Easy Birthday Cupcake Watercolor Tutorial! {It’s my Birthday!}

Hi friends! Today I hit the big 4-1 and honestly I don’t feel bad about it! I feel so good in fact that I put my Essential Tools & Techniques for Watercolor class on sale for $41 this week! *If you click the link above it should show the discount but if not use the coupon code: BIRTHDAY41 to get the discount:) I think turning 40 was harder. Since 40 is a milestone birthday I think we put greater expectations on ourselves and set goals we should have reached by that age. Non milestone years is where it’s at folks. I thought it would be fun today to make a hand painted cupcake birthday card. You can paint this card in less time than it would take you to drive to the drugstore and buy one!

Feel free to switch up the colors, add sprinkles and do whatever you like. It’s your cupcake after all! 🙂

This is the reference photo I used, as you can see my painting is nothing like the reference but it did give me a subject to draw from and I could see where the shadows fell on the icing. A reference photo does not need to be copied exactly and often it is better if you don’t. Use it as a reference and go on from there with your own ideas. It’s your painting, have fun with it! And if it doesn’t work out try again, after all it’s only a piece of paper.  Watch the video and paint along, paint a few if you like, they are nice to have on hand and you can play with color choices too!

Please feel free to use whatever paint and paper you like for this project. I like to paint on watercolor cards for practice because they are cheaper than making my own from watercolor paper and they come with an envelope but you certainly can make your own card with the paper you have.

Supplies:

• Surface: Strathmore watercolor card #140 CP
• Watercolors (I am using M Graham but you can use any kind)  Colors: Ultramarine blue, Burnt sienna, Cad Yellow medium, pthalo blue, Quin. Magenta
• #10 round synthetic brush (Grumbacher) *If you want to use a smaller brush you can, use what is comfortable but a big brush that comes to a fine point is most useful:)

I hope you give this easy beginner project a try, and if you feel like you want more in-depth watercolor training please consider checking out my course Essential Tools and Techniques for Watercolor Painting on sale for $41 (Regular $79) this week only!

Join hundreds of happy students who are building their skills and confidence with watercolor! See what some of them have to say:

Hello Lindsay, Thanks for a wonderful class. Wow, it is packed with so much information, and such fun to follow you! I am 74 and still enjoy learning. You are an awesome teacher!! -Linda Pasmore

Thanks for the tutorial. I am glad that it is in more depth than the YouTube videos, although I love them as well. I am brand new to both painting and drawing so even the iris was a challenge. When I started watching your YouTube videos I found that I had some watercolor supplies I had purchased about 15 years ago and never had the nerve to try. Thanks for giving me the idea that it is possible for me to learn to paint! -Helanna Andres

Lindsay U R an amazing painter. I’m truly enjoying practicing these techniques. I’ve learned so much from this class. Watercoloring is a lot of fun. I’ve always loved detailing, so I know I’ll enjoy doing this iris..it’s just so pretty. -Kathleen Geisel

How to hold the brush is the best information you could have imparted! loving all these videos; can’t wait to start painting the iris. -Judith Taylor

In this course I show you the essential techniques to make your paintings more powerful. You will learn to mix colors from a limited palette. We will also go over the tools and supplies and how to use them. You will complete these paintings in class.

I think the best feature of this class is that it teaches you how to paint, not just copy someone else. My goal is for my students, upon completing this course, is for them to paint whatever subject they wish because they will instinctively know how to mix colors, pick paper and paints and handle a brush well. If you have ever felt like you needed more guidance in learning how to watercolor please check out my Essential Tools and Techniques for Watercolor course today at 48% off! Enroll today for $41 (Regular price $79) and you have lifetime access so you can return to the class whenever you like! This offer Ends 7/18/17. Thank you so much for painting along with me today and til next time happy crafting!