Watercolor Online Course
Learn more about the course ↓
Magic of Water and Sky a course with Anastasia Petryaeva
- Create 8 incredible, realistic paintings
- Master signature techniques for working with light and textures
- Bring the element of water to life on paper with watercolor
What this course is about
This course is dedicated to the most elusive and beautiful aspects of watercolor — light, air, and absolute transparency. The focus is on painting water so that it feels alive and moving on the page, while the sky glows from within.
The main goal of the program is to teach you how to convey the mood, time of day, and emotion of a landscape — moving away from dry, mechanical copying of photographs.
Using a brush and pigment, you create a true natural force: a blank white sheet transforms into a mirror-still lake surface, a morning mist, or a rushing river current. The course takes a deep dive into all the nuances of watercolor effects. The program covers creating smooth, luminous sky gradients, working with soft transitions and atmospheric depth. You'll master glazing for complex reflections and the alla prima technique for fresh, lively brushstrokes. Special attention is given to key skills: painting highlights, wave texture, and the realistic surface texture of water.
Every lesson is built on a signature method where the landscape is developed from broad shapes to fine details, building a harmonious color palette throughout. The learning pace is relaxed, without rushing or overloading you with academic theory. Thanks to a clear, logical structure and support at every step, even someone with no experience will be able to create a convincing water scene, little by little.
Who this course is for
- Beginners who are afraid of "unruly" watercolor. If water and sky feel like too daunting a subject, the course's gentle step-by-step system will prove otherwise. You'll start painting stress-free and with real enjoyment.
- Anyone tired of "muddy" colors and overworked paintings. You'll learn to preserve pigment transparency, build clean color transitions, and control the moisture level of your paper.
- Artists stuck in mindless copying. You'll move to a whole new level of perception — learning to analyze light, control the mood of a scene, and express your own emotions rather than simply replicating what you see.
- Intermediate painters who feel their technical foundation is lacking. You'll expand your toolkit: confidently practice glazing and alla prima painting, and learn to create complex water textures in all their different states.
Course Program
Lesson 1
Welcome
In this lesson we'll get acquainted and go over everything that awaits you in the course.
Lesson 2
An approach to realistic painting: combining an academic foundation with personal artistic choices
In this lesson you'll see how an academic foundation becomes a support rather than a constraint. How knowledge of perspective, light, and form comes together with your own personal vision — and gives life to a genuine, living painting.
We'll explore how to interpret rather than "copy" — how to put a piece of yourself into a painting. And where exactly that fine line between correctness and expressiveness lies.
Lesson 3
Materials
In this lesson, we'll look at what materials you'll need for a comfortable and inspiring experience throughout the course.
Lesson 4
"A Lonely Boat at Sunset"
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Soft sunset light spills across the water's surface, warm lights of a seaside town begin to glow in the distance, and a lonely boat rocks gently on the waves. This lesson is all about an atmosphere of peace, lightness, and expressive watercolor painting — without overloading on details.
In this lesson, we will:
- capture the soft evening light and the mood of a seaside town in the distant background
- paint lively water: exploring how to suggest gentle waves and shimmering reflections
- build the boat in correct perspective
Lesson 5
"Mountain Waterfall"
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
A rushing stream tumbles downward, winding around dark rocks, while sunlit green slopes rise in the distance through a soft morning haze. In this lesson, we'll discover how to convey the energy and freshness of moving water by playing on the contrast with a soft, blurred background.
In this lesson, we will:
- paint the smooth flow of water and the dynamic streams of the waterfall, letting the paper glow through
- convey the volume and texture of wet rocks in the streambed
- work with depth of space, softly dissolving the mountain landscape into an atmospheric haze
- explore warm and cool color relationships: harmoniously combining the warm greens of the slopes with the cool tones of the water
Lesson 6
"Golden Sunset at the Pier"
Duration: 2 hours
A golden sun sinks toward the horizon, flooding the sky with warm colors, while a dazzling trail of light shimmers on the water. The silhouettes of yachts sway gently on the waves, dissolving into the calm of the evening. We'll learn to work with strong backlit lighting, capturing the magic of sunset and the vivid contrast between a warm sky and cool water.
