2 Day Natural Paint Making Workshop: Watercolor

This is an immersive, hands on workshop centered on the practice of creating watercolor paint from locally foraged natural earth pigments. Rooted in traditional pigment making methods, watercolor offers a fluid and expressive way of working with color, one that balances intuition with process. In this workshop, participants will learn how raw earth minerals are transformed into fine artist pigments and bound into professional grade watercolor paint.

Through guided pigment foraging in the Los Angeles mountains, followed by step by step pigment processing and paint making instructions, participants will create their own handmade watercolor paints and curate their own natural palette. The workshop will wrap up with a painting session using the colors made from the land itself, allowing participants to experience watercolor as both a material practice and a reflective, creative process.

No prior experience necessary. All backgrounds are welcome, 18+.

2 Day Natural Paint Making Workshop: Watercolor
$150.00

A $150 holding deposit is required to reserve your spot in the workshop. This deposit secures your priority registration and allows workshop dates to be finalized. The total cost of the workshop is $500, with the remaining $350 due prior to attending the workshop. Once dates are confirmed, registered participants will receive payment details and next steps.

This workshop is currently open for priority registration. Placing a deposit secures your spot and allows workshop dates to be scheduled based on participant availability. Once dates are announced, you’ll be invited to confirm your registration. If the dates don’t work for you, your deposit is fully refundable.

A Brief History of Watercolor

Historically, watercolor has often been referred to as a sketcher’s medium, used for studies, travel journals, and preparatory works rather than finished paintings. For centuries, it was viewed as secondary to oil painting, in part because of its portability and speed, and because it was associated with immediacy rather than permanence.

In reality, watercolor is one of the most technically demanding painting mediums. Its transparency requires patience, planning, and a deep understanding of layering, as each mark remains visible beneath the surface. Unlike opaque paints, watercolor offers little room for correction; once a mark is made, it becomes part of the final composition. While there are ways to fix mistakes, of course, this demands intentional decision making, sensitivity to timing, and trust in process.

In this workshop, watercolor is approached not as a preliminary or lesser medium, but as a complete and wholesome painting practice. One that rewards intuition, attentiveness, and technique. With minimal setup and easy cleanup, watercolor invites a sustainable and accessible relationship to painting. Its portability makes it ideal for plein air work, travel, and quick moments of creative reflection, whether in nature or in everyday life.

Day One: Foraging & Pigment Processing

Saturday, dates to be announced

  • Workshop participants will check in at the designated meeting location.

    Exact location details will be shared after booking and again closer to the workshop date. Please arrive a few minutes early to settle in and meet the group.

    Designated location will be within a 20 mile radius of DTLA.

  • We’ll begin with a gentle group hike through the Los Angeles mountains.

    Júlia will guide you through:

    • How to identify earth pigments in the landscape.

    • What textures, colors, and formations to look for.

    • Ethical and responsible foraging practices.

    Together, we’ll collect raw earth to process into pigments.

    This hike is paced slowly, with plenty of time for observation and questions.

  • We’ll return to our base camp and begin processing our raw materials into usable artist grade pigments.

    You’ll learn:

    • Initial cleaning and preparation of raw earth.

    • Breaking down material into workable pigment.

    • Understanding particle size and pigment quality.

    • How different soils behave during processing.

    This is a hands on, tactile session where you’ll begin to see color emerge from the raw material you collected.

    Please note: the course fee does not include personal materials. While Júlia will have supplies for you to use during the class, a full materials list will be sent after booking so you can come prepared.

  • This session is dedicated time to:

    • Continue processing your pigments.

    • Ask questions, take notes, and troubleshoot.

    • Work at your own pace with guidance.

  • We’ll close the day with a short group reflection.

    Each participant will be invited to:

    • Share one color or material they’re most excited to turn into paint.

    • Note any curiosities, surprises, or questions that came up during the process.

    • Set an intention for Day Two.

    This is a gentle, grounding close to the day and helps integrate what you’ve learned before moving into paint making.

