Watch as I teach you the California Style, a fantastically simple technique used by professional watercolor artists to bring depth, expression, and nuance to your watercolor paintings.

No experience needed and no student ever left behind.

As a professional landscape artist, I've painted thousands of watercolor paintings and studied hundreds of books from the old classical masters and those who have shaped our Modern Times.

In my studio and in the field, there's one technique that absolutely changes the quality of your watercolor paintings: the California Style. 

Watch as I teach you this simple technique step-by-step. Within a few minutes, you'll see how the California Style lifts lifeless lines into bold, expressive paintings. 

What will you learn in this course?

• Create bold and expressive watercolors with a simple mastery of the California Style
• Learn the secrets to getting depth and expression to your watercolor paintings, used by professional artists
• Relax and learn - you'll never be left behind and no experience is required to master this wonderfully simple technique
• Learn how to avoid the common pitfalls of Watercolors.

In my 30 years of painting, I've discovered that 90% of professional watercolor painters use 3 techniques:

• The No Drips, No Slips English Style
• The Wet California Style
• The Ink and Wash Style

This course focuses on the California Style. Enroll in my other courses to master the other 2 professional techniques and watch as I reveal other simple secrets of the craft.

Paper:

Here are three types of papers that are available at any good art store or online.

• Arches,140lb. cold press paper
• Strathmore, 140lb. cold press paper
• Canson,140lb. cold press paper.

Each paper is unique and should be tried. Other brands are available but make sure they are quality papers. Poor materials-poor results. The best choice for the California Style is the 140 lb.Cold Pressed as it has just the right amount of 'tooth' for our purpose.  Arches or Canson Paper also works well. Cost is about $25 to $30 for 20 /10" by 14"sheets of 140lb acid-free cold-pressed watercolor paper. If one side does not work out you can use the other side to do another painting.

Paints:

Our colors will be:

• Alizarin Crimson
• Azo Yellow
• Phthalo Blue ( 'Thalo' )                          
• We will add ultramarine blue and cobalt blue as two optional colors to use if you want                                        

Brushes:

Find out why my favorite brush is readily available at any hardware store or box store paint department for under $15.  It's called the 'Picasso" brush.

A "HAKE" brush is an Asian flat brush that is also readily available. You can see in the video that we use a flat brush, a rigger brush, and a round brush. Sizes are described in detail in the video.