Artists know that one of the best places to record what you see and feel is in your sketchbook. The relaxation it brings is meditative. You are free to do anything in your private sketchbook — experiment, be inventive, try new techniques, create whole new worlds within its pages.
Award-winning artist Iain Stewart enjoyed the freedom he felt painting in his sketchbook so much that he decided to take it to a higher level, asking, "What if you could work on a studio painting using this same method and mindset?"
It may sound strange, but his unconventional approach is winning him shows and events!
Not only is he going to prove that it’s possible for you…
…he’s also going to show you how painting-as-sketching can help you be more adventurous with your creations.
If you’re looking for a method that engages your creative mind, this is it.
You’re going to discover techniques to reveal and nurture your “painting voice”...
…how to really say what you want to say…
…and how to paint scenes that viewers can connect with and feel deep inside — more than just architecture and people passing by.
Venice in Watercolor Made Easy with Iain Stewart’s “Diagram” Painting Method!
Have you ever stood before a complex Venetian scene?
The maze of ancient buildings…
The play of light on water…
The dancing reflections…
The figures and boats moving down the canals…
…and felt completely overwhelmed?
Your brush hesitates, your confidence wavers…
…and you wonder how you can possibly capture all this beauty without getting lost in the details.
As an architect turned watercolor artist, he teaches you to approach complex scenes by first creating what he calls “The Diagram”...
…carefully laying out your center points and horizon line, and establishing what he refers to as a “cradle for the light.”
This preparatory work, often overlooked by struggling artists, creates the perfect foundation for your painting.
Rather than reactively painting whatever you see in a reference photo, Iain Stewart’s process-driven approach helps you gain control of your watercolors.
You’ll learn to anticipate what will happen on paper instead of merely reacting to it — creating paintings that capture the essence of Venice with confidence, atmosphere, and that special luminosity that makes viewers feel they're actually there!
“Skipping what might be considered the dull parts of creating a painting,” Iain explains, “will typically get you in a tight spot. My hope is you begin to learn to see with an artist's eye.”