Discover How an Architect’s Signature Technique Creates Breathtaking Venetian Watercolors That GLOW With Life!

Award-winning watercolorist Iain Stewart reveals the “Diagram” painting method so you can establish the perfect foundation of light, composition, and simplified architecture that turns overwhelming scenes into paintings filled with atmosphere and authentic feeling.

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Have you ever stood before a complex Venetian scene?


The maze of ancient buildings…


The play of light on water…


The dancing reflections… 


The figures and boats moving down the canals…


…and felt completely overwhelmed? 


Your brush hesitates, your confidence wavers…


…and you wonder how you can possibly capture all this beauty without getting lost in the details.


What you’re about to discover is the exact approach Iain Stewart used to create his award-winning Oh to Be Back in the Land of Coca~Cola — a gorgeous scene in the magical city of Venice.


But what exactly makes complex scenes like Venice so difficult to paint?

Many artists find themselves paralyzed when facing intricate architectural scenes, especially in places as iconic as Venice. 


The canals, the figures, the water, the gondolas, the centuries of history reflected in every weathered facade — it can all feel too much to translate onto paper.


The challenge isn’t just technical skill — it’s knowing where to begin, what to keep, and what to simplify. 


Too many artists skip what Iain Stewart calls “the dull parts” of creating a painting — the thoughtful preparation and exploration that leads to success.


This is where Iain’s methodical process truly shines. 


As an architect-turned-watercolor artist, he teaches you to approach complex scenes by first creating what he calls “The Diagram” — carefully laying out your center points and horizon line, and establishing what he refers to as a “cradle for the light.”


This preparatory work, often overlooked by struggling artists, creates the perfect foundation for your painting.

“Skipping what might be considered the dull parts of creating a painting,” Iain explains, “will typically get you in a tight spot. My hope is you begin to learn to see with an artist’s eye.”

Rather than reactively painting whatever you see in a reference photo, Iain’s process-driven approach helps you gain control of your watercolors. 


You’ll learn to anticipate what will happen on paper instead of merely reacting to it — creating paintings that capture the essence of Venice with confidence, atmosphere, and that special luminosity that makes viewers feel they’re actually there!

MEET YOUR NEW INSTRUCTOR:

Iain Stewart!

Iain Stewart is a Scots-born watercolor artist whose atmospheric paintings have captivated collectors and fellow artists alike. 


He is a signature member of both the American and National Watercolor Societies and was recently inducted into the prestigious Whiskey Painters of America, and his work stands as a testament to his unique vision and technical mastery.


His watercolors have received numerous awards in international competitions and can be found hanging in many corporate and private collections.


As a sought-after instructor and juror, Iain has shared his knowledge through workshops, five instructional courses, and his 2021 book, En Plein Air — Light and Color.


What makes Iain’s approach particularly valuable is his background as an architectural illustrator with international clients. This experience, combined with teaching watercolor and design drawing at Auburn University (where he received his degree in architecture), gives him a distinctive perspective on capturing complex scenes with confidence and clarity.


“Never let reality get in the way of good painting,” Iain often tells his students. It’s this philosophy — that you, not the reference, are in charge of your painting — that has made his instruction so transformative for artists struggling with overwhelming subjects like Venetian architecture.


Iain maintains a studio in Opelika, Alabama, and serves as an International Brand Ambassador for Escoda Brushes, Daniel Smith Watercolors, and Stillman & Birn Sketchbooks.

Available in both Streaming and DVD Formats

Introducing Iain Stewart’s Brand NEW Course:

Paint Venice in Watercolor

In this comprehensive watercolor course, Iain Stewart takes you through his complete process for creating exhibition-quality paintings of Venice’s iconic canals. 


This isn’t just another “follow along” painting demonstration — it’s a masterclass in thinking and seeing like a professional artist.

“This video will show you my process for creating more finished exhibition paintings,” Iain explains. “These are what I call more studied pieces and go through many iterations before I commit to a certain composition and approach.”

What makes this course special is Iain’s emphasis on the preparatory work that most artists skip. 


You’ll discover how the results of your paintings are directly connected to the advance work you do in exploring all possibilities before committing time to a finished piece.


