
Discover how to turn reference photos into vibrant watercolor landscapes by using warm and cool color contrasts and exaggerating light and dark values to plan composition and color.
Explore essential watercolor materials, from 100 percent cotton paper for smooth washes to the right brushes for large areas, and spray bottle techniques for controlled drying.
Create a vibrant Venice landscape in watercolor, starting with a horizon sketch of Santa Maria della Saloon, then apply yellow, purple, and blue washes to capture sunset and gondolas.
Practice vibrant urban watercolor landscapes by layering purples, blues, and yellows to depict Venice’s buildings, boats, and shimmering water through dynamic brushwork, reflections, and ripples.
Learn to paint a St. Petersburg street scene in watercolor by sketching a distant horizon and building shapes, adding cars and reflections with yellow, blue, and neutral tones for atmosphere.
Capture a St. Petersburg street scene in watercolor using dry brush strokes to render cars, figures, and buildings with blues, yellows, and reflections for atmosphere and vibrancy.
Learn to simplify a Manhattan street scene into basic shapes for buildings, cars, and figures, then build atmosphere with pink skies, blue shadows, and warm washes.
Create a Manhattan street scene in watercolor by using negative painting around figures, layering darks and blues, and detailing cars and foreground light.
Master a loose watercolor approach to a Myanmar street scene by establishing a horizon line, simplifying horse and carriage, and painting backlit figures and cars with warm and cool washes.
Paint a Myanmar street scene in watercolor by layering cobalt and cerulean blues against warm yellows, building details, cars, figures, and shadows with dry brush and quick linework.
Follow demonstrations to practice watercolor sketches, emphasizing strong darks and light sky, blues with yellows, and cool and warm contrasts; start with sketching and reference images, then upload for feedback.
Hi, I'm Darren from Watercolour Mentor. In "Urban Landscapes In Watercolor: Atmosphere and Vibrancy", you'll learn how to create fresh and vibrant watercolour landscapes by following my 3-step layering process. Learn to build your confidence by using bright and bold colours. You'll learn to be bold in your brushstrokes and colours to create some beautiful impressionistic landscapes. Show them off to your friends and family!
BONUS: 1-hour Manhattan Workshop. This bonus workshop is located at the end of the course lectures. You will learn the entire process to paint a loose Manhattan street scene.
BONUS 2: Urban Landscapes - Italy Workshop
Many beginners often paint too light, too dark, or in the same tone. This can lead to flat paintings that lack character. Colour also plays an important role. Using complementary colours or warm/cool colours next to one another creates stunning compositions that demand attention! You will learn how to select colours that 'pop' and allow you to express your inner artistic vision.
I'll be covering:
Sketching - how to reduce a photo or scene in front of you down to essentials and pick out elements and objects of focus.
Layering - learn how you only need 2-3 layers in order to complete a watercolour painting
How to use colour effectively to create areas of interest or portray the mood of a scene
How to use tone, or light and dark areas to create depth and richness in your paintings
How to create a feeling of atmosphere in your paintings
How to create vibrancy and expressiveness in your paintings through colour and the use of different brush strokes
Composition - how to plan and compose your painting from pencil sketch to finishing painting
For the course project, follow along with the sketching and painting demonstrations (all 4 landscapes have a pencil sketching and watercolour painting component). It is important to complete the sketching exercises in each landscape scene, as this provides you with an opportunity to practice composing a painting. This will increase your confidence in completing your painting and more importantly allow you to plan.
If you have finished the 6 landscapes featured in this class, pick a royalty-free photograph or perhaps one of your own landscape photographs, and using the process and techniques described in this class, create your own unique painting.
Finally, upload your painting(s) in the Q&A or discussions section! If you have questions or would like feedback on your work, let me know and I will get back to you.
Note: Scanned images of my final paintings, as well as the original (royalty-free) reference photographs, are included below.