I have so much to share with you today! During the past couple of weeks, I have spent a large amount of time into the wee hours of the night fiddling with code, which I enjoy much more than I care to admit.
Having sold over 5,400 patterns and art prints through Craftsy and Etsy, I have decided to open my web shop right here at the website.
I have a quite few international customers and readers. I am happy to say that along with my US guests, I am also able to welcome my international guests to my shop.
New Product – Greeting Cards
Around the same time, I also worked on creating greeting cards from my prints, now available in my shop. They can also be conveniently displayed in a small 5 inch x 7 inch frame.
Simple 365 – Set 3
I did surface from the computer every now and then to continue with my Simple365 project.
Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.
Early this year, I started taking daily photos of simple everyday things to remind me to be happy. This set is full of puffy white clouds with occasional rain, pretty flowers – both wild and tamed and other things that reflect my days and my life.
WATERCOLOUR SERIES –
WATER & COLOUR MIXING
Now, on to the next chapter of the watercolour series. I am happy to hear that you found the info on the last post useful.
Brush and Paint
Brush – Buy a single good brush instead of a package. I recommend a size 6 round brush (round belly with a tip).
Paint – Get a set of paints instead of 3 primary colours to mix other colours. It can be quite daunting and discouraging. Plus, who does not like to look at a box full of colours!
Tubes are a must if you are working on large areas, but for learning and playing, I prefer pans.
Brands
I wanted to strike a balance between budget and quality while recommending colours. So here are three paint sets that I recommend:
Prang – Really good for its price and it can be found everywhere.
Sennelier Le Petite – It has the quality of the professional Sennelier brand for an affordable price.
Van Gogh – For a complete beginner, I find them to be too pricey. However, this is a great stepping stone toward pro grade. They are one of the best student quality paints I have come across.
Additional supplies
This is how I like to set up my work surface.
A towel for wiping your brush, and jars for water
Pro Tip – Use 2 jars. Dirty water jar – Use this to rinse out the colour-loaded brush. Clean water jar – Add fresh, clean water to your brush before picking up a new colour. I save the lids to close up the jars before leaving the work-area to avoid accidental tip-over damage and keep my cats from drinking dirty paint-water!!
Colour Swatches
Colours in the box look very different than on the paper. I make a colour swatch for every new colour I get.
I am really bad at formal colour mixing though. As you can see, I never even finished it! I mix colours as I paint and write down the “recipes” in my sketchbook.
Colour Mixing
We are going do some colour mixing by painting SMALL silhouettes such as leaves, butterflies. shells, starfish etc. Kids can join in by painting fish, dinosaurs, bugs, etc.
Search for “silhouette” on the web and select an image you like. Then, following the instructions from the last lesson, trace the outline on your watercolour paper.
Amount of Water
Using a clean brush, add water inside the drawing outline. At the beginning, work in really small sections, no more than 1.0 – 1.5 inch. As you gain more experience and work faster, you can start working with a larger area.
NOTE – You never want to have pooling water, just enough water to have a glistening look on the paper.
Wet On Wet
Pick out two colours from your box, add a tiny bit of water to them with your brush to pre-moisten them.
Dip the brush in clean water, then load up the brush with the first colour.
Pro Tip – If you don’t see paint pigment on your brush and/or water is depositing on your paint pan, you have too much water on your brush. Wipe some of the water on the towel, and try again. You should be able to see the paint on your brush.
Now “drop” paint on paper by touching the paint loaded brush starting on one side of the wet drawing. You will see the paint spread.
NOTE – Paint will spread less on less wet paper, creating concentrated colour (blue in this example). If your paper is too wet, paint will spread faster, leaving a more diluted colour (red in the above example).
Rinse your brush and wet it with clean water. If you see the paper drying up, gently moisten the paper. Repeat with your second colour on rest of the wet painting. The colours will spread and mingle with each other. They might even make a new colour.
Once you have added the paints let them do their work and walk away. Paint will continue to spread even after the surface looks dry to you. More often than not, it will surprise you in a very good way when it is completely dry.
Continue to play with different colour combinations and water amounts and enjoy the wonders of watercolour.
Purchase Weathered Scottish Abbey
Update – I got a few requests for the Fairy Leaves, I added cards and prints in my shop.
Have fun playing!
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.
40 thoughts on “News, Simple365 And Watercolour Series”
chickenruby September 12, 2020 at 23:26
Stunning watercolour paintings, I love the idea of the colour swatch you create #mysubndayphoto
Archie The Wonder Dog September 12, 2020 at 11:03
Congratulations on your shop, I hope your work sells like hot cakes! Thanks for furtling!
Sarah MumofThree World September 8, 2020 at 22:23
Congratulations on opening your online shop! That is fantastic.
My daughter is doing art at school, so I will share your watercolour tips with her, thanks.
sam September 7, 2020 at 10:49
congratulations on opening your website, you have such a talent X #mysundayphoto
Darren Coleshill September 6, 2020 at 11:56
Wow that Autumn Forest is simply stunning.
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
John Adams September 5, 2020 at 22:18
Loving your selection of black and white photos. The water colours are mych better than I could produce! Headed over from #mysundayphoto
rachelswirl August 29, 2020 at 15:16
Oh my goodness, those images- you are so talented!!!
Thanks for sharing and for linking up with #MySundaySnapshot.
