Watercolor DVD or watercolor Workshop - which one is best for learning?

Each of these training methods has its own particular benefits. Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Watercolor Workshops

This is typically group training, running from one to perhaps several days. The real success of any watercolor workshop depends on the expertise of the tutor. Not simply the particular painting talent of the tutor, but the capability to produce a strategy for the course designed to stretch the students so they can realize their very own potential. It really is about having the ability to maintain a crystal clear focus on the factors students have to know, and then providing that guidance - frequently while demonstrating as well as responding to inquiries as they come up. A talented teacher really must think on his or her feet, sort out problems as they show up and preferably manage to spend individual one-on-one time with each and every student. For a tutor, being able to offer constructive advice is vital in guiding a new artist along the path to realizing all the possibilities. It is also extremely important to encourage students to overcome any old preconceived limitations that often hold them back.

At the start of a new watercolor workshop, trainees often experience a bunch of feelings. Frequently there is a bit of anxiety plus they usually don't really feel in the zone to start painting. A tutor must assist everyone to loosen up simply by detailing exactly what is structured for the following few days so they are fully aware where the teacher intends to take them. It is crucial to nurture the students, guiding them to develop confidence in their abilities and allowing the paints to flow.

After the early nerves are out of the way and the classes have begun, it is usually exciting to see how relaxed, focused and settled down everyone becomes. Students tend to drop their self doubts and focus on soaking up all the lessons being taught.

A big advantage of attending a workshop is the ability to ask questions and get immediate answers. This is often accompanied by demonstrations which can be invaluable for learning. There is also the workshop camaraderie that develops as students share ideas, materials, tips and techniques.

The downside? Workshops can be expensive. They are often located away from your area so there will be accommodation costs as well. For some popular workshops, such as those conducted by watercolor artist and teacher Susan Harrison-Tustain, students oftentimes travel overseas to participate.

Another problem with workshops is that after the buzz of the event has settled and some time has passed, it is easy to forget much of what was taught during those intense few days of learning. It is a good idea to take lots of notes and record your thoughts after each days work. That way you can refer to the lessons long after the workshop is over.

Now let's discuss watercolor DVD's. (Workshops you can watch in the comfort of home)

Watercolor DVDs

The obvious advantage of learning from a DVD tutorial is that the 'workshop' lessons have been captured for you to refer to time and time again, at your own pace.

DVDs provide an excellent way to learn the skills of watercoloring.

They are certainly much cheaper than attending a workshop and can be viewed in the comfort of your own home.

Here are some other benefits worth mentioning:

* With a DVD player, you can skip to particular lessons and replay them as often as you like.

* You can 'freeze frame' to take a closer look at images.

* Hear the artist's thinking process as he or she describes what they are doing at each stage.

* Often there are extras that can be printed on you computer's printer (such as reference photos or drawings.)

* You can play sections of the DVD while you are actually painting along.

* You have a long term record of artists you admire to add to your library.

* See lists and explanations of the artist's favorite paints, brushes, paper etc.

* View up close exactly how the artist strokes the brush and uses water and paint.

* Incredible value for money. DVDs often contain an artist's lifetime of experience concentrated into a few hours. This can shave years off your own learning curve!

The benefits of using DVDs goes on.

So, what's the bottom line? Which is best - workshops or DVDs?

Well, there really is no conclusive answer to that question since each one offers a different set of advantages. Ideally, both together would be best as they compliment each other very nicely. More often than not the cost is the main deciding factor - and in that respect DVDs win hands down.

They both concentrate on sharing invaluable knowledge which will inspire artists to fling wide open the window and permit them to discover a fresh universe of possibilities. Both DVDs and Workshops can provide the new artist with the faith in their own artistic abilities and the courage to get through their inhibitions .. and let the painting flow.

Internationally acclaimed artist Susan Harrison-Tustain occasionally runs her very popular workshops both in New Zealand and in USA. She has also produced a few watercolor DVDs which have rapidly become best-sellers. You can read more about those popular DVDs here:  Watercolor DVD