Course Summary

Learn the fundamentals of watercolour painting in this practical, beginner-friendly course. You’ll explore colour theory, brush techniques, and essential methods like washes, glazing, and layering to create beautiful, expressive artworks.

Course Sessions

Tuesday, 3rd February - 4 classes


Session ID HXAS6301C
3 Feb - 24 Feb 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location CBD
Session Fees
$385 / $366 (conc)
Teacher
Michelle LACKENBY

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this course builds confidence and offers a creative approach to mastering watercolour techniques.

What You’ll Learn:

Throughout the course, we’ll use a mix of contemporary and traditional warm-up activities to build essential skills. Each exercise is designed to strengthen a specific aspect of your artistic practice, including:

• Depth and Perspective – Learn how to create dimension and realism in your compositions.
• Masking and Layering – Explore techniques for controlling transparency and building complexity.
• Light and Shadow – Understand how to use tonal values to add drama and mood.
• Planning a Painting – Develop strategies for composition and colour harmony before you begin.
• Representational Drawing and Painting – Improve accuracy and confidence in depicting subjects.

As the course progresses, you’ll be encouraged to bring your own ideas and projects to class, allowing for personalised guidance and creative exploration.

Why You’ll Love This Course:

• A balance of structured learning and creative freedom.
• Practical exercises that build confidence and technical skill.
• Opportunities to develop your own style and projects.
• A supportive environment that encourages experimentation and growth.

Join us and experience the expressive power of watercolour while creating artworks that reflect your unique vision!

Your Teacher

Michelle Lackenby teaches in the areas of Visual Art, Graphic Design and Photography. She loves pushing the boundaries of art and design within the realm of watercolour painting, paper and bookbinding. Michelle has over 20 years industry experience in creative fields which lead to the opening of her own business Paperazzi Design Studio, specialising in artist services, events, installations, design and workshops. 

Please bring the following materials to class:

Good quality tubes of watercolour paints –
Winsor & Newton/Art Spectrum/Holbein/Sennelier/Daniel Smith

Essential colours:
White (titanium or any)
Ultramarine Blue
Red (spectrum, cadmium light or pyrrole)
Yellow (cadmium light or lemon)
Burtn Sienna
Alizirin Crimson/Crimson

Optional colours (but great to have in your tool box)
Paynes Grey
Lemon Yellow
Raw Umber
Yellow Ochre
Cobalt Blue

Brushes
One x size 12 soft watercolour brush.

Optional: smaller and larger soft watercolour brush.

Surfaces
Large sheet of rough textured 300-350g Arches Watercolour paper (this works out cheaper and can be cut up in to small pieces for each class)
OR a pad of watercolour sheets Arches 300-350gram paper is best but anything is ok for week 1

Other
Plastic watercolour palette/wells (one or two)
2 x vessels for water (plastic jars or similar size containers)
Roll/sheets of paper towel
HB or 2B pencil for preliminary sketching
Good quality Masking/Frog/Painters tape

Other Materials may be required or recommended for subsequent sessions.

 

Notification of a class cancellation will be advised 48 hours prior to the course commencement date. We advise to purchase your materials once you have received email confirmation that your class is proceeding as scheduled. All efforts are made to ensure that our classes proceed to avoid disappointment.

Last updated: January 6, 2026 04:45pm