Circe Society Artists
Watercolor painting class in madison, in
Ever wanted to try watercolor but felt overwhelmed by the rows of brushes and tubes at the art store? Let me handle the shopping for you.
Join artist and Circe Society owner Sara Wines for an intro to watercolor!
In this 4-week intro course, we’re stripping away the "technical" fear and focusing on the magic of the medium.
What’s included?
✅ 4 guided sessions (Beginner-friendly!)
✅ High-quality 140lb paper, quality pigments, and brushes (including a take-home mini kit to keep)
✅ A finished landscape you’ll actually want to frame.
✅ Zero "artistic talent" required.
When: Wednesdays, April 29 - May 20th.
Where: 103 E Main St, Madison IN
Cost: $210 (All materials included!)
Limited to 12 students to keep things cozy.
Need to Know
Format: In-person, 1 night per week (Wednesday), 2 hours each session (7 - 9pm)
Duration: 4 weeks (8 hours total)
Class size: 12 maximum
Instructor: Sara Wines
Price: $210 (includes materials & take-home mini kit)
course Goals
Watercolor can be intimidating because it’s hard to "fix" mistakes, so the goal here is to teach students to embrace the chaos (with a little bit of control).
Calendar (Spring 2026):
-
April 29
-
May 6
-
May 13
-
May 20
Weekly Breakdown
Week 1 – Introduction to Technique
-
Introduce history & show examples of contemporary and traditional watercolors
-
Discuss positive vs. negative space
-
Practice painting techniques on scrap paper
Week 2 – Texture & Special Effects
-
Lifting paint (erasing), using salt for crystallization, dry brushing, and masking fluid (or white crayon) for highlights.
-
Project: Work on "galaxy" painting. A nebula of color and texture!
Week 3 – The Color Lab
-
Basic color theory using a limited palette. Understanding "Glazing" (layering thin transparent colors over dry ones).
-
Project: Painting a simple botanical (like a eucalyptus branch or a succulent) using layers to build depth.
Week 4 – The Masterpiece (The Landscape)
-
Composition, foreground vs. background, and knowing when to stop (the hardest part of watercolor!).
-
Project: A 3-layer landscape (Mountains or Forest). Students will use a wash for the sky, glazing for the hills, and detail brushes for the trees.
