Artists Classroom @ Home with Iain Stewart
Find Your Own Voice in Watercolor
Award-winning watercolor artist Iain Stewart will introduce you to the tools, techniques, and practices that will allow you to find and express your unique point of view in your artwork. From warming up and planning your paintings to using your sketchbook to explore composition, Iain will show you the habits that enable you to grow at your own pace. By examining specific approaches to both the natural landscape and urban settings, you'll learn how to avoid the pitfalls that cause many paintings to disappoint.
Only you have your own unique way other seeing the world and recording it through your art.
Iain's goal is to help you find that voice.
Live online classes take place monthly from 1:00 to 3:00 pm ET July to October 2026 on the 1st or 2nd Thursday.
Recordings of these sessions will be available on demand until 30 days after the last workshop in the series.
Meet Iain Stewart
Iain Stewart is a Scots born watercolor artist and a signature member of the American and National Watercolor Societies among other state and international entities. He has also recently been inducted into the Whiskey Painters of America. His work has received numerous awards in international competition and hangs in many corporate and private collections.
Iain is a sought after watercolor instructor and juror with works published in numerous books and periodicals. In 2021 his first book on painting; En Plein Air—Light and Color, was published. In 2025 his 6th Instructional Video, Painting Venice, was published. In 2025 he will serve as juror of selection for both the AWS and NWS, chair.
Iain maintains a studio in Opelika, Alabama, and in addition to gallery work, is an Architectural Illustrator with an international clientele. He has taught watercolor and design drawing at Auburn University where he received his degree in Architecture.
Iain is an International Brand Ambassador for Escoda Brushes, Daniel Smith Watercolors, and Stillman & Birn Sketchbooks.
See more of Iain's work on his website: stewartwatercolors.com
The Workshops
Workshops in this series will take place live online from 1p - 3p ET on the
first or second Thursday of the month July - October.
Video recordings of the workshops are available on demand until 30 days after the last workshop in the series.
Please Note: The paintings & images shown for each class are just an example of the type of painting/subjects that will be discussed and demonstrated. The final paintings will not be be replicas of images shown in descriptions.
JULY 9 l IAIN'S ESSENTIALS
In this 2-hour workshop, Iain will cover the essential techniques he uses in creating his watercolors. He will introduce ideas for drawing and painting that will focus on the idea of practice of warming up prior to making plans for a larger painting. You will complete two repeatable studies in class to practice the techniques covered.
AUGUST 13 l THE SKETCHBOOK
There is no way to improve your work faster than through utilizing your sketchbooks. In this class, you will walk through some of Iain's books to understand how to put your sketchbook to work. You'll use your sketchbook to practice the all-important lessons of editing, composition, staying loose while feeling tight, and applying color quickly.
SEPTEMBER 3 l LAND AND SEA
In this class, Iain will demonstrate how he treats water, reflections, and the natural landscape. You'll learn how to use value to create depth of field and direct the viewer's eye. Explore how to make water look like water, and make your landscapes look believable.
OCTOBER 8 l THE CITY
In this class, you'll turn your attention to urban scenes. You'll focus on creating the feeling of a busy city scene, complete with cars, people, and movement. You will explore how to "see" with an artist's eye and compose a piece that feels full of detail, but is in fact quite simple once your understand the methodology.
Gallery of Iain's Work
What Our Past Students Are Saying
- Series 2 Artists Classroom Student
- Series 1 Artists Classroom Student
- Series 2 Artists Classroom Student
- Series 1 Artists Classroom Student
