Tapered Townhouse

 

The challenge of working on the houses in Karen Campbell's book "Happy Hooses," from the "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series" is so fun." This "Tapered Townhouse," was a challenge, with more details. There are 13 lessons in this book and I'm nearly done!

 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. In addition, I used a Prismacolor pencil to darken some areas. I read and followed Karen's tutorial in the book, but used a different paint set than what she used.  

I loved this tutorial!

Challenges: 

 https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/challenge-838.html

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/classic-design-challenge-12-2025-decjan.html 

A Watercolor Challenge

 

I was recently invited to take part in the "12 Days of Christmas Watercolor Challenge." There were 12 tutorials of a variety of holiday themes teaching different techniques. Allie Royston of the Windswept Design Studio has run this challenge for 5 years and after those 12 days are over, one lucky participant gets a dog portrait watercolor course!

I didn't think I would be successful painting this "Dog," but I surprised myself. I want to thank Allie Royston for all the techniques  and skills I have improved while working each day on those tutorials.

The challenge was free with outlines for each painting. Allie taught the painting portions of the challenge, while participants first put the outlines on their 5x7" watercolor paper. I used Canson XL 140 lb. watercolor paper and Winsor Newton watercolors. No, my colors do not match Allie's, but there are dogs of many colors, after all. 

Here are my other eleven paintings. They were interesting and in my opinion my Dog was my best piece, the others were pretty good too.

 Although my husband saw the Two Turtle Doves, I plan to give him that one as a card for Christmas. He is after all a bird enthusiast. I did make them into cards and gave a few to our company from out of town. They loved them!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/challenge-838.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2025/12/267-december-7-all-dressed-up.html 

Reader in Gouache

 

This painting in gouache was inspired by a tutorial by Arteza. I used my Arteza Gouache on my Arteza Gouache Pad. I added a bit of a Molotow liner pen in the red flowers and some white Gelly Roll pen for highlights.

I enjoy finding interesting challenging tutorials and making  small changes to make them mine.

Challenges: 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/11/classic-design-challenge-11-2025-novdec.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/challenge-838.html 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html 

Houseplant Hull

 

 I've been working on houses in Karen Campbell's book "Happy Hooses," from the "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series." This "Houseplant Hull," was fun to work on. There are 13 lessons in Karen's book, I enjoy working on them out of order. I found that I had trouble doing boat reflections, but in time I worked it out for myself!

 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 damp sea sponge for the plants on the lower deck. I used a red Micron pen for the bits of red on the boat and a Gelly Roll Pen for the white highlights. 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/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/11/classic-design-challenge-11-2025-novdec.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/challenge-838.html

Mabon Maiden

 This "Mabon Maiden," is from a tutorial by Lucy Brydon for Awesome Art School. Mabon is a pagan holiday celebrating the autumnal equinox. She was a challenge and took a long time to get out of the ugly stage!

I followed Lucy's video and drew this beauty using a Graphgear 1000 Pental Pencil in my Ohuhu Marker Book. I used Ohuhu Alcohol Markers, Micron and Staedter liners to color her. I also used a bit of Prismacolor Pencils on her face and a white Gell Pen for highlights.

 I really thought she wouldn't come out of the ugly stage, but I kept going. Boy, was I surprised when I held her up to get a good look!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

 https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2025/11/266-dr-digis-house-of-stamps.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/11/challenge-837.html 

 

Mixed Media Wonky Witch

 

Yes, I'm late for Halloween, but I was busy working on my whimsical houses from Karen Campbell's book!

I didn't want to miss painting some wonderful witches, so here's Lucy Brydon's "Wonky Witch" from her tutorial for Awesome Art School. I followed Lucy's video using my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil in my Canson Watercolor Journal. After that I used a Blackwing Pencil and a blending stump for shadows. I painted this cute witch with Prima watercolors and used a Black Pentel Brush Pen and a Molotow Blackliner for detailed lines. I used a white Gell Pen for more details and highlights.

This was so much fun to work on. 

Challenges: 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/challenge-312.html

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

 https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/11/classic-design-challenge-11-2025-novdec.html 

https://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.com/2025/11/welcome-to-creative-artiste-challenge.html 

 

Skinny Witch in Watercolor

 

I'm late for Halloween, but I was busy working on my whimsical houses from Karen Campbell's book!

I don't want to miss painting some wonderful witches, so here's Karen Campbell's "Skinny Witch" from her tutorial for Awesome Art School. I followed Karen's video using my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil in my Canson Watercolor Journal. I followed that with Jane Davenport watercolors and used a Molotow Blackliner for detailed lines.

This was so much fun to work on. I can't wait to work on Lucy Brydon's witch.

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html