Master the mechanics of watercolor-based media with university-grade instruction, from absolute beginners to advanced artists.
August Art Class: 6 Spots
Most watercolor workshops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area treat the medium as an unpredictable, loose hobby. They focus on casual entertainment and replicating simple pictures.
At Art Be You, we deliver university-level academic rigor in a private studio setting. We treat watercolor as a structured, mechanical process. We provide the academic instruction necessary to master the “System of Seeing” and execute high-end techniques with total control.
This course is engineered for professionals who want to step away from screen fatigue and engage in deep work. Watercolor is an unforgiving medium that demands absolute, hyper-focused presence. You cannot passively consume information here; you have to actively manage the physics of water, pigment, and timing. This is a space to disconnect from digital noise, build a hands-on skill, and execute complex problem-solving in real time.
Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced painter struggling to control your washes, this course is designed to remove the frustration and unpredictability from your practice.
To register using Zelle, please text at 214-776-7905 to confirm seat availability. Once your spot is verified, I will provide you with the Zelle payment details.
The Watercolor Foundation: Academic Painting Course in Richardson
All Levels Welcome!
August 2026 Focus
The August Schedule (4 Thursdays):
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Session 1: August 6
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Session 2: August 13
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Session 3: August 20
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Session 4: August 27
This four-week intensive is structured to build your mechanical understanding of watercolor-based media, transitioning you from an absolute beginner to a confident practitioner before the fall season.
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Art Be You Studio, 500E Arapaho RD, Richardson, TX
Investment: $300 for the 4-week series.
Capacity: Strictly limited to exactly 6 students to provide 1-on-1 mentorship.
Materials Included
You do not need to purchase any outside supplies. We equip your station with the exact professional-grade materials required for serious watercolor practice.
Newsprint Pads for initial composition mapping Professional 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper Artist-Grade Watercolor Paint Set Specialized Watercolor Brushes (designed for maximum water load) Mixing Palettes and Studio Cloths Studio Drafting Boards and Easels Aprons Direct instruction from a Master of Arts – Bartosz Beda (Manchester School of Art)
Note: All tools and materials are provided for in-studio use only. You take your finished work home; the equipment stays at the Art Be You studio.
The Instructional Advantage
Instead of learning from a casual hobbyist at a commercial paint-and-sip franchise, you are studying under a working, internationally exhibiting artist. I bring the physical reality and discipline of an academic studio practice directly into the classroom, providing structural techniques that go far beyond basic entertainment.
Meet Bartosz Beda
Bartosz Beda holds a Master of Arts from the Manchester School of Art and is a recipient of the Torwy Award. He founded Art Be You to make university-level fine art instruction accessible to adults in the Dallas area. His teaching philosophy is built on the fact that painting is not an innate mystery, but a mechanical, physical skill that anyone can master with rigorous guidance.
To register using Zelle, please text at 214-776-7905 to confirm seat availability. Once your spot is verified, I will provide you with the Zelle payment details.
September 2026
Coming soon….
October 2026
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February 2026
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December 2026
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Have Question?
Learn About Watercolor Painting Classes
The "Art Be You" Method
The 3-Step System: Skeleton, Muscle, Skin
My instructional philosophy relies on the fact that a painting is a constructed object, not an accidental image. Because watercolor is a strictly transparent medium, you cannot hide structural mistakes under thick layers of opaque paint. To execute professional results, every student must learn my signature 3-step framework:
The Skeleton (Grid & Proportion): We start by engineering the bones. We do not outline objects; we map the spatial arrangement, measure proportions, and scale the geometric planes. This guarantees your composition has absolute structural integrity before a single drop of water touches the paper.
The Muscle (Value & Form): Here, we establish the physical presence and three-dimensional weight of the subject. In watercolor, you must think in reverse by preserving the white of the paper for your brightest highlights. We execute the “Squint Test” to read the structural environment as strict masses of light and shadow, carefully controlling the water-to-pigment ratio to build form.
The Skin (Depth & Atmosphere): The final pass is where we dictate the logic of light. We investigate edge control by managing hard, sharp edges on dry paper versus soft, bleeding edges using wet-in-wet techniques. We assess precise values, push the atmospheric depth, and refine the focal point that makes the final piece structurally sound.
