Artists from every state in America and 18 countries are coming together this week during the 6th Annual Watercolor Live, taking place now through Friday, January 23, 2026. “This is more than a conference — it’s a global celebration of watercolor,” said Host and CEO Eric Rhoads.
“This week is about growth, fun, and transformation,” he continued. “You might feel frustrated at times. Maybe you are working too hard. Learning doesn’t have to feel like work. Think of it as play — as a creative adventure where frustration is part of the fun. Yes, fun!
“Dive in, play, experiment, and let yourself grow. Remember: Talent isn’t some magical gift—it’s process + enthusiasm. Believe in yourself. You’ve got this!”
Here’s what we saw on Day 1 of Watercolor Live:
“Bridges are fascinating to me because they are the largest man-made structure in the world,” said Antonio Masi, adding that “some bridges are beautiful enough to be in a museum, though no museum is large enough for them.” Masi is the President Emeritus of the American Watercolor Society, and he shared his approach to bridges as a painting subject, including his materials, brushes, and color choices.
Watercolor Tip and a Warning: To speed up drying, Antonio uses a heat gun because it’s quiet and fast. “Don’t leave the heat gun on one area for too long, or it will burn a hole in the paper,” he said. “I’ve done that. You name it, and I’ve probably done it once in my life.”
“Antonio’s narration brings me right into the feeling of his painting, and his description of how he uses his ‘brush’s voice’ is very helpful.” ~ Linda A.
Using a photo reference of her granddaughter, Kathleen S. Giles went the extra mile to get just the right picture by having an orange oven mitt held up to the side of her model’s face, which made the outdoor light bounce around more and give more color depth.
Tip for Controlling Edges in Watercolor: To get a hard edge, leave the paper dry around where you are adding value. To get a smooth or soft edge, dampen the paper.
Brienne M. Brown shared a demo on how she uses plein air references for studio work, using a photo reference from her 2025 trip to China, where she created studies on location.
Brienne’s Tip: Use a kneaded eraser to lift some of the light pencil marks after your initial drawing (for composition) is complete.
Lynn Pratt led us through a detailed demo on how to paint realistic wood, the rough texture of the cork, and realistic, three-dimensional metal with a shadow in her still life demonstration.
Bonus Inspiration: You might have seen Lynn’s photorealistic “money” series on our sister site, RealismToday.com recently.
“I am inspired! Truly.” ~ Josie F.
In a live-on-camera session, watercolor favorite Thomas W. Schaller joined us from his studio, where he painted a scene largely from imagination – no models, no photo references, no studies. “I’m always fascinated by his painting process because there’s something new to learn every single time,” Eric said, adding that this was “a rare opportunity to see Thomas’s creative process unfold in real-time.”
“Wow…. as a first timer, there’s so much going on during this event that I’m overwhelmed!!” ~ Inda M.
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On Day 1, we also enjoyed a pre-event seminar with Workshops in France (a Silver Sponsor of Watercolor Live), featuring Marc Folly, and bonus presentations from Blick Art Materials (Platinum Sponsor) featuring Emily Olsen, and ArtDb (Gold Sponsor) – not to mention a special offer for Watercolor Live 2026 for this year’s attendees. And we closed the evening with our cocktail hour paint-along session. Follow the fun on Instagram at #watercolorlive2026 and join us for the remaining workshops and social fun with fellow artists! Visit WatercolorLive.com now and don’t miss another minute.
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