I have watched a lot of Bob Ross videos in my day….not really tried many. But you might recognize our attitudes on approaches to art are similar so I think he’s seeped into my brain! I love that he always said “You can do it!” “Just add a happy little tree (or another cloud, or whatever)!” His attitude was always making art accessible for everyone. So for my little Earth Day celebration, I scrolled through the Bob Ross YouTube channel and found this painting I thought I’d try. He paints in oil though – so scroll down for some notes I made about what I adapted for watercolor. Bob’s video for his painting below is HERE.
Also in the video I talk quite a bit about where my art journey is at right now. I hope that talking about it doesn’t cause people to walk away from me, but….I need to be true to who I am as an artist and make changes as needed. I really appreciate your support!
Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.
My color palette is made up of all Daniel Smith colors, and you can get more about it all HERE. The colors used in these paintings are linked in the supplies at the end of this post.
On watercolor paper
As you saw I painted on cold press watercolor paper. Very much my comfort zone, and this one is a 1/4 sheet (I paint on sheets except when crafting.) Note that I used a flat brush almost exclusively, trying to keep to really large strokes to emulate the oil painting at least a little bit!
Adaptations on paper:
Sky has to reserve whites rather than rely on overpainting with white. I still left that center path of light like Bob did.
I painted through the mountains as he did; when the mountains will be darker, it’s easy to paint over them. I did have to leave highliights on the mountain and in the water, though – don’t paint everything.
Treeline highlights Bob uses are painted on top – mine were more dense because of that. Could have left a little more light in there, I suppose.
On canvas
I’ve only watercolored on canvas once – for a project for a set for a drama, and that was just big loose flowers. I had bought a bunch of canvases thinking it’d be fun to try! I learned a ton while doing this.
I didn’t quite realize that the combination of being on canvas, the grounds, and the vertical angle was going to make the canvas practically washable! Spraying was dangerous, and you can see in the video that the paint kept sliding down. Some cool effects, but it was tough to manage.
Letting layers dry completely was crucial, as any water lifts off color underneath; successive layers need to be a bit thicker to get them to stay in place.
I really did love how color moved and blended, and will be trying again another time!
Have you tried a Bob Ross?
If not – I recommend it! Try in marker, pencil, or whatever medium you prefer. You never know what you’ll learn.
Happy Earth Day!
Note: Supplies are linked in the supply list at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used – that means if you make a purchase using my links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work on this blog! Read more.
This little mousie is so cute – and the stamp set comes with lots she can hold, or you can play paper mousedolls like I did and dress her up!
Note: Supplies are linked in the supply list at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used – that means if you make a purchase using my links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work on this blog! Read more.
Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.
I used my Earth+ palette – the 6 colors that came with it, plus some others I picked out to go with it!
The background – that was pure playtime! Give yourself a treat and just start playing around. Mix colors, drop one into another, and see what happens. After this was 90% dry I dropped in tiny drops of water to create these little bursts.
The panel has a nice white space to add the sentiment I need at some point…what occasion do you think would be good for this one?
The new release of Art Impressions stamps is a great opportunity to check out some marker sets and compare them for colors – so that’s what I’m up to today! There’s a little bit of technique in here, but lots is about whether you want bright colors or more vintage or natural colors in your art.
Note: Supplies are linked in the supply list at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used – that means if you make a purchase using my links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work on this blog! Read more.
Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.
It’s always good to create a practice page – whatever AI watercolor stamps you get, stamp them a bunch and play around with what colors and arrangements of the flowers you like best, and how much water is appropriate for your style, marker brand, and paper.
These two sets of 10, by the way, aren’t Tombow’s picks – they’re by Bonnie Krebs, the owner/designer at Art Impressions!
In each of my finished cards I also created multicolor sentiments using a markers and the MISTI – note that these Tombow markers may discolor clear stamps a little, but they’re perfectly usable even with color.
For my storage, I use these plastic cases….I break up sets but keep like-minded images together….flowers by approximate size, containers, buildings, bridges, fences, etc. It helps to know which case to go to when I’m doing each portion of a card.
I’ve had many requests for more watercolor classes….so it’s time to launch One Fish, Two Fish! In this class, negative painting is the primary focus – learning how to paint the areas AROUND the subject rather than the subject itself.
In this class, negative painting is the primary focus – learning how to paint the areas AROUND the subject rather than the subject itself.
This course will also talk a lot about edges. And combining styles and teachings of multiple instructors I’ve had – a valuable thing to learn as you develop your own style!
The class contains two full paintings, and they’re in real-time: one fish….
…and two fish!
If you’re interested in the class, see more about it over HERE!
Winner of a gift certificate from the Top Flight Stamps hop: Mary McCaslin!
Sometimes less is more….and sometimes half a stamp is all you need!
The cool part about stamping only part of an image – or only including half an object on a canvas, for that matter – is that it gets the viewer engaged. They imagine what else is there. They’re intrigued by just what is going on there. In each of the examples in this post, I went through my stamp collection to find sentiments that would start the idea of a story going – scroll down to see a little more on each one.
Note: Supplies are linked in the supply list at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used – that means if you make a purchase using my links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work on this blog! Read more.
Click the graphic to make it larger – but pin from this blog post rather than the attachment, so you can get back here to the images below.
At first I only had the Balloon Bear peeking in from the bottom, and as I looked for a sentiment to go with him, I saw “Let it go….” and immediately had to stamp one more balloon up in the air as if he’d let it go!
In this version of Balloon Bear, he’s just peeking in from outside with a balloon gift….it makes you wonder if he’s standing on something, is he peeking into a door or from behind a tree? Lots for the imagination to ponder…
Fancy Hat Bear, when peeking in from the side, is a little shy. So telling her to go be fabulous in a sentiment seemed good to encourage her to step out boldly!
In another version of Fancy Hat Bear, I wanted her to look like she was throwing a kiss, so when stamping her I wiped off the eyes – and added lines instead so she could look dreamy!
Can you think of stamp sets you’d use to try some half-lea
Welcome to my stop on the Paper Smooches bloghop! Did you know Kim’s back!?!? I’m squeeeeeeeeee-excited! It’s time to share a sampling of the NEW MARCH 2019 release with you – one stamp set and some dies!
I love Kim’s cute and simple stamps especially for newbies to learn coloring. Though….today’s aren’t exactly newbie projects. LOL!
Yes plural on the word “projects” – I not only wanted to paint that water on the orca card, but wanted to update a little info about the #playjournal challenge. Read on for more on both – and prizes at the end of this post!
Note: Supplies are linked in the supply list at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used – that means if you make a purchase using my links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my work on this blog! Read more.
First – the video is below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.
Isn’t it fun to be able to play with paint and make a scene out of such cutiepie stamps!?
The new products at their online store and the rest of the supplies are in the list below. And for more on the #playjournal challenge and the prizes to come….see THIS page.
Bloghop and prizes
To add extra fun to our blog hop…Paper Smooches is offering a $30 gift card to their shop to FOUR lucky winners!! Comment by midnight Central time on March 8th and check the Paper Smooches blog on March 9th to see if you are one of the FOUR lucky winners!
