Dancing with Wisteria: A Canvas Watercolor Adventure 🎨
Breaking the rules can lead to the most delightful surprises in watercolor! I discovered this while painting wisteria blossoms on canvas (yes, canvas!) using a dance of Imperial Purple and salt-sprinkled textures. The beauty of this unconventional approach? Every drip becomes an opportunity, and every "mistake" can be lifted away with a gentle touch of a damp brush. It's like having a conversation with your paint, where both artist and medium get to lead the dance! 🎨✨
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! 🎨✨
Watercolor on Canvas: Breaking Traditional Boundaries
Ever wondered what happens when you break all the watercolor "rules"? Join me on an unexpected artistic journey where canvas becomes a playground of color, texture, and happy accidents. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to transform a simple landscape into a dynamic piece using watercolors, a gessoed canvas, and a secret weapon called watercolor ground that'll make your artwork pop in ways you never imagined!
From capturing a moment outside my studio window to creating intricate negative spaces with a palette knife, this technique is all about embracing imperfection and letting your creativity run wild. Grab your brushes, artists - we're about to turn traditional watercolor on its head! 🖌️✨
Breaking the Glass: Reimagining Watercolor Art Presentation
Picture this: A foggy Puget Sound morning, an artist (that's me!) staring at a gallery wall, and suddenly — everything changes.
What if the most revolutionary thing you could do for your watercolor art is to remove the glass?
I discovered something surprising during an art competition that challenged everything I thought I knew about presenting watercolors. The juror's words hit me like a gentle but firm brush stroke: collectors feel disconnected when art is trapped behind reflective barriers.
My journey from traditional framing to canvas-direct painting isn't just a technique shift. It's an invitation to experience art more intimately — to feel the texture, embrace the brushstrokes, and break free from old constraints.
Ready to reimagine your artistic presentation? Keep reading to uncover how a simple change can transform how the world sees your watercolors.
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.
Paint with Me: Boat on Yupo Paper
Have you ever been captivated by the way sunlight dances on a pristine white boat? Watercolor on Yupo paper offers a unique way to capture that fleeting beauty. In this post, I'll guide you through an intuitive process, perfect for both beginners and seasoned artists alike.
I've included a video tutorial where you can watch the magic unfold, with a handy transcript below to follow along at your own pace. So, grab your brushes, Yupo paper, and some watercolor paints, and let's set sail on a creative adventure!