Watercolor Classes

Dottie has been teaching watercolor painting in Boulder and beyond for more than 20 years. She loves encouraging students, as her first painting teacher did, to “be a slob,” “push the color,” and “treasure your accidents.” In sharing the tricks and techniques of watercolor, she aims to support students in facing their fears around painting, in playfully taking risks and experimenting with the media. (Yes, you can even erase it!) Painting is a constant dance of letting go and finding form; it is from this place that expressive and exciting paintings arise.

Classes
Dottie teaches watercolor painting classes in landscape, still-life, portrait, and summer garden painting, as well as an “In the Studio” painting group class, for beginners through advanced students.

Private and Semi-Private Classes
Dottie also teaches private and semi-private classes from her Make Room For Art Studio at 2881 21st Street for children, adolescents, and adults, mixed media. 1hr -2hr sessions, $55–$135.

Consultation Time
Bring your paintings and questions to my studio for some private or semi-private consultation time. Get feedback on finishing paintings, fixing paintings, the next step, etc. a general and specific problem-solving time. Cost: $40/half-hour, $65/hour.

Contact dottie@dottieoatman.com 303-641-8704 to get more information, and sign up on Dottie’s mailing list via this website to receive e-mail fliers about her classes.

Current Classes

2025 January-March Classes In Watercolor Painting

With Dottie Oatman

NEWSFLASH:

Painting Mexico! will take place March 21-31, 2025. A 10 day painting tour of San Miguel De Allende Mexico—-painting en plein air and site seeing. A trip filled with wonderful restaurants, colorful scenery and “only in Mexico” cultural experiences. Trip is currently FULL.

Another trip to España in the Fall is being planned with co-leader Salli Gutierrez. September 28-October 7, 2025. We are thinking of going to Madrid, Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada, and ending up in Malaga, painting artist travel journals along the way. Let me know if you are interested in receiving more information! dottie@dottieoatman.com

Follow me on Instagram and see my most recent paintings at dottieoatmanart.

2025 January-March Classes
In Watercolor Painting
With Dottie Oatman

1. FaceTime: Beginning Portrait Painting _____________Tuesdays 10:30-1:00. Studio 108
Painting faces is SO MUCH FUN and a lot easier than you think! We will be learning and practicing the basic skills of portrait drawing and painting in watercolor: proportions, the placement and painting of features, color mixing and applying, shadowing, layering, values, composition, expressiveness and backgrounds. We will work from my folders of portrait photos, AND from photos that you bring in to class. Many handouts (via e-mail) to help guide you. This class also good for more experienced portraitists who want to refresh and practice their watercolor portrait painting skills.
Tuesdays • 10:30-1 • 4 classes • January 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11. 2025
$175 for session.

2. FaceTime Extra, Part 2 _______________________Tuesdays 10:30-1:00. Studio 108
For those who have taken my beginning portrait class, who want to work on and practice their face painting skills with 1-2 portraits of their choosing through this class. I will demonstrate the different stages of painting a portrait and work with you individually throughout this session.
Tuesdays • 10:30-1 • 4 classes • February 18, 25, March 4, 11. 2025
$175

3. Every Which Way Watercolor___________________Tuesdays 3:00-5:30. Studio 108
This is an ongoing watercolor offering; we will focus on a different subject weekly, from still life, landscape, flowers, buildings, animals, fabric, glass reflections, composition, perspective, color, value, etc. Lots of watercolor teachings and learnings in each class. Demonstrations, problem solving, as usual. All levels welcome.
Tuesdays : 3:00-5:30• 6 classes • January 21, 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25. 2025
$265.

4. Beginners!______________________________Wednesdays 10-12:00. Studio 108
I teach a series of 4 classes to help you get started with watercolor painting, materials included. I offer a fun, experimental approach that greatly reduces the intimidation factor. An introduction to color mixing, brush strokes and techniques, creating textures, shadows, washes and more. Materials included.
Wednesdays 10-12:00 • 4 classes • January 22, 29, (no class February 5), Feb. 12, 19.
$200

5. Studio Fridays___________________________Fridays 9-12:00. Studio 108
Come paint with others, bring your own subject matter, work on unfinished paintings, get feedback and help from me and peers, enjoy watercolor painting camaraderie! (I’ll be roaming around to help, in this studio class.) Class size limited.
7 classes: January 24, 31, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7.
$44 per class or $40 per class if registering for all 7 classes in the session. ($280).

+++++DO NOT SEND PAYMENT Until you have e-mailed me and received a confirmation back from me via e-mail. BE SURE AND E-MAIL ME FIRST BEFORE SENDING IN YOUR PAYMENT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS SPACE IN THE CLASS YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR. THANKS!

**REGISTRATION** AND CANCELLATION POLICIES:

Please e-mail to register, dottie@dottieoatman.com and I will respond with availability filling classes on a first come, first serve basis. Your space is then reserved upon receipt of full payment for the class. (But be sure and e-mail me first to see if there is space!) Make checks out to Dottie Oatman and send to me at 2881 21st Street, Boulder, CO 80304. Or pay by Pay Pal (send to friends and family to avoid extra fees), via my e-mail address, or Venmo (also to avoid added fees, put something other than “painting classes” in the subject line—get creative!). @dottie-oatman, phone is 303-641-8704.

*****Sorry no refunds or make up classes available. (except sometimes, read below under Can’t do a full Session?) I’m too small an operation for that!

Can’t do a full session? Drop-in sometimes available—e-mail dates you are interested in and we’ll see what shakes out. No guarantees. Priority given to those registering for all classes in a session, but fill-in participants welcome and often able to find spaces. After classes have started, if you have reserved a spot in advance, and still have to miss it, there are no refunds, but you may be able to make up a missed class in another class going on, space available.