Watercolor Techniques

Presented by: Amanda Clarke-Peterson
Location: Gaffney Visitor’s Center & Art Gallery in the CAVA Basement Studio
210 W. Frederick St. Gaffney, SC 29340
Hosted by: The Cherokee Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA)
Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm EST

What to Expect:
I’m excited to invite you to a special 30-minute talk where I’ll be sharing the foundational magic of watercolor—what makes this medium so luminous, fluid, and beloved across generations.

We’ll explore the essential qualities that give watercolor its distinct personality, from the way pigment flows across the page to the way it interacts with paper and light. I’ll also walk you through a live demonstration of how watercolor paint is made from scratch using traditional ingredients—an eye-opening (and surprisingly simple!) process that gives you a deeper connection to the materials we often take for granted.

We’ll spend a few moments looking at some core tools and supplies you’ll want to be familiar with—like papers, brushes, and pigments—so you feel more confident building your own creative setup, no matter your experience level.

At the end of the session, I’ll be sharing a free digital resource: The Ultimate Watercolor Product Guide—a downloadable tool I created to help beginners and budget-conscious artists choose quality materials. I’ll also briefly introduce my book, Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide, for those who want to continue learning at their own pace.

(I will have a few copies on hand, should anyone desire to purchase a signed copy of Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide for Learning to Paint with Watercolor at the event. I am able to accept cash at $86.39 including taxes and credit or debit card through the website.)

Whether you’re new to watercolor or simply curious about the craft behind the paint, I’d love to have you join me for this warm, beginner-friendly introduction!

Image is courtesy of the Cherokee Chronicle.

🗓️ Event Details:

Talk Title: Fundamentals of Watercolor
Presenter: Amanda Clarke-Peterson
Length: ~30 minutes
Includes: Live demo, Q&A, and FREE resource
Cost: Free to attend

Introducing Our First Publication: Comprehensive Watercolor by Mandakyns, Published by Makyn Press

A Book Years in the Making – Now in Print

It’s with great pride (and no small amount of watercolor smudges) that I introduce the first official publication released by Makyn Press, in collaboration with Mandakyns:

Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide for Learning to Paint with Watercolor

This is more than a book—it’s a fully guided experience designed for beginners, developing artists, educators, and anyone seeking to understand the process of painting with watercolor.

Crafted with clarity, structured for real learning, and infused with interactive elements, this guide represents not only the heart of Mandakyns, but the very mission of Makyn Press.

About the Book

comprehensive watercolor – an interactive guide for learning to paint with watercolor

Comprehensive Watercolor isn’t a typical instruction manual. It’s a modular, visually intuitive workbook that teaches watercolor as a system—not just a series of techniques.

Here’s what makes it special:

✅ 200+ embedded video tutorials via QR codes
✅ Hands-on worksheets, color charts, and concept exercises
✅ A carefully structured path through tools, materials, timing, application, technique, and composition
✅ Sections on pigment properties, blending, and brush control
✅ Designed to work whether you’re learning solo, teaching in a classroom, or building your own watercolor journey at your pace

It’s not just what’s taught—it’s how it’s taught.

View a FlowThrough Preview of the Book

Published by Makyn Press

This publication marks the official debut of Makyn Press, the independent publishing sister company to Mandakyns. Makyn Press is devoted to creating instructional, artistic, and educational books that help readers not just read, but make.

We specialize in:

Thoughtful design
Educational clarity
Books that are as useful as they are beautiful

By starting with an internally developed title, we’ve been able to build the systems, tools, and templates needed to support future publishing—without compromise.

Why This Book Matters

Watercolor is a medium that confuses and intimidates many artists. I created this book not just to teach—but to translate.

This guide was designed from the ground up to support:

Visual learners who need more than text
Busy creatives who want structure without fluff
Educators who need clarity for classrooms
Self-learners who are tired of generic tips and want to build a real skillset

What Readers Receive

A high-quality printed book
Scannable QR codes for on-demand video learning
A tactile, organized process that gives beginners a path and returning artists a refresh

BONUS: The book includes access to The Ultimate Watercolor Product Guide, a downloadable companion full of reviewed, categorized, and budget-conscious tools and supplies.

EXPLORE THE COMPANION GUIDE

Flip through a preview of the book!

How to Order

Comprehensive Watercolor – An Interactive Guide for Learning to Paint with Watercolor is available now through our store.

👉 View the Book and Purchase Here

Available in standard print.

Built With Care, For a Community That Cares

This book represents years of trial, testing, organizing, painting, teaching, and reworking. Every video was filmed by me. Every layout was chosen with care. Every QR code, tip, and section was developed to make watercolor more accessible to more people.

It’s not perfect—but it’s everything I’ve learned, and everything I needed when I was starting.

Looking Ahead

Makyn Press is currently accepting outside submissions—and this book marks just the beginning. More titles, workbooks, FlowThroughs, and creative collaborations are on the horizon!

Stay connected with us:

Join the Mandakyns Newsletter
Follow on Instagram
Read more about Makyn Press

Together, we’re building a creative publishing ecosystem—one thoughtful book at a time.

VISIT OUR SISTER COMPANY

Makyn Press is a proud sister company to Mandakyns, where you’ll find a wide range of professional Publishing Services.

Together, both companies share the same logo, creative vision, and values. While Mandakyns focuses on art, design, and education, Makyn Press extends that mission through creative and thoughtful publishing.