WET JANUARY / 31 Days of Watercolor Q&A

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Let’s get painting!

Wet January is a transformative 31-day watercolor painting challenge starting January 1st 2026, taught by Jessie Kanelos Weiner, illustrator (Vogue, LVMH, The New Yorker) and author of Thinking in Watercolor (Artisan Books).

What can I expect? Every day of January 2026, you will receive a newsletter with the watercolor prompt at 4PM CET. These are meant to be loose and fun. The goal is not perfection. It’s about producing as much work in the month as possible to see real progress and to get you using watercolor more freely. Once you’ve completed the project of the day, upload it to the chat to the day’s dedicated thread. Here you can get feedback from both myself and fellow artists. And I’ll offer prizes from time to time. Hesitant to share your work? It’s super vulnerable! However this is a safe space for connection and encouragement.

What if I can’t commit to 30 days? I understand that life is complicated. But you’re welcome to join with any level of engagement. Even if you can’t deliver, the prompts will be free for 3 months on Substack. You can take them at your own pace and still upload to the thread.

What do the prompts actually look like? Some prompts are more about flexing your watercolor skills. Some are about experimentation. Others are more about developing ideas. Not happy with what you’ve done? Brush it off as part of the process.

Why watercolor? It’s not just an artistic medium; it is the ultimate act of the present. And it's a healthy form of escapism that everyone deserves in these scary times. Many people have a watercolor set at home collecting dust, but don’t know how to take their work one step further. I’ve been there and I’m here to share ideas big and small to get you painting again.

I have no experience. Is that ok? Of course. And you’re courageous for giving this a shot. These exercises are meant for all levels.

What do I do if I get stuck? Good question. It’s a natural part of learning any new skill. Many of the exercises are meant to be done quickly to avoid activating your inner self-critic. As a professional artist working for over a decade, oftentimes I’ll paint something I’m not happy with. But it if I can identify one thing I like about it, I can carry that moving forward in the next attempt. But unless you create the work to begin with, you can’t edit it down and make those choices. And the best part about doing a month-long practice is connecting with other fellow artists. If you upload your work to the daily thread, you may get surprising feedback to help you along.

What materials do I need?

• Watercolor set with at least 10 colors (primary, secondary and black). I mention above they should be pro-quality, but use the best you can afford. I started my career with Winsor & Newton but now I use Kuretake watercolors.

• Watercolor paper and a sketchbook

• A big bowl/vase/vessel of clean, transparent water

• Paper towels

• A clean palette or mixing surface like a dinner plate

• A round watercolor brush, a few H pencils and an eraser

• Drawing gum, liquid latex product to mask paper from watercolor

• Patience and a willingness to try new things

How is this different from other 30-day challenges?

There are many wonderful 30-day challenges on Substack and elsewhere. But this one is dedicated 100% to watercolor. My teaching style is not prescriptive. It’s more about starting where you are and trusting the process.

Photo Christine Oreskovich

Who am I? And why am I doing this?

I’m a watercolor illustrator working for clients like Benjamin Moore, Tiffany & Co and The New Yorker and I just published a book called Thinking in Watercolor with Artisan Books. I also teaching drawing and illustration at a university level and host watercolor retreats in Paris. I love unlocking students’ potential and creating a safe space for creative expression. I’ve loved drawing my way through a 30-day practice in the past and thought “why not do one dedicated to what I know best…watercolor”.

I’m running this experience completely on my own. I’ll do my best responding to most of your messages and comments, but please be patient and kind. Feel free to follow up if need be.

Is this free? Wet January is free for all. But if you’d like to access the threads and share your work with me and others, you need to be a paid subscriber. Putting this together is time-consuming on my end and I appreciate your kind support. Even if you’re joining along for free, please consider sharing with a friend or ordering my book Thinking in Watercolor (Artisan Books). If you’re struggling financially but would still like to commit to this special 31 days of watercolor, drop me a DM and I’ll offer you the month for free.

Thanks so much for joining along. And don’t drink the watercolor water.