Donna August 29, 2020 at 05:34
This looks so helpful for anyone wanting to watercolour x
betty - NZ August 26, 2020 at 16:57
So clever and creative! I enjoyed your black and white shots, too.
It’s great to see you at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!! Thanks for being here.
Tanza Erlambang August 25, 2020 at 20:34
love greeting card…..wonderful colors
Susan Mann August 25, 2020 at 06:32
Aww these are gorgeous and what great tips. I will be off to check out the shop shortly. I love your work xx
Luis August 25, 2020 at 02:05
You are a very creative person! :)
Veronica Lee August 24, 2020 at 21:34
Congrats on your shop! With your talent, I have no doubts that you will be successful.
All the best!
Angie August 24, 2020 at 19:01
Soma – congratulations on your shop! I am sure you will be successful!
You were right – you had loads of content for this post! Super painting tips!
Thanks for your recent visit to my blog, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Carol August 24, 2020 at 03:03
You are so talented. Congratuions on your shop – wishing you much success!
Eileen August 24, 2020 at 02:21
Hello,
Congrats on opening your website. Your cards and images are just beautiful. I love the watercolor.
Enjoy your day, wishing you a great week!
Kim August 23, 2020 at 15:32
How clever of you to fiddle around with codes and change things as you like and want; a most wonderful talent. Thank you for showing us all the finer details of what you do, Soma. I love how you mingle little splashes of colour to cause such a little leaf to transform with much beauty. I look forward to your Inktense Pencils on fabric, how-to. =)
Rain Frances August 23, 2020 at 07:25
Hi Soma :) Congratulations on your webshop! :) I wish you all the best, it looks fabulous. I aspire to do the same (hopefully) in the next few years! You offer some really great tips on watercolour painting and technique. Lovely set of black and white photos! :)
riitta k August 23, 2020 at 07:09
Congratulations on your new web shop! I’ll study your watercolor tutorials later – hopefully I can find them later in the autumn, I am too busy & exhausted at the moment. Wishing lovely Sunday & new week.
Dixie August 22, 2020 at 08:54
Congratulations, Soma on your new shop!
A lovely packed post.
Cheryl Brickey August 22, 2020 at 07:40
Congrats on your new shop, it looks awesome! Is there a chance you might add the colorful watercolor leafy branch to your available art prints? My daughter absolutely loves it.
NatureFootstep August 21, 2020 at 15:36
Your art looks great :)
A ShutterBug Explores August 21, 2020 at 13:39
Congrats on opening your new shop ~ your watercolor works are divine ~ wonderful post ^_^
Live each moment with love,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Linda Kunsman August 21, 2020 at 12:37
congrats on the opening of your new shop Soma! Your art is so beautiful. Thank you for all the great tips and tutorials about watercolor painting. Your rainbow leaf frond is just gorgeous!! Happy PPF!
Linda Calverley August 21, 2020 at 12:08
Congrats on opening your shop. Thanks for the painting tips, your colours look lovely.
Lady Fi August 21, 2020 at 06:11
Congrats – will check out your store! Love love the colours you use here.
gillena August 21, 2020 at 01:41
Hi soma, Happy PPF. Luv your water colours
Muchlove
Kokopelli Design August 20, 2020 at 22:13
Great news on the shop! Congrats and wishing you many sales! And tank you for another watercolor lesson. I know it’s a lot of work to write down tutorials, make notes and photos. Will definitely play with paints this weekend. Happy PPF!
Kathleen Kingsbury August 20, 2020 at 19:34
Congrats on opening your own shop! You will do well.
Mary August 20, 2020 at 16:15
I am always fascinated when I read your techniques. The leaves look so pretty. Good luck with your new shop. It sounds like it will be a much better fit for you.
gillena August 20, 2020 at 13:27
Great art and tips for doing better. Happy Thursday
Muchlove
Janine @ Rainbow Hare August 20, 2020 at 11:48
Thank you for all the tips and congrats on opening your own webshop, here. I hope it does really well :)
Andrea @ From the Sol August 20, 2020 at 10:09
Thank you for your tips. I went back and followed your first watercolor post as well. I have drawn from the seat of my pants for years and as a result it is hard for me to move forward into new mediums because I have not been taught any techniques. This is a great start and I will continue to follow and give these tips a try. Who knows, you may see some of my results on TAD. Again … Thank you :)
Andrea @ From The Sol
Nicole/DVAtist August 20, 2020 at 09:22
Beautiful art and wonderful tips.
Bleubeard and Elizabeth August 20, 2020 at 08:17
Lovely paintings and great ideas for those who like to paint using watercolors.
Susan August 20, 2020 at 08:16
Congratulations on opening your own shop. Thank you for more tips. I love the multicolored leaves.
Cathy Kennedy August 20, 2020 at 05:16
Soma,
Great tips and technique shares! I love your beautiful art pieces, too. Your fall foliage painting is especially eye catching. It won’t be long till we see autumn’s wardrobe again. Thanks for sharing your amazing talents with the art date community. Stay safe and be well. Have a paintastic day!
Christine August 20, 2020 at 04:47
Sure your shop will do well!
Valerie-Jael August 20, 2020 at 01:17
Another wonderful post with beautiful photos and many good tips for painting. Hugs, Valerie
Michelle August 20, 2020 at 00:01
Yay on opening your shop on your personal website! Your watercolor painting is so pretty!
Michelle