Enrollment is now OPEN! Class will start on February 23rd, 2026.
Limited spaces available, sign ups will close once capacity is reached.

5 Week Online Course

Watercolor Foundations & Water Control

It's finally here! This is a 5 week in-depth online course on watercolor foundations and water control taught by watercolor artist - RAINB.W (Rainbow), this course is suitable for beginner painters who are serious about building and refining their technique. Watch the introduction video below:

Class will officially start on February 23, 2026.

Enrollment is OPEN NOW!

Since this course involves active feedback and response from me, there will be a limited number of spots available for sign up, so first come first served. Sign ups will close once capacity is reached.

That's exactly why I created this 5-week online course.

Specifically focusing on the foundational elements of watercolor and water control. The course is interwoven with the essentials of watercolor painting—what I wish I had known when I first started—and connects those fundamentals directly to cityscape painting.

We'll explore how these foundational concepts link to my own methods and approach when painting cityscapes. Together, we'll go through many drills and focused exercises, as well as complete 3 full cityscape paintings over the 5 weeks.

This is what we will learn week by week: 

Week 1: Watercolor Tools and Foundations

In the first week, we'll start things slow by exploring all the materials used in watercolor. We will go through in detail, the different components behind brushes, papers, and paints, how each impacts your painting process in different ways.

I will share what tools I use personally, while also giving you sufficient knowledge to make decisions for yourself. We will also start with some simple painting exercises this week.

• In-depth overview of materials used in watercolor (Brushes, paints, papers, special tools, difference between types and brands)
• Recommendations on building your set of tools and palette.
• Introduction to foundational concepts in watercolor
• Exercises and practices for application of week 1 concepts.

Week 2: The Magical First Layer

This week is all about the background wash. I like to call it 'the magical first layer' because it sets to tone for the rest of the painting. We will go through the different wet and dry techniques, with a specific focus on handling the wet on wet process, painting while the paper is wet.

• Understanding the characteristics of the 1st wash (the background wash)
• The wet on dry technique, wet on wet technique, dry on wet technique, dry on dry technique.
• Understanding the wetness of the wet surface
• Preparations to prevent paper buckling
• Common habits and issues that impact your painting
• How to identify signs of too much water vs too little water.
• Exercises and practices for application of week 2 concepts.
  

Week 3: Adding Structure - Blending Wet and Dry Techniques

Things start to get interesting in week 3, we will start to paint our first full cityscape painting! We will also look into the process of when to use dryer techniques and wetter techniques in the painting process.

• The progression of a painting that moves from wet to dry
• Demonstration examples of when to use wet and dry techniques, when to switch between them.
• Mindset: approach painting as a live feedback process
• Tips on correcting mistakes
• Tips on restarting painting after it has dried.
• Exercises and practices for application of week 3 concepts.

Week 4: Refining Skills and Hand Movement

This week is about refinement. One thing that is often neglected in developing technique is hand movement and brush control - the way we hold and move our brushes. I will breakdown different components of brush control and how we can paint with steadier hands (for example, for painting straight lines). We will also paint another full cityscape this week, applying the things we have learned.

• Holding the brush
• Isolated movement: fingers, wrists, elbows
• Painting steady straight lines
• The energy of your brush stroke
• Exercises and practices for application of week 4 concepts.
  

Week 5: Putting it all together

In Week 5, we are putting it all together and painting a full night cityscape painting together! We will apply all the different concepts we learned in weeks 1-4 and practice in our painting together.

• Full night cityscape painting step by step demonstration
• Application of all concepts used in week 1-4
  

Along with many drills and exercises throughout the 5 weeks, we will complete 3 full cityscape paintings from start to finish. We will apply the concepts we learned into actual cityscapes, each painting will be broken down step by step:

Dedicated Discussion Forum

For Questions and Personal Feedback.

It was important for me to include a space for questions and personal feedback in this course. We’ll have a dedicated discussion forum where you can post your work-in-progress paintings, share your learnings, and ask questions throughout the journey of this course.

This matters because everyone encounters their own specific challenges and it is frustrating when we get stuck (especially when we are just starting out). Whether it is understanding why a particular stroke behaves differently than expected, or other challenges you experience while going through the course, I’ll be right there, providing guidance and answering your questions directly via the forum.

