Hi friends! The cat tails, or Corn Dog Flowers as my students used to call them, are up and I love them (even tho it means fall will be coming soon) so I decided it would be fun to paint them along with other wildflowers that are out now.
You can find a real-time version of this tutorial in Critique Club along with 86 other long, in-depth lessons in various exciting art media. I add 2 new real-time tutorials each month that is more thorough than what is posted on Youtube plus you get monthly creative prompts to get you painting when you are stuck. What’s more, you can upload your work for feedback from me. All for $5 a month. Learn more here or enroll today!
Hi friends! Today I have a painting done in water-soluble graphite. This is a wonderful medium to bridge the gap between drawing and painting. The pencils I am using also have a tint of color to them so it is also a nice introduction to color if you have mainly been working in graphite.
If you don’t have water-soluble graphite feel free to follow along with watercolor pencils. Watch the video for step-by-step instructions.
Supplies (Affiliate links used)
Derwent Graphitint pencils set of 12 Blick or Amazon
Hi friends! I filmed this painting last week. I was going to post it while I was away in New York but realized it made more sense to post the project I was teaching in New York in case any of the people taking my class wanted more info on the project and to bring you in on the fun too. When I set out to paint I figured it would be a 20 minute, real-time one-take-wonder. Boy was I wrong! I decided to give myself a break and let the supplies show me what they could do instead of forcing them to obey the laws of traditional watercolor. When you try a new supply don’t expect perfection. Try not to expect anything and just let the media teach you!
I think we can get very precious with our supplies. Hey, nobody likes to waste. But the real waste is letting out precious supplies gather dust while preserved in pristine condition on the shelf. You bought them to use them right? Let’s do it!
I plan on posting a review on these watercolors soon. The 24 set of 5ml tubes I am using is sold out but they have a, 18 color set of 9ml tubes availabe. This is the artist grade version, I have not heard good things about the student grade and for the price I’d stick to the artist grade. Happy crafting!
Hi friends! I’m always a bit disappointed when I set out to make a “quick and easy” tutorial for YouTube but it turns into a “long and easy” one. The reason this bothers me is that I know seeing the length of the video will discourage some people from trying it because they think it will take too long or be too hard. However if I was to edit a 40 minute tutorial down to an approachable 15 minutes it really wouldn’t be fair to those who watch my videos to learn. They might think that something was wrong with them if they couldn’t make the same painting in 15 minutes not knowing it took me 45.
In today’s instant gratification society it’s hard to educate and entertain. I get that people want a beautiful project that takes 10 minutes or less, and those are fun, don’t get me wrong but some things take longer to explain. So, if you have the better part of an hour and the desire to learn and relax while painting a serene landscape than this is the project for you. If not, that’s OK too, I have lots of shorter watercolor videos as well on my YouTube channel.
Supplies (affiliate links used)
Paper: Canson Heritage 9”x12” CP pad (cut to 6”x12”) *A great Arches alternative
Watercolors: I am using the Mission Gold Perfect Pan set of 24 but I also have their tube paints and like them. I like the palette except for the fact that half of the pans are on the lid so when you close it half of the paint is upside down and the paint can ooze if you live in a humid location. I’d recommend their tubes if that is your situation. Colors: Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna, Phthalo Green, Yellow ochre, Lemon Yellow, Alizarin Crimson (any brand is fine to use for this tutorial)
And for those of you who actually want more in-depth watercolor training you might enjoy my Watercolor Landscape Workshop. I designed this glass to teach students how to paint beautiful watercolor landscapes and break complex scenes down into their parts so it won’t be so overwhelming. We also spend some time on my favorite landscape element: rocks! If you want to learn to paint landscapes with confidence I hope you will check out Watercolor Landscape Workshop! Thanks for spending some of your day with me today and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! I am so excited to share this painting with you today because I had so much fun painting it!
I filmed and narrated the entire 2+ hour duration of this painting and you can find that tutorial in Critique Club. The tutorial is broken up into 6 smaller segments so you can easily take breaks and not lose your place. There are so many techniques in this painting that can be applied to other watercolor paintings as well. Critique Club is a monthly membership that costs $5 a month and you can cancel anytime. While you are a member you can access any of the past real-time lessons that are longer and more advanced to what I post on YouTube. In addition each month you get a creative prompt and you can upload up to two paintings you are currently working on for feedback on so you can grow and improve as an artist. It is my hope that this customized feedback, or critique, can help you become the best artist you can be! This is a gentle community of artists wanting to learn. Click here to learn more about Critique Club or enroll today!
Now for the Sketchbook Sunday Time Lapse!
Supplies: (Affiliate links used)
Watercolors (Paul Rubens) Ultramarine, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, (Light red, English red or Indian red), Sap green, yellow ocher and Cobalt teal *All colors are in the 24 set except cobalt teal which is in the 48 set if you want to splurge (it’s a great deal if you want a lot of colors) I used a stick of Cobalt Teal from Daniel Smith on mine because I got my 24 set of paint before the 48 set came out.
I hope you enjoyed this painting and I hope it inspires you to draw or paint something with lots of texture soon! Remember you can find the real time tutorial in Critique Club if you are interested. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and til next time happy creating!
