The Good Hour Issue 007: Watercolor 101
Wisdom of the Wash Watercolor’s having a moment — and you know what? It’s about time. July is World Watercolor Month, but the real story is why this centuries-old medium feels so now. In a world of overstimulation, I believe we yearn for a practice that only asks for paint, a cup of water, a few […]
Wisdom of the Wash Watercolor’s having a moment — and you know what? It’s about time. July is World Watercolor Month, but the real story is why this centuries-old medium feels so now. In a world of overstimulation, I believe we yearn for a practice that only asks for paint, a cup of water, a few […]
Table of Contents
- Wisdom of the Wash
- We Want It
- The Conversation: Jane Davies
- One Small Practice
- Final Thought
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Watercolor’s having a moment — and you know what? It’s about time. July is World Watercolor Month, but the real story is why this centuries-old medium feels so now. In a world of overstimulation, I believe we yearn for a practice that only asks for paint, a cup of water, a few brushes, and paper. It’s also portable, forgiving, and deeply shareable.
No clutter or expensive setup. No steep learning curve. Just quiet, meditative focus followed by punctilious brush washing. Is it any wonder our watercolor classes are some of the most popular on the site? Let’s get WASHED, folks! By which I mean, enjoy a pleasant missive about the magic of watercolor.
– NAOMI SKWARNA, EDITOR
We Want It:
From an eco-conscious brush set to travel-ready paint palettes, here are a few of our favorite watercolor essentials.
Some links in this email are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Emily Lex Studio Birds Watercolor Workbook
Why we like it: We love birds and watercolor equally, so this darling Birds Watercolor Workbook happens to fit two important bills/beaks. The spiral-bound workbook includes 12 charming bird illustrations with an example of the finished painting, step-by-step instructions, and a lightly illustrated sketch for you to paint. Also makes a great watercolor gateway gift.
Why it might not be the right fit: You need no workbook! You paint birds in your sleep.
Verdict: This workbook is a lesson in its own right, and perfect for a beginner.
The Pigeon Letters Studio Round Brush 5-Piece Set
Why we like it: Treat yourself to this set of five artist-crafted round brushes (sizes 2–10), designed by Skillshare Top Teacher Peggy Dean, and stamped with her Pigeon Letters branding. Springy, pure-synthetic bristles snap back to a fine point for crisp lettering and fluid washes — cruelty-free, eco-conscious, and made by an artist who truly understands what painters need.
Why it might not be the right fit: You intend on using your fingers.
Verdict: Perfect for watercolorists and letterers who want one versatile brush set for both broad washes and fine detail.
Kuretake Portable Watercolor Paint Set
Why we like it: This chic, pocket-sized Kuretake set packs 12 vividly pigmented pans, a fold-out mixing tray, water bottle, and brush into one compact case — everything you need for spontaneous sketching. Smooth, richly saturated color makes blending and layering effortless, wherever inspiration strikes.
Why it might not be the right fit: You are a tube loyalist, through and through.
Verdict: Ideal for on-the-go artists who want vibrant, professional-grade color in a compact kit.
The Conversation: Jane Davies
Watercolor artist Jane Davies has become a favorite Skillshare teacher for her detailed, animal-focused portraits and gentle, encouraging teaching style. From her home studio in the UK, she’s turned a love of pets, flowers, and everyday rituals into more than sixty classes and a devoted global following of watercolor students. In this conversation, we talk about how she structures her days, what keeps her work feeling fresh, and the quiet studio rituals that help her return to painting with genuine joy.
“Ideas might come from family, from students, from holidays, from the garden. I don’t sit down with a big plan — I stay open.”
To start, what does a typical workday look like for you?
Jane Davies: It’s quite varied, if I’m honest. I’m not a particularly hard‑working artist in the sense of getting up at six o’clock and painting all day. I’m 53 now, and we’ve got a little bit of money behind us, so I don’t have to push as hard as I used to. That gives me some space to be a bit more relaxed about it.
My day usually starts with dog walks — we’ve got two cocker spaniels. I come in, have breakfast, then head upstairs to my studio, which is actually our back bedroom. I’ll check Skillshare, look at any new projects, respond to comments, and catch up on emails. I tend to paint in the afternoon, and let the day kind of transition from admin into creative work.
It’s not a rigid schedule. Some days I might not do any painting whatsoever, and sometimes it might be a whole week without painting! There isn’t that pressure anymore to produce constantly.
Teaching is clearly a big part of your life now. How did your career evolve into what it is today?
When I first started out, I was doing pet portrait commissions — that was my main thing. Over time, Skillshare took over in the nicest possible way. Commissions have dropped off, partly because I haven’t pushed them, and partly because I wanted time to explore my own art and see where that could go.
