The ultimate test of whether I like granulation now: do I like this color that is basically just granulation?
Color Spotlight: Potter’s Pink (PR233)
Billy Idyll
What’s the difference between watercolor and gouache?
I recently started experimenting with gouache in addition to watercolor. As with my watercolor practice, I way overprepared with too many supplies to begin with, unsure what to expect from this different type of paint. I’m here to report back in case you, dear reader, are in the same position: into watercolor, gouache-curious.
February 2023 Monthly Retrospective
Goal Updates In January, I set a February goal and prompty forgot it! Evidently, I was supposed to not spend money, but I did. I bought a few paints. Oh well. On the plus side, I did cancel all my monthly fees/classes (Kolbie Blume’s Artist Co-op, Claire Giordano’s Adventure Art Academy, Skillshare). I’ve enjoyed all … Read more
Color Spotlight: Quinacridone Sienna
I think what attracts me so much to this earth tone is that it’s so bright it’s practically not an earth tone. It’s somewhere between a slightly muted red-orange and an extraordinary bright alternative to Burnt Sienna. I did this from a dot card, so it’s less intense that it would be if I’d had … Read more
What’s the difference between Hansa Yellow Deep (PY65) and Isoindolinone Yellow Deep (PY110)?
These two deep yellows are very similar in hue, so what’s the difference? I find Hansa Yellow Deep (this Daniel Smith one, at least) to be slightly more yellow, where as the Holbein Isoindolinone Yellow Deep that I tested is slightly more orangey. If I’m squinting, HYD looks more dull in masstone but brighter in … Read more
Color Spotlight: Quinoxalinedione Yellow (PY213)
You can see from the heading written on here that I have a really hard time spelling this color name! This primary yellow from my Greenleaf & Blueberry hand-poured CMYK set has a pigment I’ve never seen before, so I thought I’d make a new color spotlight page for it.
Loved & Learned from Kolbie Blume’s 10-Day Challenge Round 3: World of Color
One of my first watercolor challenges I ever did was Kolbie Blume’s Painting the Wilderness challenge in fall 2021 (I did it about a month after it premiered), and in summer 2022 I painted along in real time to their follow-up Seascapes challenge. In February 2023, it was time for round 3: World of Color! … Read more
Color Spotlight: Shell Pink
This bright, springy, pastel pink-peach is a Holbein-specific color. In terms of pigments, it’s mix made from PO73 (Pyrrol Orange) and Titanium White.
I learned to paint realistic skies with Maria Smirnova
I just love skies, as you know! After enjoying last summer’s Cloudscapes class with Maria Coryell-Martin, I recently took two more sky classes, this time through Skillshare, both from Maria Smirnova (@magrish).