Urban Moments with Olga Ovtina
- you’ll paint 10 urban scenes where the composition really sets the mood
- you’ll get the hang of the main watercolor techniques: different paint consistencies, blending, dry brush, paper texture, and working with light
- learn how to give your watercolor painting movement, rhythm, and atmosphere without overloading it with details
Material: watercolor
Number of paintings: 10
Course duration: 15 hours
Access: lifetime
What’s this course about?
This course is all about the city, its moods, and the impressions that pop up throughout the day. We’ll learn how to notice them and bring them to life with color, light, and brushstrokes. For me, it’s super important to catch the poetry of the moment—that’s why I always aim for lightness and transparency in watercolor. The first rays of sun on an old building’s facade, the glow of a street at night, the quiet of a lane covered in autumn leaves—all of this inspires me and fills me up. And sometimes, you just really want to keep those feelings on paper.
You'll find out how to use watercolor techniques to show light, air, and those familiar everyday details. We’ll play around with different paint thicknesses, wet and dry paper, and all sorts of textures. You’ll learn how to make your art feel fresh, soft, and deep—even with the simplest subjects. One of the main tricks we’ll use is mixing transparent washes with thicker, more intense color all in one layer. This approach really brings your painting to life and keeps it light and expressive.
This course is all about showing how technique can help you capture a mood. We’ll learn how to highlight what’s important, pick out the right details, simplify, and emphasize. And most importantly — we’ll paint with joy and a little self-care. Let this be your own personal watercolor journey — easy, warm, and inspiring.
Who this course is for:
For beginners who are just starting out with watercolor and want to figure out how to capture light and the feeling of the moment using simple tricks—without being afraid to mess up and actually enjoying the process
For those of you who already know your way around watercolor, but want more expression, more freedom, and a better sense of how to make your art feel alive, whole, and truly your own
For everyone who’s in love with the city, who notices the little things, who loves the warm light on a building’s facade, reflections in puddles, and autumn leaves on the sidewalk — and wants to learn how to capture all these feelings with watercolor.
For anyone who’s looking for inspiration in everyday life and wants to capture moments through drawing—freezing the mood of the day, the colors in the air, and the quiet of the lanes.
This course is great for anyone looking for a calm creative practice—to slow down, tune into yourself, and really enjoy the process.
Course program:
Lesson 1
Introduction
In this lesson I will tell you a little about myself, my approach to watercolor, and the kinds of subjects we will create together.
Lesson 2
Materials
In this lesson we will go over everything you need for comfortable and inspiring work. I will talk about the paints we will use in the course, introduce you to my favorite brushes, paper, and additional materials — everything that helps me achieve the desired effect.
Lesson 3
The Artist’s Path
In this lesson I want to share a bit of my creative story — what shaped my vision of art and why I am inspired by simple everyday subjects.
Lesson 4
From Impression to Finished Work
In this lesson we will talk about the most magical moment — when a fleeting impression turns into a real painting.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- make a quick sketch, «catching» the inspiration;
- use photographs as a source of inspiration;
- plan the composition in advance while leaving room for improvisation and liveliness.
Lesson 5
«Autumn in Chernigovsky Lane»
Duration - 1 hour
In this lesson we will paint a warm autumn day — expect silence, soft light, and the rustle of leaves underfoot. This lesson is about balance and freedom. About how different techniques can complement each other, creating a unified mood.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- combine different watercolor techniques — from light wet washes to working with thick paint and an almost dry brush;
- connect soft flowing areas with more graphic ones so that everything looks cohesive and alive, not like separate fragments.
Lesson 6
«Spring Morning»
Duration - 1 hour
This lesson is about the silence of the morning, about light and air, and how watercolor can convey the first breath of a new day when the spring city awakens outside the window.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- consciously separate working with light and shadow into stages;
- generalize the light part of the building, working wet-on-wet to create the feeling of sunlight flooding the morning.
Lesson 7
«Painting Snow Where There Is None»
Duration - 1 hour
In this lesson we will try to see winter poetry even where everything seems gray and monotonous.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- use white paper as an expressive tool — when «nothing» becomes color;
- create soft transitions and the state of a cloudy day using wet-on-wet technique;
- work with a dry brush and paper texture to convey the roughness of snow and refine details;
- distinguish shades in gray and find color even in overcast weather;
- mix complex, lively gray tones to create depth and mood in the work.
Lesson 8
«Light Sliding Over the Rooftops»
Duration - 1 hour 27 minutes
In this lesson we will paint the view from the window, admiring the city from above: space, air, silence, and the play of light on the rooftops.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- perform large transparent washes with smooth transitions between colors;
- add color into the wash with water, achieving beautiful blending of shades;
- refine individual details with a very dry brush for expressiveness and texture.
Lesson 9
«An Old House in a Lane»
Duration - 1 hour 54 minutes
Using the example of an old house, we will learn to convey the character and mood of the scene.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- make a preliminary water wash for the shadow to create soft color transitions and reflections;
- generalize the shadow as a method for a more expressive rendering of light;
- sense the boundary between light and shadow not through a hard line, but through subtle color nuances.
