5 Month Group Mentorship
Intro: Artist Career Lecture & Office Hours: Thursday, January 7th at 3pm EST / 12pm PST (2 hours)
Lecture 1: How We See Things: Friday, January 8th at 3pm EST / 12pm PST (3 hours)
Month 1 Feedback Session 1: Saturday, January 9th @ 12pm EST / 9am PST (2 hours)
Month 2 Lecture: Friday, February 5th at 3pm EST / 12pm PST (3hr)
Month 2 Feedback Session: Saturday, February 6th at 12pm EST / 9 am PST (2hr)
Month 3 Lecture: Friday, March 5th at 3pm EST / 12pm PST (3 hrs)
30 Min Private 1-to-1 Mentorship
Month 3 Feedback Session: Saturday, March 6th at 12pm EST / 9am PST (2 hours)
Month 4 Lecture: Friday, April 2nd at 3pm EST / 12pm PST (3 hrs)
Month 4 Feedback Session: Saturday, April 3rd at 12pm EST / 9am PST (2 hr)
Month 5 Lecture: Friday, April 30th at 3pm EST / 12pm PST (3 hrs)
Month 5 Feedback Session: Saturday, May 1st at 12pm EST / 9am PST (2hrs)
Month 6 Celebration & Final Feedback Session: Saturday, June 5th at 12pm EST / 9am PST (2hrs)
$575 USD for the Standard Mentorship Track or $675 USD for the Critique Mentorship Track
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Seeing with the Painter’s Eye is a mentorship with Lorraine Simonds designed to help artists strengthen the essential foundations of watercolor while developing greater confidence, clarity, and expressive range in their work. Rather than focusing only on finished paintings, this mentorship invites students to slow down and understand the decisions and technical practices behind successful watercolor paintings.
Throughout the program, Lorraine will guide students through practical demonstrations, thoughtful instruction, and honest conversations about the artistic journey. Students will revisit foundational skills with fresh eyes, learning how technique can support expression rather than restrict it. By the end of the mentorship, students will have a stronger understanding of their process, a more intentional approach to painting, and a final piece or small series that reflects their growth.
Students may enroll in one of two options: the Standard Mentorship or the Critique Mentorship. The Critique Track includes personalized feedback opportunities throughout the program and is limited to 20 artists.
Curriculum
Month 1. Seeing: Looking vs. Seeing
Begin with an open conversation about Lorraine's artistic journey and the realities of building a life as a professional watercolor artist. Through a live lecture and Q&A, Lorraine will share lessons from her career, discuss the professional side of art, and answer questions about growth, perseverance, and navigating an artistic path with confidence.
Lorraine will also lead a live lecture exploring the difference between simply looking and truly seeing. Using her practical framework of the 7 S's, students will learn how artists observe shape, structure, and visual relationships more intentionally. The session will conclude with a short demonstration showing how these concepts can be applied directly in the painting process.
Includes: Live intro lecture on professional career & Q&A, live curriculum lecture & demonstration, critique session (Critique Track only).
Month 2. Control: Water, Timing, and Brushwork
This month dives back into the basics of water control and the common mistakes students make without realising they’re sabotaging their work. We’ll establish a clearer understanding of timing, moisture, pigment strength, and how to let watercolour be watercolour – so your paintings become more successful and less stressful.
We’ll slow down and take a closer look at brushwork too: how marks are made, why they often go wrong, and the habits that quietly hinder progression.
Technique precedes expression – and this month is about building that foundation without losing freshness.
Includes: Live curriculum lecture & demonstration, Critique Session for critique track
Month 3. Design: Atmosphere, Values, and Composition
Month three is about design – the choices that make a painting read clearly and feel intentional. We’ll look at atmosphere and mood, value structure, composition, and shape design.
A key focus will be learning how to create both separation and connection – so your work has clarity, but still feels unified and alive.
Includes: Live curriculum lecture & demonstration, Critique Session and a 30-minute one-on-one session with Lorraine Simonds for critique track
Month 4. Structure: Face, Eyes, and Features
This month focuses on structure: the patterns that help us simplify complex forms without becoming stiff or overworked. We’ll look at the structure of the face, the eyes, and repeating patterns in portraiture.
We’ll talk anatomy and proportion in a way that supports painters – practical, memorable, and directly applicable to your work.
Includes: Live curriculum lecture & demonstration, Critique Session for critique track
Month 5. Mindset: Integration and Momentum
In the final month, we bring everything together: seeing, control, design, and structure – and we talk about what it looks like to keep growing after the mentorship ends.
We’ll focus on mindset, practice rhythms, and how to build momentum without burning out.
Includes: Live curriculum lecture & demonstration, Critique Session for critique track
Month 6. Celebrate (Critique track only)
Students will complete a final piece (or small series) that reflects both growth and intention, followed by a celebratory showcase.
Includes: Final critique Session for critique track with awards and recognitions