Brian Tai 2-Day Watercolour Masterclass

Get ready for a 2-Day Intensive Journey from Technique to Artistic Expression

The Brian Tai Watercolour Masterclass is a 2-day intensive programme designed for artistsand art educators who want to take their watercolour painting to a higher artistic level. Led by professional watercolour artist Brian Tai, the masterclass goes beyond paintingtechniques. It focuses on the artistic principles and decision-making behind a strong and memorable painting.

Through theory, demonstrations, guided painting sessions and discussions, participants will learn how to analyse, simplify and transform a reference image into a more expressive and visually powerful artwork. 

The masterclass is particularly suitable for art teachers, experienced watercolour artists andserious participants who wish to strengthen their: 

• Composition

• Colour control

• Value and tonal understanding

• Shape design

• Brushwork and edges

• Visual storytelling

• Artistic decision-making

DAY 1 MORNING SESSION - The 6 Key Elements of a Masterpiece

Participants will be introduced to Brian Tai’s framework of 6 key elements found in strong and memorable artworks: 

1. Spirit & Resonance: Understanding how a painting communicates beyond the subject itself. How do we create emotion, atmosphere and a sense of connection? 

2. Mood & Interest Points — The Soul of the Painting: Identifying the focal point and creating a visual story that gives the painting its character.

3. Shape & Line: Understand how the arrangement of shapes and lines creates a strong composition.

4. Brushstrokes & Edges: Exploring expressive brushwork and the relationship between hard, soft and lost edges.

5. Suitability & Value: Understanding whether the chosen subject, colours and tonal values serve the painting effectively.

6. Connection, Unity, Composition, Space & Depth: Learning how all the elements work together to create harmony, visual flow and a convincing sense of space.

Additional Concepts

Participants will also explore:

• The importance of a dominant colour in creating colour harmony

• Shape design and its role in composition

• Expressive and intentional brushwork

• The relationship between perfection and imperfection

• How to simplify without losing the essence of the subject

• How all 6 elements can work together within a single painting

Demonstration
Brian Tai will demonstrate how to develop an artwork by applying the 6 key elements, showing how artistic decisions are made from the initial concept through to the final painting.

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DAY 1 — AFTERNOON SESSION - STREET SCENE

From Reference Photo to Masterpiece-Level Artwork

A step-by-step guided painting session based on a street scene reference photograph.

Participants will learn how to:

• Analyse a reference before starting

• Identify the most important visual elements

• Apply the 6 key elements to a real painting

• Strengthen composition and focal points

• Simplify unnecessary details

• Control colour and value

• Create expressive brushwork

• Develop atmosphere and storytelling

• Make intentional artistic decisions rather than simply copying the photograph. The session will follow Brian Tai’s demonstration, with explanations throughout the painting process.

Q&A Discussion

An open discussion and Q&A session will allow participants to clarify techniques, artistic decisions and approaches to their own work. 

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DAY 2 MORNING SESSION -CAFÉ SCENE — The Power of Value

Participants will explore how to create a monochrome masterpiece-level artwork. The session focuses on the principle: Value creates structure; colour creates atmosphere

Participants will learn:• The importance of value control

• Tonal contrast and visual hierarchy

• How to identify the lightest and darkest areas

• How to simplify complex café interiors

• How to create depth through value

• How to apply the 6 key elements to an interior scene

• How to create mood without relying heavily on colour

This session provides a different subject and environment from Day 1, allowing participants to understand how the same artistic principles can be applied in a completely different situation. 

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DAY 2 — AFTERNOON SESSION TOP-VIEW STREET SCENE

The final session focuses on transforming a top-view street scene photograph into a stronger and more expressive painting.

Participants will explore:

• How to analyse and redesign the composition• Creating stronger visual impact

• Understanding perspective in a top-view composition

• Simplifying shapes and details

• Selecting what to include and what to leave out

• Removing unnecessary elements

• Adding elements that strengthen storytelling

• Modifying colour to enhance the mood

• Adjusting the atmosphere to serve the artwork

• Applying all 6 key elements to the final painting

Brian Tai will share his personal experience and approach to deciding what to keep, what to remove and what to change when transforming a photograph into an artistic interpretation. 

Final Q&A & Discussion

The masterclass concludes with an open Q&A and discussion covering artistic decision-making, composition, colour, value, brushwork and the development of a personal painting style.

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EVENT DETAILS
Date: 1 & 2 January 2027 (Friday and Saturday)Time: 9:30am to 4:30pm (12 hours total)Early bird fees until 20 October 2026: RM1,600 (usual price RM1,800) Location: Awegallery, Taman Paramount Petaling JayaLunch and light refreshments will be provided on both days.

WHAT TO BRINGWatercolour paper will be provided, participants to bring their own brushes, watercolours, sketching tools such as eraser, pencils, watercolour cups (full list will be made available to registered participants).

About the Instructor

Brian Tai is an artist cum math/physics tutor with over 26 years of experience in watercolor, acrylic and oil painting.

Involvement in ArtAdministrator of Sketchwalk Kuala Lumpur

Member of Scenic Ranger (Singapore )

Exhibition Participation

Ecoworld “Journey of art “ exhibition 2017

Blossom Art Festival 2017

Sketchwalk Kuala Lumpur 3rd Anniversary membership exhibition 2017

Incheon Global Art Exhibition 2017