18 Day Watercolor Challenge - Beginner Friendly from Udemy

Are you looking for level up your watercolors with fun and easy challenges?

If you are interested in learning how to watercolor paint, this course is perfect for you. It’s designed to be easy-to-follow and will get you started on the right foot. You can learn at your own pace and have fun while doing it.

This class is great if you want to try something new or just need an extra creative outlet in your life. We all know that painting has been proven to reduce stress levels, so why not give it a shot?

You don’t need any experience with watercolor painting before taking this class because we start from scratch. The instructor will walk through every step of the process with videos and written instructions so there are no questions about what comes next.

And when the 20 days are up, we guarantee that your paintings will look like they were done by someone who has spent years mastering their craft. Join us today and see what all the fuss is about.

Up for the challenge? Then sign up now and plan on spending the next 20 days creating amazing watercolor art.

What we will cover

Start with simple object(s)
Focus will be on value, color and color harmony
There will be a beginner module with color basics and we will build on them as the class progresses
Basic design and composition ideas
And much more...

What's inside

Learning objectives

Tips to explore color and values
Learn value hierarchy painting
How to simplify and connect values
How to see value in colors
Create low key value and color studies

Create high-key value and color studies
Explore chromatic color palette options
Explore tonal color palette options
Explore negative space painting
Much more...

Tips to explore color and values
Learn value hierarchy painting
How to simplify and connect values
How to see value in colors
Create low key value and color studies
Create high-key value and color studies
Explore chromatic color palette options
Explore tonal color palette options
Explore negative space painting
Much more...

Syllabus

Introduction

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Define your goals

Materials

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a structured approach to learning watercolor, starting with color basics and progressing to more complex techniques like value hierarchy and negative space painting

Emphasizes value, color, and color harmony, which are fundamental concepts for creating visually appealing watercolor paintings and developing a strong artistic foundation

Includes challenges like blind contour drawing and upside-down painting, which can help develop observational skills and break habitual ways of seeing

Explores both chromatic and tonal color palettes, offering a broad understanding of color relationships and enabling artists to create diverse moods and effects

Requires specific materials for watercolor painting, which may involve additional costs for learners who do not already have these supplies

Reviews summary

Structured daily watercolor introduction

According to learners, this course offers a highly positive and structured introduction to watercolor painting. Many students appreciated the daily challenge format, finding it an effective way to build a consistent practice and make learning manageable. The instructor receives significant praise for being clear, encouraging, and easy to follow, making the course perfect for absolute beginners who have never picked up a brush before. While the course provides a solid foundation and learners report seeing significant improvement in their skills by the end, some noted that the materials section, though helpful, might require students to explore additional supplies or details independently.

Advice helpful but may need supplements.

"The materials list was a good starting point, but I ended up needing a few more colors and different paper."

"Wish there was slightly more guidance on choosing specific types of paint or brushes."

"The basics covered in materials were fine, but be prepared to do some outside research depending on your goals."

"I found the materials introduction helpful for understanding the basics of what to get."

Learners report visible progress.

"I was amazed at the progress I made in just 18 days. My paintings look so much better!"

"This challenge helped me see a real difference in my understanding of value and color."

"By the end of the course, I felt much more confident and skilled than when I started."

"It's rewarding to look back at the first painting and compare it to the last."

Structure encourages consistent practice.

"The daily challenges were perfect for building a habit and not feeling overwhelmed."

"I loved the format of doing one small piece each day. It was very motivating."

"Breaking it down into bite-sized daily tasks made learning feel achievable and fun."

"This structure really helped me dedicate consistent time to painting."

Teacher is supportive and clear.

"The instructor is amazing - so clear, encouraging, and easy to follow along with."

"I really appreciated the teacher's approach, they make learning watercolor feel accessible."

"Her instructions were spot on and demonstrations easy to replicate. Perfect pace."

"I found the explanations very easy to understand, even as a complete beginner."

Great starting point, no experience needed.

"As someone who had never touched watercolor before, this course was exactly what I needed."

"This is truly beginner-friendly! The instructor starts from scratch and explains everything."

"Never painted before, and I actually produced paintings I'm proud of thanks to this class."

"An ideal introduction to basic techniques and getting comfortable with the medium."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in 18 Day Watercolor Challenge - Beginner Friendly with these activities:

Review Color Theory Basics

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Reinforce your understanding of color theory principles before starting the course to better grasp the concepts of value, saturation, and color mixing.

