Watercolour Workshop Tasters: A Beginner's Guide

Watercolour single session "taster" days in Glasgow for beginners and intermediates!



3 hours Class size 1 to 6 guests       £40

Short on time or just want a wee experience? Join us for a relaxing, risk-free taster workshop right here in Glasgow. Just pick the Thursday you'd like to join and book your ticket (see course summary below). Learn a little watercolour and leave with a painting. Perfect for absolute beginners who have never touched a brush, as well as practising artists wanting to refine their workflow.
From retired folks looking for a warm, social environment to practise, freelancers and remote workers needing a refreshing creative break, and parents looking for a rewarding morning activity within school hours.
What to expect:
  • Zero prep, zero cleanup -- walk in and paint! All high-quality materials are provided for you.
  • Small class sizes mean you get supportive one-on-one guidance from a professional artist with 30 years of experience devoted to your progress.
  • Learn water behaviour, colour mixing, and composition layouts for a variety of subjects using a clear and structured, step-by-step method.
Course summary:
Week 1 (15 Oct): Getting to Know the Medium
Understanding the behaviour of water-mixed pigment. We'll start with painting a simple object and background monochromatically in a controlled manner, acquainting you with the material and "personality" of pigment on the surface.
Week 2 (22 Oct): Introduction of the Colour Palette
Grasp basic theory and palette organisation for clean, effective applications. Explore control in colour intensity and temperature shifting. We'll paint a small flower, witnessing the full spectrum of what's possible with colour!
Week 3 (29 Oct): Useful Techniques in Context
Expand upon applied techniques of adding paint to the surface such as wet into wet, charging, dry brushing, glazing, and more. Create a beautiful highland landscape using these exciting new brush marking methods!
Week 4 (05 Nov): Painting a Still Life - Blocking In
Extending the palette, we will make additions to colour organisation. Begin a two-part still life painting with a pleasing and dynamic composition.
Week 5 (12 Nov): Painting a Still Life - Final Revisions
Continuation of the still life creating rich light and shadow relationships, colour punches, and detail. A culmination of your new skills and creative journey.
What you'll get
  • Experience watercolour painting without the setup or cleanup!
  • Quality materials are provided, and you can keep the painting you make for the day.
  • Winsor & Newton professional paints, 100% cotton Arches paper, high-standard brushes, broad palettes, and boards.
Knowledge required
This course is for absolute beginners and intermediate painters who want to refine their workflow.
What to bring
Just bring yourselves!

FAQ

I've never drawn or painted before. Can I take this class?
Absolutely! Come and be adventurous with us. This class is designed exactly for beginners, with clear and approachable step by step concepts that will have you excited to paint for a long time to come.
I'm curious about the impact of premium materials compared to budget/starter kits. Does it matter?
I've been painting in watercolours for 30 years! Wow, time flies... I've been enjoying teaching and sharing my knowledge for around 15 years. New experiences through teaching allows me to grow in my own practice as well. It's an absolute pleasure.
I see this course is for adults. Is it oriented for a specific age group?
It's all about community, and great for a vibrant mix of ages—from young creatives and remote workers taking a screen break, to retirees diving deep into a lifelong hobby. A wonderfully supportive space where different perspectives meet, conversation flows, and everyone learns from one another.
See more FAQs   
What's the parking situation around House of Toad?
Parking consists primarily of paid on-street pay-and-display metered bays managed by Glasgow City Council (using the RingGo app), which are generally free in the evenings after 6:00 PM and over the weekends. (If you like, cheaper parking at Kelvinbridge SPT Park & Ride, South Woodside Road, Glasgow, G4 9HG - Just a 10min walk from Venue)
How long have you been painting and teaching watercolours?
I've been painting in watercolours for 30 years! Wow, time flies... I've been enjoying teaching and sharing my knowledge for around 15 years. New experiences through teaching allows me to grow in my own practice as well. It's an absolute pleasure.
Location

House of Toad - 23 Park Circus, Glasgow

Parking consists primarily of paid on-street pay-and-display metered bays managed by Glasgow City Council (using the RingGo app), which are generally free in the evenings after 6:00 PM and over the weekends. (If you like, cheaper parking at Kelvinbridge SPT Park & Ride, South Woodside Road, Glasgow, G4 9HG - Just a 10min walk from Venue)

Watercolour Workshop Tasters: A Beginner's Guide location
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Your teacher

The Fine Art of Jason Michael Bentley
The Fine Art of Jason Michael Bentley

Instagram followers 8k followers

Hello my name is Jason Bentley. I'm an American fine artist from Chicago. In 2019 I moved to Scotland with my wife (who is Scottish). I keep a studio in Merchant City, Glasgow, where I enjoy teaching, taking on commissions and making work for galleries. I love discipline based activities. I sing and play guitar, and have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I also have a 'pretend" black belt in cooking and mixology. I'm very devoted to craft and refinement! This journey in refining my skills as a "lifelong student" has led me to study traditional art at the Glasgow Academy of Fine Art, where I graduated in 2024. I believe that teaching completes the lifecycle of this discipline. In this, a culture of growth can be nurtured and recycled, serving the student, teacher, and community that I am proud to be a part of!
My experience with watercolour goes further back than my experiences here. As a child, a pencil was always in hand, but when I began taking studio courses in collage, I discovered watercolour and fell completely in love. Despite my refinements in drawing and painting in oils over the years, I've maintained a deep connection with watercolour. I'm known in my teaching community as "that guy that can do both!"
I've been happily teaching for 15 years. Here, in Scotland, privately from my studio, and in workshop and school environments including the Edinburgh Drawing School. This year I received an Honorable Mention from the Art Renewal Center and exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in London.
About my Teaching:
I love process and clarity. As a person who prefers straightforwardness in my own studies and pursuits, I work to design a learning language that makes sense for my students. I will teach you how to develop an instinct and selective eye for constructing form in stages, starting simply, then building in complexity. This approach will work for many subjects. So there is lots for you to explore and enjoy. As you need, we will discuss theory and materials in great depth, preparing you to embrace the subjects with confidence. All levels of experience are welcome.

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