Based on an American Watercolor Society award-winning painting, this course walks you through Iain’s entire process from start to finish:

  • How to use sketchbooks as your “safe place” for trying multiple compositions and angles…
  • Discover “The Diagram” — Iain’s approach to laying out center points and horizon line, and a “cradle for the light”...
  • Master the “Onionskinning” method of using tracing paper to refine your drawing while maintaining accuracy…
  • Understand how to simplify overwhelming architectural details without losing character…
  • How to paint reflections in water with convincing realism…
  • How to think in terms of SHAPE to easily paint figures…
  • Develop strategies for creating atmospheric washes that unify your painting…

Whether you’ve struggled with complex architectural scenes or simply want to elevate your watercolors to exhibition quality, Iain’s thoughtful, process-driven approach will transform how you plan, execute, and complete your paintings.

Available in both Streaming and DVD Formats

EXCELLENT INSTRUCTOR

I have long admired Iain’s painting style and have done a workshop with him. He is an excellent instructor, and this video is a good example. Thorough, detailed, and clear, describes his thoughts and painting process well.

  • James Turner -(review for Iain Stewart: High Level Sketching)

LESSON PLAN

Video length: 7 Hours

Introduction

Meet Iain Stewart and discover the architectural background that gives him unique insight into complex scenes. Learn how his transition from technical illustration to fine art taught him to simplify while maintaining essential details. In this chapter, Iain introduces the Venetian canal scene based on his exhibition piece, explaining his concept of creating the “cradle of light” essential for luminous watercolors. He sets the foundation for understanding how water reacts to light and how to capture texture effectively in your paintings.

Materials & Tools

Explore Iain’s essential materials and gain invaluable insights from his teaching sketchbooks. Discover his simple approach to perspective in cityscapes. Learn why sketchbooks are your “safe place” for experimentation, why they give you “permission to ruin things,” and how to use them to try multiple compositions. Iain shares his two unbreakable sketchbook rules and explains why warming up is essential for artistic success.

Watercolor Warm Up

Take this time to practice with your paints to get into the groove of painting before tackling the main demo. This chapter will help you loosen up your brushwork, balance water to pigment, try different washes, explore wet-into-wet techniques, and more.

Subject & Composition

Learn to analyze references without being controlled by them, exploring different compositions and lighting situations. Discover how creating a story for your work during planning becomes a powerful tool for achieving meaningful mood, and master Iain’s signature “Diagram” method for establishing a “cradle for the light.” Explore simplification strategies, what to include versus what to omit, and the “Onionskinning” technique of using tracing paper to refine drawings. Gain essential insights into portraying accurate water reflections, thinking in terms of shapes, versus “figure” or “boat,” and avoiding the common mistake of going too dark too quickly, transforming how you approach complex scenes.

The Mother Wash 

Master the foundational wash that ties everything together, establishes saved whites, sets mood, and creates atmosphere. Learn to anticipate what will happen with watercolor rather than just reacting — this is what Iain believes separates professionals from hobbyists. Discover the perfect water-to-pigment ratio, effective paint application techniques, and how to create variegated washes. Embrace the slightly frightening nature of this stage as paint moves and tries to dry quickly, understanding that pushing through this discomfort leads to exceptional results in your painting.

Define the Darks

Learn to establish strategic dark values that provide visual anchors throughout your composition. Master techniques for maintaining control while painting around objects and preserving lights. Discover the importance of edge control, color temperature, and why painting from “a place of peace” is essential during this methodical process. Iain demonstrates how to balance water-to-pigment ratios for optimal control and shares techniques for creating colorful shadow areas that keep your painting alive with multiple color injections.

Bring in Color

Build up lighter tones and add depth to colorful elements while setting up for future layers. Iain emphasizes the critical importance of restraint — not going too strong in value too early, to preserve the lighting effect. Master drybrush crosshatch techniques for sunlit stucco, deep washes for newer surfaces, and light washes for shadows. Learn correct water-to-pigment ratios, the optimal order for color application, and techniques for creating various textures. Discover how to measure reflections accurately, alter color for depth, and avoid common problems while embracing imperfection.

Complete the Color Setup

Review your painting and add color and value to all elements before building the next layer. Learn to establish a hierarchy of values with key darks, how to gray down colors to show distance or reduce importance, and techniques for simply yet effectively painting boats and figures. This crucial preparatory stage ensures your painting has the right foundation before moving to more detailed work in subsequent phases.

Set Up the Darks

Navigate the challenging “ugly stage” where paintings often look flat and directionless. Learn to use values effectively to follow your plan for gradually building form. Discover how to establish a hierarchy of darks, differentiate areas that seem similar in reference photos, and work strategically to avoid disturbing wet paint. Master techniques for adding small darks that create interest, use brushwork as suggested detail, and understand the principle of relativity in color and value. Gain practical color mixing tips to avoid mud and create colorful grays.

