The white pine is the most elegant of trees, with its long, slim pine cone and the long, fine needles which form its leaves. There are so many ways this tree’s cones can be rendered in two dimensions, whether you choose watercolor, ink or any other medium. For this video I decided to start with […]
Paint a White Pine Cone in Watercolor Read More »
Christmas is always just around the corner for some of us. Preparations can begin immediately after the summer holidays, and why not, if one of the things you love to do is paint your own holiday greetings cards. Nothing says “I love you” better than a handmade gift or card, so why not get started
Robin Redbreast for Christmas Cards Read More »
Warming up to the holidays what could be better than a loose watercolor painting of pairs of Red Cardinals and Red Breasts (otherwise known as Robins!) Watch the video below to see a step by step real time tutorial showing you how I painted these little birds. I used a sheet of Clairefontaine Etival watercolor
Red Cardinals and Red Breasts in Watercolor Read More »
Swallows and Seedheads in Blue and Gold ink and paint are a striking image for the end of summer in the northern hemisphere, when the swallows depart to return home to North Africa, and the flowers turn to seeds in preparation for the dormancy of winter.
Swallows and Seedheads in Blue and Gold Read More »
Seeds and their cases and pods are hugely varied and fascinating subjects to draw and paint.
Sketching Seeds and Grasses Read More »
Looking for something really quick and easy for you to paint today, I created these simple, easy and colorful flowers.
Here’s my latest video tutorial on YouTube showing you how to paint a loose, colorful hare, sure to please all animal lovers. You can download the sketch free of charge from here.
Capturing a Hare in Watercolor Read More »
We all love birds and painting them brings great pleasure, but sometimes they seem so difficult to capture the essence of and end up heavy and dull. Here’s a way to paint cute and easy little watercolor birds as light and airy as they really are, with minimum time and fuss. Watch this video and
Cute and Easy Little Watercolor Birds Read More »
You never know what will happen when you pick up a pen or a brush! Follow my art process today as I look for a project, sketch and paint a concept and finally ink and wash with surprising results! Let’s go!
Feeding frenzy continues at the birdtables as autumn approaches and the birds try to build up their fat reserves for the winter! All sorts flock around the sunflower seeds and peanuts, creating a delightful picture for us to recreate together. Easy for all, challenging for some of us who want to go for more detail.
Summer is drawing to a close and as the Harvest Moon begins to rise in the sky our thoughts turn to harvests of all kinds, seeds as well as fruits. Few natural subjects offer more inspiration to the artist than a hedge or field full of plants which, flowering season over, are turning to the
Thinking about Inking Read More »
Dick Blick have got a special price for the Jean Haines All that Shimmers iridescent watercolor set right now – click above to purchase a set that will lift your watercolors into the sublime! Only $36 for six tubes! I’ll be trying them out in a video soon!
Jean Haines Watercolors Read More »
People love dragonflies. They love to paint them, wear clothing with them printed on, hang them in their homes as inspirational art or simply watch them flying around. Why is this so? Well, to quote another writer on the internet “In almost every part of the world, the Dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization.”1
Painting Dragonflies: Dragonfly Lore for Artists Read More »
It’s too hot to paint for long! July and August are tough in the northern hemisphere when the heat starts rising. But for dedicated students who want to make progress, daily splashes in your watercolors are essential. So we’ve put together half a dozen short and sweet video tutorials that you can do in ten
Ten Minute Watercolors Read More »
Today I’m painting two of my favourite hens from the garden. Mrs Grey and Mrs White are a pair of characters who have to be different. Here they are, having a chat under a tree, maybe discussing how many eggs they have laid today. I show you the sketch and how to paint the hens
How to paint Hens and wildflowers – easy beginners botanical art tutorial in watercolour Read More »
Learn how to use a natural sponge and watercolour pencils to create the illusion of foaming Elderflowers and add three cute birds to make an idyllic natural world scene.
Spend a quiet moment in the garden and studio with me and a sketchbook. We’ll start with observation of the plant in its environment, then we’ll draw and paint some lavender flowers together, using several different methods. Finally we’ll use spatter and loose watercolour techniques to complete a beautiful spray of Lavender, complete with two
To paint this lovely bee you need two shades of yellow gouache (opaque watercolor) plus black and white gouache, some silver iridescent medium, plus a pencil and silver gel pen. Let’s get buzzy!
How to Paint a Bumblebee in Gouache on Black Watercolor Paper Read More »
