Painting Carrots on a Blue Plate: How a Reluctant Still Life Became One of My Favorites
I don't usually paint vegetables — but when I stumbled across a photo of carrots on a blue plate while searching for Easter-themed reference images, that orange and blue color story pulled me in immediately. Here's how I dove in, second-guessed myself, kept going anyway, and ended up with a painting I'm genuinely proud of.
Surreal Portraits, Fountain Pens, and Painting Outside My Comfort Zone
I bought a fountain pen in Victoria with my birthday money and then promptly had no idea what to do with it. Flowers and animals are my comfort zone. Surreal portraits are decidedly not. So naturally, I decided to combine the two problems: use the pen I had no excuse for, paint the kind of portrait I had been avoiding, and do it all on cheap paper so I could YOLO my way through a cloud. Here is how it went — honestly, imperfectly, and with a few things I would absolutely do differently.
I Finally Painted Wisteria (And It Nearly Broke Me — In the Best Way)
Wisteria has been on my painting list since I started watercolor back in 2019. I kept putting it off — either not confident enough, or too honest with myself about my attention span. This year I finally said: it is time. And a few hours in, surrounded by the most labor-intensive painting I have done in recent memory, I looked up and thought — I did this to myself. Here is everything I learned, everything I would do differently, and why I would absolutely do it all over again.
One Color, One Session: Painting a Moody Architecture Study with Daniel Smith Lunar Black
One color. One session. Twenty minutes. That is all it took to paint this moody architectural study of the Scarritt Bennett Center church in Nashville — and the entire thing was done without ever letting the paper dry. Using only Daniel Smith Lunar Black on thoroughly saturated Canson Heritage Hot Press paper, I tilted, spritzed, stamped, and scrubbed my way through a painting that was less about control and more about letting the water do the work. Here is exactly how I did it.
Painting a Bright Cottage Cafe in Watercolor: Architecture, Attitude, and a Little Dopamine
Gray skies called for something bright, so I pulled out one of the very first watercolor sets I ever bought and painted a loose, cheerful cottage cafe facade. Architecture is not my comfort zone — I am far more at home with animals and botanicals — but I made a deal with myself: no judging the painting until it is finished. What followed was a big colorful wash that looked like an abstract mess, a second layer of confident brickwork and jewel-toned shadows, and a reminder that color is not just decoration. It sets the whole mood.
I Tried the Da Vinci Eye App
I kept seeing other artists using the Da Vinci Eye app on Instagram and I figured — why not try it myself and bring you all along? The app superimposes a reference photo over your paper through your phone camera, so you can see both your brush and the image at the same time. I decided to skip the sketch entirely and paint a loose panda straight into the overlay. Spoiler: it is extremely strange to paint while staring at your phone instead of your paper. Here is everything that happened.
How I Painted a Moody Blue Elephant in Watercolor (No Sketch Required)
What happens when you skip the sketch, squeeze paint straight onto paper, and just trust the water? You get a moody, atmospheric blue elephant that practically breathes. In this post, I'm walking you through every decision I made while painting this large-scale portrait on 18x24 rough Arches watercolor paper — from my initial color-blocked wash to the final scrubbed highlights and watercolor ground tusks. Whether you're a loose watercolor lover or just curious about granulating pigments, there's something here for you.
Painting a Dreamy Magnolia Blossom: A 15-Minute Watercolor Study
Join me for a 15-minute magnolia blossom watercolor study that demonstrates the art of painting white flowers through negative painting. Learn how to create soft, silky petal textures using lifting techniques, contrast delicate flowers with rough bark, and build dreamy, ethereal compositions with strategic color placement. This quick study proves you don't need expensive materials or hours of time to create beautiful botanical paintings.
Reviving an Old Watercolor: Bringing New Life to a Forgotten Elephant Painting
Join me as I rescue a six-year-old elephant watercolor from obscurity and transform it into a dynamic, atmospheric study. Learn practical techniques for paint lifting, strategic shadow placement, texture creation, and finishing touches that can breathe new life into your forgotten artwork. Sometimes the best paintings are hiding beneath the surface, just waiting for a second chance.
Painting a Loose Watercolor Cardinal: A One-Wash Atmospheric Study
Join me as I paint my first watercolor of 2026—a loose, atmospheric cardinal study dedicated to my dad. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create a beautiful bird painting without a preliminary sketch, using simple materials and a one-wash technique that captures the essence of a cardinal with minimal detail. Learn about color harmony, lifting techniques, and the art of knowing when to stop.