Advancing with Watercolor: Working with…: is this $25 stack worth it for Drawing & Painting?

Gary Tucker’s “Summer Path” watercolor course: how to finally paint green that doesn’t look flat

Green is the color that breaks more watercolor paintings than any other. You reach for the tube of sap green, lay it down, and suddenly your foliage looks like a Kermit the Frog costume—flat, neon, and completely disconnected from the rest of the composition. The problem isn’t your talent; it’s that most artists treat green as a single, static hue rather than a dynamic family of colors that shifts with light, season, and distance. Gary Tucker’s Advancing with Watercolor: Working with Green “Summer Path” attacks that exact frustration. For $25, you get a full demonstration of a stone bridge and forest scene, a rapid-fire “sprint” version of the same painting, and a 12-page PDF that breaks down every step. It’s not a generic “learn watercolor” intro; it’s a targeted deep-dive into building effective, varied greens using a limited palette. If your landscapes are stuck in a visual rut, this is the kind of specific, problem-solving resource that can actually change how you mix your colors.

Quick answer

What you’re actually buying

At first glance, $25 for three videos and a PDF might seem like a standard online course price, but the value here lies in the specificity of the content. You aren’t just getting a “how to paint trees” video; you are getting a masterclass in the Principle of Variety. Tucker demonstrates how to take a base green—specifically a dark sap green—and break it down using reds, yellows, and blues to create the subtle shifts found in nature. The core deliverable is the 60-minute HD demonstration of “Summer Path,” where he paints a small stone bridge and a forest, moving from back to front and light to dark. But the real gem is the “Sprint” video, a 35-minute spontaneous version of the same painting. This side-by-side approach is rare in paid tutorials; it shows you the deliberate, planned process and then the intuitive, fast process, giving you two different ways to approach the same subject. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

The 12-page PDF, titled “AWW Color and Transparency - working with green,” serves as a visual companion to the videos. It documents the creation of the demo step-by-step, which is incredibly useful for pausing and reviewing specific washes or edge treatments. You also get the source image used in the painting, which is a nice touch for those who want to study the reference material alongside the artist’s interpretation. The palette is intentionally limited—sap green dark, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, yellow light, and ultramarine blue—forcing you to rely on mixing rather than relying on a tube of pre-mixed green. This constraint is actually the lesson: by limiting your options, you learn to see how red makes green more appealing and how hard edges versus wet-into-wet transitions change the feel of the foliage. It’s a tight, focused package that doesn’t waste your time on fluff. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

Why it’s on our radar

This course stands out because it solves a very specific, very common problem: the “green gap.” Many watercolor courses cover color theory broadly, but few dive this deep into the mechanics of mixing a secondary hue. Tucker’s approach is observational and practical, focusing on asking questions like “What is the mother color?” and “Does this green have more yellow or red?” rather than just handing you a formula. The inclusion of the “Sprint” video is a unique value-add that most competitors don’t offer; it bridges the gap between careful planning and spontaneous execution, which is crucial for artists who want to paint faster but still maintain quality. For a $25 price point, getting a full demo, a sprint version, a detailed PDF, and the source image is an exceptional ratio of content to cost. It’s a specialized tool for a specific skill, and that specificity is what makes it worth the buy. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

One buyer captures the transformative nature of the course perfectly, noting that after 40 years of painting, they felt “reborn” after working through the lessons. They specifically highlighted the “Summer Path” demo as “perfection” and expressed a particular love for the sprint videos, which suggests that the rapid-fire format resonates with experienced artists looking to refine their technique. Gumroad reviews

Another reviewer pointed out that using a limited palette can be challenging, but this class made it “make sense” and led to “great results.” This is a key takeaway for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the sheer number of colors in a watercolor pan set; Tucker’s method simplifies the process without sacrificing depth. Gumroad reviews

What actually matters

Before you hit the buy button, consider your current skill level. This course assumes you already know how to handle a brush and manage water on paper. If you are still struggling with basic washes or getting muddy edges, you might need a foundational course first. However, if you can paint a decent landscape but your greens always look “off,” this is the exact resource you need. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

Pay attention to the palette requirements. The course uses a specific set of colors: a dark green (sap green dark is recommended, but any dark green works), a red (burnt sienna), a yellow ochre, a yellow light, and a blue (ultramarine). If you have a different palette, you will need to be comfortable substituting colors. The principles of mixing remain the same, but the specific hues might require adjustment. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

The format is video-centric, so make sure you have a way to watch the HD videos on a screen large enough to see the brushwork details. The PDF is a great supplement, but the videos are where the real teaching happens. You’ll want to be able to pause and rewind frequently, especially during the “Sprint” video where the pace is faster. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

Finally, consider the time commitment. The total video runtime is around 100 minutes, but you’ll likely spend more time practicing the drills and exercises mentioned in the course. This is not a “watch and forget” type of resource; it’s a hands-on workshop that requires you to pick up your brush and apply the techniques immediately. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

Mid-check

If you’ve been struggling with flat, unconvincing greens in your watercolor landscapes, this is a low-risk, high-reward purchase. The $25 price tag is reasonable for the depth of content, and the specific focus on green mixing makes it a valuable addition to any artist’s library. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

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FAQ

Is this course suitable for complete beginners? Not really. While the principles are clear, the course assumes you have basic watercolor skills. If you are new to the medium, you might want to start with a more foundational course before diving into specific color mixing techniques. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

Do I need to buy the exact same paints as Gary Tucker? No. The course uses a limited palette, but you can substitute with similar colors from your own set. The key is to have a dark green, a red, two yellows, and a blue. The specific brands and shades can vary, but the mixing principles will still apply. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

How long do I have access to the course? Since this is a digital purchase from Gumroad, you typically have lifetime access to the files you download. You can rewatch the videos and refer to the PDF as many times as you need. (Advancing with Watercolor: Working)

Bottom line

Gary Tucker’s Advancing with Watercolor: Working with Green “Summer Path” is a focused, high-quality resource for any watercolorist who wants to improve their foliage. The combination of a full demo, a sprint version, and a detailed PDF makes it an exceptional value for $25. If your greens are flat, this course will teach you how to break them down and add the variety that makes them come alive. It’s a specific, practical lesson that delivers on its promise, making it a worthwhile investment for your artistic growth.