Teaching Watercolor to Children and Adults
Jenna
9/2/20252 min read
I have been teaching watercolor to students across a wide range of ages. One aspect I really enjoy is observing how each student interprets the same subject differently. While it may seem that teaching children and adults would be very different, in practice, it is quite similar. Here is an example of how I adapt my classes according to age groups.
Studying Monet | Ages 7 - 10 years old
We were doing an art study of Monet's famous painting Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge. The painting has a lot of little flowers, which can be hard for young learners.
We started with adding paper tape to make the shape of a bridge, which will be painted at the end (seen in photos). After that, students learned how to paint a 'graded wash', which means blending two colors from bright green to dark blue. Additionally, they learn how to paint trees in the background.
Next step was to create waterlilies and leaves. Instead of painting directly on the canvas, we cut them out and glued them onto the canvas. Finally, we took off the paper tape and painted the bridge. These steps made the painting process hands-on and interactive for young learners.
With young learners, my job is a little bit more hands-on, but it's still important to let students play and try things for themselves.
Watercolor Pansies | Adult learners
In this class, we were painting pansies. Flowers are a good subject for beginners because their shape is well-known and recognizable. Most students already know what a flower looks like, making sketching an outline easy.
First step, I showed the class an example painting. I gave them an overview of the process, how many layers, what type of techniques used for specific sections, and some issues they may encounter. This helps everyone to know what to expect before they start painting.
After that, I let students choose their color schemes and do a short demo. Then, I would walk around the classroom to help any student who needs it. For adult learners, I give a lot of room for them to enjoy painting on their own.
In the end, whether I'm teaching adults or children, the process is nearly the same. I give them the tools and guidance, and then each student begins their own journey of discovery. And the final product? A watercolor painting that's all their own.