Browse courses on Color Theory

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Read articles or watch videos on color theory fundamentals.
Practice mixing primary colors to create secondary and tertiary colors.
Create a color wheel and label each color with its name and properties.

Create a Watercolor Color Chart

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Develop a deeper understanding of your watercolor palette by creating a color chart that showcases the properties of each pigment.

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Gather your watercolor paints and a sheet of watercolor paper.
Create a grid on the paper, labeling each cell with a different color.
Paint each cell with the corresponding color, noting its value, saturation, and transparency.

Read 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter' by James Gurney

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Deepen your understanding of color and light principles to enhance your watercolor painting skills.

View Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions) on Amazon

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Read the book chapter by chapter, taking notes on key concepts.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book using watercolor paints.
Analyze paintings by master artists to see how they applied color and light principles.

Four other activities

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Value Scale Practice

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Improve your ability to accurately perceive and reproduce values, which is crucial for creating depth and form in watercolor paintings.

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Create a value scale using watercolor, ranging from white to black.
Practice painting simple objects using only values, without color.
Compare your value studies to reference photos to identify areas for improvement.

Explore 'Making Color Sing' by Jeanne Dobie

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Expand your knowledge of color mixing and application techniques to create more vibrant and expressive watercolor paintings.

View Making Color Sing on Amazon

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Read the book and highlight key concepts and techniques.
Experiment with the color mixing exercises described in the book.
Apply the techniques to your own watercolor paintings.

Paint a Still Life with Limited Palette

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Apply the concepts learned in the course by painting a still life using a limited color palette to focus on value and color harmony.

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Set up a simple still life arrangement with a few objects.
Choose a limited color palette of 2-3 colors plus white.
Paint the still life, focusing on accurate values and harmonious color relationships.
Reflect on the challenges and successes of the project.

Share Your Paintings and Get Feedback

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Improve your skills by sharing your paintings online and receiving constructive criticism from other artists.

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Join an online art community or forum.
Share your watercolor paintings and ask for feedback on specific aspects.
Provide constructive criticism to other artists in return.

Career center

Learners who complete 18 Day Watercolor Challenge - Beginner Friendly will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Fine Artist

A Fine Artist creates original works of art for exhibition and sale. This career path requires a deep understanding of artistic techniques and principles. This course, with its focus on color, values, and composition, may be useful for honing your artistic skills. The course helps develop a strong foundation in key areas such as color mixing, value hierarchy, and exploring various color palettes. Experimenting with high-key and low-key studies, chromatic and tonal options, and negative space helps aspiring Fine Artists expand their artistic repertoire and create more compelling and nuanced artwork.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist

Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer creates visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. This role demands a keen eye for aesthetics and proficiency in design principles. This beginner friendly course provides an introduction to color basics and design composition ideas. The course's focus on value, color, color schemes, and color harmony helps build a foundation for creating visually appealing and effective designs. By exploring different color palette options and understanding the interplay of values, someone who is interested in becoming a Graphic Designer can develop key skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Art teacher

An Art Teacher educates students of all ages in various art forms and techniques. Strong communication skills and a solid understanding of artistic principles are essential. This course helps improve an art teacher's foundational knowledge in watercolor painting, color theory, and composition. Being able to create amazing watercolor art with the knowledge of value, color harmony, and design composition ideas may be useful when teaching students about art. The course's structured approach, starting with simple objects and building to more complex concepts, mirrors the way art is often taught in the classroom.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Illustrator

An Illustrator brings visual concepts to life for various media, including books, magazines, and digital platforms. This role requires a strong understanding of color, composition, and visual storytelling. The skills gained from a course that dives into value, color harmony, and design composition ideas helps build a foundation for creating compelling illustrations. By starting with simple objects and progressing to more complex designs, the course may be useful for developing the core skills needed to excel as an Illustrator, along with exploring color palettes and negative space painting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Surface Pattern Designer

A Surface Pattern Designer creates original designs to be applied to various surfaces, such as fabrics, wallpapers, and ceramics. This role demands creativity and a strong understanding of pattern design principles. This course helps develop a deeper appreciation for color palettes and value studies, which is essential for creating visually appealing patterns. The exploration of color temperatures, tonal options, and chromatic options can be particularly useful. Learning to create art from scratch may provide one with the design skills needed to succeed as a Surface Pattern Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Surface Pattern Designer

Textile Designer

A Textile Designer creates designs for woven, knitted, or printed fabrics. This role requires creativity, technical skills, and a strong understanding of color and pattern. This course, with its focus on color mixing, intensity, and saturation, helps build a foundation for someone who wishes to design textiles. Exploring various color palettes, tonal variations, and chromatic options may be useful for creating visually appealing textile designs. The instruction in negative space painting can also inspire unique and innovative designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Textile Designer