Lesson 10
«In the City Park»
Duration - 1 hour
Shall we take a stroll through a sunny park? A warm day, a light breeze, a white building in the sun’s rays, and ice-cream stalls that evoke childhood memories. You want to slow down and transfer this feeling of the moment to paper.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- work with different paint consistencies to convey light, shadow, and volume in the landscape;
- use layered painting — from light washes to deep shadows — to create a vivid and harmonious composition.
Lesson 11
«Summer City»
Duration - 1 hour 54 minutes
In this lesson we will feel the breath of the summer city — with its light and motion — and convey it quickly and expressively using sketches and light watercolor techniques.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- simplify complex objects into a clear, expressive scheme;
- make large color washes with soft transitions;
- refine details with a dry and semi-dry brush;
- draw people and cars in motion while preserving the lightness and sketchiness of the image.
Lesson 12
«A Rainy Day in the City»
Duration - 1 hour 51 minutes
In this lesson we will immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of a quiet rain and moist air. Watching the movement of water on paper, we will create soft highlights, blurred silhouettes, and the feeling of a rainy day.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- use the movement of water and flowing color to create a rainy-weather effect;
- refine details with a dry brush;
- seamlessly connect areas painted wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry.
Lesson 13
«A Sunny Day in the Taganka District»
Duration - 1 hour 18 minutes
Let’s take a walk on a warm, sunny day, where light, shadows, and movement fill the city with life. In this lesson, we will practice maintaining the lightness of watercolor and avoiding overworking the painting.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- work in layers, dividing the painting into three stages;
- plan in advance which elements and colors should appear in each layer;
- combine several references into a single, harmonious composition before starting work.
Lesson 14
«Evening on Pyatnitskaya Street»
Duration - 1 hour 50 minutes
In this lesson, we will go where the sky darkens, streetlights light up, and warm light streams into windows. Cars return home, and passersby hurry about their business — everything is filled with coziness and the breath of evening.
In this lesson we will learn to:
- make smooth transitions from one color to another;
- create a glowing effect in the dark;
- depict buildings lit by electric light, dividing the work into layers: in one — cool (blue) tones, in another — warm ones;
- paint people and cars with just a few brushstrokes, preserving lightness and sketchiness.
Lesson 15
Conclusion
In this course, I have gathered everything I love about watercolor: lightness, transparency, movement, the warmth of everyday life. And now it’s the perfect time to sum up and get inspired for the future.
TeacherOlga Ovtina
- Graduated from the S. N. Andriyaka School of Watercolor and the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK).
- Production designer at «Theater T»
- Since 2016, I've been teaching watercolor master classes and giving watercolor painting lessons.
- Member of the Russian Watercolorists Union
- Participant in numerous exhibitions
Teacher’s artworks
Tariffs
- 10 atmospheric city scenes
- 15 lessons: theory + practice + life hacks
- Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- Course Unfreeze – the chance to start learning whenever it works best for you
- You can watch artworks analysis of other participants
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Artworks analysis for 60 days
- Personal one-hour online consultation with the course expert
- +20 bonus dollars! Can be used when purchasing a course at the next marathon. Valid for 3 months
- 10 atmospheric city scenes
- 15 lessons: theory + practice + life hacks
- Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- Course Unfreeze – the chance to start learning whenever it works best for you
- You can watch artworks analysis of other participants
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Artworks analysis for 60 days
- Personal one-hour online consultation with the course expert
- +20 bonus dollars! Can be used when purchasing a course at the next marathon. Valid for 3 months
- 10 atmospheric city scenes
- 15 lessons: theory + practice + life hacks
- Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- Course Unfreeze – the chance to start learning whenever it works best for you
- You can watch artworks analysis of other participants
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Artworks analysis for 60 days
- Personal one-hour online consultation with the course expert
- +20 bonus dollars! Can be used when purchasing a course at the next marathon. Valid for 3 months
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the feedback on my drawing work?
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At the end of the lesson you will upload a photo of your work. The teacher will be able to leave text, graphic (marks on the drawing), as well as audio comments on your work.
At the bottom of the final lesson there will be a comment section where you can ask any questions about the training.
- How much time will the training take?
-
If you have a plan without feedback, it will all depend on your personal pace at which you go through the lessons.
With feedback plans we actively go through the lessons for two months from the moment you «unfreeze» the course.
In general, I recommend taking the course slowly. Enjoy the process more.
- I can’t draw at all. Should I take the course?
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Of course you should! The course is designed to suit both beginners and experienced artists. We start with simple compositions, gradually moving on to more complex ones, so you’ll have time to get comfortable, practice, and see your progress.
If you already have experience, the course will help you deepen your skills, refine your technique, and develop your artistic vision, opening new creative approaches and opportunities.
- What if I miss a lesson?
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This training is different from traditional school — the lessons will always be available in recordings and you can set your learning schedule the way it suits you.
- I’m already over 60. Will I be able to learn to draw like this?
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It’s never too late to learn to draw. In our school 30% of students are over 50. And they happily paint, develop their skills, creative thinking, and stay young at heart and in mind!
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