So you think you can’t paint? You’re wrong!

Hi friends! The journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step. With that I bring you a very easy painting project that combines easy painting techniques with stamping.

You can use any acrylic paint for this, I am using Turner Acryl Gouache because I like the matte finish and the bright, yet opaque colors. It important to work on a smooth hard surface so the stamp won’t skip. That’s why we are working on a gessoed hard board panel instead of a canvas. Watch the video for full step by step instructions.

Video!

Today I am using stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry Use coupon code: MIXED to save 20% on all $10+ orders of mounted stamps! Offer expires Sunday, August 7, 2016.

Supplies:

• 4″x6″ Hardboard panel or any smooth surface
• Acrylic paint and brushes (1/2″ flat, #3 round or close to those sizes)
• Peg Stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry: Lotus Pond, Aloha, Near the Reef, Lily Pad Side
• Scrap of foam packaging to use as a stamp pad

Plan 30 minutes to complete this project. You can also paint this on paper with acrylics, I recommend a heavy cardstock and gesso it first, or use watercolors on watercolor paper to do the background and stamp with black pigment ink for another option. Give it a try with the supplies you have and til next time happy crafting!

Paint Colorful Festive Lanterns LIVE at 12:30pm ET!

Hi friends! Yes, we have another live painting class today at 12:30pm Eastern Time and we are going to paint some colorful lanterns. You can catch the live show or the replay here but if you want to chat with us make sure you watch on the YouTube watch page and join in the fun with fellow painters! All are welcome!

Here is a pattern you can print and trace, or you can sketch from it.

I used two different reference photos from Paint My Photo, this one from Caroline Hughes King and this one from Mido Modi. Below is a color swatch and mixes. I am using Turner watercolors but you can use whatever brand you have. The colors I am using are: Quinacridone Rose, Permanent Yellow, Turquoise, Pthalo Green and Burnt Umber.

You can watch the live show or replay in the player below but remember, if you want to chat live be sure to watch on YouTube.

You can find all of the supplies I am using today at Jerry’s Artarama

Turner Watercolors *Jerrys is having a super sale on these right now (up to 75% off list with some 15ml tubes as low as $3.25!

140# watercolor paper

Brushes Just an assortment of your typical watercolor brushes:)

I hope to see you at 12:30pm Eastern Time for a fun painting class! Oh and one more thing, I have had a lot of people requesting acrylic painting tutorials and a have put together a playlist of all of the free acrylic paint projects I have done here, but if you want more instruction than I can provide (Acrylic is not my best medium) Consider these wonderful Craftsy classes that are 50% off today!

If you like Huge, bright, beautiful flowers check out Luminous Flower in Acrylic:

And since I have been asked a lot about painting animals I thought you might like this one: The Art of Painting Horses.

There are many other types of classes at Craftsy from photography, stamping, papercraft, quilting, sewing, cooking and cake decorating and any class you purchase via my link helps me bring new free tutorials to you on my blog and I thank you for your support! I also have a class at Craftsy called Mix it Up Mixed Media Step by Step and that is 50% off as well and we work with watercolors, watercolor crayons, collage and more, it was so much fun to create and I hope you enjoy it:)

Thanks again for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Can You Watercolor on Metal? You Bet!

Hi friends! A few months ago I bought a jar of Daniel Smith watercolor ground because they said you can use it to pant on virtually anything, even tin cans! When I got a shipment from Papermart with some cute little tins inside I knew I would try watercoloring on one of them!

The process is really simple as I will demonstrate in today’s video.

Video!

I love the blueberry motif (and not just because I live in Maine) because it is a quick, fun and easy thing to paint even if you are new to watercolor.

You can find the tin I painted and hundreds more at our sponsor Papermart!

Supplies:
Oval metal box with lid  or Other Tins
Watercolors & watercolor Ground (Daniel Smith)
Brushes: #8, #3 round, 1/2″ flat synthetic

Directions:
1. Paint lid of tin with watercolor ground and let dry at lease 24 hours. Your tin might need 2 coats as mine did.
2. Use watercolor paints to paint on design.
3. Seal your design with either oil based spray sealer or dry wax.