Final Setup

Take a fresh look at your painting before making “big moves” or making final adjustments to create a proper underpainting for details. Learn to “circle the detail” by establishing fundamental form, color, and value. Master simple techniques for painting figures, the proper approach to “stacking stones” for accurate brick structures, and experience a thrilling preview of what’s to come as you apply a bold wash of phthalo green for shadow in the water.

Build Up Detail

Gradually build depth through layers of paint that give your painting “pop” without overwhelming it. Master intuitive brushwork techniques during this more demanding stage that requires careful attention. Learn where to place darker details (and where to avoid them), how to maintain depth, techniques for suggesting rather than overstating details, and the secret to painting straight lines that enhance your architectural elements without making them appear rigid or mechanical.

The Final Move

Add the dramatic U-shaped shadow that “cradles” your painting — a bold move requiring courage and preparation. Learn to mix rich, colorful darks and apply them with confidence, remembering that “if the tone doesn’t scare you, it’s likely not dark enough.” Master techniques for confident brushwork, wet-into-wet applications, avoiding blooms, adjusting edges, creating convincing reflections, and strategic lifting. This transformative final stage brings your painting together, creating the luminous quality that makes Iain’s Venetian scenes so captivating.

Available in both Streaming and DVD Formats

What Iain Stewart Will Share Inside

Paint Venice in Watercolor

“The Diagram”: The Strong Foundation for Luminous Paintings


Many artists dive straight into painting without proper planning, leading to frustration when dealing with complex Venetian scenes. Iain reveals his architectural approach to composition through what he calls “The Diagram” — a method where you thoughtfully lay out your center points and horizon line, and establish a “cradle for the light.” 


This preparatory technique, which Iain uses in most of his award-winning work, ensures your painting has that special glow and atmospheric quality from the very beginning. By learning this deliberate approach to composition, you’ll stop feeling overwhelmed by complex architecture and instead create paintings with intention and confidence. 


As Iain says, “My goal is to give you a repeatable process that allows you to anticipate results rather than react to them.”

Master the Language of Water and Reflections


Water is one of the most challenging elements to capture in watercolor, especially the characteristic canals of Venice with their complex reflections and subtle movements. Iain breaks down this intimidating subject into approachable components, showing you how to “pay attention to the language of water” in both your drawing and painting. 


You’ll discover specific techniques for portraying accurate reflections, creating the illusion of depth, and maintaining the transparency that makes watercolor so magical. Iain teaches you to think in terms of shapes, rather than “figure” or “boat” — a quick way to add life simply and accurately to your scenes. Instead of stiff, unconvincing water, you’ll learn to paint canals that feel alive with light and movement — adding that authentic Venetian atmosphere to your paintings that viewers can almost feel themselves stepping into.


Simplify Without Sacrifice: The Art of Editing


One of the biggest challenges with Venetian scenes is deciding what to keep and what to leave out. Iain teaches you his thoughtful editing process — what he calls “taking slices of pie” rather than trying to eat the whole pie at once. You’ll learn to break down overwhelming architecture into manageable shapes, understand “what to leave in and take out and why,” and how to maintain character while simplifying details. 


This skill is particularly valuable for complex subjects like Venice, where trying to include every detail often leads to chaotic, cluttered paintings. Through Iain’s guidance, you’ll develop the confidence to make conscious decisions about your composition, allowing you to create paintings that tell a story rather than merely document a scene.


TALENTED ARTIST

I have attended a number of Iain’s workshops and was delighted to hear that there was at last a DVD. Iain’s teaching covers all of the basics — value, composition, perspective, and color, and he does it all with a lovely mix of humor and warmth. Whatever an attendee’s ability, they cannot fail to learn much from this talented artist, and a DVD means he is always at your elbow.

