It’s the most wonderful time of the year, apparently. 🎄 With all the hustle and bustle, (wonderful though it may be) it is the time of year when one is more in need of a little quiet creative respite than ever…don’t you think?

So what I want from my painting is utter simplicity. If you can relate, this might just be the painting project for you too.

At this point in the year I am quite done with all the decision making - gift choosing, menu planning - not to mention having to actually be … you know,  sociable 😱

So let’s escape into painting for a little while and choose a very easy shape that is lots of fun, like this Christmas stocking.

It is easy to draw (although if you’d rather not, you can grab the downloadable step by step lesson notes  which include a done-for-you line drawing) and gives plenty of opportunity for splashing in some fun colour.

Now please don’t underestimate the value in a really simple fun painting like this. While it is enough that it is a relaxing diversion from the day to day there is so much to be gained from a painting exercise like this.  

I’m really not one for drills and practice exercises - life is too short and I am too old… perhaps its a little of both. It’s like learning to play the piano. Playing scales may be a valuable thing to do but it is jolly boring.  I’d rather play a very simple song than a scale. Same thing with painting. I prefer to practice my brushwork and technical skills by painting an actual subject - even if it is a really simple one.

Since there is no pressure on the outcome, now is  a good time to experiment a little. Like, you know how you always hear that you shouldn’t drop in more water or go back and fiddle when the paint is semi dry because you will probably create a watermark? Now’s the time to test that! Try it and see what happens. At the very least you will start to get a feel for which effects you do and do not like. Add more colour, blot some out - why not?

You can also see how many different versions of the same thing you can create. When the subject is nice and simple you can make small changes and create an entirely different painting. Try one with no background at all, one with just a few splashes or one over the top of a  full dry wash, perhaps?

Try a different composition. You can paint just one stocking on its own - a stocking portrait if you will. Make it large and central - the star of the show. Or try a row of three - do you like them in a straight horizontal line - or on a diagonal? Experiment and find out.  

I also like to try a little mixed media. (All that means is that you can use many different art media in combination.) So this is the time to raid your stash and see what you would like to work with.

I love the combination of watercolour and coloured pencils. You can try adding a few little accent details with coloured pencils to accentuate your watercolour.

But my favourite combination of all is white gel pen over dry watercolour. There is something really satisfying about adding a silky line of white detail over all that glorious colour. Of course you could do this with black ink too - or a coordinating colour. 

And as a third option, why not try the line and wash technique? Start with a black ink outline on your watercolour paper and then splash in your juicy watercolour. Don’t forget to check that your black pen is waterproof before you begin!

If you want to find out more about this technique, this article will tell you all you need to know about line and wash.

Grab your free copy of the step by step instructions and a done for you  line drawing in the Lesson Guide for this easy Christmas Stocking watercolour painting project here. 

Are you on your own painting journey?

One of these might be useful…

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