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Paint Realistic Watercolor and Botanicals - TOADSTOOLS (Udemy.com)

Taking our painting practice into a fun new subject concretes and develops our learning and skills

Created by: Heidi Willis

Last updated March 2021

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What you will learn

  • At the end of this course, you will have improved your knowledge, confidence and skills in watercolour painting
  • At the end of this course, you will have improved your knowledge, confidence and skills in botanical illustration
  • At the end of this course, you will have a greater familiarity and strategy of how to approach the magical Fly Agaric Toadstool as a painting
  • Students will learn how to use a fairly simple palette for highly effective results
  • Most importantly, students will have FUN exploring this excellent painting subject
  • Here we reenforce what weve learned in previous 'Paint Realistic Watercolour and Botanicals' tutorials, growing it into new territory again
  • At the end of this course, you will feel a better sense of confidence about creating your own paintings independently

How it compares

Against the other 175 rated Udemy courses in Digital Painting on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.7 out of 5higher than 76% of them
  • Reviews140#95 of 176 by number of reviews
  • Length5.5 hourslonger than 69% of them
  • Last updatedMarch 2021more recently than 51% of them

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Course Description

Whats On the Table?

My newest online painting tutorial 'Paint Realistic Watercolour and Botanicals - TOADSTOOLS' delves into illustrating the wonders of another very special subject, Amanita muscaria. A widely admired and immediately recognisable toadstool more commonly known as the Fly Agaric or Fly Amanita. This is arguably the most iconic of the captivating toadstool world and a brilliant painting subject indeed!

For storytellers and artists of every kind, this seemingly magical toadstool never ceases to capture our hearts and imaginations, leaping to the forefronts of our minds at the mere suggestion of 'toadstool'. For me it ticks every box as a painting subject. It is delightful, beautiful, mysterious and fun. For my students, I have every confidence this subject will prove to be excellent for our next stage of learning and achievable watercolour fun. I am very excited to have you along for the ride once more.

With 4 in depth foundation courses on offer leading up to this point, TOADSTOOLS brings another excellent change of pace to the mix. This is a wonderful starting point or introductory for new students to jump in and have a play with this genre and medium. It is an ideal refresher course for those revisiting botanical illustration, perhaps after some time away. It is fantastic for students wishing to improve their illustration rendering skills, and it is a perfect 'next stop' learning experience for those students continuing on with me here. Toadstools is all about letting go a little, new play, having fun with this extraordinarily subject and enjoying the watercolour medium, whilst continuing on this wonderful learning path together.

Objectives

Our three Fly Agaric subjects provide us an excellent opportunity to look at subject, learn about subject scope, colour diversity and use, my essential combination of watercolour techniques; washes, glazes and dry brushing techniques, effective use of masking fluid necessary for this subject. Through comprehensive step by step tuition, we will learn more about the processes and essential watercolour painting techniques involved in creating each of these elements in a realistic style, from start to completion.   

Choose one, two or three of the fabulous toadstool examples covered in this course to explore. Create single painting studies of each or combine them in your own mix and match composition to personalise your own piece... its up to you. Practice, repeat, vary, revisit, apply the knowledge to something new. This course is all done in your own space, in your own time and at your own pace... Its such a wonderful way to learn! 

Level of Experience?

Don't even worry about it! Whilst there is some assumed knowledge in this, my 5th course, it is not essential and I welcome to everyone no matter your level of experience. For those new to realistic botanical painting and/or watercolor, this is an ideal starting point to have a play with. It is especially suitable as we will be creating beautifully rich, diverse, realistic toadstool illustrations together using a fairly simple palette of colours. Best of all, if you decide youd like to learn more, its as simple as backtracking to previous tutorials to keep on learning. For those with an existing foundation from my previous courses welcome back! TOADSTOOLS will bring fabulous new learning to your repertoire.

Following the STUDIO BASICS, CHASING AUTUMN, MAGNOLIAS and LOTUS tutorials, TOADSTOOLS continues to concrete what we've learned so far in my online painting tutorials and develop and refine our techniques and skills in watercolour painting and botanical illustration further with the exploration of this wonderful subject.

Once again, I look forward to helping you to learn, grow and keep you moving forwards on your own painting path, and to share my love of this wonderful, joyful world or realistic watercolours and botanicals with you again. 

Ill see you in the wash ~ Heidi

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Instructor Details

Heidi Willis

Heidi Willis ~ Renowned Natural History Artist, Botanical Illustrator and Watercolour Painting Tutor

Australian born, Heidi Willis is an entirely self-taught Natural History watercolour artist. Her work intricately illustrates our native and exotic plants, flowers, fruits and seed capsules, whilst her powerful & distinctive portraits of our spectacular bird life offers viewers an insight into the world as she experiences it. Painting full-time since 2003, Heidi quickly established herself as one of Australia’s emerging artistic talents. Her reputation as a leading natural history, wildlife and botanical artist is well established and her meticulous and intricate studies of botany and birds can be found in significant public and private collections around the world.  

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Reviews

4.7

140 ratings on Udemy

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By Andrea Agre on 5/17/2025

well, I just started but is this a botanical hunt or a watercolor course?

By Lisa Parker on 3/27/2025

Very good subject information as well as a good guide for supplies. It would also be nice to have information about these same paint colors available in other brands. I like the transferring method she used in this tutorial. I love the painting technique she uses along with the very detailed instructions she provides. Everything about the teaching in this class has been excellent.

By Julie smith on 4/6/2024

After the inital videos which were somewhat repetative the course improved above my inital expectations. the videos of the actual painting were extremly informative and well explained, very impressed afer my inital concerns.

By Jane Schmitt on 11/17/2023

I loved the quick video at the beginning of each lesson giving an overview of what was covered in the lesson. There were a few skips in the recording, but not enough to be a problem. Scripting and demos were great. I really have enjoyed the courses from this instructor and am pleased with the paintings that I have produced at the end of each course. I would highly recommend her to future students wanting to learn watercolor painting.

By Natalie on 6/1/2022

I love the teaching style and very clear and detailed explanations. And I had wonderful results applying all steps, following the instructor! Definitely the results were above my expectations as I'm a complete beginner. Will be back for more courses in realistic watercolour painting.

By Christina Wilke on 8/29/2021

I love the amount of detail Heidi gives on where to find our references information on the toadstool itself and exactly how to transfer the image and paint the image, I would love more of this type of botanical tutorial.

By Purva on 5/30/2021

This watercolour course took me by surprise. This was my first attempt at learning from Udemy and I was a bit skeptical. But the resulting illustrations have been near flawless, with improvements happening with progressing illustrations. Although I have experience with watercolour, this course vastly elevated my skills.

By James McCullough on 4/16/2021

So far I have completed the first mushroom and I am beyond thankful as my results were well better than my usual. The teacher and instructions she gives while hands on are amazing and I wanted to make sure and show my rating and support, even as I continue on to my next mushroom.

By Michele Oddone on 10/27/2020

Another wonderful course. Very in depth, with clear explanations and high quality videos. I really enjoyed the study and analysis of the subjects, and the painting process of course. I highly recommend it and I looking forward to the next course !

By Philip Wingate on 10/21/2020

Excellent instructions on how to paint these toadstools. The explanation on how to apply the paint and handling the materials are so well done. I like the way we are shown where the toadstools can be found. I enjoyed the course immensely. Thank you

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Overall Score : 94 / 100