Day Two: Making Watercolor Paint & Painting

Sunday, dates to be announced

  • Participants will check in at a predetermined location. Exact address, directions, and access details will be shared after registration and again closer to the workshop date.

  • We’ll begin by organizing and preparing the natural pigments you processed on Day One.

    You’ll learn:

    • How to properly dry, store, and label handmade pigments.

    • Basic color identification and naming.

    • How to keep notes for future use and consistency.

    • How pigment origin and processing affect color behavior.

  • Participants will mix their own watercolor paint using the pigments they created and a natural binder. (Júlia’s homemade recipe!)

    You’ll learn:

    • Proper pigment to binder ratios.

    • How to mix paint to the correct consistency.

    • Common mistakes and how to troubleshoot them.

  • We’ll move into painting, where Júlia will guide the group through:

    • Watercolor painting techniques.

    • Brush handling and mark making.

    • How natural pigments behave differently than commercial paints.

    • Letting the material lead the process.

    This is an intuitive, exploratory session focused on relationship rather than perfection.

  • We’ll close the workshop with a final reflection.

    Participants will be invited to:

    • Share a painting or color that surprised them.

    • Reflect on how working with handmade pigments shifted their relationship to painting.

    • Ask final questions about continuing the practice at home.

    You’ll leave with:

    • Natural pigments and a watercolor palette with your handmade colors.

    • Foundational natural paint making knowledge.

    • A deeper connection to your materials and process.

Materials

Participants are responsible for bringing their own materials for pigment foraging and processing, as sourcing and preparing pigment from the land is an essential part of the learning experience. For the paint making portion of the workshop, participants may choose to borrow tools from the studio for use during class, or purchase their own muller and glass slab to continue making paint at home. Júlia recommends the Paint Mixing Tools Kit from Natural Earth Paint, a woman owned company based in the United States known for supplying high quality materials for traditional and natural paint making. Using this link supports Júlia’s work through a small commission, at no additional cost to you. A detailed materials guide with more in depth information and links will be shared with participants after registration.

INCLUDED SUPPLIES

(Available to use during class)

  • Stone mortar and pestle

  • Palette knife

  • Brushes

  • Muller and Mulling Slab

  • Watercolor Medium

  • Aluminum tin

WHAT TO BRING

For Pigment Making & Painting

  • Watercolor Sketchbook

  • Pencil

  • Brush

  • Small jars or containers for storing pigment

  • Fine mesh sieve

  • Quart size containers

  • Filters

  • Watercolor pans

  • Muller and Mulling Slab (if purchasing the Paint Mixing Tools Kit)

  • Stone mortar and pestle (available to borrow at the studio or you can bring your own)

For Foraging & Outdoor Time

  • Water bottle

  • Exercise clothes and shoes suitable for a light hike

  • Sunscreen

  • Snacks

  • Reusable bag or plastic grocery bags

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out to the studio anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and register for a workshop.

contact

  • This listing is for a 50% deposit. The remaining balance will be due two weeks before the workshop begins.

  • Dates will be announced once minimum enrollment is reached. Participants who have placed a deposit will be notified first and given priority in selecting from available Spring dates.

    A small selection of Spring dates will be offered, with workshop dates always falling on Saturday and Sunday, allowing participants to choose the option that best fits their schedule while keeping the workshops intimate and intentional.

  • Yes. There is free parking at the foraging location on Day One. The exact location and details will be shared after registration.


    Day Two takes place on a Sunday, when street parking in Los Angeles is free.

  • No. Transportation and lodging are the responsibility of each participant and are not included in the workshop.

  • Workshops are intentionally small. There will be a maximum of 8 participants to allow for individual guidance and a supportive, hands on learning experience.

  • Absolutely not! This workshop is open to creatives of all levels, as well as anyone curious about traditional painting materials and process.

  • Due to how much time and specialized preparation goes into each class, cancellations are not accepted at this time. Please reach out to the studio at hello@juliagodoystudio.com in case of emergency and the balance of the Workshop may be applied to a future course depending on individual circumstances.