This was such a fun class to make; I absolutely loved experimenting with painting a variety of ice creams in different styles and showing you how I would paint each of them, talking through the differences in all the methods and techniques. It can be so easy to want to jump to the finish line and be focused on the end result when painting but then you miss out on all the fun and learning that can be had when just playing around with different techniques, methods and styles. There are so many ways to paint things and I hope this class will encourage people to explore their watercolours more and try out different things without any pressure. 

1. Pen and wash - I adore this style of painting. It's quick, playful and has a lot less control and pressure than other styles. It's been interesting to see how others prefer to paint in this way - whether it be paint or pen first. I love the way the pen provides the shape and definition here and the paint just adds a splash of colour. I enjoyed being loose with boundaries and just being much free-er with the way I was painting, not worrying about trying to control everything.

 

2. Loose - There are so many different ways that you can paint loosely and you can fill pages and pages just playing around with different ideas and ways to represent elements from your subject. I love the bleeds here from the ice cream to the cone, letting the watercolour works its magic without interference. I enjoyed making the bolder grid lines on the cone with the masking fluid and trying out other ways and seeing how it could transform the finished piece.

3. Realistic - It's always nice to create something with more precision and really make something pop from the page as you gradually build up those layers. It can be so relaxing to intentionally slow down and work more delicately, taking much more time over the details. 

I love all of these styles and love that I can pick and choose how to paint a subject depending on what my mood is, how much time I have or what the purpose of the project calls for.

I hope you enjoy this class as much as I enjoyed making it!