Painting from your own photos of your own life is a very satisfying experience.

It can really elevate your painting practice to a whole new level so I have 10 easy tips that you can use to improve your own reference photography - with your phone camera - for better paintings.

Fruit and vegetables make excellent painting subjects - colourful and forgiving. Come and see for yourself in this easy watercolor pumpkin tutorial…

If you have a painting that is a little ‘meh’, and are looking for a suggestion on how to improve it, read on… a pop of complementary color theory might just be worth a try. There is also a video example….

Have you ever wondered if you truly need strong drawing skills to succeed in watercolour painting?

It’s a common question among aspiring artists, especially those who feel held back by their drawing abilities. Maybe you’re afraid to start because your sketches don’t turn out as planned, or perhaps you’ve been frustrated when your painting doesn’t capture the essence of what you intended.

The truth is, while drawing can be an important foundation, it’s not the only path to creating beautiful watercolour art.

In this post, we’ll explore how to overcome these common fears and find joy in painting—whether or not you consider yourself a skilled sketcher.

Sometimes you get to the end of a watercolour  painting and you see a few things you would like to have done differently. 

But watercolour is a tricky thing and you can’t try to fix things, can you?..... 

Wrong! 

Of course you can!

And actually, I think you should - here’s why.

Listening to your intuition is the gateway to greater confidence in your creativity. Experimenting will build your trust in your own painting abilities. So let’s talk about how you can take a few more creative risks in your watercolour painting.

Are you wondering how to loosen up your watercolour painting?

You are definitely in the right place because painting in a loose expressive style is my favourite thing to do. I have 7 practical tips and ideas to share with you.

You'll be joyfully splashing the watercolour paint about while confidently creating your own loose interpretation of your favourite painting subjects in no time!

Ever had that sinking feeling when you step back from your watercolour-in-progress, only to realise it's turning out to be about as striking as a pebble on a beach?

Well, fear not. Easy Notan sketches are your secret weapon against the dreaded "meh" painting. Set yourself up for success with this quick (and fun) two-minute exercise before you get out those paints.

Let me show you how this simple step can transform your watercolours from "bland to grand" faster than you can rinse your brush.

Are you considering painting palm trees in watercolor?

Great idea!

Let’s get your painting off to an easy start with 7 tips on how to paint palm trees in watercolor. Oh, and would a youtube video demonstration on watercolor palm trees be helpful? I’ll include one or two of those too.

There are many ways to incorporate glorious texture into your watercolour backgrounds. Its part of what gives watercolour paintings so much life and interest!

Here are 4 of my favourite techniques for adding watercolour texture.

Do you have a sketchbook (or 6) that you wish you used more? We all do! If you are looking for some straight forwards suggestions about how to work in your sketchbook a bit more often, read on!

I have found the greatest success at filling up my sketchbook by applying these 2 simple tips:

1️⃣ Use a small sketchbook

2️⃣ Use a limited palette of colour pencils

Yes, it really can be as simple as that to fill more of your sketchbook pages (with a lot of ease and fun!)

Let me explain.

Do you need metallic watercolour paint? Well, need is a funny word… as in how many pairs of shoes does a woman ‘need’...?

It is much the same with art supplies. We don’t actually need that much. A loose watercolour painter really only needs…

How marvellous is it that looking at a picture can instantly change your mood?

The reason we love art is that it stirs an emotional reaction - it makes us feel something. An image can convey so much in an instant and each of us has our own unique response.

So how do you create a mood in your painting?

Let’s start with these 6 tips…

Looking for affordable watercolour paints that deliver professional results? Aren’t we all!

I just received a Meilang set of 36 Watercolour Tubes to review. I’ve been very curious to see how they compare to my existing palette of paints from renowned brands.

I want to know whether investing in expensive paints is truly necessary and I’m hoping to find some substitutes for beloved colours within this affordable set of watercolours.

You too? Well let’s dive in then!

Do we really need to be constantly pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone?

I really don't think so. Watercolour painting has given me the perfect opportunity to play with this idea of comfort zones. What applies to painting applies to life, it seems.

Ever want to paint but just feel too….

tired,

under the weather,

busy?

One of the reasons I chose watercolour as a medium in the first place is because it requires very little in the way of supplies, set up and clean up. Even so, there are times when I simply can’t be asked to get off the couch, painting urges notwithstanding.

I’d say that happens to all of us.

Either way, what’s a busy painter to do?

How about this…

You often hear people bemoaning the appearance of muted or ‘muddy’ colours in their paintings. In general, we all want clean vibrant colours. Muddy colour is the affectionate name given to muted (dull or grey) colour.

When you were hoping for clean vibrant colours, muddy or muted ones can be disappointing.

But these muted tones are not poor cousins of the vibrant ones - far from it. They have a beauty all of their own and can be used quite effectively to tell a part of the story in your watercolour painting.