Improve your watercolor, have a couple of hours fun painting along with Tim Wilmot, and...get a critique!

Welcome to my upcoming workshop where we will paint this bright scene of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club.  It is a fantastic subject for any watercolour painter.  We have a great mix of deep shadows and very bright light.  I want to show you how to capture that sunny California feeling on your paper.

The biggest challenge in this painting is the group of white chairs on the sand.  We must not paint every detail of every chair.  If we do that, the painting will look like a technical drawing.  I will teach you how to simplify these shapes.  We will use the white of the paper (hopefully) and just a few dark marks to suggest the chairs.  This keeps the painting fresh and loose.

We also have the large dark club house building to handle.  It creates a very strong shape against the pale beach.  I will use a mix of neutral tint and ultramarine blue for those deep shadows.  Getting the perspective right for the deck and the stairs is important too.  We will also look at the sea and sky.  

This workshop is perfect if you want to practice painting shadows and sunlight.  We will also add some small figures to give the scene some life

Live & Online watercolour demo from Tim Wilmot

Step by step demo of the complete painting process with commentary (English)

Watch the recording as many times as you want!

Can't attend live? No Problem! Register anyway, watch the recording, and send me a photo of your painting for a video critique!

50% discount for Tim's Patreon Members (See Tim's post on his Patreon site or App for Promo Code)

This is the source photo for this workshop:

(You can right-click over this photo to download it now)

Here is a list of the main watercolour painting challenges for this Santa Barbara Yacht Club scene.  I will show you how to tackle these during the workshop.

Simplifying the groups of white chairs so we do not paint every single detail.

Using the white of the paper effectively to make the furniture stand out against the sand.

Getting the perspective right for the large building and the wooden deck.

Creating strong, dark shadows under the building to show the bright sunlight.

Painting a large, smooth area of sky without leaving any unwanted marks.

Showing the different textures of the soft sand and the hard lines of the yacht club.

Adding small figures on the beach to give the painting a sense of scale and life.

This online workshop is suitable for painters of any level. It is a demonstration in Watercolor. I go at a slow pace and describe with commentary what I am doing and the techniques I am using. The commentary is in English, and I speak slowly for any attendees where English is not your first language.

All you need to watch and take part is a good/reliable internet connection, and a headphone or PC speakers to hear my audio commentary.  Crowdcast is not like Zoom. Nobody can see you or hear you.  You just see and hear me and it's really EASY!

What you will need (apart from paper and water)

A large and medium size mop brush. Small brush for detail work. A small flat brush might be used.

Your normal palette of colours (I mainly use, neutral tint, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, viridian green, spring green (or a bright green!), cobalt green, cerulean blue, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, lavender, alizarin crimson, cadmium red, light red and a cadmium yellow, white paint for highlights.  I also sometimes use quinacridone gold). You don't need to use these colours.  Please don't buy anything special for this workshop.  Just use your usual things!

Please don't go and buy anything special for this workshop. Just use what your normal brushes, paper and paint.

When you have completed your painting, please take a photo and email it to me as an attachment to timothywilmot@gmail.com and I will then be able to include your painting in the group video to be published on my YouTube Channel.

Here is what previous attendees had to say...

"I see you as one of the best painters for those of us who want to improve our watercolor. You have been a pillar of my growth: clear expression of the technique to be used, continuity in the activity that you develop, a relaxed and patient atmosphere for those of us who follow the challenges of this technique that is as exciting as difficult and beautiful.  I thank you for the support that I have always received and for the opportunity to participate."  Eduardo, Argentina

"I wanted to thank you again for doing these watercolor painting workshops and for providing critiques.  You are an amazing artist, and your workshops are forcing me to find the time to paint and I am so very appreciative of this"  Brian, USA

"It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that you were one of the contributing factors to my painting more frequently and exhibiting more and having a bit more confidence this past year or two. I think you’re a wonderful tutor and I like the way you paint"  Susan, USA

"I'd like say just how much I've enjoyed your video demonstrations past and present! You have a wonderful sensibility for watercolour and I know that I've learnt a great deal from your videos, so  thank you so much!"  John H, UK

"Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Based on my experience watching your YouTube videos, your online workshop was everything I expected and more"  Douglas B

"Good pace, good answers to students’ questions, efficient use of time, and such a nice relaxed personality, Tim"  Suzanna B

"Thank you for the wonderful painting experience. I think the timing was perfect for me as I am new to watercolour and enjoyed having the time to attempt keeping up"  Geri G

"It was very good to be able to hear your thought process as you were completing the painting. Loved being able to see your painting from start to finish"  Pearl A

"I’m so grateful to have found your ‘paint this scene’ tutorials. I’m getting so much out of these. Seeing improvements with each new monthly paint along! Your a gem"  Silvie R

"I learn so much from seeing what the others have done as well as getting the critiques from Tim himself. These critiques help us to improve and understand more about the process, something which would be almost impossible to do without this kind of constructive feedback. Thank you so much for all the encouragement and support you give us through these workshops and the follow up critique video"  Mark D, Spain

March 2026 Open Watercolor Workshop - Santa Barbara Yacht Club