Sketch to Watercolor
Sketch to Watercolor is a focused, methodical course that helps you build strong, confident paintings from the ground up. Guided by Liu Lei — a rising artist from the East who has taught over 6,000 students — you’ll learn how to simplify complex scenes through clear, intentional sketching. By strengthening structure, perspective, and composition first, you’ll eliminate guesswork and approach watercolor with greater clarity and control.
Sketch to Watercolor - by Liu Lei
Rooted in a structured Eastern way of seeing, and enriched with practical, modern application, Liu’s approach is both efficient and accessible. Through step-by-step lessons and real examples, you’ll learn how to translate simple lines into expressive, painterly results — overcoming muddy colors, weak forms, and inconsistency. The course equips you with a flexible system you can apply anywhere, helping you paint with confidence, ease, and purpose.
Sketch to Watercolor
- by Liu Lei
Rooted in a structured Eastern way of seeing and applied through practical, step-by-step methods, this course shows you how to translate simple lines into expressive watercolor — gaining clarity in composition, values, and color while overcoming muddy results and inconsistency.
Traits: Thick, stone-like armor; one or two jade-like horns; rugged, primal texture
Habits: Grasslands and marshes; herbivore; calm but strongly defensive
Artistic Depiction: Bold lines to define form, dense ink for armor, and reserved white space to highlight the horn — combining strength and grace
Lesson 2: Panda
Dec 13 Sat
TBC
Traits: Iconic black-and-white fur; round, gentle appearance; dark eye patches
Habits: Bamboo forests; feeds on bamboo; solitary, calm, and enjoys climbing
Artistic Depiction: Simple strokes to outline form, varied ink tones for contrast, and negative space to soften fur — capturing playful charm
Lesson 3: Tiger
Dec 20
TBC
Traits: Bright fur with black stripes; powerful build; distinct “king” mark
Habits: Forest dweller; nocturnal; swift, solitary hunter
Artistic Depiction: Strong structural lines, layered ink for bold stripes, and white space for sheen — radiating power and presence
Lesson 4: Cow
Jan 10
TBC
Traits: Black-and-white coat; gentle, rounded build; soft ears and glossy fur
Habits: Pastures; grass-fed; calm and social
Artistic Depiction: Soft lines for roundness, ink to define spots, and light washes to reveal softness — warm and approachable
Lesson 5: Puppy
Jan 17
TBC
Traits: Agile form; soft fur; bright eyes; playful and affectionate
Habits: Social, lively, intelligent omnivore
Artistic Depiction: Gentle lines and light ink to shape its form, with white space for fluffy texture — full of lively warmth
Lesson 6: Rooster
Jan 24 Sat
TBC
Traits: Red comb; colorful tail feathers; golden-brown plumage; sharp claws
Habits: Farmyard companion; active by day; territorial; heralds the dawn
Artistic Depiction: Vibrant hues for crest and feathers, bold lines for structure, and layered ink for patterns — bursting with vitality
Lesson 7: Eagle
Jan 31 Sat
TBC
Traits: Broad wingspan; sharp talons; golden-brown plumage; piercing eyes
Habits: Cliff nests; hunts by day; solitary and fierce
Artistic Depiction: Powerful strokes to capture stance, rich ink for plumage, and open space to suggest force and motion — majestic and commanding
Lesson 8: Horse
Feb 7 Sat
TBC
Traits: Strong, athletic build; slender limbs; flowing mane; sleek coat
Habits: Grassland herds; fast, spirited, and intelligent
Artistic Depiction: Dynamic lines for movement, ink gradients for coat texture, and white space to suggest wind and speed — strength with elegance
Lesson 9: Swan
Feb 14 Sat
TBC
Traits: White plumage; arched neck; graceful posture; vivid beak
Habits: Lakes and rivers; migratory; feeds on aquatic plants; lifelong pair bonds
Artistic Depiction: Delicate lines for the neck, soft ink for feather sheen, and white space for poise — ethereal beauty
Course Outline & Schedule
Lesson 1: Color Theory
Simplify complex tones into clear value groups, and learn to mix a range of greys by controlling water and pigment.
Lesson 2: Capture Street Elements with Clarity
Learn to paint figures, cars and trees by understanding their shapes, placement, and proportions.
Lesson 3: Perspective Made Easy
Understand the essentials of perspective and use simple geometric shapes to build accurate forms. Learn to draw with freedom and confidence — creating dynamic, engaging compositions through a direct, intuitive approach.
Lesson 4 Waterscape: Color & Reflection
Explore how similar colors shift into different grey tones in changing light and surroundings. Learn how reflections behave and relate to their primary forms.
Lesson 5 Snowscape: Edges & Perception
Learn to control hard and soft edges by working with different levels of paper wetness. Observe how color perception differs from what we see in nature, and learn to trust your eyes than your mind's eyes when painting.
Lesson 6 Cityscape on a Cloudy Day
Study the rhythm of light and shadow across architecture under backlit or overcast conditions, and observe how warm and cool colors shift. Explore how simplified, two-dimensional silhouettes can create powerful and striking visual impact.