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Painting Water & Sky in Watercolour

  • Selwyn Adult Community Education 203-245 Kohimarama Road Auckland, Auckland, 1071 New Zealand (map)

In this short watercolour course you will dive into the fluid world of watercolour as you explore how to paint water in all its forms—rivers, lakes, streams, and shimmering reflections. In this inspiring course, you'll also master the art of painting sky scenes, from moody overcast days to radiant sunny skies and dramatic cloudscapes.

Learn how to adapt to changing light and contrast, and develop the confidence to respond creatively to what you see—or imagine. You'll paint from life, reference photos, and your own imagination, gaining practical techniques and expressive freedom along the way.

Whether you're drawn to peaceful landscapes or atmospheric weather scenes, this course will help you bring movement, light, and mood to your watercolours—while having fun along the journey.

Course outline

  • Welcome

  • Art Materials

  • Master Artists in Sky, Seascapes, and Streams

  • Ways to Approach the Page

  • Simple Water and Sky Painting Warm-Up

  • How to Paint Clouds

  • In the Bush: Colours of Water and Reflective Light

  • Sea and Sky: Painting Waves with Perspective

  • The Golden Hour: Painting Sunrises and Sunsets on the Coast

  • Putting it all together, Cultivating your style, and Developing a Final Piece

Expected learning outcomes

  • Learn to paint rivers, lakes, streams, and reflections.

  • Become confident to paint sky on cloudy, rainy, and sunny days.

  • Be able to adapt to the light and dark in a changing scene.

  • Have fun painting from life, reference, and imagination.

Who should attend?

Those with some basic practice in watercolour painting, or who have taken a previous watercolour class - suitable for progressing to intermediate painters looking for some fresh approaches.

What to bring

Nothing. All materials are provided within your course fee ($25). For weekend workshops, bring your lunch.

About your tutor, Ashley Ruth

Ashley Ruth Stirling lives and breathes art, taking her travel-size watercolour supplies with her everywhere she goes - no exaggeration! She has developed her own unique style of watercolour and illustration and creates art every day. A gifted teacher, she will guide you through the creative process in an enabling and encouraging manner so therapeutic you won't want class to end. For Ashley Ruth, water and sky are a challenge, so she has spent the time to learn from these ever-changing landscapes to bring some insight to your own painting practice.