What does the [BIG] course format mean?

[BIG] is a course format focused on large, highly detailed paintings.

Each artwork is created step by step and takes approximately 3–5 hours to complete.

What the course is about

Welcome to an immersive online watercolor course inspired by the quiet poetry and minimalist beauty of Japanese landscapes.

Throughout the course, you will explore a wide range of essential watercolor techniques that form the foundation of confident and expressive painting. You will learn dry brushing, hatching with an oil-based fan brush, sketching without staining the paper, and painting fine, delicate lines to depict branches and foliage.

Over the course of five completed artworks, you will capture the atmosphere of Japanese nature and master techniques for creating depth and mood. You will work with backruns to achieve expressive atmospheric effects, layer wet washes for smooth color transitions, use water droplets from a spray bottle to create organic textures, and apply masking fluid and lifting preparation to enhance highlights and details.

Who will find this course useful

This course is perfect for anyone who loves watercolor painting—whether you are just starting out or already have experience and want to deepen your skills.

If you are drawn to minimalist landscapes and the calm, contemplative beauty of Japanese nature, this course will resonate with you.

Whether you want to explore watercolor for the first time or elevate your existing practice, this course offers valuable knowledge and inspiration for every artist seeking to capture nature’s quiet harmony.

Course program

Block 1. Theory

Lesson 1

Welcome & Introduction

Basic course information and a personal greeting from the instructor.

Lesson 2

Materials Overview: How to Choose Paper and Paints

In this lesson, I will show you all the materials used in the course and explain my personal approach to painting, including how I select paper and colors.

Lesson 3

Workspace Setup and Paint Management

You will see how I organize my desk and manage paints for efficient and comfortable work.

Block 2. «Village of Clear Streams»

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

In this block, we will paint a lush green meadow with tall, elegant trees and learn how to convey a forest landscape filled with sunlight filtering through the foliage.

Lesson 1

Sketch

You will learn to:

  • aarrange forest elements into a harmonious composition;
  • ddraw tree trunks with confidence;
  • uuse depth and distance to create a sense of volume.

Lesson 2

Painting the base

You will learn to:

  • paint foliage using water droplets;
  • work on tree trunks and branches;
  • create knots and add angular character.

Lesson 3

Detailing

You will learn to:

  • paint grass using a dry brush;
  • work with a pig bristle fan brush designed for oil painting.

Lesson 4

Final touches

You will learn to:

  • add fine details;
  • lift and soften areas using a spray bottle.

Block 3. «Sunrise»

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

In this block, we will paint a serene winter sunrise. A calm sky with warm and cool hues is paired with a solitary tree, creating a peaceful and atmospheric composition.

Lesson 1

Sketch

You will learn to:

  • build a strong composition;
  • draw a tree and branches;
  • sketch a fence and a small house in the background.

Lesson 2

Painting the base

You will learn to:

  • use wet techniques to paint the sky and snow;
  • create granulation effects for snow.

Lesson 3

Detailing

You will learn to:

  • paint trees and fences in dark tones;
  • use color variation to add three-dimensional depth.

Lesson 4

Final touches

You will learn to:

  • soften the sun’s edges using a melamine sponge;
  • add branches over the trunk to complete the composition.

Block 4. «Gaps in the windbreak»

Duration: 5 hours

This painting focuses on the interplay of light and shadow between trees, fields, and sky.

Lesson 1

Sketch

You will learn to:

  • identify key landscape details such as bark, grass, and field patterns;
  • build a balanced composition.

Lesson 2

Painting the base

You will learn to:

  • paint sky and ground using wet techniques;
  • create soft gradients with layered light colors;
  • paint distant forests and background elements.

Lesson 3

Detailing

You will learn to:

  • paint foreground trees, grass, and branches;
  • use a spray bottle for texture effects.

Lesson 4

Final touches

You will learn to:

  • paint birch trunks;
  • harmonize the main elements with their surroundings.