In this lesson, we will:
- capture the golden-hour atmosphere and paint a bright trail of glimmering highlights on the water
- explore how the color and tone of objects change when the light source is directly in front of us
- create expressive dark silhouettes of boats against a glowing sky
- work with contrast and depth of space to build a harmonious landscape composition
Lesson 7
"Northern Lights over the Lake"
Duration: 1 hour 16 minutes
A magical emerald glow spreads across the night sky, gently reflecting in the mirror-like surface of a still lake. The air seems to ring with cold, and the dark outlines of the bottom show through the crystal-clear water. This lesson is about capturing the mystical atmosphere of the north, preserving color purity in deep, dark tones, and painting a breathtaking natural phenomenon.
In this lesson, we will:
- create soft and stunning color transitions in the sky while painting the northern lights
- figure out how to realistically convey complex reflections and the transparency of water
- master techniques for conveying the volume and texture of cold stones
- learn to convincingly show the difference between stones hidden beneath the water's surface and those resting on the shore
Lesson 8
The grisaille technique through the example of waves
In this lesson, we'll talk about the grisaille technique and explore how to build complex volume, convey transparency, and capture the living dynamics of a sea wave — using just a single color.
Lesson 9
"Petersburg Panorama"
Duration: 2 hours
Majestic St. Petersburg bathed in the rays of the setting sun. The sky blazes with soft pink-golden hues, the spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress pierces the clouds, and a dazzling trail of light shimmers across the broad surface of the Neva River. This landscape feels as though time has stood still, capturing the unmistakable romance and noble calm of the city at dusk.
In this lesson, we will:
- reinforce our skills for painting waves and sparkling highlights, scaling the work up to the more challenging A2 format
- work with striking contrast lighting, weaving architectural silhouettes seamlessly into the landscape
- execute a well-structured constructive drawing of the buildings, keeping a close eye on axes of symmetry and proportions
- learn how to combine two different references and pull out what matters most from multiple sources — so you can create your own unique composition
Lesson 10
"Stones on the Bottom"
Duration: 1 hour 38 minutes
The water is perfectly still, and through its crystal-clear depths, smooth stones polished by time gently appear. In this ringing silence the world seems to hold its breath, reflecting the bright sky on its mirror-like surface. This lesson is about how to convey the mesmerizing depth of transparent water and learn to see the complex interplay of light and shadow in simple natural forms.
In this lesson, we will:
- explore the topic of still water and learn how to realistically depict objects hidden beneath its transparent depths
- master techniques for creating a smooth, mirror-like surface with soft reflections of light
- do a preliminary study in the grisaille technique to carefully analyze light and shadow and prepare for the final painting
- create the finished painting in the large A3 format, drawing confidently on the tonal sketch we've prepared
Lesson 11
"Winter Shore"
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
A frosty day on a forest shore. The air rings with clarity, fluffy snow caps gently blanket the stones, and the transparent turquoise water mesmerizes with its incredible depth. This landscape is filled with the freshness of a winter forest and the enchanting play of light through the water.
In this lesson, we will:
- bring together everything learned in the course on a large format, applying the key techniques: wet-on-wet, working with salt and masking fluid
- learn to create "fluffy" and delicate textures of snow-covered trees without overloading the painting with detail
- explore the principles of painting transparent water and multi-layered reflections from both light and dark objects
- get acquainted with the caustics effect and master ways to capture the enchanting play of light on the bottom of a body of water
Lesson 12
"Forest by the Water"
Duration: 2 hours 50 minutes
Sunbeams break through dense conifer branches, bathing the rocky shore in warm light. An incoming wave glows from within, while wet stones dissolve into soft evening reflections. In this lesson we'll tame bold contrasts, conveying the living dynamics of water and the tranquility of a coastal forest.
In this lesson, we will:
- paint sunset rays breaking through the branches and explore aerial perspective
- convey the volume of an incoming wave using textures and contrasting color
- depict complex reflections in the water, creating multi-layered spatial depth
- learn to combine references and maintain compositional integrity on a large format
Lesson 13
Conclusion
Our course is drawing to a close. In this lesson, we'll wrap things up, lock in the key skills you've developed, and share some encouraging words for your creative journey ahead. This is the point from which your independent growth as a painter begins.
