Landscape Workbook vs Sunlit Forest eBook: Which Watercolor Learning Resource Fits You?

Quick Answer

Choose the Landscape Workbook by Sarah Cray if you want guided practice with custom outlines and step-by-step written instructions to build confidence. Choose the Sunlit Forest eBook if you are ready to move beyond outlines and learn composition, spatial depth, and light source through a full scene with video support. Both are self-paced, but they serve different stages of your watercolor journey.

When you are learning watercolor on your own schedule, the format you choose shapes how quickly you improve. The Landscape Workbook by Sarah Cray and the Sunlit Forest eBook are two popular options from Letsmakeart, but they take different approaches to teaching. One gives you ready-to-paint outlines and bite-sized projects; the other walks you through a complete painting with attention to composition and light.

This comparison breaks down what each resource includes, who it is best for, and the trade-offs so you can pick the one that fits your current skills and the kind of practice you enjoy.

What You Get in the Landscape Workbook

The Landscape Workbook by Sarah Cray is a physical book filled with custom outlines drawn by Sarah herself. Each outline pairs with simple step-by-step written instructions, so you can either match Sarah's example or bring your own version to life. This format removes the pressure of drawing and lets you focus on brushwork, color mixing, and building confidence through repetition.

Because the outlines are pre-drawn, you spend more time painting and less time sketching. That makes it a strong choice if you are still getting comfortable with watercolor techniques or if you want a low-stress way to practice landscapes.

• Great for building muscle memory with repeated small projects
• No drawing skills required—just paint the outlines
• Physical book means no screen time while you paint

What You Get in the Sunlit Forest eBook

The Sunlit Forest eBook is a digital download created for the watercolorist ready for the next step. Across 35+ pages, Sarah Cray teaches the basic rules of composition, how to add spatial depth, how a changing light source affects your subject, and includes a step-by-step guide to painting a Sunlit Forest scene. It also includes video instruction, so you can watch techniques in action.

This eBook assumes you are comfortable with basic watercolor and want to understand why a painting works, not just copy a project. It is a deeper dive into the decision-making behind a landscape painting.

• Learn composition, depth, and light—transferable skills for any scene
• Video support helps you see brushwork and color application
• Digital format works on any device, no shipping wait

Key Differences That Affect Your Learning

The biggest difference is the level of independence each resource expects. The Landscape Workbook gives you a scaffold—outlines and written steps—so you can focus on painting without worrying about drawing or composition. The Sunlit Forest eBook removes that scaffold and asks you to think about composition, depth, and light, which builds skills you can apply to your own reference photos later.

Another difference is format. The workbook is a physical book you can hold and flip through; the eBook is a digital file you view on a screen, with video components. If you prefer learning away from screens, the workbook has an edge. If you like watching techniques and having instant access, the eBook may suit you better.

• Workbook = guided practice with outlines; eBook = independent scene painting with theory
• Workbook is physical; eBook is digital with video
• Both are self-paced, but the eBook covers more advanced concepts

Trade-Offs at a Glance

• Skill Level Required: The Landscape Workbook is designed for beginners who want guided practice with outlines. The Sunlit Forest eBook is for those ready to move beyond beginner and tackle composition, depth, and light without outlines. If you are still mastering basic brush control, start with the workbook. If you can paint a simple scene and want to grow, choose the eBook.
• Time to Finished Painting: With the workbook, you can complete a small project in one sitting because the outline is ready. The eBook requires more planning and multiple steps, so a finished painting takes longer. Choose the workbook for quick wins; choose the eBook for a deeper project.
• Learning Depth: The workbook teaches through repetition and matching examples. The eBook teaches why a painting works—composition, spatial depth, light—so you can apply those ideas to your own work. For transferable skills, the eBook offers more theory. For confidence through practice, the workbook delivers.

Product Facts

• Landscape Workbook by Sarah Cray: Further your watercolor skills with confidence with the second volume of workbooks from artist Sarah Cray. The Landscape Workbook is an easy-to-use workbook filled with custom outlines drawn by Sarah Cray herself. Each outline is paired with simple step-by-step written instructions so you can easily create each project matching Sarah's example or have creative freedom and bring to life your own version of each. The pre-drawn outlines let you skip sketching and focus on painting, making it ideal if you want to build confidence through guided repetition. The written steps mean you can work at your own pace without needing video.
• Sunlit Forest eBook: Rise up out of beginner with this 35+ page eBook on how to paint a Sunlit Forest. This eBook was created for the watercolorist who is ready for the next step on their journey. Join Sarah Cray as she shows you the basic rules of composition, how to add spatial depth in your painting, how a changing light source will affect your subject and painting, and a step-by-step guide on painting a Sunlit Forest scene. If you already know basic watercolor and want to understand composition and light, this eBook teaches transferable skills. The video component helps you see techniques in real time, which can accelerate learning.

Which One Should You Choose?

Best for

• Beginners who want to skip drawing and focus on painting with guided outlines
• Artists who prefer a physical book and written steps over screen time
• Anyone who wants quick, low-pressure projects to build confidence

Not for

• Painters who already know the basics and want to learn composition and light theory
• Those who prefer video instruction and digital access
• Artists looking for a full scene painting challenge without outlines

Both the Landscape Workbook and the Sunlit Forest eBook are strong self-paced resources, but they serve different goals. Pick the workbook if you want guided practice and quick results; pick the eBook if you are ready to understand the why behind landscape painting and take on a full scene. Whichever you choose, consistent practice is what moves your skills forward.