learn watercolor painting, drawing, or en plein air painting:
Private lessons: $85/ 1 hour; $150 / 2 hr. Please email hi@giselleharrington.com, or call (603) 369-2928.
SCROLL DOWN FOR UPCOMING CLASSES IN YOUR AREA
Supplies lists (for students bringing their own supplies):
Outdoor/ En Plein Air Watercolor
upcoming classes
Dill Sanctuary, James Island, SC
October 25, 2025 (This class was postponed from the original date, October 11, due to rain and flooding): Watercolor Painting from Life, 10am-2pm
Location: Dill Sanctuary (through the Charleston Museum): 1163 Riverland Drive,
Charleston, SC 29412
Price and description: $120 for Charleston Museum members; $150 for non members
Register here: https://www.charlestonmuseum.org/news-events/events/watercolor-painting-from-life-workshop-with-local-artist-giselle-harrington/
In this one-day workshop students will learn to paint en plein air (literally: “in the open air”) painting from life: How to choose a scene to paint from, identify a simplified value and color design to paint, and capture this on paper in an planned-out series of watercolor wash layers. We will be using watercolor paint in this class, though the lessons in color and value composition will be useful across media. Students should have a basic understanding of how to handle watercolor paint, particularly how to paint a shape in an even watercolor wash (there are no brushstrokes in watercolor painting).
We will meet rain or shine. There is coverage as well as bathroom facilities at this location. In the event of a storm, however, please reserve October 25 for make-up class date.
Looky Here, Greenfield, MA
November 10 - December 15, 2025: Watercolor for Beginners - 6 Mondays, 6pm - 8pm
Location: Looky Here, 28 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA. Cost: $220. 6 Mondays, 6pm-8pm. 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 through Looky Here: https://lookyheregreenfield.com/workshops/watercolor-painting-for-adults-6-week-series-with-giselle-harrington-11-10-12-15-600-800pm/
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.
Smith Vocational and agricultural high school, Northampton, MA
November 4-December 16, 2025 (no class on Veterans Day, November 11) : Watercolor for Beginners - 6 Tuesdays, 6pm - 8pm
Location: Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School: 80 Locust Street, Northampton, Ma 01060. Cost: $270/ or $295 for students who wish to rent supplies. 6 Tuesdays, 6pm-8pm. Participants may choose to bring their own supplies (see supply list above) or rent supplies for use during the class. Sign up here: https://smith-adult-community-education.myshopify.com/collections/more/products/watercolor-painting-for-beginners
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 - Looky Here, Greenfield, MA
Registration not yet open: Fill in the form on this page to receive an email when registration opens!
December 29, 2025 - January 26, 2026: Intermediate Watercolor - 5 Mondays, 6pm - 8pm
Location: Looky Here, 28 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA. Cost: $200. 5 Mondays, 6pm-8pm. 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 through Looky Here: https://lookyheregreenfield.com/event/watercolor-painting-for-adults-6-week-series-with-giselle-harrington-7-7-8-11/
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.
Coming Soon - Smith Vocational and agricultural high school, Northampton, MA
Registration not yet open: Fill in the form on this page to receive an email when registration opens!
January 6, 2025 - January 27, 2026: Intermediate Watercolor Painting - 4 Tuesdays, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School: 80 Locust Street,
Northampton, Ma 01060. Cost: $270/ or $295 for students who wish to rent supplies. 4 Tuesdays, 5:30pm-6:30pm. Participants may choose to bring their own supplies (see supply list above) or rent supplies for use during the class.
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.
Coming Soon - 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!
February 4 - March 11, 2026: Watercolor for Beginners - 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.
Coming Soon - 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!
February 4 - March 11, 2026: Intermediate Watercolor Painting - 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.
Coming Soon - 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!
February 5 - March 12, 2025: Watercolor Painting for Beginners - 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.
Coming Soon - 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: Watercolor for Beginners - 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 - 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: Painting En Plein Air - 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 - 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: Intermediate Watercolor Painting - 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