Michael Solovyev
A Watercolour Studio Week with Michael Solovyev
29 June – 4 July 2026
This masterclass program has finished.
About the Instructor
Michael Solovyev is often called a “sunny watercolorist” for his light-filled, transparent works that seem to glow from within. With a background in classical academic art, years of experience as a head theater stage designer, and an oil painting practice, light has become the central subject of his watercolor work. He believes that any subject can become art when revealed through the right light.
Michael sees art as a way of observing the world and sharing that way of seeing with others. His theatrical background strongly shapes his visual thinking: in theater, light defines space, mood, and meaning more than objects themselves. This understanding continues to guide his approach to composition, atmosphere, and storytelling in watercolor.
Watercolor fascinates Michael because it is a true collaboration with the medium. Water flows, changes, and exists in time, introducing unpredictability and life into the process. This element of co-creation, experimentation, and controlled risk is what drew him from oil painting to watercolor and continues to define his artistic practice today.
About the Event
This summer, NEST Aquarel Atelier Amsterdam hosts a special series of masterclasses with Michael Solovyev, one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary watercolor, known worldwide for his mastery of light, atmosphere, and expressive simplicity.
The masterclasses take place in a bright studio inside a historic canal-side building in the heart of Amsterdam. Surrounded by water and quiet streets, just steps from the Rembrandt House Museum and the Waag, the location offers a rare balance of artistic focus and urban inspiration. Amsterdam Central Station and metro connections are within easy walking distance.
Across the week, Michael leads three masterclasses — Figure, Cityscape, and Atmospheric Landscape. Each explores a different subject through the same artistic lens: presence, light, and emotional clarity. Rather than a fixed sequence, they offer multiple entry points into Michael’s way of seeing and working.
Every masterclass combines live demonstrations with guided hands-on practice, allowing participants to closely observe Michael’s process and immediately apply it in their own painting.
You may attend one masterclass or combine several. Early-bird pricing is available for a limited time, and reduced rates apply when booking multiple masterclasses — see participation options below.
An invitation to paint this summer in one of Europe’s most inspiring cities, in a calm, light-filled studio, guided by a true master of watercolor.
Masterclasses
Expressive Figure in Watercolour: Movement, Character & Gesture
29 June – 1 July 2026 (3 days)
Learn how to capture movement, gesture, and personality in watercolor figure painting through live demonstrations and guided practice with Michael Solovyev
Cityscape in Watercolour: Clarity, Rhythm & Perspective
2 – 3 July 2026 (2 days)
Learn how to simplify urban scenes, suggest perspective with ease, and keep your cityscapes fresh and expressive in watercolor
Atmospheric Landscape in Watercolour: Depth, Mood & Space
3 – 4 July 2026 (2 days)
Learn how to create depth, mood, and emotional atmosphere in watercolor landscapes using simple colour and tonal strategies