Watercolour jungle
with Margarita Astashova

For five days we are painting vivid pictures of the nature of hot countries. Birds of paradise, tropical fruits, amazing animals and flora are waiting for us!

Material: watercolor

Number of artworks:
5

Duration: 16 hours

Access: lifetime

Program of the marathon

Day 1

We are drawing a colorful toucan

In the lesson you'll:

Get familiar with the features of forming the shape of a bird with a plain pencil, taking into account the proportions and anatomy;
Master the basic principles of multi-layered watercolor illustration;
Learn how to convey the texture of feathers in a hatching technique;
Get practical skills in translucent wash, stumping and fine detailing with a thin brush.

Day 2

We are drawing a beautiful canna

In the lesson you'll:

Learn to build an inflorescence shape with a lot of elements
Reproduce the specific color of the plant in practice, select and mix complex shades
Perform translucent washes with color interspersed with speckles in wet-on-wet technique to imitate the natural texture of petals;
Master the technique of finalizing shapes with thin contours

Day 3

Drawing a slender gazelle

In the lesson you'll:

Learn how to convey the anatomy and proportions of a gazelle at the stage of preparatory drawing with a plain pencil;
Learn to use the techniques of painting on wet and dry surface, depending on the tasks;
Make selective detailing of the fur with a thin brush;
Get familiar with the features of composition in illustration and the principles of painting watercolor backgrounds.

Day 4

We are drawing a bright tangara

In the lesson you'll:

Learn how to form the shape of a bird with a plain pencil, taking into account plasticity, anatomy and proportions;
Learn how to convey juicy shades and a variety of color scheme in illustration;
Get familiar with the features of contrasts necessary for the overall expressiveness of the image;
Master the skills of fine detailing in the spirit of naturalism.

Day 5

We are drawing a vivid physalis

In the lesson you'll:

Learn to form a three-dimensional physalis shape with a plain pencil;
Learn how to mix complex shades and vary them in warmth and coldness to create an illustration in a limited range of colors
Try to convincingly convey the volume by chiaroscuro
Set the texture of the dry calyx of the fruit, taking into account fine detail.

Participate in all five broadcasts
to receive the «Koala» bonus lesson
as a gift!

In the lesson you'll:

Step by step, form the shape of the animal, taking into account anatomy and proportions
Try to mix complex shades, vary them in warmth and coldness;
Master the techniques of painting that allow you to convey the soft texture of the fur
Make an imitation of tree bark
You will get familiar with the principles of selective refinement and concretization of details, as well as their generalization at the final stage of painting

The marathon is held by Margarita Astashova

Member of the Union of Artists of Russia.
Professional artist and fine art expert.
Candidate of Philosophical Sciences (majoring in "Aesthetics")
I have been teaching since 2012
I have 6 solo exhibitions and more than 20 regional and international exhibitions behind me.
My works are in private collections in homes in Russia, France and Spain.

Watercolor works by Margarita

Works of the marathon participants

What materials we will use at the marathon

Watercolor paper (preferably 100% cellulose, density 300 g/m²).
Simple pencil (preferably hard; the teacher uses a mechanical pencil with 0.5 mm leads).
Eraser.
Watercolor paints (the teacher uses “White Nights”, 36 colors).
Brushes (preferably soft synthetic) No. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with sharp tips.
Palette (the teacher uses coated cardboard, but plastic or ceramic is also fine).
Container for water.
Piece of cloth for drying brushes.
Masking fluid.
Separate brushes for masking fluid (preferably soft synthetic, No. 0, 2).
Alcohol.
Container with a spray for alcohol.
Masking tape.
Compass.