Haunted Hutch

 

I'm back working on the houses in Karen Campbell's new book "Happy Hooses," from the "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series." This "Haunted Hutch," was a challenge, but it worked out fine. This is the last of the 13 lessons in Karen's book, but I chose not to wait till I was on it. I wanted to be ready for Halloween!

 I drew this house onto my Fabriano 140 lb. hot press paper and outlined the house with Molotow Blackliners.  I painted the house using Winsor Newton watercolors. In addition, I used a Prismacolor pencil to darken some areas. I used a Blackwing pencil and blender stump for the shadows. I read and followed Karen's tutorial in the book, but substituted other paint sets.  

I so enjoy doing these!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-835.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2025/10/264-polkadoodles.html 

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/2025/10/halloween.html 

 

Whimsical Seascape Mixed Media

 

This mixed media seascape is from a tutorial by Jeannette Vivo. It was relaxing and it inspired me to make the piece my own with a few changes. I drew this with my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil in my Canson watercolor book. I painted this charming seascape using Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors. The details and outlines were done with  Posca and Micron Pens.

I really love how this piece came out. The highlight in the water with the sailboats is my favorite part!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-835.html

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2025/10/264-polkadoodles.html 

Two Jungle Gouache Paintings

 

 

I really loved the two gouache designs side by side on the one page. It's from tutorials by Melanie from her Visual Mind Channel.

Melanie worked on both designs at the same time. I felt doing that, I wouldn't give them the time and focus I would need to develop works of art. So I basically took a day for each and I'm happy I did.

First I used washi tape around the page and through the middle to save the white of the page. Starting with the section nearest to the spiral binding, I drew some basic leaf forms with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel pencil in my Arteza Gouache Pad. The painting was done in layers. As each layer of Arteza Gouache dried I worked on another color over the top. Lastly I added some patterns in lines and dots. It was fun to do the another but in a slightly different theme next to the first. Once the designs were dry I pulled off the washi tape and revealed the white...so cool!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-834.html

 https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/classic-design-challenge-10-2025-octnov.html

                                                                                

Neat & Sweet Abode

 

 

 

I'm back working on the houses in Karen Campbell's new book "Happy Hooses," from the "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series." This "Neat & Sweet," was a challenge, but I'm so happy it worked out fine. This is the third I have done in the book of 13 lessons. I'm looking forward to more.

 I drew this house onto my Fabriano 140 lb. hot press paper and outlined the house with a Molotow Blackliner.  I painted the house using Jane Davenport, Winsor Newton and Prima watercolors. In addition, I used a Prismacolor pencil to darken some areas. I read and followed Karen's tutorial in the book, but substituted other paint sets.  

I'll be doing more of these!

Challenges:

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-834.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-310.html 

Lantern Lookout

 I love working on the houses in Karen Campbell's new book "Happy Hooses," from the "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series." This "Lantern Lookout," was fun to work on, it kind of has the Florida look. Out of the 13 lessons in Karen's book, I just to work on it out of order. I'm a transplanted New Yorker living in Florida for more than 20 years!

 I drew this house onto my Fabriano 140 lb. hot press paper and outlined the house with Molotow Blackliners.  I painted this piece using Jane Davenport watercolors. In addition, I used a Prismacolor pencil to darken some areas. I used a Blackwing pencil and blender stump for the shadows. I read and followed Karen's tutorial in the book, but substituted other paint sets.  

I so enjoy doing these!

Challenges:

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-834.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/classic-design-challenge-10-2025-octnov.html 

Air BNB

 I really enjoy the challenge of working on the houses in Karen Campbell's new book "Happy Hooses," from the "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series." This "Air BNB," was a delightful challenge. There are 13 lessons in this book and I can't wait to do them all.

 I drew this house onto my Fabriano 140 lb. hot press paper and outlined the house with a Molotow Blackliner.  I painted the house with Jane Davenport and Winsor Newton watercolors. In addition, I used a Prismacolor pencil to darken some areas. I read and followed Karen's tutorial in the book, but used different paint sets than what she used.  

I loved this tutorial and  look forward to doing more!

Challenges:

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-834.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-309.html 

 

Magical Forest Fairy Door

 

This "Magical Forest Fairy Door," is from a tutorial by Lucy Brydon. Lucy is one of many artists contributing tutorials to "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales," a program exploring art in Magic and Fairy Tales.

I followed Lucy's drawing instructions with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil in my Canson Watercolor Book. I used Jane Davenport, Prima and Winsor Newton watercolor sets to paint this piece. I used a sea sponge for the tree tops, a Molotow Fineliner for additional depth and detail to the piece. A white Gelly Roll Pen was used to add highlights to the door.

I love how this piece came out. I managed to make the tree have depth without adding additional supplies!

Challenges: 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/09/challenge-833.html 

 https://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/2025/10/challenge-623-colours-of-autumn.html

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/10/october-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html