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Who knew making a mess could create something so beautiful?

Today we wrapped up our two-part Autumn Aspens in Watercolor course on Chroma Art, and what a fun couple of Saturdays we've had!

Throughout this workshop, I guided students through creating a vibrant autumn aspen grove using one of my favorite watercolor techniques—splattering! We explored how to build layers of colorful foliage, create texture and depth, and capture that wonderful glow of sunlight filtering through the trees.

Along the way, we also dove into some watercolor fundamentals, including transparent vs. opaque pigments, color theory, masking techniques, and the importance of preserving light.

I love showing students that watercolor doesn't always have to be carefully controlled. Sometimes the most exciting things happen when we loosen up, embrace a little unpredictability, and let the paint do its thing!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined me for these two Saturdays. I hope you had as much fun getting messy as I did! 

For those unfamiliar with Chroma, it's an online art instruction platform from Streamline Publishing, the wonderful team behind Watercolor Live and the Plein Air Convention.

What's your favorite way to create texture in watercolor? Are you a splatterer, or do you prefer a little more control?