Painting Workshop Archives

Watercolor Landscapes Class From Photo to Art

Instructor: Elvira Rascov

This popular watercolor workshop is back! If you haven’t had a chance to join before, this is a fun and inspiring class where you’ll learn how to turn an ordinary photo into a vibrant, expressive watercolor painting.

Whether you’re fairly new to watercolor or already have some experience, this workshop will help you gain confidence with loose painting techniques, color mixing, and sketching strong compositions. Some watercolor experience is recommended.

What You’ll Learn

How to use a photo as a starting point for your watercolor painting
Simple ways to break down complex scenes by focusing on light and shadow
Techniques for color layering, mixing, and creating texture
Why value sketches are essential for building a strong foundation
Step-by-step guidance through the entire process—from choosing a reference image and creating a composition, to sketching and bringing your painting to life in watercolor

You’ll be able to choose from a selection of reference images provided, or you’re welcome to bring your own personal photo (please note: only personal photos may be used).

Class Dates & Details

Two Separate Sessions — register for one or both!

Saturday, January 31, 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (3 hours)

Location:
Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center
208 East Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030

Register for class on January 31, 2026

REGISTER

Register for class on April 18, 2026

REGISTER

✨ Spots are limited! Sign up early to reserve your place and enjoy a creative, relaxed watercolor experience. I look forward to painting with you! 🎨

Materials to Bring:

9×12″ cold press watercolor paper
Basic set of watercolor paints
Round watercolor brushes (sizes 4, 6, 10) and a rigger for details
Drawing board or clipboard
Two water containers
Masking tape
Paper towels

A detailed supply list will be emailed one week before each class.

Come ready to explore, paint, and continue building your watercolor skills in a relaxed, supportive environment. This class is ideal for beginners who already have some experience and are ready to grow with more confidence. You’ll gain practical tools for creating strong compositions and expressive paintings, with an emphasis on learning the process and developing a solid foundation rather than finishing a painting in class.

Elvira Rascov, an accomplished Colombian American artist, loves to render nature in watercolors and oils. Elvira has taken her art a notch further, and used these painting techniques to create groovy functional ceramics.
Inspired by her early teachers in Bogotá, Elvira teaches Art throughout the Bay Area, making painting fun and expressive.
When she is not busy capturing the soft California landscapes with its soothing hues of yellows and greens, she is experimenting with cityscapes.

Download the Flyer for this class

flyer Download

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December 20, 2025/by admin

Painting Workshop

Watercolor Landscapes from Photo to Art Class

🎨 Watercolor Workshop: Painting from Photos

Instructor: Elvira Rascov
All levels welcome

Join us for a fun and inspiring watercolor workshop where you’ll learn to transform an ordinary photo into a vibrant, expressive painting! Whether you’re new to watercolor or have some experience, this class will help you build confidence with loose painting techniques, color mixing, and sketching for strong compositions.

🖼️ What You’ll Learn:

How to use a photo as a starting point for your painting
Tips to simplify shapes and focus on light and shadow
Techniques for color layering, mixing, and creating texture
The importance of value sketches for building a solid foundation
Step-by-step guidance through the entire painting process — from choosing a reference, creating a strong composition, sketching, and finally bringing it all to life in watercolor

You’ll have the option to work from a selection of reference images provided, or you’re welcome to bring your own personal photo (please note: only personal photos may be used).

📅 Class Dates & Details:

Two Separate Sessions (Register for one or both!)
- Saturday, October 25
- Saturday, November 15
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (3 hours)
Location:
Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center
208 East Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030

Register for class on October 25

SIGN UP

Register for class On November 15

SIGN UP

🧰 Materials to Bring:

9×12″ cold press watercolor paper
Basic set of watercolor paints
Round watercolor brushes (sizes 4, 6, 10) and a rigger for details
Drawing board or clipboard
Two water containers
Masking tape
Paper towels

A detailed supply list will be emailed one week before each class.

Come ready to explore, paint, and grow your watercolor skills in a relaxed, supportive environment. Whether you’re refining your technique or just starting out, you’ll leave with new tools and a beautiful painting to be proud of!

Elvira Rascov, an accomplished Colombian American artist, loves to render nature in watercolors and oils. Elvira has taken her art a notch further, and used these painting techniques to create groovy functional ceramics.
Inspired by her early teachers in Bogotá, Elvira teaches Art throughout the Bay Area, making painting fun and expressive.
When she is not busy capturing the soft California landscapes with its soothing hues of yellows and greens, she is experimenting with cityscapes.