Hi friends! Any type of frame can be used to create this unique shaker card. Try using nesting circle, rectangle, square or Triangle dies to make the frame for this and have fun!
Watch the video to see how!
This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry – use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here. As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.
Craft foam (I used yellow because it was close to gold, you could also use white)
Clear “window” transparency sheets (I use this kind because you can also stamp in it if desired or print on it with an ink-jet printer but you can use any clear sheet including product packaging!)
Other: Clear stamp blocks, foam mat for stamping, scrap paper, post-it notes for making masks
Directions:
Cut terrarium frame from gold cardstock and craft foam. Make a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” card from white and trace the terrarium shape on it so the top of the shape hangs off the fold and cut out with scissors. This will be the base of your shaped card. Cut a window for the shaker from clear transparency.
On the card base stamp your succulents masking as needed. Color with markers.
Using skinny tape adhere the foam layer on top of the cardbase over the image you just colored.
Fill the opening of the frame with small beads. I used brown and white so it would look like potting soil. Adhere the transparency sheet on top to seal in the beads.
Carefully line up and adhere to top frame with skinny tape.
Inside of card:
To disguise the bleed through of the markers from the front of the card doodle around them with a water-based black pen. Then, if desired, glue down another die cut frame like you used in the front. If your card isn’t symmetrical and you used a die you can cut it from the reverse side of the cardstock and it will work.
Use washi tape and paper or a post-it note to add a sentiment to your card. I stamped an “ok to reuse” sentiment inside my card that can be easily removed if they would like to regift the card.
Tips!
Foam tape can be used in place of craft foam if that is more convenient for you.
Don’t worry if you don’t have the exact die cut I used. You can use any dome or frame or any nested die set to make one. You can also use shape cutters. If you are not using a die then foam tape will probably be easier than craft foam for the middle layer.
Sequins, glitter or sand can be used in place of beads.
If you don’t have alcohol markers you can use whatever you like (watercolor, chalks, water-based markers, ink and daubers etc) and as a bonus you won’t have to decorate the bleed through on the inside.
Hi friends! I’m so excited to share something I have been thinking about for a while. I often get asked by viewers if they can share their art with me and I love seeing it. I have noticed the amazing progress my students in my online classes make as they work through the lessons and get feedback on each one. They can improve the problem areas in a painting and keep the things that are working. I think being able to give that feedback honestly pushes their skills to new levels. I have wanted to offer that service to more people so that’s why I came up with Critique Club!
You can post any painting or drawing that you are currently working on or have finished to get personalized feedback by me (and encouragement by others) and you can make corrections and post them if you like. Often a new set of eyes can pick out something “off” in a painting you might have missed or help you appreciate an overlooked good part in your paintings that you might have taken for granted. You can even learn by seeing other student’s art and their critique because we often find we share the same struggles.
I wanted to make this group extra valuable so I decided to take two of my sketchbook Sunday projects each month and post them in real-time with narration so you can see how I work through the paintings, what is going on in my mind and how I overcome obstacles during the painting process. The poinsettia painting from this weeks Sketchbook Sunday is available in the group now and a new lesson will post in the group every 2 weeks. Even if you don’t have a chance (or you are a bit shy at first) to post a painting you can still enjoy the painting lessons. The cost of Critique Club is $5 a month and you can cancel anytime.
Since it is Sketchbook Sunday I have a time-lapse painting of something I wanted to work on this week. I purchased this pretty little poinsettia two weeks ago for 88 cents at Mardens. I loved the unusual red and yellow pattern on the leaves and I though the yellow veining was especially striking. As always I am never quite sure how my Sketchbook Sunday paintings will go (that is part of the fun, challenging myself, experimenting and trying different techniques) and this was no different but I did learn a thing or two. I hope you do too and that it inspires you to work in your sketchbook today!
I highly suggest you try cropping a page either with tape or by drawing a box to work inside. Something as simple as that can give you a whole new perspective on your subject. Remember if you want a full real-time tutorial of this painting it is included with your Critique Club membership.
Supplies:
Watercolors (Renesans) Carmine, lemon yellow, sap green, indanthrone blue and phthalo turquoise.
Watercolor paper (Hahnemuhle)
Brushes: #2, #8 round
Other: masking tape, pencil, eraser, and assorted colored pencils.
I hope you enjoyed today’s Sketchbook Sunday project and if one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to grow your artistic abilities please consider joining Critique Club. You can learn more about it, watch the promo or sign up here. Happy crafting!
Hi friends! Today we will have a fun and easy loose style watercolor project for our livestream:
This started out as a loose watercolor but they I wondered what would happen if I added Brusho (a powdered watercolor) and so I did. Immediately regretted it but then decided to leave it be and come back later and I found that I quite liked the effect. You can do it or not, it’s up to you! I think adding pen helped sharpen up some of the leaves giving me the effect I was after in the first place. You can watch the live stream or reply in the player below but if you want to chat live be sure to watch at 12:30pm Eastern time today on YouTube.
Supplies (amazon affiliate links used)
Watercolors: Shinhan Professional $25 for 30 7ml tubes *Review on this paint coming tomorrow on YouTube!
The Frugal Crafter Blog 