GRASBY ART INSTRUCTION
BEGINNERS WATERCOLOUR PAINTING WORKSHOPS CALGARY
BEGINNERS WATERCOLOUR PAINTING WORKSHOPS CALGARY
BEGINNERS WATERCOLOUR PAINTING - Workshops at Grasby Art in NW Calgary
Begin your journey as an artist with us. Our art school has 15 years of experience coaching beginners, with instructors with formal art education. Our leveled approach has been refined over the years and is designed to ensure your success as a watercolourist. At each workshop/level you will gain confidence and capability as you complete the series of small paintings and exercises.
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Class details
Details
Each level is a 3 hour workshop. The workshop sessions are offered fall, late fall, new year, spring. There are 8 levels — Levels 1-4 (this page) cover the basics; Levels 5-8 go beyond the basics. You may take individual workshops or take all 4 at a discount.
What you'll learn — Levels 1-4
- Level 1 | Colour Theory, Mixing & Palette Management — mix any colour with confidence and set up your palette like an artist.
- Level 2 | Wet Techniques — master luminous wet-in-wet washes, soft blends, and glowing skies.
- Level 3 | Dry Techniques — build crisp detail, texture, and control with dry brush and layering.
- Level 4 | Mixed Techniques — combine wet and dry techniques
What you'll make
Technique exercises, a studio full of people working, and the paintings that come out of it.
Aspens in autumn — a finished exercise
Wet-in-wet techniques, labelled as you go
Working through a demo in the studio
Tap an image to see it full size
Dates & Times · Levels 1-4
Three intakes a year. Each one is four weekly workshops — pick the day that suits you.
- FRISept 11 · 18 · 25 · Oct 29am – 12pm
- SUNSept 13 · 20 · 27 · Oct 49am – 12pm
- WEDSept 16 · 23 · 30 · Oct 7Evenings 6 – 9pm
- FRINov 6 · 13 · 20 · 279am – 12pm
- SUNNov 15 · 22 · 29 · Dec 69am – 12pm
- WEDNov 18 · 25 · Dec 2 · 9Evenings 6 – 9pm
- FRIJan 8 · 15 · 22 · 299am – 12pm
- SUNJan 10 · 17 · 24 · 319am – 12pm
- WEDJan 13 · 20 · 27 · Feb 3Evenings 6 – 9pm
Every course runs four consecutive weeks — no sessions fall on holiday weekends. Each workshop is 3 hours, in Studio A at 6520 Bowness Road NW.
Ready for more? Watercolour Levels 5-8 — beyond the basics — runs in between these courses (October and February), so you can continue straight from Course I into Course II.
Location and parking
Where
Grasby Art Studio A, 6520 Bowness Road NW, Calgary. Free street parking (no 2-hour enforcement) plus 5 fenced alley stalls.
Mixing and testing colour at the studio bench.
Supplies
Supplies
We provide the watercolour paper and all the specialty supplies each class needs.
You’ll need a basic supply kit, and we ask that you bring it with you on workshop days — you’ll use it in every session and for the practice work in between. The recommended supplies are:
- Paint: the three primaries — Quinacridone Red, Phthalocyanine Blue and Cadmium Yellow. Watercolour doesn’t need white or black.
- Brushes: a round #10 or 12, a script brush and a 3/4" flat.
- Tools: a plastic palette and a small palette knife.
If you already own these, bring what you have. If you’d like a few items or a full kit, they’re at the front desk on workshop day — our Beginners Watercolour Kit covers the whole list for $88.
Cost — choose your commitment
- $95 — single workshop (one level, one date)
- $360 — full four-workshop course (save $20 vs booking the four workshops singly)
How to register
How to Register
- Choose your commitment — Full Course I (Levels 1–4) for all four workshops ($360), or Single Workshop to book one date ($95).
- Pick your Dates & Times — Fall, Late Fall, or New Year; each single workshop shows its level.
- Add to cart. No experience needed. Booking more than one single date? Add each one to your cart separately.
Already finished Levels 1–4? Register for Beginners Watercolour Levels 5-8 — beyond the basics — same choice of full course ($360) or single workshops ($95).
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