Wrapping Up My 5-Week Botanical Watercolor Course 🌿

Written By disha sharma

Last week, I wrapped up teaching a “5-week Botanical Watercolor Course” at the Visual Arts Mississauga, and I’m feeling incredibly grateful.

Over the course of five weeks, I had the pleasure of teaching a wonderful group of students who were eager to learn how to paint realistic flowers, leaves, and berries in watercolor. Watching their confidence grow with each class was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

As a professional botanical illustrator and watercolor instructor based in Canada, I love helping artists of all levels discover the joy of painting nature in watercolor.

What We Learned in This Botanical Watercolor Course

This course was designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of realistic botanical watercolor painting. We focused on:

  • Watercolor techniques for realism

  • Color mixing for natural greens and floral tones

  • Layering to create depth and dimension

  • Capturing texture and fine details

  • Observing botanical subjects closely

These are the same techniques I use in my work as a botanical illustrator for packaging, publishing, and branding projects.

What We Painted

Throughout the course, students created a variety of botanical studies, including:

  • Leaves and foliage

  • Delicate flowers

  • Summer berries

  • Stems and buds

  • Final botanical compositions

Each painting helped students build their skills step by step while developing their own artistic style.

A Supportive and Inspiring Classroom

One of my favorite things about teaching watercolor workshops is creating a relaxed and encouraging environment where students feel comfortable experimenting and learning. Some participants were complete beginners, while others had prior experience with watercolor. No matter where they started, everyone made meaningful progress.

Student Feedback

Here are a few comments from students:

  • “I learned so much about layering and color mixing.”

  • “Disha explains each step clearly and makes realistic watercolor feel approachable.”

  • “I never thought I could paint botanical subjects this realistically.”

  • “The course was relaxing, informative, and inspiring.”

Hearing feedback like this reminds me why I love teaching.

Botanical Illustration Services

In addition to teaching, I work as a freelance botanical illustrator and food illustrator, creating custom watercolor and digital illustrations for:

  • Packaging design

  • Editorial projects

  • Cookbooks

  • Branding

  • Surface design

If you’re a publisher, creative agency, or brand looking for botanical illustration services, feel free to Get In Touch.

Join My Free Live Online Botanical Basics Event in June

If you missed this course, I have exciting news.

This June, I’m hosting a FREE Live Online Botanical Basics Event inside my art community, The Art Forest.

In this beginner-friendly event, you’ll learn:

  • Essential watercolor techniques

  • Botanical watercolor basics

  • Color mixing and layering

  • How to paint simple flowers and leaves

We’ll paint together live in a supportive and welcoming environment.

disha sharma
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