Hey Jennifer, I really appreciate that—and that means a lot, so thank you 👍

What you’re describing makes total sense, and it’s something I see a lot (and still deal with myself from time to time). That feeling of getting overwhelmed by reference detail is very real—especially when you're aiming for realism.

One thing that might help is to start thinking about detail in stages instead of trying to tackle it all at once. When I’m working, I’m not thinking about all the detail in the reference—I’m just focusing on what matters for that specific step. Big shapes first, then smaller forms, and then selective detail toward the end. And try to keep the majority of details in and around the focal point.

Also, that “too soft” look you mentioned usually comes down to not having enough contrast between soft and hard edges. Watercolor (digital or traditional) really comes to life when you mix those sharper edges in with the softer ones. Even just adding a few well-placed crisp details can make a big difference.

And I love that idea about wildlife from different regions—that’s actually a really fun direction to explore. I’ll definitely keep that in mind 👍

You’re on the right track though—especially if your sketch stage is already feeling solid. That’s a big piece of the puzzle.

Nathan Brown

Creating digital and traditional art

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