Block 5. «Summer sky»

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

A bright summer landscape with a deep blue sky, soft white clouds, and lush greenery.

Lesson 1

Sketch

You will learn to:

  • identify shapes, lines, and forms in the landscape;
  • sketch grass, distant trees, and clouds.

Lesson 2

Painting the base

You will learn to:

  • apply wet layers repeatedly to build sky and clouds;
  • paint distant forests, trees, and fields.

Lesson 3

Detailing

You will learn to:

  • paint foreground leaves;
  • use negative painting techniques.

Lesson 4

Final touches

You will learn to:

  • remove masking fluid and paint yellow flowers;
  • add final details with gouache.

Block 6. «Winter sea»

Duration: 3 hours

In this block, we will paint a tranquil winter seascape, focusing on the interaction between light, water, and sky.

Lesson 1

Sketch

You will learn to:

  • identify key compositional elements;
  • simplify wave forms to convey movement and rhythm.

Lesson 2

Painting the base

You will learn to:

  • create sky gradients and underpainting using wet techniques;
  • paint waves;
  • mix and create rich black tones.

Lesson 3

Detailing

You will learn to:

  • create expressive backruns;
  • use lifting preparation to control backrun effects.

Lesson 4

Final touches

You will learn to:

  • refine details;
  • place the darkest values at key focal points.

Block 7. Conclusion

A summary of the course and parting words from the instructor to inspire your further artistic growth.

Conclusion

Our course has come to an end. Let's sum it up and listen to parting words for further creative development!

Wataru

Ishigaki

Watercolor artist

  • Watercolor artist
  • Teaching experience since 2005
  • Participant of Fabriano in Watercolour 2017 (Italy)
  • Author of “15 Watercolor Water Manipulation Techniques for Better Paintings”
  • SOMPO Museum of Art Prize Winner
  • Creator of approximately 900 paintings

Instructors
Works

Teachers
works

Course materials

1. Watercolour Paper:

  • Waterford white Cold Pressed (300g/㎡).

2. Paints:

Winsor&Newton Professional Watercolour:

  • Naples Yellow;
  • Cadmium Yellow;
  • Winsor Orange;
  • Alizarin Crimson;
  • Winsor Blue (Green Shade);
  • Winsor Blue (Red Shade);
  • Neutral Tint;
  • Permanent Rose;
  • Winsor Violet (Dioxazine);
  • Permanent Sap Green;
  • Winsor Green (Yellow Shade);
  • Winsor Green (Blue Shade);
  • Indigo.

DALER ROWNEY Artists':

  • Vivid Green.

Opaque Watercolor:

  • Permanent White.

Others:

  • Winsor&Newton Colourless Art Masking Fluid;
  • Winsor&Newton LIFTING PREPARATION.

3. Brushes:

  • Fine point brushes weasel;
  • Fine point brushes White raccoon dog;
  • Horsehair and pig bristle round brush;
  • Fan-shaped brush pig bristle.

4. Others:

  • Pencil 3B;
  • Kneaded eraser;
  • Masking tape;
  • Paper pallet.

Bonuses

Additional lesson 1

Coniferous and Deciduous Trees: Secrets of Drawing on the Middle and Far Background

Duration: 40 min

In this lesson we will learn how to draw objects in the middle and distant background using the example of a coniferous and deciduous tree.

You will learn to:

  • paint coniferous and deciduous trees;
  • create a sense of depth and volume;
  • position trees correctly in space.
 

Additional lesson 2

How to Draw Clouds: The Art of Creating Celestial Forms

Duration: 40 min

Let’s convey the volume and shape of clouds and create a colorful minimalistic landscape.

You will learn to:

  • paint clouds with volume and movement;
  • create circular forms;
  • apply creative thinking techniques.
 

Additional lesson 3

Fine Line Art: Drawing Electrical Wires

Duration: 40 minutes

In this lesson we will draw electrical wires accurately and realistically.