The Science of Color Logic & Water Mechanics
In this studio, you will stop relying on “convenience colors” straight from the tube. We do not use opaque whites or chalky mixtures to force a highlight. Instead, we master the Limited Palette and the physical chemistry of the medium. You will learn how to read a pigment’s specific transparency, staining power, and granulation. By understanding exactly how a professional-grade red and blue interact chemically with water, you will learn to mix an infinite spectrum of luminous, vibrating washes that pre-mixed colors can never replicate.
To register using Zelle, please text at 214-776-7905 to confirm seat availability. Once your spot is verified, I will provide you with the Zelle payment details.
The Materials Advantage
Professional-Grade Materials Included
One of the primary barriers for new students is the hidden cost and confusion of navigating art supply stores. At Art Be You, I eliminate that friction. Your tuition provides complete access to the exact high-end materials required for rigorous academic study.
What we provide at every station:
Watercolor Sets: We equip every easel with Van Gogh watercolor sets. Unlike cheap craft-store paints, these are highly pigmented, studio-grade watercolors manufactured in the Netherlands. You will experience the exact tinting strength, lightfastness, and dispersion required to execute professional color mixing and clean washes.
The Toolset: Access to specialized watercolor brushes, including large wash brushes and precision rounds that are engineered strictly to hold a heavy water capacity and snap back to a sharp point.
The Paper: You cannot execute academic watercolor mechanics on cheap wood-pulp paper. We provide professional 100% cotton watercolor paper that absorbs water evenly, allowing you to lift pigment and execute clean washes without the surface tearing or buckling.
Instructions: For complex projects, I provide pre-sketched structural foundations on your paper. This removes the anxiety of the blank page, allowing you to focus 100 percent of your attention on managing the water-to-pigment ratio and mastering the brushstroke.
About the Master: Bartosz Beda, MA
Twenty Years of Investigation
When you study at Art Be You, you aren’t just taking a class; you are entering into a dialogue with twenty years of professional experience.
Bartosz Beda holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Manchester School of Art and has been recognized as a “One to Watch” by the BBC. His work is held in private and public collections globally, and he has completed prestigious residencies, most recently at Angelo State University.
Bartosz has served as an adjunct professor at institutions like Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the University of Idaho. He founded Art Be You to bring that same level of university-grade, rigorous instruction to the Richardson and Dallas community. His goal is to help you build a “System of Seeing” that stays with you long after you leave the studio.
Location and Contact
Art Be You Studio
500 East Arapaho Rd, Suite 101
Richardson, TX 75081
(Conveniently located near Arapaho and 75, serving Dallas, Plano, and the DFW Metroplex)
FAQ & Enrollment
Q: I cannot even draw a stick figure. Is this for me?
A: Yes. This course is strictly designed for absolute beginners. We provide the structural scaffolding so you can focus entirely on mastering the water and pigment, removing the anxiety of starting with a blank page.
Q: I have heard watercolor is an unforgiving medium. Is it too difficult for a beginner?
A: Watercolor is only difficult when you do not understand the mechanics of water control. We teach you the strict steps to manage the ratio of water to pigment, completely removing the unpredictability from the process.
Q: I haven’t painted since high school (or ever). Is this too advanced for me?
A: Not at all. I meet every student exactly where they are. By teaching the 3-Step System—Skeleton, Muscle, and Skin—you will learn the physical mechanics of the medium in a logical order. Most of my students start with zero experience and are shocked by the structural integrity of their work after just 4 weeks.
Q: What is the studio atmosphere like?
A: The studio is quiet, disciplined, and highly professional. We prioritize “Deep Work.” While the environment is supportive, the focus remains on intense concentration and the shared silence required for Academic Fine Art instruction.
Q: Why a 4-week course instead of a single workshop?
A: Real mechanical skills require sustained repetition. Meeting once a week for three hours allows your brain the necessary time to process the “System of Seeing.” You are not just painting a picture; you are actively rewiring your observation skills.
Q: Do I need to bring anything?
A: Just yourself. I supply everything required: professional 100% cotton paper, artist-grade watercolors, specialized brushes, drafting boards, and aprons. I recommend wearing studio clothes you do not mind getting dirty.
Q: Why is the 4-week course $300?
A: Generic art classes sell casual entertainment. At Art Be You, you are receiving university-level Academic Fine Art instruction and direct mentorship. Furthermore, watercolor requires highly specific, expensive tools to function correctly. The $300 tuition completely covers the ongoing cost of supplying you with premium 100% cotton paper and watercolor sets for every single session – materials that would cost you hundreds of dollars to purchase at retail. We are an Academy dedicated to your actual growth as an artist.