Workshop
“Watercolour Masterclass”
Understanding the 4 pilars
With Alvaro Castagnet
18, 19 & 20 May 2026
The atelier will have the privilege of welcoming Alvaro Castagnet, the internationally renowned master of watercolor, for a high-level masterclass and an intensive three-day learning experience. An extraordinary opportunity not to be missed under any circumstances.
18, 19 and 20 May 2026
At Atelier d’Arts Tekin
55, rue Saint-Jean
Brussels
Welcoming Alvaro Castagnet to the atelier is a rare event. Widely regarded as one of the great contemporary masters of expressive watercolor, Castagnet has influenced generations of painters through his pictorial energy, his freedom of gesture, and his masterful sense of composition. He has received some of the most prestigious international awards across several continents. His public demonstrations are known worldwide for their intensity and their remarkable pedagogical clarity. Over the course of three exceptional days, participants will have the opportunity to work directly with him, observe the way he thinks about painting, and understand how watercolor can become at once spontaneous, structured, and deeply expressive.
This intensive three-day workshop is designed as a complete immersion into the world of watercolor. With six hours of work each day, including a lunch break, participants will enter a learning process that is both demanding and highly stimulating. The goal is not merely to produce images, but to understand the mechanisms that make a painting truly alive and convincing.
Schedule
The workshop will take place on Monday May 18, Tuesday May 19, and Wednesday May 20, 2026 at the atelier.
Daily schedule:
9:30 AM — Welcome with coffee and croissants
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM — Workshop
On May 20, after the workshop, we will gather for a closing aperitif at the atelier to celebrate the end of these three days together.
Opening Demonstration
Each day begins with a philosophical introduction by Alvaro Castagnet. This moment sets the perspective for understanding his vision of painting and the spirit in which he approaches watercolor: a practice that is at once instinctive, bold, and deeply structured. The introduction is followed by a demonstration painted in a single continuous flow, a “one go”, allowing participants to directly observe how he constructs a painting.
The demonstration focuses on composition and on the understanding of the four fundamental pillars of expressive watercolor. These principles form the foundation of his method: color relationships, tonal range, forms and shapes, and the treatment of edges. Participants will learn how to make quick decisions, simplify their subject, and organize their painting to achieve the strongest possible visual impact.
Your turn to paint under Alvaro’s guidance
After the demonstration, participants begin painting. The morning is devoted to personal work, during which Alvaro Castagnet moves around the studio, observes the works in progress, and offers individual advice to each participant.
After the lunch break, the day continues with a second demonstration. Participants are then invited to begin a new watercolor for the afternoon session. Alvaro accompanies and supervises the work until the end of the day, offering precise guidance and making corrections directly on the paintings in progress.
Understanding the 4 Pillars and Achieving Decisive Technical Progress
Understanding the Four Pillars and Achieving Decisive Technical Progress
Alvaro Castagnet will explain the four pillars of watercolor. All aspects of the medium will be explored:
• composition and perspective
• color mixing and color relationships
• lost and found edges
• values and the full tonal range within a painting
Texture, the presence of figures, atmosphere, and all the elements that bring a watercolor to life will also be explored.
At the end of the three days, each participant will leave not only with several paintings completed during the workshop, but above all with a much clearer understanding of their strengths and weaknesses in painting. The workshop is designed to trigger breakthroughs, build confidence, and enable participants to progress quickly in an atmosphere that is both demanding, generous, and deeply inspiring.
List of materials
Please find in the attached document the list of materials requested by Alvaro Castagnet. Colors, papers, brushes,… you will find everything you need here to enjoy the best possible workshop experience.
To learn more about Alvaro Castagnet
This workshop offers a rare opportunity to work alongside Alvaro Castagnet, a major figure in contemporary watercolor. Over the course of three days, participants will discover an approach to painting built on clarity, decisive action, and visual impact.
Through his demonstrations and direct guidance, he shares a method where every gesture matters. Color, value, structure, and edges become precise tools for constructing an image that is strong, clear, and vibrant.
The experience helps participants understand how to focus on the essential, eliminate the unnecessary, and give watercolor an immediate presence. It is a demanding yet liberating practice that transforms the way one observes and paints.
I am very happy to offer this new international master workshop in our wonderful atelier, and I strongly encourage you to take part and boost your learning with Alvaro.
As places are limited, I recommend not waiting too long to register.
If you have any additional questions about this exceptional workshop, please feel free to contact me at any time.
If the workshop is already full, please send me an email at mestan@me.com to be placed on the waiting list.