You will learn to:

  • use stamping techniques;
  • draw clean, straight lines and electrical wires.

Plans

Standard
 
  • 7 modules: theory + practice + skill-building exercises
  • 5 Minimalist Japanese Landscapes
  • Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
  • Course Unfreeze
  • The opportunity to watch the analysis of other participants' artworks
  • Access to course materials without time limits
  • Bonus 1. Coniferous and Deciduous Trees: Secrets of Drawing on the Middle and Far Background
  • Bonus 2. How to Draw Clouds: The Art of Creating Celestial Forms
  • Bonus 3. Fine Line Art: Drawing Electrical Wires
  • Review of your artworks and answers to questions in the comments by the course curator for 60 days from the start of the course
  • Personal one-hour online consultation with a course expert
  • > +20 bonus dollars! Can be used when purchasing a course at the next workshop. Valid for 3 months
200 $
99 $
$ €
SIGN UP
Plus
 
  • 7 modules: theory + practice + skill-building exercises
  • 5 Minimalist Japanese Landscapes
  • Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
  • Course Unfreeze
  • The opportunity to watch the analysis of other participants' artworks
  • Access to course materials without time limits
  • Bonus 1. Coniferous and Deciduous Trees: Secrets of Drawing on the Middle and Far Background
  • Bonus 2. How to Draw Clouds: The Art of Creating Celestial Forms
  • Bonus 3. Fine Line Art: Drawing Electrical Wires
  • Review of your artworks and answers to questions in the comments by the course curator for 60 days from the start of the course
  • Personal one-hour online consultation with a course expert
  • > +20 bonus dollars! Can be used when purchasing a course at the next workshop. Valid for 3 months
250 $
199 $
$ €
SIGN UP
Premium
 
  • 7 modules: theory + practice + skill-building exercises
  • 5 Minimalist Japanese Landscapes
  • Machine translated subtitles: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Chinese, Indonesian
  • Course Unfreeze
  • The opportunity to watch the analysis of other participants' artworks
  • Access to course materials without time limits
  • Bonus 1. Coniferous and Deciduous Trees: Secrets of Drawing on the Middle and Far Background
  • Bonus 2. How to Draw Clouds: The Art of Creating Celestial Forms
  • Bonus 3. Fine Line Art: Drawing Electrical Wires
  • Review of your artworks and answers to questions in the comments by the course curator for 60 days from the start of the course
  • Personal one-hour online consultation with a course expert
  • > +20 bonus dollars! Can be used when purchasing a course at the next workshop. Valid for 3 months
500 $
399 $
$ €
SIGN UP

Course Curator
Yulianna Buro

  • Holds a professional degree in Fine Arts (graduated from the Stroganov Moscow State Academy of Art and Design named after S. G. Stroganov).
  • Holds a degree in Psychology Education.
  • Works on all types of surfaces using a wide range of materials: painting with acrylics, ink, oil, and pastel; interior mural painting; tattooing and airbrushing.
  • Has over 4 years of experience teaching painting, drawing, and composition to both children and adults.
  • Previously taught basic drawing skills to senior citizens as part of the “Moscow Longevity” program.
  • Runs her own painting studio.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I can’t draw at all. Should I take this course?

Absolutely. The course starts with simple paintings and gradually progresses to more complex ones, allowing you to grow naturally and achieve strong results. Experienced artists will also benefit by refining their technique and visual thinking.

You upload a photo of your artwork after each lesson. The instructor may leave written feedback, graphic annotations, or audio comments. You can also ask questions in the lesson comments.

Without feedback, you can move at your own pace. With feedback, active instruction lasts two months from the moment you unfreeze the course. We recommend a relaxed pace—enjoy the process.

It’s never too late to learn. About 30% of our students are over 50. They paint, grow creatively, and enjoy the process while refreshing both mind and spirit.

Feedback

Didn’t find the answer you were looking for?

Telegram