This course is about the summer you spent at the dacha or in the countryside. Maybe you want to remember how you spent it in childhood when the trees seemed so big. It's about sunlight, the slightly old-fashioned country life. The course's themes capture moments when your eye lingered on a vase by the window, a bouquet gathered in the garden, a pitcher of bright lemonade made on a hot day, or the garden harvest.
At Grandma'sVillage:Summer Still Lifes with Nina Orlova
- You'll paint 10 atmospheric pieces from country life
- You'll master the technique of smooth washes in watercolor
- You'll capture a variety of textures and objects: antique metal, fragrant flowers, fresh vegetables, vintage dishes, wood, and glistening glass
The learning starts right after payment
Access to the courseis lifetime
Draw online from anywhere in the world
What's the course about?
During the course, you'll also gain new knowledge and skills in working with watercolors. You'll improve your ability to create smooth washes, rich with different shades that blend seamlessly into each other. Smooth controlled washes are a key technique that I really love. In the course, we'll also experiment with wet-on-wet techniques and explore various illustration methods.
Who will benefit from the course
This course is perfect for those who want to improve their watercolor skills and master wash techniques to use in their future artworks.
During the classes, you'll get to know a variety of textures and objects, including old metal, flowers, vegetables, dishes, glass, and much more. You'll master important drawing skills and composition building, which are always relevant for artists.
For those who already have some experience with watercolor, this course will be a great way to level up - you'll learn to create more complex and profound artworks.
If you're into the summer vibe and want to capture the feel of warm days, sunlight, and a touch of nostalgia in your watercolor works, this course is just for you. Here, you can bring your ideas to life in picturesque paintings, filling them with light and coziness.
Course Program
Lesson 1
Introduction
Introduction to the instructor. General course information.
Lesson 2
Materials
In this lesson, we will study everything needed for the course: from paints and brushes to paper and additional tools.
I will explain in detail the characteristics and properties of materials to help you choose the right set for your creative work.
Additionally, I will provide a list of materials recommended for the course.
Lesson 3
Object Construction
In this lesson, we will discuss how to correctly start a drawing, focusing on drawing techniques, key features of objects, and methods for building a composition with proper proportions.
Lesson 4
«Village Evening»
Lesson duration ~ 1 h 25 m
We will learn to convey not only the form and texture of objects but also the warm, cozy atmosphere, evoking memories of pleasant evenings with family and friends.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- how to choose the necessary objects from a photo reference and arrange them attractively on the page;
- to paint bread in watercolor, exploring its texture and color characteristics;
- to depict a dark glass bottle;
- to paint a lavender bouquet;
- and to practice the closed wash technique.
Lesson 5
«Gentle Lavender»
Lesson duration ~ 1 h 50 m
In grandmother's house, lavender was everywhere: in sachets in closets, in vases on windowsills, and sometimes even in her famous pies.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- how to depict a mass of lavender flowers rather than individual blooms, accounting for the play of light and shadow;
- to create the right background and use the reference in a way that enhances the artwork;
- how to apply masking fluid to highlight bright areas and textures of flowers;
- to understand the principle of working with color;
- to paint a background wet-on-wet.
Lesson 6
«The Secrets of Pitchers»
Lesson duration ~ 1 h 30 m
Each of these objects has its own story. Perhaps they were once used for serving homemade milk or freshly pressed apple juice from the garden.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- to select the right details from a photo reference with composition in mind;
- to reinforce your knowledge of constructing a drawing;
- to paint enamel pitchers using the closed wash technique;
- to hone the skill of painting wet-on-wet.
Lesson 7
«Harvesting the Crop»
Lesson duration ~ 1 h 50 m
Our basket is filled with various vegetables. Each one brings warm memories of summer days spent with grandmother in the countryside, working and caring for the harvest.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- to arrange objects on the page and determine their significance;
- to use a step-by-step drawing method and understand the order of actions;
- to convey the colors and textures of vegetables, creating vivid and voluminous images;
- to depict secondary objects without emphasis;
- to determine when a second layer of paint is needed and how to apply it correctly.
Lesson 8
«Summer Bouquet»
Lesson Duration ~ 2 hours
This bouquet of pink poppies and wild grasses will decorate your window and tell the story of summer, filling the room with fragrances and colors.
In this lesson, you will learn to:
- use masking fluid (understand why it is needed in this work);
- paint bright poppies with watercolor;
- generalize the bouquet while keeping a realistic look;
- practice the wet-on-wet painting technique.
Lesson 9
Q&A
In this lesson, I answer questions that many beginner artists are curious about:
- Is copying other artists' work good or bad?
- How can I improve the quality of my work in a short time?
- What is the difference between watercolor sketching and a watercolor painting?
- Which watercolor technique is the easiest, which one should I start with, and which one is the most challenging?
Lesson 10
«Taste of Summer»
Lesson Duration ~ 2 hours 10 m
Grandma effortlessly combines berries, lemons, and a bit of sugar to create lemonade that seemed the most delicious in the world. I invite you to enjoy each sip, feeling the coolness of the drink and listening to the birds sing.
In this lesson, you will learn to:
- depict glassware with a pencil;
- cover bright highlights on glass with masking fluid for a convincing image;
- paint the contents of transparent glass in the wet-on-wet technique;
- choose colors for fruits and make them bright and realistic;
- depict glass with a background.
Lesson 11
«Sunny Tulips»
Lesson Duration ~ 2 hours
In this lesson, we create a small cozy corner where beautiful yellow tulips bloom in an old vintage watering can—a scene filled with the gentleness and warmth of sunlight.
