Whether you've been painting for years, or are new to watercolor, value can prove to be one of the most elusive design elements to master, and will have us chasing our tails if we don't learn to recognize how it works in our our paintings.

If you've painted for any length of time, you've heard and probably used the term 'value'. But having a basic concept of 'lights vs. darks', isn't nearly enough to capitalize on the importance of value and how it is the single most important aspect of your painting...even above color!

Through this course, I'll help you develop a strong foundation in what value truly is, how to identify it, and use it with confidence in your work, to produce stunning form that captures the essense of your subject to a new level.

We will be doing extensive drawing and sketching exercises in charcoal to develop our eyes for recognizing value, and learning to use this new information throughout a step-by-step series of watercolor paintings.

Welcome to the Drawing For Watercolor Workshop! I'm Jill Williams, a professional watercolorist, nature enthusiast, full time RV traveller, and instructor, who's passionate about developing and sharing my artistic skills with other artists working in watercolor.

I've been drawing and painting for over 40 years, and instructing others for nearly a decade. I have an online painting community and annual membership, with students from around the world who paint with me on a weekly basis.

Join me for a newfound understanding of value and how a proper approach will bring new clarity and rich drama to your watercolor paintings like never before.

Students can expect a noticeable shift in their value observations, drawing accuracy, and the impact it has to elevate the quality of their paintings.

We’ll begin with a look at materials, processes, and supplies, how they work, and incorporate a few introductory exercises to help you develop a comfort level before diving into more advanced exercises. Video topics include: Charcoal, Graphite, Paper, Fixatives, Making a Pounce, Erasers, and Sharpening

We’ll achieve a deeper understanding of value using charcoal and pencil, through a series of step-by-step exercises, studies, and completed drawings, that will all elevate the draftsmanship of your underpainting.

Now it's time to start putting everything you've learned so far into action, from the preliminary sketching, value assessments, and corrections, to transferring and working through a completed painting based on your comprehensive sketch. There are three separate, full-length paintings covered in the lessons, that walk you step-by-step through the detailed sketch, value assessments, and subsequent painting that provides complete color information and video instruction.