learn watercolor painting, drawing, or en plein air painting:
Class sizes are limited to 10 students, unless otherwise noted.
Private lessons: $85/ 1 hour; $150 / 2 hr. Please email hi@giselleharrington.com, or call (603) 369-2928.
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Supplies lists (for students bringing their own supplies):
Outdoor/ En Plein Air Watercolor
upcoming classes
“Watercolor for Beginners” at Isle of Palms Rec Center, Isle of Palms, SC
February 4 - March 11, 2026: 6 Wednesdays, 10 am - 1pm
Location: Isle of Palms Recreation Center, 24 28th Ave, Isle of Palms, SC. Cost: $325. 6 Wednesdays, 10am-1pm. Participants may choose to bring their own supplies (see supply list above) or rent supplies for use during the class; Supply rental is: $5 per day or $25 for the full session. You can let Giselle know your decision (and bring payment) at the first class. Sign up: call the IOP Recreation Department at (843) 886-8294, or sign up on their website.
Class description: This class teaches you the traditional methods of handling transparent watercolor in representational painting. You will learn how to control watercolor through washes and glazes, creating soft edges, using wet-in-wet techniques and using dry-brush. You will also learn how to work with the time constraints of the medium through a simplification of value shapes: a key to success in watercolor.
“Intermediate Watercolor Painting” at Isle of Palms Rec Center, Isle of Palms, SC
February 4 - March 11, 2026: Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Location: Isle of Palms Recreation Center, 24 28th Ave, Isle of Palms, SC. Cost: $325. 6 Wednesdays, 1:30pm-4:30pm. Participants may choose to bring their own supplies (see supply list above) or rent supplies for use during the class; Supply rental is: $5 per day or $25 for the full session. You can let Giselle know your decision (and bring payment) at the first class. Sign up: call the IOP Recreation Department at (843) 886-8294, or sign up on their website.
Class description: Take your watercolor painting to the next level. In this class we go beyond flat layered washes and paint mixing and expand skills into complex wash techniques and make choices from complex scenes, with clear value patterns and color compositions.
—-THIS CLASS IS FULL—-“Watercolor Painting for Beginners” at James Island Town Hall, James Island, SC
February 5 - March 12, 2025: 6 Thursdays, 10am - 1pm
Location: James Island Town Hall
Price and description: $285. Supply rental is: $5 per day or $25 for the full session. You can let Giselle know your decision (and bring payment) at the first class. Sign up: Fill in the form on this page.
Class description: This class teaches you the traditional methods of handling transparent watercolor in representational painting. You will learn how to control watercolor through washes and glazes, creating soft edges, using wet-in-wet techniques and using dry-brush. You will also learn how to work with the time constraints of the medium through a simplification of value shapes: a key to success in watercolor.
“Thursday night watercolor painting workshops” at Simpatico Gallery, Charleston, SC
February 12 - April 23, 2026: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Location: Simpatico Gallery, 63 Broad Street, Charleston, SC. Cost: $81.88. Participants may choose to bring their own supplies (see supply list above) or rent supplies for use during the class; Supply rental is: $8. Let Giselle know your decision (and bring payment, cash, check or Venmo) at the first class. Sign up: on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/45221891773
Class description: Every Thursday night in February, March and April, Simpatico Gallery will be hosting a watercolor workshop, open to watercolor painters of all levels. Each evening, teacher Giselle Harrington will cover essential watercolor painting techniques and apply them to a specific subject. Students can join any and as many workshops as they like as suits their schedules and subject-interests: See below for subjects to be covered on specific dates.
Beginners are welcome. Each registrant will receive a series of short videos ahead of time to help prepare incoming students with essential watercolor handling skills: The videos should take students less than an hour to look over and practice from.
Weekly themes:
Feb 12: Trees
Feb 19: Fields
Feb 26: Buildings
March 5: Water
March 12: Clouds
March 19: Sunsets
March 26: Florals
April 2: Birds
April 9: Dogs + Cats
April 16: People
April 23: Landscape composition
Coming Soon - “Watercolor for Beginners” at Isle of Palms Rec Center, Isle of Palms, SC
Registration not yet open: Fill in the form on this page to receive an email when registration opens!
