I enjoy experimenting with watercolors so much!..

Working with paint and discovering unexpected techniques brings true creative joy. I’m thrilled to share some of the finds with you.

 

 

Painting animals is one of my favorites endeavors, and discovering the Restricting Spread technique helped me a lot.

Why not use it for the next Big Cat you’re working on?

 

 

Combining charcoal and watercolors is another way to add personality to our feathered friends.

 

 

When working on Natural history illustrations, we should pay special attention to textures. It not only adds interest but sometimes it’s essential to create a convincing image.

I’ve used wax resist and acrylic marker on top for this lovely butterfly.

 

 

The same principle works for botanical painting. Using special effects, we can combine a vintage feel with a modern approach. 

If you put a bit of specialty paint on top of the normal watercolor, it can add another shimmering dimension to the subject. I’ve tried both contrasting and similar hues to explore the effect.

Sunstone (shimmering yellow) over red slightly intensifies the color, while on the green of the leaves it creates a stunning textural interest.

 

 

Specialty paint is fun to use as a stand-alone practice, using templates or sponges.

 

 

Why not try some household items?

I’ve experimented with citric acid and Ultramarine to get the snowy effect.

 

 

And a few drops of using alcohol (ethanol) created a fantastic extraterrestrial texture.

 

 

There are a lot of mediums in art supply stores that imitate various effects. I use granulation spray that works great on some gradients.

 

 

Thanks for joining me! I hope you feel inspired to add some of the techniques to your magical creative arsenal!

 

 

See you in the class!

\_(‿)_/

Anna