Watercolor Classes

Dottie has been teaching watercolor painting in Boulder and beyond for more than 20 years. She loves encouraging students, as her first painting teacher did, to “be a slob,” “push the color,” and “treasure your accidents.” In sharing the tricks and techniques of watercolor, she aims to support students in facing their fears around painting, in playfully taking risks and experimenting with the media. (Yes, you can even erase it!) Painting is a constant dance of letting go and finding form; it is from this place that expressive and exciting paintings arise.

Classes
Dottie teaches watercolor painting classes in landscape, still-life, portrait, and summer garden painting, as well as an “In the Studio” painting group class, for beginners through advanced students.

Private and Semi-Private Classes
Dottie also teaches private and semi-private classes from her Make Room For Art Studio at 2881 21st Street for children, adolescents, and adults, mixed media. 1hr -2hr sessions, $55–$135.

Consultation Time
Bring your paintings and questions to my studio for some private or semi-private consultation time. Get feedback on finishing paintings, fixing paintings, the next step, etc. a general and specific problem-solving time. Cost: $45/half-hour, $75/hour.

Contact dottie@dottieoatman.com 303-641-8704 to get more information, and sign up on Dottie’s mailing list via this website to receive e-mail fliers about her classes.

Current Classes

2025 Fall Classes In Watercolor Painting

With Dottie Oatman

NEWSFLASH:

Another “Painting In Mexico” will take place next March 20-30 2026, in San MIguel de Allende. Come paint en plein air in this beautiful Mexican colonial city, a colorful and cultural world tourist destination. I’ve been leading painting tours there for over 15 years and this next trip is already filling! Let me know if you are interested and want more information.

Leaving in a week for Andalusia, Spain, and our “Painting Spain: Al Andaluz” trip. September 27-October 8. I will TRY to share our experiences and art travel journal pages on my Instagram. Exciting!

Follow me on Instagram and see my most recent paintings at dottieoatmanart.

2025 Fall Classes
In Watercolor Painting
With Dottie Oatman

1. OUT OF AFRICA _____________Tuesdays 10:30am-1:00pm. Studio 108.
Learn to paint the animals and landscape of the Serengeti from the amazing photos I took on my trip to a Tanzanian safari camp this past August. Rich in color, pattern, texture and dramatic landscape, we will experience vicariously life on the African savannah via our watercolors.
Tuesdays: 6 classes. October 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18, (no classes Thanksgiving week), December 2, 9.
Cost: $264.

2. EVERY WHICH WAY WATERCOLOR____________Tuesdays 3-5:30. Studio 108
Every now and then, this is an ongoing watercolor offering focusing on a different subject weekly, from still life, landscape, flowers, buildings, animals, fabric, glass reflections, composition, perspective, color, value, etc. Lots of watercolor teachings and learnings in each class. Demonstrations, problem solving, as usual. All levels welcome.
Tuesdays • 6 classes • October 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18, (no classes Thanksgiving week), December 2, 9.
Cost: $264

3. BEGINNING WATERCOLOR ______________Wednesdays 10:00-12:00. Studio 108
I teach a series of 4 classes to help you get started with watercolor painting, materials included. I offer a fun, experimental approach that greatly reduces the intimidation factor. An introduction to color mixing, brush strokes and techniques, creating textures, shadows, washes and more. Materials included.
Wednesdays 10-12:00pm • 4 classes • October 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19.
Cost: $200 includes materials.

4. STUDIO FRIDAYS_____________________Fridays 9-12:00. Studio 108
Come paint with others, bring your own subject matter, work on unfinished paintings, get feedback and help from me and peers, enjoy watercolor painting camaraderie! (I’ll be roaming around to help, in this studio class.) Class size limited. Some drop-in spots usually available.
Fridays 9-12:00• 7 classes• October 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, 21, (no classes Thanksgiving week), Dec. 5, 12.
$44 per class (drop-in) or $40 per class if registering for all 7 classes in the session. ($280)
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+++++DO NOT SEND PAYMENT Until you have e-mailed me and received a confirmation back from me via e-mail. BE SURE AND E-MAIL ME FIRST BEFORE SENDING IN YOUR PAYMENT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS SPACE IN THE CLASS YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR. THANKS!

**REGISTRATION** AND CANCELLATION POLICIES:

Please e-mail to register, dottie@dottieoatman.com and I will respond with availability filling classes on a first come, first serve basis. Your space is then reserved upon receipt of full payment for the class. (But be sure and e-mail me first to see if there is space!) Make checks out to Dottie Oatman and send to me at 2881 21st Street, Boulder, CO 80304. Or pay by Pay Pal (send to friends and family to avoid extra fees), via my e-mail address, or Venmo (also to avoid added fees, put something other than “painting classes” in the subject line—get creative!). @dottie-oatman, phone is 303-641-8704.

*****Sorry no refunds or make up classes available. (except sometimes, read below under Can’t do a full Session?) I’m too small an operation for that!

Can’t do a full session? Drop-in sometimes available—e-mail dates you are interested in and we’ll see what shakes out. No guarantees. Priority given to those registering for all classes in a session, but fill-in participants welcome and often able to find spaces. After classes have started, if you have reserved a spot in advance, and still have to miss it, there are no refunds, but you may be able to make up a missed class in another class going on, space available.