Watercolor Journey

Take Yourself on a Picturesque Watercolor Journey

Connect the dots between techniques and expression!

Expressive watercolor techniques for beginners who want to loosen up and for more experienced artists who want to boost their imagination.

Create Sceneries that Reveal Watercolor’s Potential

This class is especially for you who admire traditional watercolor paintings but who want to be more loose and contemporary in your approach. If you find sketching, perspective painting, careful shadowing, and copying boring but want to learn tips and tricks to let watercolors do half the work for you, you don’t want to miss this class!

I am not afraid of watercolor anymore! I would not go near them before this class!

Catherine Cale, USA

Escape – Find a resort from your imagination by playing with layered techniques!

Lessons 1 and 2 help you to play with a variety of watercolor techniques like masking, spattering, washes, etc.
You can find tools and supplies from your household items and make some yourself.
You will paint fascinating imaginary scenes where you will apply abstract elements as well.

I started looking out the window in a very different way. I also finally learned a method of watercoloring that didn’t drive me to shame for being so naive. I really loved the freedom you gave us.

Heather Taylor, USA

Revisit – Translate memories to visual keepsakes by re-living walks and travels!

Lessons 3 and 4 help you to pull out ideas from photos and stories.
You can gather ideas from walks and travels or use your favorite Pinterest boards to dream about places you would like to go.
You will create loose landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and interiors that connect you with the time and the place.

The abstract approach that you have taught has helped me to loosen up and not concentrate on making a realist painting but instead to capture what is important to me in the scene or in my memory.

Marianne Perry, USA

Mix & Match – Go to a mixed media adventure with watercolors!

Lessons 5 and 6  help you to combine watercolors with the rest of your art supply arsenal.
You can use colored pencils, acrylic paints, inks, pens, collage pieces – whatever works on watercolor paper!
You will mix and match watercolor techniques with other media so that your watercolor journey will become even more adventurous.

I feel much more confident using water colours and also as an artist altogether, this course has really allowed me to free myself up. The content of the course is excellent, we did so many different types of art I cant say enough how much confidence this course has given me, and how many more techniques with water colour I now have as a result of this course. I would highly recommend.

Jan Taylor, UK

Your Teacher – Paivi Eerola’s Journey to Expressive Painting Techniques

I am a full-time fine artist from Finland. Long before I became a working artist, I bought some watercolor books to get enthusiastic about watercolors. I loved the simplistic idea of mixing color and water and expected to see miracles happen on paper. But I was too impatient to follow a sketch or a photo to a detail.

It took a long time for me to realize that the traditional teaching methods didn’t inspire me to pick the brush. I needed to find ways to boost my imagination right from the beginning. With that, I have re-invented many visual principles so that I can remember them more easily. For example, instead of over-analyzing the direction of light, I add shadows like they would be strips of tape that connect the layers.

The more I have painted, the more I have rewritten what depth means in practice, how to build a scene that shows wind, warmth, the emotional connection – all the non-visual stuff that books and videos rarely talk about but that is essential to deliver the experience. Now I am ready to be your guide on this journey, helping you to connect the dots between watercolor techniques and creative expression.

You have a real talent for being encouraging and still pushing me forward to grow in many ways. Your teaching has a great deal of depth. I would absolutely refer anyone interested in growing their art skills to you, both beginners and more advanced students. The skills you teach can be applied to any style or media, from realistic to abstract and anywhere in between.

Carla Heisten, USA

Watercolor Journey – Class Contents

Lesson 1
Welcome to Watercolor Journey | Some Advice on Supplies | Tips for Colors
Exercise 1 – Short Getaway | Exercise 2 – Escape the Ordinary

Lesson 2
Boost Your imagination | Let “The Wrong” Happen | Masking Techniques
Exercise 3 – Abstracts for Breakfast | Exercise 4 – Resort of Imagination

Lesson 3 
Revisit the Happy Memories | Round and Round, Upside Down! (Finishing the composition)
Exercise 5 – I Left My Heart in … | Exercise 6 – Scenic Route

Lesson 4
Old Things in a New Light | Flat Brush Fever
Exercise 7 – Villa Nostalgia | Exercise 8 – Neighborhood in New Light

Lesson 5
The Secret Is in the Contrast | Mixed Media Supplies and Using Watercolors More Often
Exercise 9 – Night and Day | Exercise 10 – Secret Sanctuaries

Lesson 6
The Adventure of Fixing | Mixed Media Collage
Exercise 11 – Let’s Go on an Adventure (with the introduction to using intuition in painting)

The class has 11 exercises (both small and bigger projects), a 43-page written document, and almost 6 hours of video content. The videos are edited with care and creativity so that your interest level will remain high. This class is not about following every brushstroke that I make. It’s how to connect the inspiration and the techniques so that you can create paintings of the locations that inspire you. The class helps you to create both imaginary and real sceneries.

Increased my focus and direction in watercolor. Given me a way to go about analyzing my work. Given me confidence to continue exploring watercolor, not just in terms of techniques, but in finding an inner passion.

Vicki Kelly, USA

Bonus: Membership for the art community Bloom and Fly!

With the class, you will also get a basic membership for the Facebook group, where you can share your work and have conversations with fellow artists. This membership is for the end of 2024, so you can continue painting and sharing for the whole year.

Whether you want to become a watercolor artist or explore yourself by filling out a small watercolor journal, take this picturesque Watercolor Journey!

Technology Needed + Refund Policy

All the information and services are provided in electronic format. You will need Internet access and a personal email account. The document is in PDF format, and the videos are offered as a streaming service. You can access the material as long as you want if you download the document and the videos to your computer within 6 months after the purchase. If you download videos, you will also need an application to view and download MP4 videos. You have to be over 18 to join the Bloom and Fly community. All sales are final.