The Art of Watercolor: Paint Your Vision of the World
A course by David Poxon, Watercolor artist
Explore watercolor techniques to create shadows, textures, and atmospheres that capture the essence of your surroundings
The ancient medium of watercolor let’s you connect with pigments that come from the very earth we walk on. Watercolor artist David Poxon specializes in creating watercolor paintings inspired by the world around him. As well as exhibiting his art, he runs watercolor workshops, and has won more than 80 major painting awards for his work.
In this course, he teaches you the basics of working with watercolors before diving into a world of special techniques to elevate your artwork. Paint an ancient stone cottage, complete with shadows, textures, and a welcoming atmosphere. Are you ready to illustrate your own beautiful vision of the world with watercolors?
What will you learn in this online course?
21 lessons & 9 downloads
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know watercolor artist David Poxon. He talks through his career as an artist which has taken him all over the world, along with the influences which inspire him and the work he creates.
Familiarize yourself with the materials needed for this course from watercolor paints, to brushes, and a pipette. David then shows you his multi-layering and watercolor wash methods, along with his tips and tricks for creating the illusion of texture.
Learn how to find a subject for your painting and gather information needed to inspire it. Then discover how to transfer your chosen reference image onto watercolor paper, including only the necessary elements of the scene. Find out how to preserve white paper using scrap paper, masking tape, and more.
Time to start painting! Apply your first wash before building up layers of texture using the techniques covered earlier in the course. Then move on to the second and third wash, incorporating more texture and techniques as you go. Develop the window area of your painting by mixing colors and layers to achieve tonal depth, before putting the finishing details to your artwork.
Explore how to store your finished paintings to keep them in their best condition. Then, to finish the course, see how to prepare your work for exhibitions or sharing on social media.
- 100% positive reviews (832)
- 18,147 students
- 21 lessons (3h 50m)
- 9 additional resources (2 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Paint an ancient stone cottage using a variety of different watercolor techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in creating watercolor paintings inspired by the world around them.
Requirements and materials
Previous experience with watercolors would be useful but is not essential.
In terms of materials, you will need watercolor paints, brushes, watercolor paper, and other materials specified by the teacher in this course.
Reviews
David Poxon
A course by David Poxon
David Poxon is a renowned artist hailing from England, specializing in pure watercolor painting. With a global reputation for his meticulous attention to detail and mastery of surface textures, his work has captivated audiences around the world. David has showcased his art in solo and group exhibitions spanning the UK, China, Japan, the Americas, and Europe.
As an esteemed member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and the National Watercolor Society of America, David's contributions to the art community have been recognized and celebrated. He has curated and judged numerous international shows, including the prestigious International Watercolour Masters exhibitions held biennially in the UK.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
David’s Watercolour World
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Introduction to Watercolour
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Tools and Materials for the Course
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Watercolour Foundations 1
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Watercolour Foundations 2
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Multi Colourway Layering Technique and Multi Glazing
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Special Techniques 1
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Special Techniques 2
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U3
Stairway to Watercolour Heaven
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Subject Hunting
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Colour
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Transfer Your Subject
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Masking and Preserving
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U4
Window in a Cottage
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The First Washes on the Wall
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Building the Layers
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The Window 1
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The Window 2
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Building to the Finish 1
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Building to the Finish 2
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U5
Your Future Starts Here
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Caring for Watercolour
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Sharing Your Work
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FP
Final project
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Mastering watercolour techniques
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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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.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 intermediate artists who want to deepen their watercolor techniques, expand subject choices, and refine their creative process.
You'll need watercolor tube paints, a selection of brushes, watercolor paper, a palette or saucers, masking fluid, graphite paper, a T-square, and basic tools like pipettes and masking tape.
You'll learn advanced watercolor techniques, how to build depth and texture, create emotion in portraits, select meaningful subjects, and prepare artwork for exhibitions and societies.
Yes, the course teaches specialized brushwork and layering methods for capturing wood grain and barn textures realistically in watercolor.
The course includes lessons on creating harmonious color schemes using limited palettes and analogous color techniques for expressive effects.
Yes, you’ll master multi-layer glazing, optical mixing, and achieving tonal range to build depth and luminosity in your watercolor paintings.
You’ll learn strategies for preparing, photographing, and submitting artwork to societies and exhibitions, plus tips for organizing art events and solo shows.
Un corso meraviglioso! David Poxon riesce a trasmettere tutta la sua passione per l’acquerello e a spiegare in modo molto dettagliato tecniche e procedimenti che saranno sicuramente utilissimi anche per continuare a sperimentare da soli. È un corso che non insegna soltanto a dipingere, ma invita a giocare con il colore, a sperimentare, a sentirsi più liberi e creativi.
Mi è piaciuta moltissimo anche la traduzione in italiano e, in particolare, la voce scelta per accompagnare il corso
um dos melhores cursos de artes que já assisti na Domestika.
Très bon cours, avec une vraie progression pédagogique qui permet de faire le lien entre les techniques utilisées et les effets rendus.
Brilliant artist and Excelletnt demonstrations with a beautiful work standards.
Inspiring course, i learned a lot!