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