I hope you try this fun project, it would be great for gifting a small precious trinket and the tin is a gift in and of itself! FIY we will have a live painting class tomorrow (Friday) here at 12:30pm Eastern Time, hope to see you then, happy crafting!

Review of Expensive Watercolors {Daniel Smith}

Hello my name is Lindsay I am a watercolor floozy. I can’t resist having a fling with a new set of beautiful watercolors, especially if I find some on sale which I did. I got this 6 watercolor essential set from Daniel Smith for $22 from Amazon Warehouse Deals, I snagged it because there was only one, I think it was shopworn or a return, I did not care as long as the paint was good. The paint was great but unfortunately there were 2 ultramarines in the set in place of a pthalo blue but Daniel Smith send me out a replacement tube so all was good.

I had dozens of people ask me to review Daniel Smith paint and even more recommend it. The price however gave me pause but I am really glad I tried these! Unfortunately it makes me want more. Oh, and a warning, if you go to the Daniel Smith website you can see beautiful swatches of colors and descriptions that sound like you are reading the back of a wine label or a romance novel, I had to step away from the computer before I spent a paycheck on romantic sounding names like Moonglow and Undersea Green. They have a fantastic copywriter! Enough talking, lets see what these paints are all about in today’s review and demo:

The colors included in the 6 color watercolor essentials set are:
Hansa Yellow Light (col yellow)
New Gamboge (Warm Yellow)
Quinacridone Rose (Cool Red)
Pyrrol Scarlet (Warm REd)
Pthalo Blue GS (Cool “greeny” blue)
French Ultramarine (Warm “purply” blue)

If you want more info on basic split primary color mixing check out my free video here but if you want a more in depth course using the Daniel Smith colors try the class Luminous Watercolor Mixing at Craftsy.  Last I checked it was 33% off and I did enroll in it myself to be sure it was a good color mixing class.

You can find a good deal on Daniel Smith tubes on Blitsy. They also have the set I used at Simon Says Stamp (but honestly, you can get the 6 tube set for half the price on Amazon.)

I really like these paints and this set is perfect for clean bright mixes, perfect workhorse colors to start off with. The only negative I can think of on Daniel Smith paints is they are expensive but luckily they often have sales so you can keep a list and stock up when you find a deal. They sell dot sample cards if you want to try colors before comitting to buying a tube or stick of paint which might be smart, or dumb if it just makes you want more. #WatercolorFloozyProblems. I also love the descriptions they put of each color on their website, although warning, you might get talked into buying:)

This 6 color set is wonderful for beginners or experienced artists wanting to try and compare with basic colors. I’ll say that the quality is excellent so advanced painters might want to try some of their more exotic pigments to round out their collections especially if you seek granulating colors.

I will be using these paints in a video tomorrow as well (as if I could waste ANY of the paint on that palette!) if you want to see it in action some more. Also today I wanted to announce the winner of the ArtNeko stamps from last week (sorry to cram so much in to one post) Virginia Michelini enjoy your prize! You will get an email from me with instructions on claiming your stamps, congrats! Let me know what you think of these paints in the comments below, thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Screamin’ Deal of False Economy?

Hi friends! The packages have arrived from my birthday money-flu induced-watercolor shopping spree a couple of weeks ago. The set I am going to review tonight I have never heard of before but I really liked the look of the pallet it came in. It also came with a waterbrush, ceramic dish and sponge. I have been looking around for a good deal on half pans to fill from my watercolor tubes and they are crazy expensive, even on ebay, for basically tiny plastic square cups. When you figure in shipping they are easily $1 a piece empty. If you know anything about student quality watercolors you know that you can often pop the watercolor cakes right out of the pans. This palette had 18 filled removable pans included. The price of the whole shebang was $12.99. How could I loose?

