CLASS IS OPEN!
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This Class is available in Art Soul Living – Creative Academy – read more here
Unlocks access to hundreds of courses and my private members community
A Gentle Beginning in Light and Joy
Surrender to Light and Joy is a gentle invitation to begin again — not by pushing forward, but by softening into what is already calling you. In this lesson, we step into the painting process as a quiet act of devotion: letting go of the old, loosening our expectations, and welcoming light, movement, and joy to guide us. The figure that emerges becomes a symbol of this moment of becoming — a cosmic dancer poised between what has been and what is yet to unfold. Here, painting becomes a space for reflection, renewal, and for planting small, luminous seeds of new beginnings.
Letting the Painting Unfold in Its Own Time
This is a slow, intuitive journey, where we allow the painting to unfold over time and across several sessions. We pause, return, and listen again, letting fresh eyes and gentle curiosity lead the way. Along the process, we explore contrast as something alive and expressive — light and dark, soft and sharp, loose and more defined — and we welcome imperfection as part of the beauty. Words, stars, wings, and touches of gold are woven into the image as quiet companions, carrying intention and meaning without needing to be explained or perfected.
A Playful Mixed Media Process, Guided by Intuition
From a technical perspective, this lesson is a playful and expressive exploration of watercolor mixed media. We work with watercolor pencils used as paint, graphite drawing, intuitive color mixing, wet-in-wet washes, lift-off techniques to reveal light, splatters, white highlights, gold watercolor, Posca pen details, and soft pan-pastel shading for the face and body. You’ll see how tracing or free drawing can both serve as gentle starting points, how layers are built and softened, and how a painting can be finished with care rather than control. Throughout the lesson, you’re invited to use what you have, follow your own rhythm, and allow the process to meet you exactly where you are — with kindness, presence, and joy.
Projects: 1 // Lessons: 5 // Time: 4 h 52 mins
In this lesson, you will learn how to:
- Approach painting as a gentle, intuitive practice — letting go of control and welcoming light, joy, and new beginnings into your creative process
- Use watercolor pencils as paint — exploring intuitive color mixing, wet-in-wet techniques, and expressive layering
- Create a flowing figurative composition using tracing or free drawing as a supportive starting point
- Build atmosphere and depth through contrast — light and dark, soft and sharp, loose and refined
- Work with lift-off techniques to reveal light and sculpt form in a soft, forgiving way
- Add movement, symbolism, and meaning through stars, wings, words, and cosmic elements
- Enhance your painting with luminous details using white highlights, splatters, and gold watercolor
- Use Posca pens, graphite, and colored pencils to add expressive line work and final accents
- Soften and refine facial features with gentle shading using watercolor, pan pastels, or makeup
- Develop a layered mixed media painting over time — allowing rest, reflection, and fresh eyes to guide the process
- Trust your own rhythm and materials and finish a painting with care rather than perfection
CLASS IS OPEN!
***
This Class is available in Art Soul Living – Creative Academy – read more here
Unlocks access to hundreds of courses and my private members community
Quotes from the Lesson
“New beginnings arrive softly when we create with permission.”
— Ida Andersen Lang
WHO IS THIS CLASS FOR?
This class is for anyone who feels a gentle pull toward light-filled figures, intuitive movement, and the quiet poetry of new beginnings unfolding on the page. Whether you are just returning to your art after a pause or have been creating for many years, this lesson meets you with softness, encouragement, and step-by-step guidance — no prior experience needed.
We’ll explore how to work with watercolor pencils as paint, expressive washes, layered backgrounds, and luminous details that emerge through contrast and intuition. You’ll learn how to build gentle skin tones, reveal light through lift-off techniques, and add symbolic elements such as stars, wings, words, and gold — all through forgiving, flexible materials that invite play rather than pressure.
If you love figurative art with a touch of magic, cosmic atmospheres, and painting as a contemplative, soul-nourishing practice, this class is for you. The process is spacious, intuitive, and full of small moments of discovery — perfect for creating in your own rhythm, at home. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned creative soul, you’ll fin
Quotes from the Lesson
“When I surrender to the process, light finds its way in.”
—Ida Andersen Lang
Supply List
This list gives you an overview of the materials I use in Surrender to Light and Joy — but please don’t feel like you need to gather every single item. This watercolor mixed media lesson is gentle, flexible, and very forgiving, and you can absolutely work with what you already have at home.
I always encourage you to use what feels right to you. You may feel inspired to try a few of the tools or colors I mention — or you may prefer to lean into your own trusted materials. Both approaches are equally welcome. While I share the exact pencils, paints, and tools I used in this lesson, there is no need to follow it all precisely. Watercolor, pencils, paper, and mixed media each offer endless beautiful possibilities.
So gather your supplies in your own way, create a space that feels calm and inviting, and come along just as you are. This lesson is about listening, allowing, and letting the process unfold gently — with light, joy, and curiosity as your companions.
Paper & Surface
- Watercolor paper (approx. 300 gsm / 140 lb)
(e.g. Canson XL Watercolor or similar) - Board for mounting paper (wood, plexiglass, masonite, etc.)
- Painter’s tape (gentle tape recommended)
Drawing Tools
- Graphite pencils (HB, F, or similar)
- Hard pencil for tracing (e.g. 2H mechanical pencil) or rollerball pen
- Erasers: kneaded eraser + precision eraser (stick or pen-style)
- Pencil sharpener
Watercolor Pencils (used as paint)
(Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer or similar — feel free to substitute with comparable colors)
- Crimson — 134
- Indanthrene Blue — 247
- Dark Indigo — 157
- Beige Red — 132
- Nougat — 178
- Terracotta — 186
- Dark Sepia — 175
- Pompeian Red — 191
- Cobalt Green — 156
- Deep Cobalt Green — 158
Watercolor Paints
- Titanium White (pan or tube)
- Gold watercolor paint (artist quality, any warm gold)
Brushes
- Round watercolor brushes (small to large sizes)
- One small, slightly stiff brush (for lift-off technique)
- Old toothbrush (for splatter)
Mixing & Tools
- Mixing wells or small containers (shells, palettes, etc.)
- Water jars
- Pipette or dropper (optional)
- Paper towels / cloth
- Hair dryer (optional, for faster drying)
Mixed Media & Finishing
- White Posca pen (fine and/or medium)
- Colored pencils (waterproof preferred)
- Pan pastels or makeup powders (browns, soft pinks, white)
- Soft applicators (makeup or pan pastel tools)