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

2026 Winter Classes In Watercolor Painting

With Dottie Oatman

NEWSFLASH: •

You must go see Nina Hausfeld's beautiful watercolor exhibit at Rozo's coffee cafe in the Lucky's Market shopping area through February. Nina has an amazing eye and style, layering transparent colors while stretching value contrasts to create very lively paintings.

• "Painting In Mexico" will take place March 20-30, 2026, in San Miguel de Allende. There is one spot still available!! Come paint en plein air (and make your own art travel journal) in this beautiful Mexican colonial city, a colorful and cultural world tourist destination. I've been leading painting tours there for over 15 years. Let me know if you are interested and want more information.

• “Painting Morocco: trip, End of September or early October for 10 days, led by me and Salli Gutierrez. The continuation of exploring this part of the world, Spain, and now Morocco, which we've been doing for the past 10 years. We will travel to Morocco with a native guide, view and experience its unique culture, colors and landscape, while creating our own art travel journals along the way.

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

2026 Winter Classes
In Watercolor Painting
With Dottie Oatman

UPCOMING Winter CLASSES, QUICK PEEK:
GO TO MY WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

1. FaceTime: Beginning and Continuing Portrait Painting________TUESDAYS 10:00-12:30. Studio 108.
Painting faces is SO MUCH FUN and a lot easier than you think! We will be learning and practicing the basic skills of portrait drawing and painting in watercolor: proportions, the placement and painting of features, color mixing and applying, shadowing, layering, values, composition, expressiveness and backgrounds. We will work from my folders of portrait photos, AND from photos that you bring in to class. Many handouts (via e-mail) to help guide you. This class also good for more experienced portraitists who want to refresh and practice their watercolor portrait painting skills.
•6 classes • January 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24. $264 for session.

2. Every Which Way Watercolor: SKIES!__________TUESDAYS 3:00-5:30. Studio 108
This is an ongoing watercolor offering: we will focus on skies and clouds this time, with a different photo of the sky and landscape below it in each class. Lots of watercolor teachings and learnings in each class as a way to build confidence in painting the sky. Demonstrations, problem solving, as usual. All levels welcome.
•6 classes • January 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24. $264.

3. Beginning Two!____________________________WEDNESDAYS 10-12:00. Studio 108
Following the Beginning classes, we will put into practice more of what we were learning and gain more experience with color mixing, texture making, creating shadows, hard and soft edges, backgrounds. A little bit of Still Life and a little bit of beginning Landscapes. Also great for returning (or new) students that are still somewhat new to watercolor, or are returning to get back into it.
•6 classes • January 21, 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, 18, 25. 2026.
$264

4. Studio Fridays___________________________FRIDAYS 9-12:00. Studio 108
•8 classes: January 9, 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27.
$44 per class you can attend or $40 per class if registering for all 8 classes in the session. ($320). Class size limited....

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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.