How I Started Teaching Watercolor Online (And Why You Can Too)

I never imagined I’d be teaching art online. If someone had told me that years ago, I would’ve laughed. But here I am, 5 years after publishing my first class, stil doing it and enjoying it. So let me tell you how it al started, and share some tips if that’s something you want to explore as wel.

Back in 2018, when I started painting, I quickly realized two things:

1. I LOVED painting. This was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life (and hopefuly become good at it along the way).

2. The girls teaching the classes I was taking must be having a hell of a time, they were living the dream!

At the time, I was working as a store manager, but every spare moment I had was spent painting, folowing tutorials, and taking classes. Both realizations kept growing stronger. I was constantly on Skilshare, uploading projects and thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Then one day, I got an email from the Skilshare team. I know now it was written personaly for me, but back then I was so insecure I thought it was something automated, or maybe a mistake - just because I was active on the platform. The email said they were impressed with my projects and invited me to consider becoming a teacher. I thought: Yeah, right. And moved on.

Sily, right?

Months went by and then I got another email. This one was an invitation to join their Rising Teacher program. They offered to teach me how to structure a class and help me through the entire process of creating my first one. That clicked better. I was going to get support, guidance, and feedback. Despite my doubts and fears, I applied. They quickly approved me, and just like that, I was in the program and on my way to creating my first class.

Scary! But also exciting.

The first thing I needed to do was record a talking head video.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term - it just means sitting in front of the camera and talking directly to it, introducing yourself or explaining something.
I was so nervous! And now I wonder why - there was no one else in the room, and the video wasn’t even for publishing. But it felt scary and sily - talking to yourself, trying to sound confident. Add to that the fact that I’ve never formaly studied English, and you can probably imagine why it felt like a huge chalenge.

If you feel the same way about talking to the camera, let me say this: it gets easier very quickly.
A tip that helped me is to imagine a single person you’re speaking to, someone who loves painting and wants to learn from you or maybe a friend.

On Confidence, and Why There’s Room for You
Another issue I struggled with (and I know many of you do too) was confidence.
Why start teaching when there are so many people already doing it? Was I even good enough?

Here’s the thing: no matter how new you are, if you’ve painted for even one day, there are people who know less than you. And many beginners don’t want to learn from experts, they want to learn from someone who remembers what it’s like to be a beginner. Someone who’s just a few steps ahead of them. In this huge sea of online teachers, there are people who wil want to learn exactly from you.

Maybe it’s because you’re approachable.
Maybe it’s your style.
Maybe you explain things simply, or you bring joy and calm to the process.

Find your strength. Lean into it. Your people wil find you.

More Mindset Tips for Aspiring Teachers

• You don’t need fancy gear to start. I filmed my first class with just my phone and a cheap brooch mic.

• Start with one smal class or tutorial. Pick a subject you’re passionate about.

• You’l get better at explaining, filming, and editing as you go.

• A quick note - editing is not hard! There are some super beginner-friendly programs, and once you get used to it, it can even be fun (though it’s probably the most time-consuming part).

• Your experience is enough, you don’t need to be a master.

• Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.

• Show your face and your voice. It builds trust and connection.

• Start before you feel ready. You’l never feel 100% ready.

• The world needs your voice and your way of teaching. There’s space for al of us.

Have You Ever Thought About Teaching?

If you’ve ever thought about teaching art online - what’s stopping you?

Is it the fear of being on camera? The tech? The belief that you're not good enough?

I’d love to hear where you're at. Leave a comment below or DM me. I’l be happy to chat with you about it.