What the course is about

Learn to turn everyday city scenes into atmospheric, expressive watercolors.

In this comprehensive course, I'll take you step by step through the fundamentals of urban watercolor painting, from atmospheric street scenes to ambitious aerial views.

You'll learn how to bring light, air and emotion into your paintings, transforming lifeless studies into dynamic urban impressions. Each lesson builds naturally on the previous one, so you can develop your skills with confidence, without being thrown in at the deep end.

By the end of the course, you'll have the tools and confidence to tackle more complex city scenes and take your aerial views further than you thought possible.

Who will find this course useful

This course is for artists of all levels, especially those looking for clear guidance and structure in their painting process.

If your washes often feel flat, muddy or lifeless, I'll show you how to create more dynamic, fluid washes and mix color directly on the paper.

You'll also learn to use the brush more freely and expressively, helping you move towards a more spontaneous and confident way of painting.

Course program

Getting to know your teacher

Lesson 1

Getting to know your teacher

In this lesson, I'll tell you a little about myself, introduce you to the course and its structure, and give you a sense of what lies ahead and where our creative journey begins.

List of materials

Lesson 2

List of materials

In this lesson, I'll introduce you to the materials we'll be using throughout the course.

How to find ideas for paintings

Lesson 3

How to find ideas for paintings

Duration: 11 minutes

In this lesson, I'll show you where I look for inspiration and how I choose scenes with strong visual impact. You'll learn to see everyday places through an artist's eyes and find ideas for paintings wherever you look.

Evening Silhouette

Lesson 4

Evening Silhouette

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

In this lesson, we'll explore the foundations of strong composition and learn how to design a painting with a clear sense of balance and purpose.

You will learn to:

  • build a strong composition from the start
  • apply key principles of composition
  • create a balanced and purposeful arrangement
Urban Perspective

Lesson 5

Urban Perspective

Duration: 2 hours

Today, we're stepping into the world of perspective, exploring how to create depth and dimension in an urban scene.

You will learn to:

  • work with the horizon line and vanishing point
  • use one-point perspective
  • work with tone and color temperature to create depth
French Mood

Lesson 6

French Mood

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Here, we'll look at how to find a focal point within a busy street scene and use lost and found to create atmosphere and guide the viewer.

You will learn to:

  • establish a clear focal point
  • place the main story within the scene
  • use lost and found to create atmosphere
  • paint recognizable landmarks
Metropolis Contrasts

Lesson 7

Metropolis Contrasts

Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes

In this painting, I'll show you how to build a strong tonal hierarchy and use fluid washes to create depth and dimension.

You will learn to:

  • create a clear hierarchy of tonal values
  • use pigment and water to create fluid washes
  • approach different parts of buildings with different techniques
  • create a convincing sense of three-dimensional space
What Makes Paintings Muddy

Lesson 8

What Makes Paintings Muddy

Duration: 30 minutes

In this lesson, I'll show you why watercolors lose their freshness and how to keep your colors clean and luminous. We'll look at color choices, water, timing and overworking, so you can create lively washes full of light and atmosphere.

Sunlit Street

Lesson 9

Sunlit Street

Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

This time, we'll explore warm and cool color relationships and discover how shadows can bring light, mood and unity to an urban scene.

You will learn to:

  • understand color temperature
  • use warm and cool shadows
  • place contrasts effectively
  • use shadows to connect the major shapes of a painting
Radiance of Venice

Lesson 10

Radiance of Venice

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Let's turn our attention to atmosphere and explore how light, contrast and brushwork can transform the mood of a scene.

You will learn to:

  • create atmosphere through tonal contrast
  • use the white of the paper effectively
  • place key elements within the composition
  • combine wet-on-wet and dry-brush techniques
City Arches

Lesson 11

City Arches

Duration: 3 hours

In this lesson, we'll explore lost and found, texture and granulating pigments to create a focal point while leaving space for the viewer's imagination.

