How can The Garden Studio change your life?
Check out this video and see what's inside!
(un-mute to hear all about it!)
The Garden Studio membership includes:
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200+ botanical watercolor classes and growing!
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Clear lessons on color-mixing and supplies so you aren’t frustrated or overwhelmed.
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Step-by-step tutorials for all skill-levels so you can paint beautiful flowers
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A community of like-minded friends and artists to support and encourage
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Lessons on supplies, drawing, and painting to take the confusion out of art!
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High-quality reference photos and traceable templates!
Imagine being able to…
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Draw and paint any flower. (Yes, really!)
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Use only a few different paints to mix any color you need.
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Understand the intricacies of your art supplies so that you can use them more effectively.
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Paint with a recognizable style and voice.
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Create in both a loose, expressionist style as well as a more realistic, tight style.
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Get off the YouTube tutorial-copying treadmill and have a clear, consistent path forward.
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Create thoughtful, hand-made gifts for friends and family.
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Access a library of over 200 hours of botanical drawing and watercolor classes.
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Finish your paintings…and be happy with them!
Transformation is right around the corner…
Say goodbye to confusion, stacks of unfinished paintings, and messy brushstrokes.
Alex has worked out a great system to take someone from beginning their watercolor journey to whatever their ultimate goal or dream may be. I had dreamed of painting in the countryside of France or Germany. Now I can say "I've done that." Go for your watercolor journey with Alex, she will guide you and show you the way to success.
Sandi Myers
Any of these sound familiar?
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I know what I want to paint, but I don’t know how to do it.
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My paintings never seem to leave the ugly stage.
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I’m confused about supplies and color mixing so I just keep buying more and more paints.
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I’ve done lots of tutorials and can follow along, but I don’t know how to develop my own style or compositions.
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I have dreamed of watercolors for years but now that I have the time to invest, I’m not sure where to start.
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I struggle with perfectionism, but how do I stop being hard on myself?
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I struggle to make time to paint. And when I finally sit down, I’m not sure what to paint!
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I feel a strong pull inside of myself to paint and create but need help with the techniques.
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I’m finally ready to do something for me and invest in my creative dreams.
This membership is for you if:
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You’re willing to invest in yourself
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You have high-quality art supplies
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You’re supportive and encouraging to other artists
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You trust the process
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You can put perfectionism aside
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You’re ready to dedicate some time to practice and improve
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You want to develop a consistent art practice
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You’re ready to overcome creative blocks and find your unique voice
This membership is NOT for you if:
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You’re hesitant about committing resources to personal growth
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You prefer to work with basic or student-grade art materials
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You’re more comfortable working independently without peer interaction
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You tend to doubt or question creative techniques
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You feel anxious when your work isn’t flawless (good news though...I can help you with that!)
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You tend to be highly critical of yourself and others, or maintain a negative outlook
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You’re looking for a quick fix or overnight success in your art
Your first few weeks in The Garden Studio are carefully designed to get you familiar with the website and common terminology as well as integrate you into the amazing community of fellow artists! You’ll also establish where you are on the Botanical Artist’s Roadmap.
Once you know which stage you’re in, you can jump into the lessons and projects that are suitable for your skill level while still challenging you to improve with each painting!
What’s inside?
Stages of the Botanical Artist
You would love to pick up your paintbrush and create beautiful floral paintings, but you're not sure where to start. You have some supplies, but you're not sure which ones you need or how to make them work for you. You are a bit overwhelmed at all there is to learn, but you're excited to get started and jump into painting.
STAGE ONE
You understand the fundamentals of watercolor techniques but you're not yet confident in drawing or creating your own compositions. You make progress quickly but occasionally get frustrated at the gap between what you can create and what you want to create. You're enjoying the process of discovering new ways to create.
STAGE TWO
You are truly able to implement drawing and watercolor techniques to create your own paintings. You may struggle with stagnation as you only create what you're comfortable with rather than challenging yourself. You are ready to learn loose floral painting techniques and to apply your skills to more advanced projects.
STAGE THREE
You are becoming a deeply rooted and thriving artist, able to confidently paint any subject matter, but you struggle to find your unique artistic voice and style. You wonder how to grow your love of botanical art into a sustainable and integrated part of your life. You learn and invest in the theory and technical side of your art.
STAGE FOUR
You are an accomplished botanical artist. You may be ready to teach others, to sell your work, or to create your own following of collectors. This is where you dreamt of being. You may feel like you have to "do it all" and so struggle with burn out. Remember to ask for help and that rest is as important as productivity in the creative life.
STAGE FIVE
Hi! I'm Alex!
I'm a botanical watercolor artist and educator and I love teaching people to draw and paint flowers. I've taught thousands of students to embrace the joy found in the process of creating.
My watercolor journey started with a few old supplies; a couple of YouTube videos; and a desire to keep my hands and my mind busy.