I have a particular style, and I’m often painting animals, so my classes can feel like variations within a certain world. I’d like to shake myself up a bit and give the classes a bit of a shake too, try some new directions.
Before art became my main work, I had a small gardening business. I still have two gardening clients I see one day a week. My working life has always had that mix of practical outdoor work, and then this quieter, more focused studio work.
Do you ever feel creatively stuck, or is that not really part of your experience?
I don’t, really. I think it’s because I’m not forcing myself to paint every day. I really value the time when I do get to paint, and I genuinely love it. Even when I was working from not‑so‑great reference photos for pet portraits, I still enjoyed the process.
What makes the biggest difference for me is the environment. I like the studio to be clear — I can’t paint if everything’s jumbled. I’ll clear the table, maybe wipe it down, make sure things are tidy. I like to have flowers on the desk, and then I’ll put an audiobook on. That combination — a clear space, flowers, a story in my ears — that’s pure heaven for me. Once that’s in place, I don’t really need a warm‑up exercise. I just crack on.
Where do new ideas for classes or paintings usually come from?
They come from all over. My most recent class is about otters because my mother‑in‑law, who passed away at the beginning of spring, always said, “You must do some otters.” So that class is very much for her.
Sometimes ideas come from Skillshare members — people request certain subjects, and that nudges me in a direction. My next class is going to be a black dog, which is quite a tricky thing in watercolor, and that’s based on a lot of requests.
Other times it’s something I’ve seen out on a walk, like the red kites we have down here. I might come across a reference photo — of an eagle, say — and something about the pose just lights me up. I’ve always worked from reference photos rather than straight from my head, but they can still spark a really strong response. So I don’t sit down with a big planning session; I stay open. Ideas might come from family, from students, from holidays, from the garden. I let them arrive in their own way.
With so many classes and years of painting behind you, what keeps this work feeling alive?
Part of it is that I genuinely enjoy sharing what I do. The Skillshare community is lovely — it sounds corny, but it’s true. And part of it is that I’m still giving myself room to change. I’d like to explore my own work more, then maybe bring those discoveries back into new classes.
As long as I can keep that sense of enjoyment — clear studio, flowers, audiobook, a subject that sparks something in me — it feels worth doing. When that combination is right, I’m very happy just to keep going.
One Small Practice
Behind Jane Davies’ prolific body of work is a deceptively simple ritual: before she starts painting, she transforms her everyday bedroom studio into a space that feels inviting and intentional.
Think of this week’s practice as a way to design your own “entryway” into creativity, with everything in its place. It takes just 20 minutes, but can change how it feels to sit down and make art. Set a timer. Your goal is to reset your space so that, by the end, you feel gently drawn toward your work instead of overwhelmed by whatever’s on your table.
Clear your surface. Choose the spot where you’d like to work — a desk, kitchen table, or even a corner of the floor. Spend 5 minutes removing anything that doesn’t support your creative time right now. Stack or relocate items until you can see a clear surface. Give it a quick dust if that feels good.Arrange your essentials. Gather only what you need for a short creative session: a sketchbook or sheet of paper, a few favorite brushes or pens, your paints (or other medium), and a jar of water or rag if needed. Place them neatly within reach.Bring in something living (or once-living). Jane paints with flowers from her garden on her desk — sometimes a full bouquet, sometimes just a few stems or berries. Find your version of that: a small plant, a single flower, a sprig of leaves, a handful of interesting twigs or shells, even a bowl of fruit. Put it where you can see it as you work.Set your sound. Choose an audiobook, podcast, or playlist that feels companionable but not distracting. Press play as a signal that you’re “entering” your creative time. If sound pulls you out of focus, try the opposite: close the door, silence your notifications, and let the quiet be your backdrop.Close the threshold. If you can, literally close a door — or symbolically do it by turning your chair away from the rest of the room, changing the lighting, or putting your phone out of sight. Give yourself the feeling of being “inside” your studio, even if it’s just one corner of a shared space.When your 20 minutes are up, don’t worry about producing a finished piece. Instead, notice how your body feels in the newly arranged space. If you have another 10 minutes, pick up your brush or pen and make a few gestural marks in your sketchbook, knowing you’ve already done the most important part: you’ve created a place where painting (or any kind of art-making) feels like something you’re primed to do, not something you’re fitting into cluttered room.
Final Thought
Watercolor feels especially right for this summer moment. It invites the kind of slow, spacious attention many of us are missing: a cleared table, a few simple tools, maybe a jam jar with a single bloom in it. As Jane shared, you don’t need a strict routine or daily output to be an artist — just a space that feels welcoming and a willingness to see what appears on the page. Let this month be your excuse to move a little slower with your paints, and really enjoy the process. And if you're looking for options, explore all our watercolor classes here.
Stay hydrated, friends!
The Good Hour
A biweekly dispatch for creative humans and their brains.
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