You will learn to:

  • use lost and found to emphasize the focal point
  • leave areas open to the imagination
  • create different types of texture
  • work with granulating pigments and expressive brushwork
Urban Panorama

Lesson 12

Urban Panorama

Duration: 2 hours 50 minutes

In this final lesson, we'll bring together the skills from the previous lessons to create an atmospheric aerial view. The focus will be on confident, purposeful brushwork and knowing when to stop, so the painting feels energetic and alive.

You will learn to:

  • combine the techniques and knowledge from previous lessons
  • create an atmospheric aerial view
  • use your brush more efficiently and with fewer strokes
  • make your brushwork more energetic and expressive
  • create a lively, dynamic painting without overworking it
Course conclusion

Lesson 13

Course conclusion

Our course has come to an end. Let's look back at what we've learned, reflect on the journey, and share some ideas to help you keep developing your painting practice.

Nicholas

Tobias

Watercolor artist

  • I have been teaching since 2022.
  • I trained and worked as an urban designer, and I still create watercolor visualizations for architecture projects in London.
  • I received the Top 200 award at the International Watercolour Masters in 2021 and 2024, selected from over 3,500 entries.
  • I was nominated for Young Artist of the Year at the TALP Open in 2024.
  • I have exhibited three times at the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, including twice alongside King Charles.
  • I am passionate about conveying atmosphere and mood.
Nicholas Tobias

Instructor's
Works

Course materials

1. Paper:

  • 300 gsm, 100% cotton watercolor paper;
  • Saunders Waterford (rough or cold pressed) or Baohong (cold pressed);
  • paper size varies by lesson.

2. Brushes:

  • one 4 cm flat brush for wetting the back of the paper;
  • one 2.5 cm flat brush for larger washes;
  • one Da Vinci mop brush, size 3, for larger washes;
  • two large Eastern-style brushes;
  • two medium Eastern-style brushes;
  • one small synthetic brush for details;
  • one rigger/needle brush for fine lines and details.

3. Paints:

Use the brand you prefer. The following colors or close equivalents are recommended:

  • three primary colors — blue, red and yellow — for mixing most colors;
  • Payne's Grey;
  • French Ultramarine;
  • Cobalt Blue;
  • Cobalt Teal Blue;
  • Sap Green;
  • Quinacridone Rose;
  • Pyrrol Scarlet;
  • Sepia;
  • New Gamboge;
  • Chinese White;
  • Lunar Black by Daniel Smith (optional, for exploring granulation).

4. Other items:

  • water container;
  • spray bottle;
  • pencil;
  • eraser;
  • masking tape.

Pricing

Standard
 
  • 13 lessons: theory + practice + developmental exercises
  • 8 Atmospheric Urban Paintings
  • 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
  • Review of your artworks and answers to questions in the comments 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 $
$ €
SIGN UP!
Plus
 
  • 13 lessons: theory + practice + developmental exercises
  • 8 Atmospheric Urban Paintings
  • 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
  • Review of your artworks and answers to questions in the comments 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 $
$ €
SIGN UP!
Premium
 
  • 13 lessons: theory + practice + developmental exercises
  • 8 Atmospheric Urban Paintings
  • 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
  • Review of your artworks and answers to questions in the comments 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 $
$ €
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 the course?

Of course you should! The course is designed so that it starts with simple paintings and then progresses to more complex ones, allowing you to smoothly integrate into the process and achieve high results!

The course will also be beneficial for experienced artists. You will further refine your technique and enhance your visual understanding.

At the end of the lesson, you will upload a photo of your work. The teacher will have the opportunity to leave textual, graphic (annotations on the drawing), as well as audio comments on your work.

At the bottom of each lesson, there will be a comment section where you can ask any questions related to the learning process.

If you have a plan without feedback, it will depend on your personal pace at which you complete the lessons.

With plans that include feedback, we actively conduct lessons for two months from the moment you "unfreeze" the course.

Overall, I recommend taking the course at a relaxed pace. Enjoy the process more!

It's never too late to learn to draw. In our school, 30% of students are over 50 years old. They enjoy drawing, developing their skills, creative thinking, and rejuvenating their spirit and mind!

Feedback

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