Whimsical Fairy Magic

This "Whimsical Fairy," is from a tutorial by Andrea Gomoll for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales," hosted by  Tamara Laporte.

I drew this piece by eye using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil on 140 lb. watercolor paper. I used a Micron Pen for the outlines and Jane Davenport watercolors to paint the piece beginning with this cute fairy. I followed Andrea's step by step instructions and gradually painted the scene, but I had a problem painting the birch branch pattern. I tried, but it didn't work for me. So I painted an ordinary tree branch!

 

The branch wasn't the only problem to solve. In trying to get the fairy's wings to show up, I got carried away with more paint. The only thing I could think of was to cut out the fairy and branch.

I drew and painted the background on a second piece of watercolor paper using the cut out pieces for guide lines. I left guides on that second painted background in order to place the cut outs in place. I used Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue.

I used Holbein artists white for the veins in the wings and went over the wings with a bit of Ohuhu Brush Pen. After adding some spatter to the piece, I added some metallic watercolor to the fairy's hat, shirt and wings.

This was a challenging  piece, I love my fairy drawing!

Challenges:  

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2026/03/morgans-artworld-challenge-98.html 

https://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/2026/02/270-wings-birds-bees-butterlies-etc.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-844.html 

Regency Dress

 This "Regency Dress" on toned paper is from a You Tube tutorial by Karen Campbell.

I drew this lovely fashion in my Strathmore Toned Tan sketch book. I drew it following Karen's instructions, making use of guide lines from the reference, she provided. I used a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. Shading was added with a Blackwing Pencil and a paper stump. I used a white Uni-ball Signo Pen and white Prismacolor Pencil for highlights.

For additional fun, I surrounded the image with flowers and butterfly stamps from my stash.

 I love how very lovely this drawing came out and hope there will be more of these fashion tutorials in the future.

Challenges: 

 https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-843.html

  https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-202602-february-anything-goes.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2026/02/272-february-15-mirtillamente.html 

 

Dress Shop

 

 I enjoyed drawing this "Dress Shop" while watching Karen Campbell's You Tube tutorial. I made some changes and details as I watched.

I drew the building in my Ohuhu Pad with a Graphgrear 1000 Pentel Pencil and colored it with Ohuhu Markers. The black line details were done with Molotow Blackliners and the highlights were done using a Uni-Signo Pen and a white Sharpie Creative Marker. It was so fun drawing the dress and decorating it!

I'm looking forward to more of these to come on Karen's You Tube channel!

Challenges: 

  https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-202602-february-anything-goes.html 

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2026/02/allys-angels-103-challenge-anything.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-843.html 

Enchanted Castle

 This "Enchanted Castle" is from a tutorial by Tamara Leporte for the "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales."

When I saw this castle I couldn't wait to draw it freehand with my Graphgear 1000 Pental Pencil. It's on Fabriano hot press 140 lb. watercolor paper. It was so fun drawing the building and that cute sleeping dragon!

I painted this piece using three watercolor sets: Winsor Newton, Jane Davenport and Prima. The moon is outlined with a Blackwing Pencil. The black lines are in Micron Pen and the white and highlights were done with a Uni-ball Signo Pen.

I'm looking forward to more excellent tutorials at "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales!

Challenges: 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-97.html 

  https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-202602-february-anything-goes.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-316.html 

Valentine Cupcake

 

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, but today is my 56th wedding anniversary! That's the special day for a very special cupcake!

Let's get back to where we were! Allie at Windswept Design Studio is offering a new watercolor club. I enjoyed her tutorials, along with the printable outlines at Christmas time. Now she is offering a couple of free Valentine inspired tutorials, also with printable outlines. This yummy "Valentine Cupcake," is one of these.

I followed Allie's instructions in my XL Canson 140 lb. watercolor book, using Jane davenport watercolors and some Holbein Artist gouache. I did make some changes to this tasty dessert, making it my own.

I enjoyed this Valentine inspired tutorial from Allie!

Challenges: 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-97.html 

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2026/02/allys-angels-103-challenge-anything.html 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-202602-february-anything-goes.html 

 

Winter Fairy

The "Winter Fairy," iis from a Tutorial by Lucy Brydon for Awesome Art School. I painted this piece in m Artezia Gouache Pad using Artezia and Winsor Newton gouache.

The piece took three days to do and all three days, I thought there was no hope for it. I thought it would be ripped out of my pad and tossed in the garbage. But the third evening, I took another look at the piece. I decided to go on from where I left off and watching some of Lucy's tutorial, but doing most on my own. I chose not to add any extras and changed some of what was already there. It worked! It's probably the best piece in my Artezia Pad!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-202602-february-anything-goes.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-842.html 

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2026/01/allys-angels-102-anything-goes-theme.html 

 

 

House in Graphite

 

I drew this house by watching Karen Campbell's You Tube tutorial.

I drew I drew it  on Fabriano 140 lb. hot press paper with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. Shading was added with a Blackwing Pencil and a paper stump. I used a Gen Crafts Watercolor Brush Pen to add the additional red in the hearts.

I loved drawing and shading this piece and adding the new house to my collection. 

Challenges: 

 https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-842.html

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/02/challenge-202602-february-anything-goes.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/classic-design-challenge-01-2026-janfeb.html