September is the time to head back to school, at least in some form. Last year, as we faced a long season of isolation, I was up north, forming a needed family visit into an art retreat, and a couple of classes really helped add structure to my up-ended days.

• Nicholas Wilton‘s Creative Breadcrumbs Challenge
• Jacqueline Calladine’s Wild Creative Retreat

This year, even though vaccines and masks provide some leeway in activities, I’m still not up for in-person work. Instead, I’m grateful for video instruction, appreciating how it reaches more people than ever before. I’ve found some great options, both locally (Seattle Artist League, Winslow Art Center) and from afar (Art Students League of New York), but here’s what I chose: a short abstract watercolor class from Laura Horn.

Watercolor for me has always felt like the most difficult medium — so much planning for your lightest areas, and no eraser, let alone an Undo button! My mother-in-law was well-versed in painting with it, so add that onto the intimidation factor! With no requirement for representation in these videos, I’m taking it slow, watching a short segment, then trying the lesson a few different ways. So far, I have lots of new sketches that look like they’ll make great backgrounds for my digital work.

Keeping in an abstract realm suits my needs and I’m excited to explore the lines and marks possible with gouache, watercolor, and my Beam paints. Finally I can break through that mental block and see the fun with flowy water media!