Starts on: March 25, 2026 @ 1:30pm
Demystifying Watercolor
Register Now:Wednesdays, March 25, April 1, 8 & 15, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Learn the fundamentals and versatility of watercolor in this clear, step-by-step online workshop designed for both beginners and seasoned artists. Through live demonstrations and practical instruction, Mindy Lighthipe will guide you in how to properly load the brush, control water, build layered washes, and create luminous, consistent color. Inspired by botanical subjects, these techniques can be applied to any realistic artwork. Build confidence, expand your skills, and discover the joy of painting with watercolor.
Each session focuses on understanding why watercolor behaves the way it does and how to use those properties to your advantage. You’ll learn practical, repeatable “recipes†for mixing colors, explore techniques for creating texture and form, and gain strategies to avoid common pitfalls that often frustrate painters at all levels.
While the subject matter is inspired by the natural world—leaves, petals, fruits, seeds, and other botanical forms—the skills you learn can be applied to any realistic subject matter. Whether you’re just beginning your watercolor journey or refining your technique, this course will give you the clarity and confidence to make watercolor a joyful part of your creative practice.
This is a four-session course and is recorded for future viewing.
Instructor Bio(s)
Artist Mindy Lighthipe is passionate about getting out into the natural world and discovering beauty in every rock, stream, and forest. With this passion, she carefully studies her subjects in their environment.
Mindy uses a variety of techniques and media to create her bold imagery. She paints in watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and pan pastels. It is not uncommon for her to break traditional and classic rules by combining techniques to create her unique and breathtaking style.
Mindy graduated magna cum laude from Kean University with a BFA in studio arts and an MA in art education. She received her 210-hour certification in botanical illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. After graduating, she went on to teach more than twenty different classes in their botanical art program and developed a 250-hour certificate in natural science illustration.
Mindy has been exhibiting her art since 1998 in juried and solo exhibitions. In 2009, she received a Silver Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society in London. In 2010, she had a solo exhibition at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Mindy currently teaches scientific illustration at the University of Florida. To learn more, visit www.mindylighthipe.com.
Materials and Equipment Needed
The following list is recommended for artists: Link to Materials