What I Didn’t Expect at My Latest Watercolor Workshop

When it comes to doing art of any kind in a live environment, there are frequently factors that you simply cannot account for no matter how well you plan or prepare. Let me give you a peek into the last workshop… what went well, what didn’t and what I learned along the way.

We had a sell-out crowd at the Hull Family Home & Farmstead for our Spring Floral Workshop. All of us planning this event were looking forward to it! I prepared several sample paintings for reference, packed up all of the necessary supplies – guest painting kits, palettes, paints, pens, brushes… you get the idea. I like to prep and instruct in a way that sets each guest up for success regardless of their previous artistic experience or skill level.

We kicked things off by stretching our watercolor paper with artist’s tape. In hindsight, I wish I’d brought more rolls to speed things along—note to self for next time! Then came an ambitious but rewarding step: drawing our flowers by hand. We used mason jar lids to trace big circles onto the paper—these became the foundation for our blossoms and gave everyone an early boost of confidence. From there, we hand-drew petals, leaves, and some personal touches. It was so rewarding to see everyone jump in with such enthusiasm!

In the middle of recognizing such wonderful progress, I realized that I was actually falling a bit short. I was falling short on time! I realized I was going to have to rush the painting portion to stay on schedule—and I hated that feeling.

Now, I knew this particular painting was more complex than others I’ve taught, and I’d planned ahead accordingly by pre-mixing our color palettes to save time and mental energy. (If you’ve been in some of my other workshops, you know the fun and challenges that coexist with mixing your own color scheme!) Having the palettes ready to go turned out to be a great decision. It let us dive right into painting without the pressure.

We used a wet-on-wet technique for the big blue blooms and transitioned to wet-on-dry for the greenery. We layered paint to build value and detail, then added waterproof ink to bring everything together with line work and texture.

By the end of the night, we were about 15 minutes over—but everyone rolled with it beautifully. The Hull House team was gracious, and the guests left with gorgeous floral paintings and (I hope) a sense of accomplishment.

And the best part? They’ve invited me back! Later this spring, I’ll be instructing another watercolor workshop—this time inside their newly restored 200-year-old threshing barn. It’s going to be a truly unique experience.

Hull Family Home & Farmstead Threshing Barn

Our next watercolor workshop will be May 31 from 2-4:30pm and will include a tour of the estate following the watercolor workshop. As always, refreshments are also included. I’d love to see you there!

Here’s a peek at what we will be painting