But when push came to shove I couldn’t just throw away the paint, it goes against my staunch Yankee upbringing. So I played with the paint and it just proves my point that you can make art out of anything if you are an artist. Now, I am not recommending these paints per say but I think the palette is a great value and the paint is certainly bright and fun. For the full review watch the video!

Video!

This is the set I ordered, I just double checked my order, the name fluctuates between Jerry Q Arts and Grace Arts and the price I paid for the Jerry Q was $12.99 and the Grace is $11.99, I did not have issues with the latch on mine but one reviewer said her’s did not stay latched. I reckon both sets are the same, they are according to my order history. This is not an affiliate link:)

This kit is best for:

• The palette pans and brush which would cost $20 if purchased separately.
• Brush lettering: the paint consistency is ideal for that and I wonder if that is what the set is really intended for and it lost something in the translation when it came over in the boat LOL!
• Or washes on casual pen and ink work like in the photo above. I had a grand old time playing with this paint. That said the paint contains a lot of filler so care must be taken not to make mud when mixing. Using colors straight from the pan will overcome that.
• Unbridled play, with paints this economical you can experiment with colors, sketching and patterns and not worry about wasting paint. I was testing colors on a paper plate for goodness sake and due to the fillers the paint rests on the surface of the paper so you can use cheap drawing paper to play with these and the paint won’t feather.

These paints are not good for:

• Serious works of fine art you want to keep for a long time (if you make something awesome scan it:)
• Watercolor techniques where flowing colors is important (like wet-in-wet washes or open drip technique) the fillers make the paint heavier and more still, they are much like poster paint or tempera.
• Pretentious artists…wait, it would give them something to complain about and they seem to like that LOL!

This is a $12 paint set and you are painting for the palette in my opinion which I gladly did and found it to be a great value. If what you want to spend your $12 on is paints you are much better off to pick up a few tubes of Winsor & Newton Cotman or Grumbacher Academy paints or the $12 LUKAS Studio pocket box set of 12 half pans because those paints are more lightfast and will give you nice colors and better flow. It just depends on what your needs are. What do you think? Would you pick this set up or pass? Let me know in the comments below. Just so you know I was not asked to review these, nor was I compensated to and I bought them with my own money. I ALWAYS declare if an item was free or when I am sponsored. I want you to be able to place more or less weight on what I say based on that information however you like but rest assured, you always get my honest opinion. I hope you found this review helpful and til next time happy crafting!

Take Your Paints on Vacation!

Hi friends!The other day when I shared how to make a DIY watercolor block I demonstrated removing a painting from the block and many of you asked for a tutorial on it so I made one just for you:)

I often feel like I lose the “freshness” of a painting when I try to paint it again back in my studio but I really liked the quick ease of this composition. I even decided to teach this painting at my free library painting class last week and the students did so well which was good because I had twice as many students than I usually get, I had to hop between 2 rooms to teach, it was crazy but a lot of fun!

Video!

I used my Koi travel paint set for this, I really enjoy using this set for travel, it has more than enough colors but it is inexpensive enough so I don’t have to worry if I lose or damage anything. I must remember to bring a couple extra water brushes though because my girls always want to paint too! Speaking of painting on the go, we spent the day on the coast and managed to paint two quick sketches while my kids splashed in the waves. The one on the left was done at Sandy Point in Stockton Springs and the one on the right was painted in Belfast, Maine, such a  pretty town.

I hope you enjoyed todays free painting tutorial and if you would like a more in-depth lesson on sketching landscapes on location please check out the class Sketching Landscapes in Pen, Ink & Watercolor available at Craftsy. This class takes you on location to sketch and shows you how to further develop a scene in the studio. It is a great reference for anyone wanting to know more and it is currently 25% off! And it is much better than anything I could film on location:)

Disclaimer, this post contains affiliate links which means I earn a small commission on products or classes you buy after clicking on them (at no additional cost to you) this helps to keep content on my blog & YouTube free and I thank you for your support! I hope you take your paints on a vacation soon and til next time happy crafting!

Watercolor & Alcohol and a Cute Origami Box!

