Painting Waterscapes for Beginners: Light, Movement & Mood
Adult Class | Registration opens 5/5/2026 9:00 AM MST
This painting class focuses on capturing the beauty, movement, and emotional depth of water. Students will explore oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastal scenes while learning how to paint reflections, waves, skies, and atmospheric depth. Through guided demonstrations and individual feedback, students will develop both technical skills and personal expression in their waterscape paintings.
The class emphasizes seeing water not just as a subject, but as a carrier of mood, light, and memory.
- This class is best suited for beginner students with a basic familiarity with oil or soft pastel painting.
- Oil Paint – Paint
Oil paint (artist grade), preferred brands:
Rembrandt – https://www.royaltalens.com
Michael Harding – https://www.michaelharding.co.uk
Winsor & Newton – https://www.winsornewton.com
Ultramarine Blue
Viridian Green
Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Yellow Light
Cadmium Yellow Deep
Yellow Ochre
Transparent Red Oxide
Transparent Brown Oxide
Titanium White (Rembrandt Titanium White strongly recommended)
Oil Paint – Medium
Odorless mineral spirits for oil painting (Gamsol) – https://gamblincolors.com
No-spill container to hold mineral spirits
Linseed oil
Brushes for Oil Painting
Long flat brush, size 2
Long flat brush, size 4
Long flat brush, size 6
Long flat brush, size 18
Long filbert brush, size 4
Long filbert brush, size 6
Princeton Aspen brushes (good beginner option) – https://princetonbrush.com
Other Oil Painting Supplies
Paper towels (Scott Shop Towels) – https://www.scottbrand.com
Painting Surface
Gessoed panel boards (Jack Richeson hardwood panels) – https://www.jackricheson.com
Or any canvas board
Sizes: 9 × 12 inches or 11 × 14 inches
Soft Pastel Supplies
Soft pastel color set, medium size (Sennelier preferred) – https://www.sennelier-colors.com
Any professional-quality brand is acceptable
Sanded pastel paper (UART recommended) – https://www.uartpastelpaper.com
Paper sizes: 9 × 12 inches or 11 × 14 inches
All supplies are also available at Guiry’s or Meininger‘s.