Secrets to Loosening Up Your Watercolor Paintings Jan 22, 2024

There's this elusive quality that I strive for when I paint: an ease, an impressionistic take on a subject, an artistic rendering of a scene. 

In a word, I want to paint loosely

It's this quality that can take a perfectly fine painting and transform it into an intriguing, atmosphericmesmeri...

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How to Prepare for a Smooth and Successful Painting Session Jan 15, 2024

Do you ever find yourself searching for a specific brush during your painting process, wasting that precious wet-into-wet time? Have you ever been deep into your painting session and realize you don't have the colors you need? Do you ever wish - just a little too late - that you'd have taken 5 mi...

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4 Keys to Painting Great Watercolors with Consistency Jan 08, 2024

Here's the thing about learning a creative skill that we don't often admit - it is not a linear process. It isn't just a straight upward trajectory.

We experience ups and downs and disappointments. Sometimes our successes are quickly overshadowed by a frustrating painting session. It can be hard...

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How to Create a Large Connected Shape: A Watercolor Tutorial Jan 03, 2024

If you've followed me for anytime at all, you know that a foundational lesson I go back to time and time again is finding the large, connected shape of your scene when you're painting a watercolor. It's something I continue to mention because it can be the difference between a disjointed, awkward...

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Are you using the wrong watercolor brushes? Dec 26, 2023

A common problem I see is an overworked watercolor painting. It is easy to get carried away with the details of a painting or to use too many brush strokes to create a scene.

There are many reasons overworking is such a prevalent problem (some of which I address in this resource), but one that i...

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Paint Beautiful Snow Scenes: A Watercolor Tutorial Dec 18, 2023

It is winter time here in Kansas City, and that has me thinking about one of my favorite watercolor subjects - snow!

Winter isn't always thought of as a beautiful season with it's slush, sludge, and harsh conditions, but if you pay attention, there is so much beauty to take in - and an infinite ...

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Paint Believable Light - A Watercolor Tutorial Dec 11, 2023

It's what is remarked on the most, what I appreciate the most in other paintings, and what I am always seeking to portray in my watercolor paintings: believable, captivating, wow-worthy LIGHT. 

And I have a process to share with you so that you too can depict compelling light in your watercolor ...

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Tape-Free Watercolor: Embracing Spontaneity on Paper Dec 04, 2023

It's common for many watercolor artists to tape down their watercolor paper before they start painting. You'll see many great artists who do just this. But today, we are going to talk about the many advantages of skipping this step - and why I personally do not tape my pap...

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