This spring, I led two seasonal watercolor workshops in collaboration with Thompson + Hanson—one in Austin at The Rosemary Room, and the other in Houston at Tiny No. 5. Both were tied to Mother’s Day, but you didn’t need to be a mom to come. Just someone who craved a pause.
These were not your average step-by-step painting classes. They were slow, sensory, community-centered creative gatherings designed to make space for beauty, play, and presence.
Getting There
Each location was intentionally chosen for its charm and warmth.
The Rosemary Room in Austin feels like stepping into a greenhouse dream—lush, airy, filled with natural light.
Tiny No. 5 in Houston offered a similar energy: intimate, elegant, and tucked away in one of the city’s most beloved neighborhoods.
Guests arrived and were greeted with tartines, a seasonal charcuterie board, and drinks to settle into the day. Some signed up with friends. Others were gifted a spot by their daughters or came solo after seeing the workshop posted online.
One woman told me it was her first time doing something just for herself in a very long time. Another had been painting privately for years and finally felt ready to share it out loud.
Setting Up the Table
Each guest was met with a curated setup—watercolor palettes, handmade paper with deckled edges, fresh florals, and a brush that felt good in the hand.
I gave a short demo and walk-through of the floral painting process, starting with the simplest elements: stems, leaves, and petal shapes.
We focused on loose watercolor florals, using intentional brushstrokes, wet-into-wet blending, and simple layers of value. I talked about letting your brush do the work, trusting movement, and choosing what to simplify.
Paid Substack subscribers can access my loose watercolor floral workbook that covers this exact process in more depth—including visual breakdowns of common petal shapes, leaf silhouettes, and a few of my favorite ways to make flower shapes.
Subscribe here to access the workbook →
Sharing the Experience
After the demo, everyone got to work—and this is always my favorite part.
Looking around the room, you could feel the shift. People were quiet. Curious. Present.
Brushes moving, drinks being sipped, paint swirling into paper.
Every single painting turned out differently—and that’s the beauty of it. Some were bold and punchy, others delicate and soft. Some leaned into structure, others let the paint run wild.
And yet, by the end, each guest left with a finished piece and a sense of calm satisfaction. A reminder that art doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
Before You Go: Two Free Resources
If you missed this round of workshops or just want to explore on your own, I have two free resources to get you started:
- Newsletter Sign-Up
Be the first to hear about upcoming classes in Austin and beyond (they tend to fill quickly).
Join my mailing list here -> - Free Floral Composition Guide
Want to understand what makes a floral painting work—how to arrange your forms, balance white space, and build interest with shape and value?
Grab my free guide:
Basics of Floral Composition →
Looking Ahead
I’ll be teaching more watercolor painting classes in Austin this year—both public workshops and private events. These seasonal sessions are designed to help you reconnect with your creativity in a way that feels easy, nourishing, and just a little bit magical.
Whether you’re brand new to watercolor or picking up your brush after years away, I’d love to paint with you. subscribe to my mailing list here.
If you would like to see another watercolor workshop (this one I took!) with master artist Helen Dealtry ~ read here.
