Watercolor Rules

Watercolor Rules—

And How to Break Them

Master the foundations of watercolor—then learn how to bend, twist, and break the rules to make your art truly your own.

Click to watch Danny tell you about the course

Watercolor is one of the most exciting and unpredictable mediums out there—but it’s also one of the most intimidating.

People often say, “Watercolor has a mind of its own,” and that can be frustrating when things don’t go as planned.

That’s why I wanted to create this course: to show you how to master the fundamentals and then break free from them to make your own bold, expressive work.

To start, Ian Sidaway lays down the groundwork. He’s spent a lifetime mastering watercolor, and he’ll teach you the essential rules: how to control washes, mix colors, and handle the quirks of the medium with confidence. But knowing the rules is just the beginning.

Once you’ve got the basics, the real fun begins. A team of incredible artists—including Ian Fennelly, Inma Serrano, Jennifer Orkin Lewis, Koosje Koene, and me, Danny Gregory—will show you how to break those rules in exciting and unexpected ways. You’ll learn to paint boldly, embrace imperfections, experiment with gouache, and push watercolor beyond what you thought was possible.

And then? Ian Sidaway returns. But this time, he’s the one breaking the rules. He’ll show you how even a watercolor purist can bend tradition to create work that pops off the page.

In this course, you’ll learn:

Over 100 video lessons
Hours of lessons and demonstrations
Sketchbook tours galore
Understanding materials
Color theory

Techniques
Mixed Media
Location
Still life
Nature

Watercolor basics and advanced techniques—the essential rules before you break them.

How to paint on location—whether in a studio, café, or bustling city street.

How to create bright, vibrant colors—and make your paintings come alive.

When to use opaque watercolors like gouache—and when to let transparency shine.

With over 100 step-by-step videos, you can move at your own pace, whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or looking for new ways to expand your practice.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand watercolor inside and out—but more importantly, you’ll have the confidence to make it your own.

So, are you ready to break some rules?

What students say

"What I loved most about Watercolor Rules was the diversity of instructors, techniques, and materials. The course clearly shows that rules and creativity can share a page in you own sketchbook.”

Tree B, Lafayette, CO

"I have been painting up a storm. This whole course has been magic."

Jan M, Halifax, Canada