Watercolor and Ink
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Love Them or Hate Them? Paul Rubens Watercolors Review
Paul Rubens Art asked me if I would like to try their watercolor paints in exchange for a review. I love trying new paint and comparing it to what I use already, so of course I said, “Yes!” Let’s find out if I love them or hate them.
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How to Draw an Apple 6 Ways
Fall is on the way. Here, the first sign of fall isn’t the colors, return to school, or the pumpkins. It happens before that, but it’s just as sweet. Apples! We live just down the road from an orchard and tend a few apple and pear trees of our own. Starting in the middle of August, those fall fruits start getting pink cheeks. The first variety doesn’t turn completely red, so we have to keep checking for ripeness. Our MacIntosh apples are ripe now, but we have to wait for our Fuji and Empire apples. To celebrate the beginning of fall and all of the comforting apple deliciousness on the…
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How to Make a Beach Time Clock Drawing
Most of the year, I keep pretty busy in among a slurry of artwork, sports schedules, gardening and the neverending homemade menu. But when I’m on vacation, everything is peaceful and relaxed. All time melts into a calm, very flexible plan. We rarely have to be anywhere at a given time. I mean, who cares if we eat at set times? Sure … we have time for another walk on the beach. Ice cream instead of lunch? Let’s do it! Sit on the balcony and stare at the waves for hours? Soak it up. In fact, on this year’s vacation, I realized just how stressed I operate the rest of…
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How to Use Mixed Lettering on a Fishing Quote
I didn’t grow up fishing, but I did grow up going to the beach and the lake. These trips usually involved swimming, boat riding or skiing. But now I have a father-in-law who loves a good day fishing as well as a husband and couple of sons who enjoy it occasionally too. Me? I love the fishing day feeling … the aura that goes with the idea of a peaceful day on the lake. Whenever I smell salt or lake air, I see the beauty of creation and feel that I’m-gone-and-might-not-be-back feeling. Do you know the feeling too? Where do you go to let your cares drift away? Today, we’ll…
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How to Use Stippling for Watercolor Texture – all about lazy stippling
What exactly is lazy stippling? In this article, we’ll talk all about using a stippling technique, or lazy stippling, for watercolor texture. What is Lazy Stippling? Let’s start with stippling, in case you’re unfamiliar with the word. Basically, stippling is creating art with dots, lots and lots of dots. The more compact they are, the darker the area appears, but as you spread the dots farther apart, the area appears much lighter. It’s a very interesting technique for drawing or watercolor. But it’s also a technique that takes patience. Maybe more patience than I have or want to have. So, when I feel the desire to create a stippling effect…
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How to Draw 3 Flowers with Watercolor Backgrounds
Spring begs me to draw flowers and dive into color. Inspiration lies everywhere I look. I find myself driving down the road filled with a desire to stop to take a picture (sometimes I do stop). Creation amazes me, and I remind myself to take time to slow down for a moment to enjoy it ... to walk out to the apple trees when they're blooming while I sip my afternoon coffee ... to just be in the newness and color of spring. It passes so quickly. Go ahead … whatever season you're in … take a moment to be present in it before the next one comes. It will…
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How to Draw Lavender with Watercolor Techniques
I recently tried my hand at a little soap making. My son was brainstorming ways to make extra money. He loves to make things with his hands and came up with the soap idea. I tried and tried to have time to learn about it to see if it was a good option. We ordered some supplies and gave it a go … months later. We tried several recipes and several scents to see what we liked and what we didn’t like. I am so glad I tried it! We now have soap for the next year (a little overboard? nah!). Homemade soap is so nice on your skin, you…
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How to Draw Grape Vines with Calligraphy
The other day, I was out pruning (possibly torturing, as I’m always learning and only have one chance a year) our grape vines. We have two varieties, a white grape and concord grapes (the best kind for juice or a table wine that’s on the sweet side). As I watch the grapes through the growing season, I think about how fun it would be to make wine, or at the very least, design wine labels for a vineyard. So this tutorial is born of me dreaming for that opportunity and practicing grape drawing ideas. You can benefit from my play. Maybe it will inspire you to make a label or…
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How to Draw Bees and Chamomile
It’s thawing outside. Tiny, almost imperceptible leaf buds are forming on the fruit trees (witnessed as I pruned the trees), and the bees are flying again. That means the hubby is planning for spring hive work, buzy bees and then honey season. It’s still too early for actual blooming flowers, so we’ll have to imagine some ... Chamomile goes really well with honey. Let’s draw our inspiration from these things for our tutorial. Ready to paint a little spring?
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How to Draw Doodles on an Elephant Drawing
It’s time to start thinking about spring. Can you feel it? Winter is coming to an end. The sun feels a little warmer, the wind doesn’t bite as hard, and those days are getting longer. And that calls for something a little colorful and fun. Want to try an elephant? All dolled up to celebrate? That seems fitting. This week, we’ll search out our playful side to decorate an elephant drawing with some colorful doodles. This tutorial is a little more involved than some of the tutorials you find here. It will be just as fun but might take a little longer. As you paint, draw, and doodle, think about…
