Store PBIC About Nina PBIC Showcase Blog Nina's Portfolio
 

Are you ready to step into a world of watercolour and wonder?

 Imagine mastering watercolour painting by bringing to life the characters and scenes inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Explore colour theory, character design, composition, and essential techniques as you create a set of Wonderland-inspired playing cards and your own watercolour artwork of the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

To hear more and to see what everyone gets up to, click the video above!

Join the Waitlist

Dive into Colour Theory

Explore primary, secondary, and complementary colour theory while mastering the basics of colour mixing. You’ll discover the endless possibilities of watercolour using primary colours along with your new colour-mixing skills. Project: Designing and painting a series of “Down the Rabbit Hole” objects.

Getting to Know Alice

In this module, you’ll learn the fundamentals of character design techniques while mastering the art of mixing skin tones. From observation to inspiration, you’ll create your own unique rendition of Alice. Explore the proportions and placements of facial features, design a character map, capture Alice’s spirit through gesture, and experiment with various skin tones and washes along the way. Project: Design and paint your own unique Alice character.

The Art of Caricature Design and Watercolour

In this module, you’ll learn to use simple shapes to create a cast of characters, including the Queen of Hearts, the King of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat. You'll design and paint your very own set of Wonderland playing cards, bringing these iconic figures to life. Project: Design a series of Wonderland characters and paint them into your own set of Wonderland playing cards.

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Composition and Page layout

In this module, you'll explore composition and design techniques, including the rule of thirds, hierarchy, symmetry, framing, and perspective. Progress from thumbnail sketches to a final, portfolio-worthy artwork, applying various watercolour techniques on a larger scale as you paint your interpretation of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Project: Create your very own Mad Hatter’s Tea Party watercolour masterpiece.

Join the Waitlist

Your Workbook

This comprehensive 67-page workbook is designed to complement the video lessons. Use it to help track your progress, reinforce key concepts, and enhance your learning experience. Click here to download the Intro chapter.

 

“I just wanted to dive in and learn more about how watercolour works and the process… It’s one of the best courses I’ve ever done.” – Kat Thomson

Click the video above to hear about Kat’s experience in the Watercolour Wonder course.

Hi, I’m Nina Rycroft!

A picture book illustrator and the host of the Watercolour Wonder. My journey in watercolour started with my first published book in 2000, a passion that has only grown over the years. With over two decades of experience under my belt, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with you.

I’m proud to have illustrated more than a dozen published picture books, including titles like Boom Bah! by Phil Cummings, No More Kisses by Margaret Wild, Dinosaurs Love Cheese and Good Dog Hank by Jackie French, and Pooka (YABBA Award Winner 2013). For more about Nina.

My experiences as a self-taught illustrator have been instrumental in shaping my teaching.  I go beyond just teaching technical skills; my mission is to inspire, support, and empower you to discover and embrace your unique artistic voice. 

This course is exactly what I wish I had when I started—learning watercolour while designing characters and illustrations for picture books felt like a distant dream. Now, I’m thrilled to offer you the chance to dive in and explore your own creativity!

Frequently Asked Questions

Join the Waitlist