Painting Pot Roast: A Whimsical Journey into Mythical Creature Art
Step into my studio as I share a whimsical watercolor adventure where I reimagined a mythical Griffet as a delightful owl-pug hybrid! Inspired by the cozy fantasy world of "Bookshops and Bone Dust," this painting combines the ethereal grace of a snowy owl with the charming characteristics of a pug, all brought to life through dreamy watercolor techniques and intuitive brushwork. Join me as I reveal how letting go of rigid sketching and embracing the flow of pigment on an 18x24 inch canvas led to one of my most joyful artistic experiments yet. 🎨✨
Creating a Watercolor Quilt Block: Where Traditional Crafts Meet Digital Design 🎨
Ever wondered what happens when traditional quilting meets watercolor painting? In this cozy studio session, I'm sharing how I transformed a simple quilt block into a repeatable pattern using just watercolor paper, a moody purple paint, and a dash of digital magic. Whether you're a quilter curious about painting or an artist intrigued by textile design, you'll discover how embracing imperfection and letting watercolor work its natural magic can lead to beautifully unique designs. Join me as I blend traditional crafting techniques with modern digital tools to create something that captures the soul of handmade quilts in an entirely new way. 🎨✨
Exploring the Mystery of Holbein Peach Black: Testing Techniques and Textures
Curious about Holbein Peach Black? In this post, I dive into an experimental test of this intriguing watercolor shade, exploring its potential with granulation fluid, salt, and cling film. The dramatic textures and deep black tones sparked ideas for future projects. Discover how playful experimentation can unlock the secrets of a new paint and inspire your next masterpiece!
Exploring Atmospheric Landscapes: A Single-Color Watercolor Adventure
In this cozy creative exploration, I'll show you how a single watercolor pigment - Rockwell Canada's Peach Fairy - can transform into a dreamy coastal landscape through playful experimentation with palette knives and water effects. Just like stretching before exercise, this piece became my artistic warm-up, letting me test new tools and techniques without the pressure of perfectionism. Through salt sprinkles, paint scratching, and letting the pigment split into surprising purples and yellows, this painting reminds us that sometimes the most magical artistic moments happen when we simply give ourselves permission to play and ask "what if?"
Painting a Realistic Sonic the Hedgehog: Where Gaming Meets Watercolor 🎨
As a watercolorist who's better with brushes than buttons, I transformed Sonic the Hedgehog into a dreamy wildlife portrait! Starting with those expressive eyes, I built up layers of Rockwell Canada blues and warm quinacridone orange, dancing between sections to let each area dry naturally. The finishing touches – a sprinkle of salt in the background and golden rings stamped with a bottle cap – turned this technical study into a piece of gaming-inspired art that I absolutely fell in love with! 🎨✨
How to Paint a Loose, Surreal Half-Face Portrait in Watercolor Using One Color
Discover the magic of painting a loose, surreal watercolor portrait using just one color! In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through creating a dreamy half-face portrait inspired by the Inktober prompt “Drip.” Learn how to focus on values, embrace watercolor’s natural textures, and add bold, spontaneous drips for a unique finishing touch. Perfect for intermediate watercolorists looking to loosen up and experiment with new techniques. 🎨
How to Paint Loose Water Lilies in Watercolor on Canvas
Discover the joy of painting loose, expressive water lilies in watercolor—on canvas! This tutorial walks you through the process step-by-step, from planning your composition to layering vibrant colors and adding magical finishing touches with gouache. Perfect for artists looking to break free from traditional watercolor paper and explore the versatility of gessoed canvas. Whether you're a seasoned watercolorist or experimenting with canvas for the first time, this guide will inspire you to create luminous, dynamic water scenes with confidence.
Unconventional Materials: Painting with Coffee and Walnut Ink
Discover the joy of experimenting with unconventional art materials in my latest blog post! Learn how I created a textured, moody background using a blend of walnut ink and espresso powder, then brought two charming screech owls to life with expressive brushstrokes, rich pigments, and thoughtful dry brushing techniques. This step-by-step walkthrough will inspire you to embrace the unexpected and explore new ways to add depth, texture, and personality to your watercolor paintings.
Ditch the Brush: Paint this Rocky Waterfall Landscape with a Bridge with Exciting Texture Techniques
Discover how to paint a stunning watercolor waterfall landscape using unique texture techniques! In this step-by-step guide, artist Valerie Englehart shares her expert tips, from layering colors to using unexpected tools like cling film, crackle paste, and a sea sponge to create realistic textures. Whether you're looking to enhance rock details, add flowing water effects, or frame your scene with lush foliage, this tutorial will show you how to bring depth and vibrancy to your watercolor landscapes. Perfect for artists ready to take their skills to the next level!
Monochromatic Watercolor Portrait Tutorial: Mastering Expression with a Single Color
Explore the art of creating expressive, monochromatic portraits with just one color! In this post, I walk you through my process of painting a half-portrait in Winsor & Newton Perylene Violet on hot press paper, focusing on building values to capture intense emotion. Inspired by the Inktober prompt "daggers," this tutorial demonstrates techniques for layering, working without a preliminary sketch, and adding lifelike details with simple brushwork. Perfect for watercolor artists looking to master values and create dynamic, dramatic pieces with a minimal color palette.