The discussion forum will be open for 8 weeks in total (the 5 active course weeks + an extra 3 weeks afterwards). This gives you extra breathing room to finish exercises, revise earlier weeks, experiment more, and still receive guidance and support from me while the forum is active. After the course finishes, you will continue to keep full access to all the course materials, video lessons, and resources. So you can revisit them and watch them anytime, even long after the course ends.

Enrollment is OPEN NOW!

Week 1 will start on February 23rd, 2026. New modules (videos, lessons, and exercises) are released at the beginning of each week for a total of 5 weeks. You can watch, practice, and work through everything on your own schedule — no fixed times required.

Week 1 (February 23 - March 1)

Week 2 (March 2 - 8)

Week 3 (March 9 - 15)

Week 4 (March 16 - 22)

Week 5 (March 23 - 29)

Discussion Forum is open for 8 weeks (February 23 - April 19)

After the course finishes, you will continue to keep full access to all the course materials, video lessons, and resources. So you can revisit them and watch them anytime, even long after the course ends.

Since this course involves active feedback and response from me, there will be a limited number of spots available for sign up, so first come first served. Sign ups will close once capacity is reached.

FAQ

What language is this course conducted in?

All the videos, subtitles and instructions will be in English. 

Can I ask questions or get feedback during the course?

Yes. On the first day of class (February 23rd), the discussion forum will open. This is where you will be able to post your work, ask questions, share progress and get my personal feedback. The discussion forum stays open for a full 8 weeks: the 5 active course weeks + an extra 3 weeks afterward. This gives you extra breathing room to finish exercises, revise earlier weeks, experiment more, and still receive guidance and support from me while the forum is active. After those 8 weeks, the forum closes — so personal feedback won’t be available beyond that point — but you’ll still keep full access to all the course materials, video lessons, and resources forever. So you can revisit them and watch them anytime, even long after the course ends.

Is this course suitable for beginners?

Yes, this course is suitable for beginner painters who want to build strong, lasting foundations in watercolor. We'll take things slow, breaking everything down step by step so nothing feels overwhelming. That said, I designed it with real progress in mind: expect to be gently challenged as we move from simple exercises (like gradients and basic washes) to painting full night cityscapes by Week 5. We improve and progress through doing—trying, making mistakes, and trying again. That is why there is a discussion forum built in so you can post your work, ask specific questions, and get targeted feedback as you go. Plus, because this is an online course, you can re-watch every video as many times as you need—even long after the 5 weeks are over. Everyone will progress and learn at different speeds, the structure of this online course allows for that flexibility in mind.

What painting materials do I need?

Basic painting materials will suffice in getting you started. Once you enroll, you will receive a list of materials summarizing the exact color paints I use in each week for each painting. In week 1, I will do an in depth overview of all the materials in watercolor (paints, papers, brushes etc), and provide guidance on how you can assess and choose the tools that would fit you. You’re welcome to message me if you have more questions about this.

How much time should I expect to spend each week?

Plan for 4–6 hours per week (watching lessons + doing the tasks). From Week 3 onward, we shift to painting full cityscapes (one each in Weeks 3, 4, and 5) alongside shorter drills and exercises. The full paintings naturally take more time for layering and iterations, especially if you want extra practice or revisions. However, you can go at your own pace, as the videos will still be available afterwards.

What if I can’t watch the videos in time or keep up with the weekly schedule?

No deadlines or live sessions—this course is fully self-paced. Watch the lessons whenever it suits you. All videos remain available indefinitely after the 5 weeks, so you can revisit demos, slow down tricky sections, or repeat the full cityscape painting as often as needed. I do encourage using the discussion forum to share work and get feedback while the concepts are fresh during the active course weeks. That may help you progress and improve.

Will this course teach me everything I need to know about painting? 

No — and that's intentional. This course focuses on the foundations of watercolor: water control. We touch lightly on other things—like basic color choices and simplifying a composition—during the full cityscape demos in Weeks 3, 4, and 5, because they come up naturally. But we do not cover deep color theory, detailed sketching, those are for later courses or separate practice. I kept the exercises and paintings simple in color and drawing so you can put all your attention on learning how water and the brush behaves. I believe that is more important when it comes to watercolor specifically.

What is the refund policy?

Unfortunately, since this is a digital product, there are no refunds available at this time. If you have any questions, please email hello@rainbw.art.

Enrollment is OPEN NOW!

Since this course involves active feedback and response from me, there will be a limited number of spots available for sign up, so first come first served. Sign ups will close once capacity is reached.