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September 29, 2025/by admin

Painting Workshop

Paint Night – Spring Blooms Class-

EVENT NO LONGER AVAILABLE

When: March 12, 2025

Time: 4:30 to 6:30 pm

Location: Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center

Price: $40

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About this Course

In this fun evening class students will learn how to paint Spring Blooms in Watercolor. Instructor will demonstrate the whole process from beginning to end. You can paint a-long and learn all the steps to be successful in making a beautiful Spring Blooms painting. There are a lot of opportunities to improve your painting techniques and the instructor will be there to help you through the process. A sketch of the painting will be sent to students before the class so students can be ready to follow step by step.

Basic materials you should have for this class:

-Cold press watercolor paper

– Basic set of watercolor paints

– Set of watercolor brushes include round brushes number 4, 6, 10 and a rigger brush for details

A more detailed list of materials will be sent when you sign up for the class.

Instructor: Elvira Rascov

Elvira Rascov, an accomplished Colombian American artist, loves to render nature in watercolors and oils. Elvira has taken her art a notch further, and used these painting techniques to create groovy functional ceramics.
Inspired by her early teachers in Bogotá, Elvira teaches Art throughout the Bay Area, making painting fun and expressive.
When she is not busy capturing the soft California landscapes with its soothing hues of yellows and greens, she is experimenting with cityscapes.

Class location: Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center – 208 East Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030

Download the flyer

spring blooms promo Download

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February 11, 2025/by admin

Painting Workshop

Paint Night- Autumn Watercolor

THREE SPOTS LEFT.

Date: 10/23/2024

Time: 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Location: Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center – 208 E Main Street, Los Gatos, 95030

Price: $40

REGISTER

About this Course

In this fun evening class students will learn how to paint an Autumn Landscape in Watercolor. Instructor will demonstrate the whole process from beginning to end. You can paint a-long and learn all the steps to be successful in making a beautiful landscape. Techniques will be presented while doing the live demo. There are a lot of opportunities to improve your painting techniques and the instructor will be there to help you through the process. A sketch of the painting will be sent to students before the class so students can be ready to follow step by step.

Basic materials you should have for this class: -Cold press watercolor paper – Basic set of watercolor paints – Set of watercolor brushes include round brushes number 4, 6, 10 and a rigger brush for details A more detailed list of materials will be sent when you sign up for the class.

Let’s have fun painting together!

Learn how to paint this fall landscape scene in watercolor. By using a limited palette of colors you can get a pleasant autumn scene.

Your Instructor: Elvira Rascov

Elvira Rascov, an accomplished Colombian American artist, loves to render nature in watercolors and oils. Elvira has taken her art a notch further, and used these painting techniques to create groovy functional ceramics.
Inspired by her early teachers in Bogotá, Elvira teaches Art throughout the Bay Area, making painting fun and expressive.
When she is not busy capturing the soft California landscapes with its soothing hues of yellows and greens, she is experimenting with cityscapes.

Center’s Location: Los Gatos Adult Recreation Center, – 208 East Main St. Los Gatos, CA

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September 20, 2024/by admin

Painting Workshop

Plein Air Painting Workshop at Oak Medow Park

A NEW PLEIN AIR CLASS THIS OCTOBER

Date: Friday October 25, 2024

Location: Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos, California

Time: 10 am to 12:30 pm

Price: $40

REGISTER

This class is through Los Gatos- Saratoga Community Education and Recreation. LGS REC.

About this Course

Get inspired by the outdoors! Learn different techniques and approaches of how to paint in “plein air” or painting outdoors at the Gazebo at Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos. Learn how to choose a subject, improve your composition and design by effectively using light and dark values, color mixing and much more. This fun class is designed for all levels and all mediums through both instructor demonstration and individual instruction. Good for people who want to learn how to do travel journaling.

Materials:

Paints that you are going to use. (oils, watercolors, acrylic, gouache, pastels etc)

Brushes Water containers for most of the mediums and water carrier (bottle)

Canvas for oil painters and acrylic painters Watercolor paper for watercolors and gouache.

Sketching pad for drawing thumbnails (for all mediums)

HB pencil or No. 2B

Kneadable putty eraser and regular eraser

Easel and portable chair

Drawing board

Paper towel and a rag

Hat

Keep the materials simple so you can move around and make different sketches. The important part is to be able to sketch what you see. It is better to start with a smaller size of paper, that will give you more confidence.

Your Instructor: Elvira Rascov

Elvira Rascov, an accomplished Colombian American artist, loves to render nature in watercolors and oils. Elvira has taken her art a notch further, and used these painting techniques to create groovy functional ceramics.
Inspired by her early teachers in Bogotá, Elvira teaches Art throughout the Bay Area, making painting fun and expressive.
When she is not busy capturing the soft California landscapes with its soothing hues of yellows and greens, she is experimenting with cityscapes.

Archive for category: Painting Workshop