WINTER PARK, FL – After the success of the first class in September, 2025, Artist John Carollo will bring his one-day Watercolor Workshop back to Crealde School of Art on April 19, 2026. Titled “Collaborating with Watercolor,” the class will focus on how the watercolor medium can often have a mind of its own and a tendency to assert its independence at every opportunity, but rather than fight with it, a collaborative approach where both artist and paint share control helps unlock unique atmospheric and transparency effects. Through demonstrations and discussion, students will discover the surprising, therapeutic results they can achieve by letting the flow of the paint take the lead.
The theme of the workshop was inspired by how often John hears comments from people about how “hard,” “unforgiving,” and “frustrating” the medium can be, cleverly summed up in the famous response to a question by Impressionist artist Edgar Degas:
…when asked by a woman what kind of watercolors she should buy her son, his reply was that she would be safer buying the child a revolver.
Following the lead of the flowing paint, an approach John uses extensively in his distinctive Controlled Chaos painting style, can be freeing, therapeutic, and a lot of fun. Students will be encouraged to try new techniques and develop their own through trial and error which may open possibilities they may not have previously considered.
A sampling of the positive feedback John received from the Fall 2025 debut of the workshop is below, and the artist looks forward to engaging with students again this Spring.
“I enjoyed your workshop on Sunday and would register for another workshop or class with you at Crealde. Your artwork is wonderful and your teaching very kind and supportive.”
“Thank your so much for teaching the class and for all of the helpful info. from it! I learned a lot and had more fun than I expected to. I’ve been incorporating some of what I learned in my own watercolor practice and I’m really happy with the results. It’s definitely different than I would have done before.”
“This was great. Thank you so much! What an incredibly challenging day.“
“I showed the painting I did in your workshop to my watercolor classes and they thought it was amazing! Thank you again for sharing your techniques!”
Click here to learn more and reserve a spot.