Let’s have fun mixing up our supplies to make cute undersea gift boxes!

There are lot of fun techniques in this video, I hope you try one or more in your next stamping of painting project! Watch the video to see how!

Sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry: Use coupon code: ORIGAMI to get 20% off orders of $10+ of mounted stamps. Expires Sunday, July 31, 2016

Supplies:
Watercolor paper or heavy cardstock cut 9″ square
Watercolors (or dye ink pads pressed to a block to make paintable ink)
Dye ink pads in bright colors
Stamps by Rubber Stamp Tapestry, Seahorse Garden, Sea Turtle Mama, Sea Turtle Hatchling, Sand dollar and Starfish Border, Shell Border
*Stamps are available individually as well as in the above sets.
Pencil
Circle template and ruler
Scrapbook paper 8.5″ square
Rubbing alcohol (I used 70% from a drugstore)

 These boxes are quick and fun to make and when you use your paint and stamps you can customize them however you like! The alcohol technique can be used in your watercolor painting as well when you want that bubbly look, just make sure you drop in the alcohol while the paint is still damp or it will not work. I hope you enjoyed this project! Thank for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

LIVE “Coffee Break” Painting LEsson @ 12:30pm ET today!

Hi friends! We have another free painting class for you at 12:30 Eastern Time today! I saw this amazing Photo on my friend Tracey’s Instagram account. I asked her if I could paint it and she said yet, thanks girlfriend!

Here is my version:

I modified the design a bit. The tea cup in the photo was the same size as the pastry so I made it larger and full as coffee and I snuck it over to the side more so everything was not lined up. You can alter differently or even put a different kind of pastry in the dish if you wish. You might want black coffee and cherry pie (subtle Twin Peaks reference.)

Here are the 4 colors I am using: Yellow ochre, Perylene Maroon, Prussian Blue, Rose Madder. I can mix all of the colors I need from these 4. If you do not have these colors use the closest you have, it is OK if you need to use more. I just like to try to use as few as possible to get my point across.

You can watch the live show or the replay in the player below but if you want to chat live then you need to watch on the YouTube watch page and be logged in, it is that simple:)

You can find the supplies I am using at our sponsor Jerry’s Artarama

• Watercolor Paint (Mission Gold)
• 140# CP Watercolor Paper (9″x12″ Fabriano Artistico)
• Brushes (Mimik Kolinski and Mimik Squirrel)

We are going to talk about color mixing quite a bit today but I always have people who want more info on color mixing. I am enrolled in a wonderful Craftsy Class called Improve Your Paintings: Luminous Color Mixing and it is 33% off right now! The teacher uses the same split primary system that I recommend and she goes in depth as to why it works so if you find yourself wanting more info in color theory please check out this class!
*Purchasing this or any other Craftsy class through my link helps me produce these free lessons on my YouTube channel and I thank you for your support! See you soon and Happy Crafting!

Are the Kid’s Driving You Nuts Yet? {Fun Summer Kids Craft!}

Howdy friends! Today I have a fun craft that will keep the kids from saying “Mom, I’m bored!” at least for an hour or so LOL!

Watch the video to see how to make these fun sun catchers!

Supplies:
Black cardstock or construction paper
Bright colored tissue paper
White Glue
Waxed Paper (from the kitchen)
Scissors

Directions:
1. Cut tissue paper into small squares. Cut a shape out of black paper (fish, seashells, sea horses, octopuses, dolphins, crabs, and mermaids are all fun ideas but you can cut any shape you wish)

2. Apply glue to the black paper around he cut-out and place a sheet of waxed paper on top.

3. Apply a layer of glue to the waxed paper on top of the cutout and cover with tissue paper squares. Seal the paper with another coat of glue and let dry.

4. Cut around the window shape, if desired, leaving a1/2″ border or leave it as is and hang in a sunny window and enjoy the beautiful colors!

Thanks to Papermart for sponsoring this video and thank you for spending some time with me today! Til next time happy crafting!