Botanical Watercolor Workshop in Amsterdam - 2026

April 27, 2026

A Creative Spring Experience

There are moments in the creative journey that stay with you quietly, long after the paper has dried and the brushes have been put away.

This spring, during our Botanical Watercolor Workshop in Amsterdam, we spent five immersive days painting, observing, and learning in the heart of tulip season - with mornings in the studio, afternoons filled with color studies, and unforgettable inspiration gathered among the blooming fields of the Netherlands.

Held at Creative Point Amsterdam, the workshop became a space of deep focus and quiet creativity. Outside, spring unfolded in vibrant color; inside, we translated that beauty onto paper through brushstrokes, observation, and practice.

What followed over those five days was more than a workshop - it was a shared experience of artistic growth, inspiration, and connection.

Here is a look into what our days together felt like.

Day 1: A Beginning Full of Energy and Emotion

The first day is always special.

I always feel a mix of excitement and nervousness, making sure everything is ready and that each student has what they need for the days ahead. There’s something very meaningful about finally meeting in person - especially when so many students have been part of my online community.

Some of them say, “I hear your voice every day at home… but seeing you here is completely different.”

That first day is full of emotions - excitement, curiosity, and a sense of connection beginning to form.

We start slowly.
Getting to know the materials, practicing brushstrokes, exploring color mixing.

The tables are filled with fresh flowers, and everyone chooses what draws them in, placing it beside their paper, observing, comparing, and beginning to understand color in a more natural way.

There is no rush to create something finished.
Only time to settle into the process.

Day 2: Stepping Into Color and Inspiration

On the second day, we step outside the studio and into the beauty of Keukenhof Gardens.

It’s not only about seeing the tulips - it’s about experiencing them.
The colors, the scale, the atmosphere of being surrounded by flowers in full bloom.

Later, we visited a private tulip grower, where the experience became even more special. Unlike the curated landscapes, here we could see an incredible variety - different shapes, textures, and over 200 types of tulips.

We were invited to walk through, observe closely, and even pick flowers ourselves.

Those small moments, holding a flower, studying its form - stay with you when you return to paint.

Days 3 - 5: Deep Focus and Growth

The following days are dedicated fully to painting.

This workshop is intentionally more focused and immersive. Compared to other locations, Amsterdam becomes a space where we dedicate ourselves completely to learning and practicing. Even lunch is brought into the studio, so there are no distractions - just time to paint.

I paint alongside the students, step by step.

We don’t aim for perfect finished pieces.
Instead, we explore:

a single leaf
the curve of a petal
the structure of a stem
how color shifts in light

Students paint, observe, ask questions, as many as they need. There are no wrong questions here.

Around the third day, something begins to shift.

At first, it can feel overwhelming — there is a lot to take in. But then, small moments of understanding appear. Someone pauses and says, “Now it makes sense.”

And from that moment, everything starts to flow more naturally.

Being in a workshop is different from watching a tutorial. You can’t pause or rewind — but you begin to trust your own process more. It’s like adding momentum to your learning, allowing you to grow faster and more confidently.

Working With the Right Materials

During the workshop, everything is provided — so students can fully focus on the experience without worrying about preparation.

We work with high-quality watercolor paper, carefully selected brushes for botanical detail, ceramic palettes, and a curated watercolor set with professional pigments. Simple tools like pencils, erasers, and paper towels are all part of the process.

Many of these materials come from my own collection — tools I’ve tested and trust in my own work.

It also creates a shared experience — when everyone works with the same materials, it becomes easier to guide, demonstrate, and learn together.

More Than Painting

What stays with me most after these workshops is not only the progress in painting, but the atmosphere we create together.

The quiet focus in the room.
The rhythm of brush on paper.
The moments of connection between people who arrived as strangers.

One participant shared afterwards:

“It was everything 🌷✨
Thank you so much, Kristine. It was a wonderful, creative, and inspirational time.
So grateful for these days of art, growth, and connection.”

These words always stay with me.