2 Assignment
Complete: Lesson 5-3 Assignment
Lesson 6: Practicing the Principals of Design
Lesson 6 Video
Review Article: Elements of Designs in Watercolor Paintings:
Complete: Lesson 6-1 Assignment
Complete: Lesson 6-2 Assignment
Complete: Lesson 6-3 Assignment
Lesson 7: Basic Painting
Lesson 7 Video
Complete: Lesson 7-1 Assignment
Complete: Lesson 7-2 Assignment
Lesson 8: Steps to Creating Your Painting
Lesson 8 Video
Review 2 Articles: How to Approach Watercolor Painting As a Beginner; 10 Techniques for Painting More Loosely
Complete: Lesson 8 Assignment
Lesson 9: More Simple Projects
Lesson 9 Video
Review 2 Articles: FINISHING, VARNISHING AND PRESERVING YOUR PAINTINGS; Watercolor Painting and Ideas
Complete: Lesson 9 Assignment
Lesson 10: Five Quick Ways to Improve your Art
Lesson 10 Video
Review Article: Improve Your Watercolor Knowledge, Skills and Confidence
Complete: Lesson 10 Assignment
Lesson 11: Composition
Lesson 11 Video
Take Poll: What do you think about this course?
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete Assignment: Final Painting and Thoughts
Complete Assignment: Be Creative
Complete: The Final Assignment
Learning Outcomes
- Describe what water color painting is.
- Identify the equipment you need to do water color painting.
- Demonstrate working with color.
- Demonstrate watercolor techniques.
- Demonstrate practicing the principals of design and basic painting.
- Demonstrate steps to creating your painting, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 6 months |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |
Certificates & CEUs
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Includes CEUs |
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Self-paced |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 500+ |