Concept Artist

A Concept Artist creates visual representations of ideas for use in video games, films, and other media. This role requires imagination, technical skills, and a good understanding of visual storytelling. This course in watercolor painting may be useful to hone fundamental skills in color, value, and composition. The course's insights into color mixing, value matching, and color temperatures helps build a foundation for concept design. The exploration of negative space and upside-down painting could inspire unique approaches to visual development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Set Designer

A Set Designer creates the visual environment for theatrical productions, films, and television shows. This role requires creativity, technical skills, and the ability to collaborate with directors and other designers. This course helps an aspiring set designer to develop a deeper understanding of color theory, composition, and visual storytelling. The lessons on high-key and low-key color, chromatic and tonal options, and negative space can be applied to the design of visually compelling sets. Exploring value hierarchy and color harmony may be useful in making sets come to life.

See salaries and explore the career path for Set Designer

Muralist

A Muralist creates large-scale paintings on walls or other surfaces, often in public spaces. This role requires artistic talent, technical skills, and the ability to work on a large scale. This course provides a foundation in color harmony, value, and composition, which are essential for creating visually impactful murals. The course's instruction in techniques like wet-in-wet and exploring high-key and low-key studies can be adapted to mural painting on a larger scale. The beginner friendly instruction may be helpful in someone's journey to becoming a Muralist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Muralist

Exhibition Designer

An Exhibition Designer creates and organizes displays for museums, galleries, and trade shows. This role requires creativity, technical skills, and an understanding of how to engage audiences. While an exhibition designer is not always required to be an artist, the principles taught in this course, such as understanding color harmony, color mixing, and value, may be useful for an exhibition designer. Exploring value hierarchy and color harmony may be useful when establishing exhibits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Exhibition Designer

Art Director

An Art Director oversees the visual style and images for various projects, such as magazines, advertising campaigns, and film productions. This role requires a strong understanding of visual communication and design principles. This very beginner friendly course may be useful for understanding art concepts and art design. While this course is targeted towards complete beginners, this course aims to improve art skills, such as in the areas of color, composition, and value.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Creative Director

A Creative Director leads a team of creative professionals in developing and executing marketing campaigns or other creative projects. This leadership and vision role sometimes requires a strong understanding of design principles and artistic techniques. This course may be useful to improve their understanding of watercolor techniques and color theory. The course's exploration of color harmony and design composition ideas can inform strategic decisions about the visual aspects of creative projects, and the lessons may be useful when directing a design team.

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Animator

An Animator creates moving images using computer software or traditional techniques. This role requires creativity, technical skills, and an understanding of animation principles. The principles of art taught this course may be useful for an animator, such as understanding color harmony, color mixing, and value. Becoming an animator requires practice and repetition, and this course may provide just that with its 18 day watercolor challenge.

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Restoration Artist

A Restoration Artist repairs and conserves damaged or deteriorated works of art. This role requires technical skills, patience, and a deep understanding of art history and materials. This course may be useful learning about watercolor painting, color harmony, and value matching. Experimenting with high-key and low-key studies may be useful in learning the skills to become a Restoration Artist. This artist focuses on bringing artwork back to its former glory.

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Fashion Designer

A Fashion Designer creates clothing and accessories. This creative role requires a strong sense of style, technical skills, and an understanding of current trends. While seemingly different, this course may provide a Fashion Designer with a fresh perspective on color and form. The lessons diving into chromatic and tonal options can influence the designer's approach to color palettes in their collections. Understanding the interaction of colors may be useful to creating fashionable items.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in 18 Day Watercolor Challenge - Beginner Friendly.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara

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Comprehensive guide to understanding color and light in painting. It covers topics such as color mixing, value, and composition, providing a strong foundation for the watercolor techniques taught in the course. It valuable reference for understanding how light interacts with color and how to create realistic and compelling paintings. This book is commonly used by artists of all skill levels.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions)

Hardcover

Making Color Sing

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Delves into the nuances of color mixing and application in watercolor painting. It offers practical advice and exercises for creating vibrant and expressive paintings. While not strictly necessary for the course, it provides valuable insights into advanced color techniques. This book is best used as additional reading to expand upon the course material.

Making Color Sing

Paperback

18 Day Watercolor Challenge - Beginner Friendly

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Learning objectives

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Reviews summary

Structured daily watercolor introduction

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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