One-Day Class:
Monica Austin
Painting Your Story
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 am- 4:00 pm
Venue:
Marsh Lane Baptist Church
10716 Marsh Ln
Dallas, TX 75229
Price: $115 for members/$130 for non-members (includes Supply Fee)
Monica Austin will lead participants in an SWS one-day class, diving into the mechanics of storytelling specifically in watercolor. Learn how to effectively transform your memories and emotions into visual stories for better results.
"Every painting begins with a spark—an image, a memory, a feeling—and becomes a story only you can tell,” Monica says. "This class is about uncovering that story and letting it guide every brushstroke. Where do you want to take your viewer? We’ll explore how story and emotion shape composition, and how values bring depth, focus, and meaning to your work. Through shared exercises, you’ll see how a single subject can shift dramatically when viewed through different narratives. Then the focus turns to you: what do you want YOUR painting to say?”
Supply Fee Basic supply fee ($15 included in registration) covers the special paper and paints we will use during class.
NOTE:
Monica will also provide all other supplies including palettes, brush, water containers, pipettes, spray bottles, rags, pencils, erasers, tape, etc. for just $10 for the day—simply email Monica at monica@mocah.studio after registration. You can walk in worry-free; everything you need will be provided.
Monica Austin is a Texas-based watercolorist whose work blends precision, story, and luminous color. With a background in creative design—specializing in branding and custom interior art features—she brings a refined sense of composition and visual identity to every painting. Beginning in graphite, Monica developed a deep love for structure and value before diving headlong into watercolor during Covid, embracing the medium’s fluidity and challenge.
Her artistic voice has been shaped through study with masters including Laurin McCracken, Thomas Schaller, and Randy Meador. As she continues toward her first signature, Monica’s work has been juried into exhibitions with National Watercolor Society, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, and Watercolor Art Society - Houston.
“I’ve always seen in high definition,” she says—a perspective reflected in her fascination with macrophotography, tiny details, and the quiet narratives carried in a single expression or object. While known for her crisp realism and strong value design, Monica is intentionally pushing toward looseness, exploring the magic that happens when control gives way to flow.
A dedicated educator, she teaches weekly classes and leads workshops throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth area and neighboring states, emphasizing fundamentals, color theory, and building paintings on a foundation of powerful value composition.
