Artists Classroom @ Home with Lorraine Simonds
From Control to Confidence: Painting Watercolor Portraits That Resonate
This four-part series takes you on a transformational journey through the essential techniques of watercolor portraiture, while exploring the profound differences in how we capture faces across the human lifespan. You'll learn not only the technical skills – water control, luminosity, bold expression – but also how to observe and honor the anatomical shifts that happen with age, from the soft curves of childhood to the character etched in mature faces. Watercolor artists Lorraine Simonds will share how she weaves story and emotion into every brushstroke, what she looks for when choosing a moment to paint, and how understanding human relationships deepens the portraits we create. This series builds both technical mastery and the confidence to paint with authentic emotional resonance, helping you discover your unique voice in capturing the essence of the people you love.
Live online classes will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 pm ET on the last Saturday each month from January 2026 through April 2026.
Recordings of these sessions will be available on demand until 30 days after the last workshop in the series.
Meet Lorraine Simonds
Lorraine Simonds is an internationally recognized watercolorist based in Squamish, British Columbia, known for her loose, expressive portraits that capture the essence of humanity. Recent achievements include Finalist in Splash 26: The Best of Watercolor (2025) and a number of First Place National Awards with the Federation of Canadian Artists. She has juried international competitions including Women in Watercolor International for two consecutive years and serves as International Brand Ambassador for Rockwell Art Canada and Golden Maple. Her work is held in private and public collections worldwide.
With a BA in Fine Art from the University of Leeds and 16 years of corporate experience in branding, marketing, photography and volunteer work, she brings acute awareness of composition and visual storytelling to her paintings. Her background as a bass guitarist informs her sensitivity to rhythm, space, harmony and even dissonance – translating into how she balances movement and stillness on paper.
Find Lorraine online at lorrainesimonds.com and follow her on Instagram @lorraine.simonds.watercolour
The Workshops
Workshops in this series will take place live online from 1p - 3p ET on the last Saturday of the month January - April.
Video recordings of the workshops are available on demand until 30 days after the last workshop in the series.
JANUARY 31 l CONTROL
Mastering Water: Painting the Planes of the Face
Watercolor portraiture begins with understanding water and the foundational structure of the face. In this session, you'll learn to control water-to-pigment ratios and create smooth tonal gradations that model form through value alone. I'll guide you through the essential proportions and planes of the face, showing you how intentional water control creates depth and dimension. This is where confidence begins – in knowing your materials and understanding the architecture beneath the skin.
FEBRUARY 28 l SOFTNESS
Embracing Delicacy: Painting a Child's Portrait
Children's faces require a completely different approach – softer edges, rounder forms, and that luminous, translucent quality that captures innocence. In this session, you'll learn the anatomical differences between adult and child proportions, and how to preserve whites and use gentle layering to create glowing skin tones. I'll share what I look for when painting children – the fleeting expressions, the light in their eyes, the story of who they're becoming – and how patience and restraint allow that tenderness to emerge on paper.
MARCH 28 l BOLDNESS
Releasing Inhibition: Painting Portraits That Tell a Story
Maturity brings character, and character demands bold, confident brushwork. In this session, you'll explore how faces change with age – the sharpening of features, the deepening of expression, the stories written in lines and texture. You'll learn to use saturated washes and expressive colour to capture vitality, strength, and presence. I'll show you how I weave narrative into my portraits by observing not just features, but personality, relationships, and the life lived behind the eyes. This is where technique becomes storytelling.
APRIL 25 l FREEDOM
Finding Your Voice: Paint Portraits with Emotional Truth
In this session, you'll learn how to bring it all together – technique, observation, and heart. You'll use water control, luminosity, and bold expression to create a portrait that reflects both your subject and your unique artistic voice. I'll guide you through the decision-making process: when to soften, when to push, what to emphasize, and how to honor the relationship between you and the person you're painting. Whether it's a loved one, a stranger, or a memory, you'll learn to paint with intention, confidence, and emotional truth.
Gallery of Lorraine'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
