Student Testmonials

" I enjoyed Leslie's workshop. Her knowledge, skill, energy and patience was passed on to each of us in the class. I particularly enjoyed seeing her sketch books and the little sepia thumbnail paintings that she creates in watercolor. Leslie encouraged us to paint in our own travel journeys and to sketch everyday. She took time to help us individually and wanted us to each go home with a painting that we would enjoy. A great workshop, recommended to all. "                                                      ~CR

"... I've always struggled with details and, ... with painting from photographs. Somehow or other, Leslie managed to get through to me and for the first time since I've taken a workshop I went home feeling not only feeling happy with the piece I painted in the workshop, but, more importantly, with a new understanding of how to simply and freely capture light and color with a paintbrush rather than the camera.
Thank you, thank you!"                                                     ~ MO'C

"For the record, Leslie Watkins is an excellent teacher, a fine artist and a lovely human being. If you can possible schedule more workshops with her, I would register in a New York Minute.
She was able to work with students at a variety of levels, using their materials, sketches, ideas, etc. For me, it was bringing a great deal of information out of long term storage in my brain and applying it to a work in progress... I hadn't painted in over 3 years.So do bring her back!" 

                                                    ~ PW

"Last June I began taking watercolor classes from Leslie Watkins, and from the first class I have been awakened to a whole new world. I find peace and tranquility as I put pencil to paper and paint to canvas, creating as I have never been accustomed to before in my seventieth decade. Thank you, Leslie, for this opportunity!"
                                                   ~ FJCP

"I took a class with Leslie at the Berkshire Botanical Garden this July. It was an amazing class. I learned more about color, gradations,and compostion in four weeks with Leslie than I ever knew before. It was a pleasure talking to Leslie and getting to know her. She is an amazing watercolorist sensitive to all that surrounds her. I do not know if I will ever look at a landscape in the same way again."
                                                   ~ CZ

"I signed up for Leslie's watercolor classes reluctantly since I was sure this medium would be extremely difficult for me. It was, but Leslie's teaching ability and her constant encouragement were both so great that I continued to attend classes through the entire winter and learned an amazing amount."
                                                   ~ HRT

Nature Studies in Watercolor:
Classes & Workshops

Beginners to Advanced, Individual Instruction

Learn techniques of traditional watercolor as used by the masters.
Develop your skills and add to your portfolio as you paint. This class will provide the student with the confidence and ability to maintain a personal record of the natural world, with the intent to use it as a foundation to create works of art. Elements of painting such as drawing, the movement of light, mass conceptions, depicting form, creating depth, and atmospheric perspective will be taught. Traditional English watercolor techniques will be demonstrated, as used by J.M.W. Turner, Beatrix Potter, Albrecht Dürer, and Pierre Joseph Redouté. Students may bring flowers, fruit, shells and other natural objects to draw from. Bring a jar or a vase, and whatever art materials you already have.

Click for WC Materials List

Workshops - 2012

Watercolor Painting
Winter semester, Washington Art Association, Washington Depot, CT
Eight Mondays, January 16 - March 5, 2012: 9:30AM - 12:30PM

The Prismatic Palette En Plein Air with Leslie Watkins
Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
Spring/Summer 2012 - TBA

Workshops - 2011

Nature Studies in Watercolor with Leslie Watkins
Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
Saturday and Sunday, October 1 - 2, 2011: 9AM - 4PM

Watercolor Painting
Fall semester at the Washington Art Association, Washington Depot, CT
Eight Mondays, September 12 - October 31, 2011: 9:30AM - 12:30PM

The Prismatic Palette En Plein Air with Leslie Watkins
Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT
Saturday and Sunday, August 20 -21, 2011: 9AM - 4PM

Click for Oils Materials List

Three Workshops Sponsored by the Housatonic Valley Art League
at the Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield, Massachuseets:

Watercolor Painting
Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield, MA
Saturday and Sunday, April 2 -3, 2011: 9AM - 4PM

Plein Air Oil Painting Basics: Your Set-up and Getting Started with the Prismatic Palette (click for PDF)
Bushnell-Sage Library, Sheffield, MA
Saturday and Sunday, May 28 - 29, 2011: 9AM - 4PM

Plain Air Oil Painting on Location
Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12, 2011: 9AM - 4PM

Watercolor Painting step-by-step

Watch a watercolor painting come to life with this step-by-step guide. Learn about creating sketches, washes, underpaintings, adding color, and more. See it in on Leslie's Dandelion Cottage Blog.

For more information contact:

Leslie Watkins ~ Dandelion Cottage
281 Litchfield Road
Norfolk, CT 06058
Studio: (860) 542-3920
E-Mail: lesliewatkins@lesliewatkins.com