In this lesson, you will learn to:
- depict the shape of a tulip and create a bouquet with a pencil;
- draw an old watering can with side lighting, practicing wash techniques;
- select colors for tulips and paint them with attention to lighting;
- create a bright light in the background, reinforcing the skill of painting wet-on-wet;
- convey atmosphere and light in watercolor work.
Lesson 12
«Forgotten Time»
Lesson duration ~ 2 hours 05 m
In this lesson, you will feel the atmosphere of old times and paint this undying lamp that once adorned every home but now can only be found in a museum or with grandma in the village.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- how to place objects on the page for a harmonious composition;
- how to paint objects with bright lighting and a dark background, capturing only shadows and leaving the light in white;
- the correct sequence of steps to achieve the best results;
- how to paint fruits quickly and vividly, paying attention to wood texture;
- how to depict a dark, varied background.
Lesson 13
«Country Picnic»
Lesson duration ~ 2 hours 10 m
In this lesson, we will have a small country picnic, with the air filled with the scent of apples, apricots, and warm sunlight.
In this lesson, you will learn:
- object structure with a focus on composition;
- using smooth wash techniques;
- how to create reflections in wet washes and convey the texture of an enamel jug;
- understanding the importance of layering in painting and mastering their application;
- techniques for painting a striped background, and highlighting clear and smooth parts of the drawing.
Lesson 14
«Grandma’s Preserves»
Lesson duration ~ 2 hours 40 m
Imagine a summer day, the sunlight outside, birds singing, and the air filled with the sweet aroma of preserves. How can we resist capturing this atmosphere on paper?
In this lesson, you will learn:
- how to alter the reference composition;
- how to paint the texture of preserve-filled jars;
- working with an orange palette and choosing the right colors for light and shadow;
- depicting reflective and glossy metal, as well as a wooden plank background;
- how to paint the display screen of scales, making them transparent yet glassy, and conveying depth.
Lesson 15
Conclusion
The course has been productive and interesting, but our journey together has come to an end.
Let’s summarize and reinforce everything you’ve learned.
Course instructor Nina Orlova
Course instructor Nina Orlova
Painted around 400 artworks
Taught over 2000 students
Been teaching drawing lessons since 2015
Graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts at the Kosygin Textile University
Collaborated with Faber Castell as an artist and children's workshop instructor
Participated in numerous exhibitions
Teacher's works
Teacher's works
Materials
1. Watercolor paper, 100% cotton, medium grain
2. Professional watercolor paints, 36 colors
3. Additional colors:
- Payne's Gray;
- Opera or neon pink;
- Cerulean.
4. Professional brushes:
- Round (squirrel, squirrel imitation, weasel, whatever you like) sizes 3-4, 4-5, 6-7;
- Flat, firm nylon brush about 1 cm wide;
- Flat brush for applying water to the sheet about 5-6 cm wide;
- Soft goat hair flat brush for large washes, about 3 cm wide (optional).
5. Plastic board to fit the sheet size;
6. Masking fluid for watercolor (the course author uses SENNELIER);
7. Palette;
8. Water jars;
9. Tape;
10. Paper towels;
11. HB pencil;
12. Soft eraser, kneaded eraser.
Tariffs
«I Draw It Myself»
- 10 atmospheric summer still lifes
- 15 lessons: theory + practice + artistic life hacks
- NEW! Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- Course Unfreeze - the chance to start learning whenever it suits you
- Option to watch artworks analysis of other participants
- Lifetime access to course materials
- Artworks analysis of your drawings for 60 days
- Personal one-hour online consultation with a course expert
«With Support»
- 10 atmospheric summer still lifes
- 15 lessons: theory + practice + artistic life hacks
- NEW! Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- Course Unfreeze - the chance to start learning whenever it suits you
- Option to watch artworks analysis of other participants
- Lifetime access to course materials
- Artworks analysis of your drawings for 60 days
- Personal one-hour online consultation with a course expert
«VIP»
- 10 atmospheric summer still lifes
- 15 lessons: theory + practice + artistic life hacks
- NEW! Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- Course Unfreeze - the chance to start learning whenever it suits you
- Option to watch artworks analysis of other participants
- Lifetime access to course materials
- Artworks analysis of your drawings for 60 days
- Personal one-hour online consultation with a course expert
Frequently Asked Questions
- I can’t draw at all. I’ve always thought I wasn’t talented. Should I take the course?
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Of course! Anyone can learn to draw! It’s just a skill that develops with practice.
Our course is structured from simple to complex, so anyone can take it, even complete beginners.
Throughout the course, you will gradually improve through practice while creating artworks.
- How is feedback organized for my course?
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At the end of the lesson, you will post a photo of your work. The instructor will be able to leave written, graphical (annotations on the artwork), and audio comments on your work.
At the bottom of the final lesson, there will be a comments section where you can ask any questions about the training.
- How long will the training take?
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If you have a plan without feedback, it will depend on your personal pace in completing the lessons.
With plans that include feedback, we actively complete lessons over two months from the moment you "unfreeze" the course.
Overall, I recommend taking your time with the course. Enjoy the process more.
- Is this course suitable for beginners?
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Yes, this course will be beneficial for both beginners and those with experience.
- I’m over 60. Will I be able to learn to draw like that?
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It’s never too late to learn to draw. In our school, 30% of students are over 50 years old. They happily draw, develop their skills, creative thinking, and feel younger in spirit and mind!
