Creative Watercolor Sketching for Beginners
A course by Laura McKendryArtist and Illustrator
A course by Laura McKendry, Artist and Illustrator
Paint exciting watercolor illustrations by exploring playful and unconventional techniques in your sketchbook
Use your sketchbook as a playground to create unique illustrations and awaken your creativity. Artist and illustrator Laura McKendry believes the best way to approach our creative process is with a playful attitude. She is known for her abstract and imaginative compositions which have seen her create illustrations for the likes of Laura Ashley and Papyrus.
In this course, Laura shares the step-by-step process she uses for creative watercolor sketching. Learn to enrich your sketchbook with unconventional color combinations and create experimental illustrations which express your playfulness.
This is Laura’s second course with Domestika. In her first, Illustrating Nature: A Creative Exploration, she shares her expertise on illustrating the natural world. This course is ideal for anyone who is interested in capturing their everyday surroundings in watercolor form.
What will you learn in this online course?
23 lessons & 20 downloads
Introducing the Materials
13 minutes, 21 seconds
Dancing With Your Brushes
11 minutes, 59 seconds
Taking Your Paintbrush for a Walk
13 minutes, 36 seconds
Furry Blurry
20 minutes, 36 seconds
Flying with Monochrome 1
14 minutes, 39 seconds
Flying with Monochrome 2
9 minutes, 16 seconds
What's included in this course?
Laura begins the course by sharing her work as an artist and educator. She talks through the influences which impact her creative approach and how to go about finding inspiration.
Get to know the materials required to create watercolor sketches. Learn what to consider when choosing your sketchbook, paints, and brushes as a beginner. Then warm up your hands and start experimenting with objects and playful techniques. Let loose and explore what happens when paint meets wet paper. Discover how to create contrast and tone and have fun with the possibilities watercolors provide.
Experiment with color. Start with the theory behind the color wheel, then learn how to identify hue, value, and intensity, to understand how to develop color combinations. Combine layers of color, taking inspiration from the world around you, and find out how to achieve unconventional results with your paintbrush.
Fill your sketchbook with rough sketches, using photos for inspiration, before simplifying them into basic shapes. Then dive into discord and play around with colors that clash. Combine the tools and techniques from earlier in the course to create collages with patterns and textures.
Continue filling your sketchbook by exploring different ways of combining the techniques from previous lessons. Finish the course by hearing the stories behind Laura’s artwork.
What is this course's project?
Fill a sketchbook with playful watercolor illustrations to use as inspiration for future artwork.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in illustrating with watercolors.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is necessary.
You will need watercolors, brushes, other drawing materials of your choice, and a sketchbook.
Reviews
- 13 days ago
Very good!!!
- 2 months ago
This course is fantastic. Laura clearly explains each technique and step in detail. You are able to clearly see as she creates and she articulates the thought processes that go behind each step. Lots of playful and experimental techniques are taught. As a watercolour beginner, my confidence has grown and enjoyed this very much!
- 2 months ago
Absolutely yes! It was such an inspiration for me to start exploring without the fear of underachievement or failure!
- 2 months ago
Me ha encantado porque ha abordado el curso de una forma muy lúdica, sin miedo a equivocarse, a progresar y crear de una manera muy amena.
- seydaerdemPLUS2 months ago
Love it! Thanks,
Her book cover illustration for André Alexis’ novel Fifteen Dogs was nominated for the V&A Illustration Awards in 2016. She also teaches short courses on drawing and illustration at Central Saint Martins and the University of Arts London, and runs online workshops that focus on finding ways to unlock creativity while perfecting creative techniques.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Warming up Your Brush, Hands and Eyes
- Introducing the Materials
- Dancing With Your Brushes
- Taking Your Paintbrush for a Walk
- Furry Blurry
- Flying with Monochrome 1
- Flying with Monochrome 2
- U3
Get to Grips With Colour
- Taking a Spin With Colour 1
- Taking a Spin With Colour 2
- Abstract Transparencies 1
- Abstract Transparencies 2
- When Colours Bleed
- U4
Creating Playful Illustrations
- Abstracted Aviary
- Diving Into Discord
- Playful Collage 1
- Playful Collage 2
- U5
Enriching Your Sketchbook
- Combining Techniques 1
- Combining Techniques 2
- Connecting Ideas
- The End Pages 1
- The End Pages 2
- The End Pages 3
- FP
Final project
- Creative Watercolor Sketching for Beginners
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for beginners and those new to watercolor and sketchbook techniques. No previous experience is required.
You’ll need watercolor paints, brushes, a sketchbook or watercolor paper, drawing tools (like pencils), and optional collage materials. Household items and unconventional tools are also encouraged.
You’ll learn foundational watercolor techniques, how to blend and layer colors, create abstract and playful illustrations, experiment with collage, and embrace creative mistakes in your sketchbook.
No drawing experience is needed. The course encourages experimentation and play, making it accessible for complete beginners.
Yes, you’ll learn various blending, layering, and mark-making techniques for watercolor in your sketchbook, including wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and color bleeding.
While any sketchbook can be used, it’s best to choose one with thicker, textured paper suitable for watercolor to prevent buckling and bleeding.
Yes. The course includes lessons on creating abstract compositions, mark-making with brushes and unconventional tools, and exploring playful techniques.