I didn't know the first thing about what botanical watercolors were; I didn't know what paper to use; I didn't know that there were different kinds of paintbrushes; I didn't know anything at all, really, except that I wanted to put paint on paper and I enjoyed doing it.
Progress was slow and steady as I learned to observe the world around me and translate it to paper. I absorbed all the information I could about supplies, techniques, and skills and then…people started asking if I could teach them to paint, too!
Now, years later, I am so pleased with where this journey has led me. My life looks completely different than what I imagined for myself. Every day, I wake up and get to teach amazing people how to paint flowers and figure out how to make it accessible and simple and fun!
If you are ready to pursue your dream of creating, I am ready to show you everything you need to know.
You were created to create.
Come learn how.
I know what it's like to feel afraid of the blank page; or uncertain about your supplies; or intimidated by other people's art and talents. I know how that feels because I have been through it myself, and I know exactly how to lead you through the process that will have you painting with joy and skill.
Alex is not only a great botanical painter; she’s an amazing teacher. I received live, interactive instruction with her via Zoom video. A secondary camera Alex installed enabled me to clearly see her hands as she demonstrated various watercolor painting techniques. I saw her brush strokes close-up and from various angles. I watched her swiftly paint yet another gorgeous flower, calmly explaining each step as she went...Alex has such a positive and encouraging spirit. That makes me want to try harder to improve my novice painting abilities. ‘Fear is a big thing to fight against,’ she said, reminding me that the worst-case scenario is that ‘you learn something from your mistakes and have to paint some more flowers!
Linda B.
I am a veteran art teacher. I have taught at every level Pre K- College. Alex is an intuitive master teacher who is able to take a student no matter if they have never picked up a brush, or have taught watercolor themselves, and teach valuable lessons that build their repertoire as well as their confidence!
I believe this comes from the fact that she taught herself from the beginning… making her understand what is. Ended to excel. Master. Teacher.
Linda H.
Alex is calming and so easy going. She makes it easy to follow her guidance and explains everything very well. She’s also very open to questions and feedback. Alex and her helpers as well as the community are so supportive and I’ve felt comfortable sharing my paintings to get feedback to improve.
Cindy D.
"I am a 92 year old woman who has been toying with watercolor for years without success. Alex has been more than kind in walking me through my problems with the internet. Her demonstrations have been easy to follow and I have finally mastered the mysteries of blending and glazing. Her bubbly personality is a pleasure to watch.”
Miriam S.
"What a fantastic class and stellar teacher, Alex! I am SO enjoying this class and am quickly becoming addicted. SO relaxing. Thank you so much. I took watercolor lessons over 20 years ago and have learned more in one week than I did in a year of lessons. Thank you so much for starting out my retirement on such a happy note!!"
Robin H.
Here are a few of the lessons waiting for you in The Garden Studio library!
MEMBERSHIP FEATURES
Beginner
Classes
Just getting started with watercolor? There are lots of beginner lessons and support available. Intimidating art classes are a thing of the past
200+
Lessons
The Membership already has over 100 lessons ranging from drawing to painting to history to supply reviews. Live class replays, critiques, and more!
Step-by-Step
Guides
One of the most popular features of the membership are the step-by-step guides: crystal clear instructions make it easy to draw and paint flowers.
Drawing Classes
Lots of people are intimidated by drawing, but in the Garden Studio, intimidation is gone and you'll be surprised at how well you learn to draw. Drawing is foundational to beautiful paintings and I'll teach you everything you need to know.
Themes
We often work in thematic modules that let us fully understand the subject matter. Some upcoming themes? Hydrangeas; Fruits & Veggies; Desert Blooms; Tropical Plants; and Butterflies.
Mindset
Impostor syndrome. Fear. Perfectionism. Overwhelm. Intimidation. There is a long list of mindset issues that beset artists. In The Garden Studio, you're equipped with the skills to become a confident and contented painter.
Project Inspiration
Once you learn to paint, it's time to make a finished project. That could be a matted painting or a bookmark or a Christmas Ornament. You'll find lots of project ideas and resources within the membership.
Community
The Garden Studio Community is incredible. Filled with like-minded watercolor artists who have transformed into artists who enjoy the process and who happily paint gorgeous blooms. They are a constant encouragement!
Art Supply Reviews
Wondering which watercolor paper to use? How to pick the right blue paint? You'll find lots of product reviews and recommendations within the membership, from me (Alex) and from the community.
Go at your own speed
You have access to the entire library of past lessons as well as monthly live sessions, instruction, and upcoming demonstrations. Work at your own pace and enjoy the process with the encouragement of your peers.
Guest Teachers
We occasionally invite guest teachers to teach in The Garden Studio. Learn botany; stamping; new mediums; and new styles with guest instructors coming in to teach and share their approach to botanical art.
Workbooks
Are you more of a studious learner who likes homework, assignments, and workbooks? I've got you covered! There are digital downloads, assignments, and occasional (optional) homework just for you!
Join our mailing list
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