Welcome to Watercolour

A beginners guide to contemporary botanical watercolour

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Beginner Friendly | Suitable for ages 8+

Self-paced learning | Lifetime Access

Beautifully filmed in HD


Welcome! My name is Natalie Martin and I'm a watercolour artist based on the Surf Coast in Victoria, Australia. This is my first online course, and where else do you start, but at the beginning? In this self-paced beginners guide to contemporary watercolour, we start from the foundations and build your skills and confidence towards painting a botanical specimen from observation. Essentially, I have broken down my own process into accessible, bite-size pieces ready for you to devour.
Working through a series of technique based exercises, I share all my best tips. We'll look at getting the paint moving fluidly on page, how to hold your brush, manage water control, swirl and twirl your brush, relaxing into the process and much more!
We’ll delve into the materials you'll need and how best to work with them. I believe sharing my experience and why I use and recommend certain things over others can help inform you as an artist and your own choices. My philosophy is to build your kit gradually, rather than outlay too much initially. Discover and play with the medium first. Find your feet in it and tailor your materials accordingly.
My own style is loose, organic, flowy and all about creating an expression of the subject on the page - not replicating it exactly. I talk about where I find inspiration and how working from observation has really informed my practice. I also encourage you to find your own creative voice.




"Excellent class in every way—instruction, videography, demos! This class is well-suited to those new to watercolor and to seasoned watercolorists seeking a more contemporary style or in need of a kick start from a slump. I found Natalie's view on "color and playfulness" in art refreshing. I will definitely be trying out the exercises shown in this class. Thank you for sharing, Natalie!"

- Jo. C



"Loved every second of this class. Really encouraging and helpful:)"

-Sarah A.


What to expect:

9 videos with an overall run time of just over 90 minutes. You’ll be able to access these videos whenever you like as this is a self paced course. You’ll also have lifetime access, so are able to go back and review episodes at your leisure.


Outcomes:

  • A fundamental skill set in watercolour
  • An understanding of watercolour as a medium and other necessary materials
  • A final project - a botanical watercolour painting

Downloadable files included:

  • Materials List
  • Course Notes
  • Emergency Reference Photos


Natalie has a Watercolour Starter Kit available in her online store including all the basic materials to get you going. Read more about it here.



Get started now!



Your Instructor


Natalie Martin
Natalie Martin

Natalie Martin is an artist based on the Surf Coast, Victoria. She likes to get her hands dirty and bring a little joy (and colour!) to the every day.

Natalie works in vibrant watercolour. She’s particularly fond of native Australian flora and the landscape it’s found. She’s drawn to blooms in season and that seasonal swing throughout the year provides a beautiful rhythm and constant flow of inspiration. She feels a deep connection to being outdoors and observing and learning from nature. With her studio based on the Surf Coast in Victoria, there’s an endless source of inspiration within reach.

Natalie fell in love with watercolour early on and over the years she has exhibited her work, produced a collection of limited edition prints, developed a line of environmentally friendly stationery, experimented with printing on fabrics and also begun teaching workshops in person as well as online.

nataliemartin.com.au


Course Curriculum


  The Beginning
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  The Middle
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  The End
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  Downloadable Files
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course is a self-paced online course that you’re welcome to start as soon as you’re ready and receive your login details. The beauty of the online courses is that you can go at your own pace and in your own time. Practicing and pausing as you progress through the course and the ability to revisit sections as you need.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
Can I gift this Course?
We would be delighted for you to gift this course. Head on over to the gift voucher page and select which course you’d like to gift. You then email through to the purchaser (gifter) an information sheet with a Teachable link and coupon code that can be gifted to the ‘giftee’ to be redeemed for the course on Teachable. https://nataliemartin.com.au/collections/gift-certificates
Is this course suitable for kids?
Yes! My beginners course ‘Welcome to Watercolour’ although not created specifically for kids is young person friendly, I suggest from ages 8 and up. My second course ‘Magic of Colour Mixing’ has a bit more technical content in it, so I would suggest from ages 10 and up. Even better, sit down with your kids and do it together!
What materials will I need to do the course?
I put an emphasis on the painting over the materials, expensive art materials tend to be a hindrance to the experience. If you have a set of watercolours already, use those! You don’t need to dash out and buy a whole lot of new supplies to match what you see in the course. You’ll also need a brush or two, some watercolour paper, pencil and eraser, a couple of water jars, a palette and some paper towel. I have two kits available in my online store that provide you with all the basic materials you need. Good lighting helps too, natural light is best if you can manage it, a good workspace as well as a pinch of creative courage! We delve further into materials in the second video of each course covering not only what, but why.
Can I gift an online course?
We would be delighted for you to gift this course. Due to the way the enrolment process works, we recommend you purchase an E-Gift Card that your gift recipient can then redeem for the course. We have $59 and $120 E-Gift Cards available as well as an ability to add a personalised message to your E-Gift card. https://nataliemartin.com.au/products/natalie-martin-e-gift-card
Are captions available for this course?
English captions now available for all courses.