March 18 - April 22, 2026: 6 Wednesdays, 10am - 1pm
Location: Isle of Palms Recreation Center, 24 28th Ave, Isle of Palms, SC. Cost: $325. 6 Wednesdays, 10am-1pm. Participants may choose to bring their own supplies (see supply list above) or rent supplies for use during the class; Supply rental is: $5 per day or $25 for the full session. You can let Giselle know your decision (and bring payment) at the first class. Sign up: call the IOP Recreation Department at (843) 886-8294, or sign up on their website.
Class description: This class teaches you the traditional methods of handling transparent watercolor in representational painting. You will learn how to control watercolor through washes and glazes, creating soft edges, using wet-in-wet techniques and using dry-brush. You will also learn how to work with the time constraints of the medium through a simplification of value shapes: a key to success in watercolor.
Coming Soon - “Watercolor Painting En Plein Air” at Isle of Palms Rec Center, Isle of Palms, SC
Registration not yet open: Fill in the form on this page to receive an email when registration opens!
March 18 - April 22, 2026: 6 Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Location: Isle of Palms Recreation Center, 24 28th Ave, Isle of Palms, SC. Cost: $325. 6 Wednesdays, 1:30pm-4:30pm. Bring your own supplies (see recommended supplies list above). Sign up: call the IOP Recreation Department at (843) 886-8294, or sign up on their website.
En plein air painting means literally “in the open air.” This class will teach you how to set up your easel and paint from life, outside (weather permitting: If it is raining, we will work inside from objects from life). This is not a beginner class: In my beginner classes I teach from photos, which help simplify scenes for students. In this class part of the focus is to get comfortable making your own interpretations of what you see in a scene. *Student should come with a basic knowledge of watercolor painting, particularly the ability to build a painting through a series of washes without using opaque media.
Coming Soon - “Landscape Painting in Watercolor” at James Island Town Hall, James Island, SC
Registration not yet open: Fill in the form on this page to receive an email when registration opens!
March 19 - April 23, 2026: 6 Thursdays, 10am - 1pm
Location: James Island Town Hall
Price and description: TBD
Fill this form for: James Island classes, private lessons, requests for an upcoming class registration alert, and other questions or comments:
QUOTES FROM PAST STUDENTS
“I loved this course. Firstly because of Giselle’s quiet passion to lead us to appreciate, and understand the complexity and logic of water color painting. Secondly because of Giselle’s axiom that appreciation and understanding are nurtured by doing. Thirdly because our doing, with all its flaws, was met by encouragement from Giselle, but never by a diminution in her exacting standards. And finally, because I really appreciated Giselle’s skill as a water colorist and the sense she gave that teaching us was a part of her own process towards greater understanding and mastery of the art.”
“ As a retired art teacher, I appreciated the excellent lesson plans, the clear instructions and helpful demonstrations in Giselle’s watercolor class. She covered many techniques and was flexible in responding to individual queries.”
“Giselle’s Intro to Drawing class was a fantastic opportunity to help myself experience and answer the question that was in my mind “what actually is the foundation for learning how to draw?” Many of us in class and myself included, have never had any or much previous drawing training. Giselle’s guidance and encouragement helped each student tap into that special space within to flex their creative muscles — something I was seeking, and achieved, through this experience. This was also a great way to meet more members in the Western MA community!”
“The watercolor class was very well structured with a clear progression of techniques. Giselle is a very encouraging and thoughtful instructor and conveyed a great depth of understanding of the process. A very enjoyable experience.”
Intermediate Watercolor students at the James Island Town Hall
Watercolor class at the Veterans Affairs in North Charleston
Drawing class at the Isle of Palms Rec Center
A watercolor demo for Intermediate Watercolor students
Giselle, painting en plein air