Susan Bourdet: Inspiration From the Garden in Watercolor Susan Bourdet

Learn from nature painter and print artist Susan Bourdet to create a painting from resources you have at home.

You’ll see how to select and combine photographs, use masking fluid successfully, render luminous wet-into-wet backgrounds, layer brush work to create convincing fur texture, and use dry brush and salt texturing to portray the corroding metal of an old watering can. You will learn to systematically tackle complicated natural settings for charming results.

In this workshop, Bourdet helps you find inspiration by guiding you through her watercolor process, from the first wash to the final adjustment. After sharing her palette, brushes, and material, Susan gives you a hands-on experience with the techniques you’ll need to complete a backyard masterpiece.

She leads you through preliminary exercises on salting, highlighting with gouache, and creating realistic fur then makes sure you apply your new skills later in the workshop. Susan boosts your skill and confidence in everything from basic brush strokes to pulling out delicate flower petals.

As she paints, Susan uses extensive masking to create layers of color while keeping crisp edges. She reveals techniques for mixing a colorful background wash that will create a strong complement to your subject. With this in place, she demonstrates the brush strokes that give her leaves and flowers rich detail and her methods for adding gorgeous layers of weather-worn texture to the watering can.

Susan then brings her tabby cat to life. She explains how to create textured fur, expressive eyes, and a blend of colors in her subject’s coat that create volume yet retain softness. Finally, Susan teaches you how to highlight a watercolor composition using designer’s gouache. Your practice exercises will provide vital support as Susan adds guard hairs, textured plants, and leaf veins with a blend of gouache and traditional pigments.

By the time she signs her name to the canvas, you’ll have a complete set of watercolor and nature painting skills. Join Susan Bourdet in her backyard and studio for Inspiration from the Garden in Watercolor.

BONUS CLIP: Painting Fur

In this clip from her video workshop, Inspiration from the Garden in Watercolor, wildlife artist Susan Bourdet shows you how to paint realistic fur. You learn to use negative painting to create a base texture then add delicate guard hairs with gouache. Susan paints a cat later in the workshop, but you can adapt this technique to paint fur on any animal.