Every Painting is an Adventure.
Wind ruffles the edge of the painting. Silver sunlight glints on an alpine lake and dries the watercolors in our palette. And the landscape begins to take shape on our page.
I love to paint outside, and for the first time I am teaching all the techniques I use to paint landscapes. In each immersive Adventure Art Academy video lesson, you will learn as if you are sitting beside me on the shore of an alpine lake, perched on a rocky promontory above a glacier, or wandering a desert canyon.
Watercolor is often taught as a complex and slow process, but I learned a different way of painting over the last ten years that is accessible, fast, and fun.
I film every class in a beautiful place and walk you through every step of the painting, from the initial sketch to the final details. I share my entire painting process with you.
What is the Adventure Art Academy?
Every month I share a new watercolor class filmed in a different landscape, and as a student you get access to every lesson I’ve created so far (20 and counting!). From exploring the colors of alpenglow to painting the sinuous lines of sandstone, each lesson takes you on a painting adventure to incredible landscapes across the west.
In my classes I invite you to explore these places with me through paint (minus the mosquitos, of course!) and we focus on having fun, observing and connecting to a place, and letting go of expectations so we can embrace the unpredictable qualities of watercolor that make it so magical.
Join the AcademyThis video shows a few of the places we will paint together!
Monthly Adventures
From alpine lakes to desert arches, each month you join Claire on a new painting expedition (pre-recorded so you can paint anytime).
Step-by-Step Instruction
Learn how to paint landscapes as if you were sitting beside me outside as I guide us through a painting from the pencil sketch to a finished painting.
Live Q&A
Each month we gather for a live Q&A and community gathering to share our work, ask any questions about art, and explore your questions in live demos.
Learn to paint with me!
I love creating these classes so much, and I work hard to make them fun for students of all levels (including an introductory series for new painters). Whether you want to take your watercolors outside or learn to paint from photos you already have, I design my classes to break down the process of painting into short sections that anyone can tackle.
Also, I enjoy supporting your creative journey! I have so much fun talking with students online, and don’t be surprised if I respond to questions with voice notes and a page of color swatches.
The classes cost $24.50 per month, and you can cancel anytime.
As a member of the Adventure Art Academy, you will have access to an extensive library of every class released (over 20 so far!).
Each class explores a landscape with different techniques, such as:
- Creating stunning patterns using wet-in-wet techniques
- Embracing watercolor blooms as a powerful tool for creating texture and depth
- Making luminous foliage with easy and fun layering techniques
- Learning how to paint snow and rock
- Tips for simplifying a complex reflection
- And a lot more!
How does the membership work? Members have access to all the classes I released so far, and a new class every month. Membership is a monthly subscription like Netflix, but for a library of art classes - as long as you are a member, you have access the classes. You can cancel anytime and there is no minimum commitment of months. For more information check out the membership info page: Details here.
If you still have questions, check out the FAQ page, or send me an email at [email protected]!
Free Resource Guide
Download a free 12 page guide on my favorite tools and materials for painting with watercolors indoors and out. Plus, tips on choosing the right materials for you and my go-to resource books to learn from.
Meet your Instructor and Guide: Claire Giordano
I am an environmental artist and writer with a love for painting outside. A decade ago I created a sketch outdoors for the first time, and I will never forget the joy and sense of connection with place I felt through the painting.
Since then, I became a professional artist and now travel around the world documenting landscapes impacted by climate change, and publish written and visual stories. As a teacher, I create classes year-round and in landscapes from the mountains of my home in Washington state to the desert southwest.
I created the Adventure Art Academy so I can invite others to go on these adventures with me, and teach you how to work with watercolor indoors or out along the way.
More than anything, I want to make painting fun and accessible by demystifying the process and giving you complete access to how I create my watercolor paintings.
You can learn more about me at www.claireswanderings.com and on Instagram, @claireswanderings
Photos by: Jenn Maurer, Grace Giordano, Dan Wai Li, and Lindsey Ganahl.