Course instructor
Anastasia Petryaeva
- A watercolor artist with a professional fine arts education
- I've been working in watercolor since 2016, and I've been immersed in the art world since childhood
- I've been teaching since 2018
- Graduated with honors from art school and the Ural State Academy of Architecture and Arts (industrial design)
- Author of more than 20 online watercolor courses in two languages
- Participant and winner of international exhibitions and competitions
- International cultural ambassador for the Rockwell Art brand
- Created more than 1,000 works featured in private collections around the world
Works by Anastasia Petryaeva
Course materials
Paper
- Saunders Waterford, 300 g/m², rough grain
Brushes
- Wide flat brush for wetting the paper
- Flat brush No. 20–25 for washes
- Round brush No. 7–12 (kolinsky or squirrel-imitation)
- Fine brush for details
- Fan brush
- Brush for masking fluid
- Calligraphy brush
- Brush with a "shaggy" tip (for trees)
- Liner brush (including reservoir type)
- Scrubber brush
Paints
These colors or their equivalents will work.
- Naples Yellow
- Cadmium Yellow / Spectrum Yellow
- Lemon Yellow
- Yellow Orange
- Orange / Red Orange
- Opera Pink
- Shell Pink / Peach
- Carmine / Burgundy shades / Rose Madder
- Lilac / Violet
- Ultramarine
- Indanthrone Blue
- Cerulean Blue
- Royal Blue / Verditer Blue
- Horizon Blue
- Payne's Grey
- Indigo
- Cobalt Green (including light and deep)
- Alternatives: Emerald, Prussian, Phthalo Green
- Cobalt Blue
- Chinese White / cool grey (optional)
- Umber or Burnt Sienna (optional)
Additional
- Pencil
- Masking fluid
- Salt
- Brush soap (to protect your brushes)
- Palette
- Water container
- Paper towels or cloth
Choose your plan
I Draw It Myself
- 8 landscapes with the effect of living water and a glowing sky
- 13 lessons: theory + practice + artist tips and tricks
- Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- "Course Unfreeze" — the option to start learning whenever it's convenient for you
- The ability to watch artwork analyses of other participants' paintings
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Review of your work and answers to your questions in the comments for 60 days from the moment you begin the course
- Personal one-hour online consultation with the course expert
- +20 bonus dollars! Can be spent on a course purchase at the next marathon. Expire in 3 months
With Support
- 8 landscapes with the effect of living water and a glowing sky
- 13 lessons: theory, practice, artistic tips & tricks
- Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- "Course Unfreeze" — the option to start learning whenever it's convenient for you
- The ability to watch artwork analyses of other participants' paintings
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Review of your work and answers to your questions in the comments for 60 days from the moment you begin the course
- Personal one-hour online consultation with the course expert
- +20 bonus dollars! Can be spent on a course purchase at the next marathon. Expire in 3 months
VIP
- 8 landscapes with the effect of living water and a glowing sky
- 13 lessons: theory, practice, artistic tips & tricks
- Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
- "Course Unfreeze" — the option to start learning whenever it's convenient for you
- The ability to watch artwork analyses of other participants' paintings
- Lifetime access to the course materials
- Review of your work and answers to your questions in the comments for 60 days from the moment you begin the course
- Personal one-hour online consultation with the course expert
- +20 bonus dollars! Can be spent on a course purchase at the next marathon. Expire in 3 months
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! Anyone can learn to paint! It's simply a skill that develops with practice. Our course is structured from simple to complex so that anyone can follow along — even with zero experience.
Throughout the course, you'll gradually build your skills through hands-on practice as you create the paintings in the course.
At the end of the lesson, you'll upload a photo of your work. Your instructor will have the option to leave a text comment, a graphic comment (notes drawn directly on your painting), or an audio comment.
At the bottom of the final lesson there will be a comments section where you can ask any questions about the course.
If you're on a plan without feedback, it all depends on your own personal pace as you work through the lessons.
On plans with feedback, we actively go through the lessons over the course of two months from the moment you do a Course Unfreeze.
Overall, I recommend taking the course at a relaxed pace. Enjoy the process as much as possible.
Yes, this course will be valuable for both beginners and those who already have some experience.
It's never too late to learn to paint. In our school, 30% of students are over 50. And they paint with joy, develop their skills and creative thinking — and feel younger in heart and mind!
