Creating a Dreamy Mossy Mushroom Forest: Experimental Watercolor Spray Techniques
When experimenting with watercolor techniques, sometimes the most magical results come from pushing your materials in unexpected ways. In this tutorial, I'll show you how I created a dreamy mossy mushroom forest using thick pigment application and spray bottle techniques on inexpensive Fabriano cold press paper. The resulting textures and atmospheric effects might just inspire you to try something new in your own watercolor practice...
Painting a Loose, Vibrant Sun Conure: Letting Watercolor Work Its Magic
When a new email subscriber mentioned having a sun conure as a pet, I realized it had been years since I'd painted one of these beautiful, colorful birds. With no pencil sketching and just my watercolors at hand, I set out to create a loose, vibrant painting that captures the essence of these magnificent creatures. Here's my process for painting these vibrant birds using wet-into-wet techniques that let the watercolor do the work for you...
Quick Brush Miles: 10-Minute Spider Mums with a Dagger Brush
No time to paint? Think again! Discover how I squeezed in some essential "brush miles" by creating expressive spider mums with a Princeton Neptune dagger brush in under 10 minutes. Sometimes the shortest painting sessions yield the most valuable lessons!
Expressive Clown Girl: Adventures with Watercolor Pigment Sticks
After falling in love with Imperial Purple, I couldn't resist trying another Daniel Smith watercolor pigment stick—this time in Lamp Black to create a hauntingly beautiful clown girl with just two colors. Discover how this unconventional technique creates both structure and fluid expression in one magical process!
Discovering the Magic of Watercolor Pigment Sticks: My Iris Painting Journey
After two years of keeping a Daniel Smith Imperial Purple pigment stick in a box by my desk, I finally discovered its expressive potential by creating a loose, vibrant iris painting. Here's how this forgotten birthday gift became my new favorite watercolor tool!
Creating Magic with Water: A Spontaneous Abstract Seascape Tutorial
Discover the joy of letting watercolor do the work for you in this atmospheric seascape tutorial. Using just three granulating pigments, a spray bottle, and the natural movement of water, you'll create a dreamy coastal landscape that celebrates beautiful imperfections and happy accidents.
Quick Watercolor Lotus: A 10-Minute Painting Inspired by Chinese Brush Techniques
Discover how to create a beautiful lotus flower painting using simple watercolor techniques inspired by Chinese brush painting. This quick project uses minimal supplies and can be completed in under 10 minutes—perfect for busy artists looking to practice their brushwork without a major time commitment.
How to Paint a Peacock in Loose Watercolor with Bold Texture
In this watercolor tutorial, I paint a peacock with bold colors and expressive texture, embracing spontaneity without a sketch. Using techniques like wet-into-wet blending, salt for texture, and unexpected drips, I create a lively, atmospheric composition. Join me as I push my creative boundaries and rediscover the joy of play in watercolor!
Flower Fever Dream: Creating a Whimsical Watercolor Portrait
This tutorial showcases monochromatic techniques, intuitive painting approaches, and how to embrace unexpected elements that emerge during the artistic process.
Creating Magic with Rainbow Skin
Dive into the enchanting world of rainbow skin tones, where traditional flesh colors give way to ethereal purples, pinks, blues, and greens inspired by the luminescent quality of opals. Through this step-by-step tutorial, I'll show you how to create a magical portrait that captures both likeness and imagination while embracing watercolor's natural tendency to create unexpected beauty.