WINTER PARK, FL – Artist John Carollo will bring his one-day Watercolor Workshop back to Crealde School of Art on March 6, 2027, with a new twist. Titled “Collaborating with Watercolor: The Human Figure,” 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. Students will then apply the approach to creating expressive impressions of one of the most interesting of subjects – the human figure. Through demonstrations and discussion, students will discover the surprising, therapeutic results they can achieve by letting the flow of the paint take the lead.
John has an extensive backround creating impressions of figures through watercolor, including his time as the Resident Artist of Voci Modern Dance Company and the traveling show consisting entirely of human figures, The Figure as Vehicle, which he and Marsha De Broske developed and toured with.
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!”
Registration information will be available soon on the Crealde website.
Brought to life by the artist’s distinctive Controlled Chaos painting style, where the water and paint move freely to create unusual atmospheric effects, the work aims to help the viewer feel the sensation of being near the edge of the fountain on a warm, sunlit afternoon in the park.
John Carollo began studying Watercolor in college at the University of North Texas under the
Since 2005, John has shown his work extensively in numerous venues in Texas, Georgia and the Central Florida area, including the CityArts Factory, Maitland Art Center, and Mount Dora Center for the Arts, as well as through collaboration with Voci modern dance company. In both 2007 and 2012 he was awarded prestigious United Arts of Central Florida Artist Development Grants, for his work with large-scale watercolor (over 6’) and 3D kinetic sculpture. The latter area has been a continuing source of exploration for the artist, with his work evolving from shaped paper and wire constructions to very large suspended pieces created from hand-painted silk, twisted aluminum and stainless steel. The largest of these to date at over 13’ x 16’, Icarus Ascends, premiered in 2013 and was designed for expansive atrium and transit center public art spaces.