I loved the experience of the watercolor painting workshop. Connecting with my creativity through drawing and painting is something I hadn’t done in many years. I had some very minimal experiences withdrawing back in school and I can’t remember if I ever did any watercolors before. So I was basically a complete newcomer to watercolor painting. One thing I learned that I did not expect is how drying and sketching is the foundation to doing watercolors. I also learned that watercolor painting is done in layers, which was a very new idea for me. I am very happy with my final result. I shared the pictures with friends and family, and they could not believe that this was my work. I definitely did not think that I could achieve a painting worth framing for my first time doing a watercolor. But with our Artem’s patient and step-by-step guidance, I was able to have a fun learning experience and create something really beautiful. Something that I really appreciate about Artem is that he’s a real artist! He also really takes care of his students. Having all of the equipment provided for us as well as detailed and patient guidance made the whole process really fun. I also very much appreciate his belief in us as students, that we are capable and that we are artists too!

I’ve done some drawing before—mostly manga, and I’ve also had some experience with traditional Chinese ink painting (the usage of the brush and ink has some similarities with watercolor painting). However, I’m not familiar with watercolor painting at all. I learned how to break down the painting process into smaller, manageable steps, which made it feel much less intimidating than I used to think. I also gained knowledge about the tools needed and how to use them effectively. After this workshop, I feel more confident and motivated to keep practicing on my own using the skills I’ve learned. I’m very satisfied with my final result—honestly, I’m surprised by what I was able to create. I don’t think I could have achieved this without the guidance and structure provided in the workshop. Artem is an excellent artist and teacher. He didn’t just teach us how to paint with watercolors—he also shared how to capture a vision, a feeling, and the right mindset for painting. For me, the inspiration to create and the patience to develop a piece are even more important than technical skills, and Artem conveyed that beautifully throughout the workshop. His step-by-step guidance and examples were clear and encouraging, making the whole experience truly meaningful.

I have done some drawing before, but it was a long time ago in middle school. I don’t remember any of the concepts of watercolor painting. At this workshop, I learned that in watercolor painting, it’s important to start with light color layers and gradually add darker ones. I messed up a bit on my characters, but for a first painting, the result is satisfying. I didn’t expect to get this far, even if I had never done watercolor before. Artem gives very good guidance. He often explains how to use the brush and which colors to choose. During the painting session, I had some trouble with the color on my brush not matching what I expected. I probably took too much color or didn’t add enough water. It would be helpful to have more explanations about managing the color palette, especially for beginners.