  • Lyn - (review for Iain Stewart’s workshop)

Here’s a small taste of what’s inside:

✅ The architectural sketching secrets that turn overwhelmingly complex scenes into manageable compositions — without losing their character or feeling…

✅ Discover Iain’s “Diagram” method that establishes a “cradle of light” essential for giving your paintings that special luminous quality…


✅ Why going “too dark too quickly” is the most common mistake Iain sees in watercolor paintings, and how to avoid this pitfall…


✅ How to use “Onionskinning” with tracing paper to build your drawing in layers while maintaining accuracy and allowing for creative changes…


✅ Iain’s counterintuitive advice: “Never let a pencil line tell you where to put your brush” — and why this mindset liberates your painting technique…


✅ A simple approach to perspective in cityscapes…


✅ The “Mother Wash” technique that ties everything together, establishes your saved whites, sets the mood, and seals your drawing so it won’t smudge…


✅ Why planning for what will happen with watercolor (versus reacting to it) separates professionals from hobbyists — and how to develop this crucial skill…


✅ The right balance of water to pigment for creating atmospheric washes and achieving that signature Venetian glow…


✅ How to “paint from a place of peace” — Iain’s philosophy for approaching complex paintings with patience rather than rushing…


✅ The powerful tip of creating a story for your work during the planning stage as a tool for achieving meaningful mood and intentional feeling…


✅ Learn to juxtapose old and new objects in your scene to tell a more compelling visual story…


✅ Why sketchbooks should be your “safe place” and how they “give you permission to ruin things” — Iain’s two essential sketchbook rules…


✅ The courage to edit: “Don’t feel overwhelmed; just like pie, you eat a slice of pie, not the whole pie!” — how to focus on just part of a complex scene…

✅ The importance of practicing the pieces (like figures in gondolas) before trying to incorporate them into your larger painting…


✅ How to create variegated washes that bring depth and atmosphere to your Venetian scenes…

✅ PLUS: The valuable mindset shift: “When I am in the act of painting or drawing, I am me in the purest sense” — finding your authentic voice…


…and so many more tips that will rocket your creativity through the roof!

Available in both Streaming and DVD Formats

Discover Iain Stewart’s Watercolor Secrets in

Paint Venice in Watercolor!

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by complex architectural scenes…


...or if you’re an artist who yearns to capture the essence of Venice rather than merely documenting its details…


...then you’ve already made a choice by reading this far.


You’re not just looking for another painting demonstration; you’re seeking a methodical process that transforms how you approach your watercolors.


With Iain Stewart’s Paint Venice in Watercolor, you’re not just learning techniques; you’re discovering how thoughtful preparation leads to expressive, confident paintings.


Soon, you’ll become an artist who can see beyond the overwhelming details to capture the true spirit of a place... 


…an artist who anticipates beautiful results rather than merely reacting to what happens on your paper.


This isn’t just a course…


…it’s a pathway to painting with intention, atmosphere, and that special luminosity that makes viewers feel they’re actually there.


Don’t forget…


Few instructors combine Iain Stewart’s architectural background with his gift for translating complex scenes into expressive watercolors…

There are two options for you now…

You can continue feeling overwhelmed by reference photos, unsure what to include and what to leave out, reacting to your watercolor rather than anticipating results…


OR…


You can adopt Iain’s proven process — complete with the “Diagram” method and thoughtful preparation — that has earned him signature status in the most prestigious watercolor societies.


You don’t even have to figure it all out on your own — just follow along as Iain shares the exact approach he used to create his award-winning painting.


In just one sitting, you’ll gain insights that would take years of trial and error to discover independently.


Furthermore, if you can’t attend Iain’s in-person workshops, this course is the next best thing.

It’s like having him as your personal “in-house” instructor you can refer to again and again — without any additional cost.


Plus, you’ll see exactly which materials Iain uses, saving you from wasting money on the wrong supplies.


It’s a direct path to what works so you can focus on painting rather than figuring out where to start or what to do!


Once you understand Iain’s process, there’s no limit to the atmospheric, luminous watercolors you can create!

30-Day 100% Money-Back Satisfaction Guarantee!


After you go through this course, we want you to be completely satisfied and feel confident that you’ve improved your painting skills.


However, if after watching the video, you decide it’s just not for you, let us know within 30 days of purchase and we’ll refund 100% of your money.



Disclaimer

Results require practice and dedication. The techniques taught in this video need to be studied and implemented consistently to achieve improvement in your paintings. Individual results will vary based on experience level and amount of practice.

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Though you can observe the techniques of any artist instantly by watching them demonstrate and by watching the videos repeatedly, please know that, though many artists offer insights that can help people overcome a lot of learning time, every artist learns at their own speed based on their own level of understanding. Painting and drawing bring great joy, though the joy may come from practicing various techniques over and over until you master them. We do not wish to indicate that you, or anyone, can skip the joy of practice and the challenges of getting better. Painting is a lifetime endeavor, and getting good does not typically happen rapidly, or instantly. Your results may vary. And please know that if at any time within 30 days you feel this video has not lived up to your expectations or its promise, we will happily refund your money.