Water Soluble Graphite Tree Sketch

December 15, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Exploring the variety of marks I get from a single water soluble pencil.

Having Fun with Water Soluble Sketching

December 11, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

I love mixed media sketching, but never delved into the vast universe of water soluble sketching – until now! I recently splurged on some new supplies, and today I’ll share a bit about them, but there will be much more in the future as they become a normal part of my practice. This post contains […]

The Traditional Artist’s iPad: a guide after 12 years of experience

July 20, 2022.Reading time 18 minutes.

This post is not sponsored or affiliated and I don’t get any money if you buy an iPad. My experience with the iPad as a (mostly) traditional artist I’ve been using an iPad for over 12 years and love it as a “sidekick” to my art endeavors. I know MANY artists who do digital painting […]

How drawing with ink makes me (& you) a better painter

July 13, 2022.Reading time 9 minutes.

As most artists know, painting is an exercise in decision making. What materials to use, what colors to mix, how to apply each color…the list goes on. A single painting can be made up of thousands of small decisions.Some decisions are easier than others. And occasionally, the painting seems to decide everything for itself and […]

New Gouache Travel Palette Colors for Plein Air (July 2022)

July 3, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

Lately I’ve been diving deeper into exploring GREENS and GREYS. At first I was determined to make an entirely separate travel palette containing custom mixes of greens and greys. Upon further thought I realized that two travel palettes wouldn’t align with my goal of slimming down my travel supplies. Less is more when painting outside. […]

Etchr’s Gouache Brushes – Close Look | Comparison

June 24, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

Etchr is one of the few companies who have a set of brushes marketed towards gouache painters. Are they any good? And how do they compare to Etchr’s watercolor brush set? Let’s discuss! My first impressions were that the gouache brush hairs are very fine and very soft, and not as densely packed as the […]

What to bring to your first Plein Air Meet-up [intense weather edition] | #pleinairproblems

June 17, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

This past weekend I attended my first public art meet-up in Scotland. The Art Society of Inverness organized a plein Air meet-up in Findhorn, a beautiful coastal town in Moray county. Since it was my first time, of course I over-planned and brought every art supply I owned. So in order to spare you the […]

Comparing and testing BRUSHES FOR GOUACHE (flats) | Only vegan & under £20

June 8, 2022.Reading time 32 minutes.

This blog post will contain results from my search for the perfect brushes for gouache, comparing and testing brushes, and all my insights into the process with video examples. Each brush must adhere to my criteria: I will continue to update the results below as I test brushes. Bookmark this page and check back monthly. […]

How to DEEP CLEAN your Gouache Travel Palette

May 10, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

Do you use a gouache travel palette? If so you know how messy they get! I usually deep clean my palette every few months. In this post I’ll show you step by step how to clean, mix, renew your gouache from dry and filthy to new! I will also tell you everything I know about […]

30 Day Outdoor Painting Challenge

May 4, 2022.Reading time 4 minutes.

During April I took part in a 30-day outdoor painting challenge known as #PleinAirpril – if you want to see lots of lovely artwork, use that hashtag to search on instagram or pinterest. So much good stuff out there!Anyways, for my challenge I used gouache in a toned paper sketchbook. See below for my travel […]

The Perfect Landscape Palette – Marker Edition

March 25, 2022.Reading time 8 minutes.

Today I want to share my final palette of alcohol markers for landscapes! I honestly feel like this is the perfect palette. You don’t need this many colors, but you could also have much more. If you want a really well-rounded palette, this is a great place to start. — Jump to my marker supply […]

Updated Shinhan Touch Twin Marker Color Chart (Feb 2022)

February 19, 2022.Reading time 3 minutes.

As I continue along my journey to learn how to use alcohol markers, I have decided to document the progress. Last time I mentioned markers, I shared my new set of Shinhan Touch Twin Markers and a color chart that was missing a lot of colors I didn’t know I needed. So it’s time for […]

Etchr Slate Mini Setup Guide (for watercolor, gouache, and drawing outside)

February 5, 2022.Reading time 15 minutes.

The Etchr Slate Mini setup guide shows how to maximize space and efficiency with a few customizations.

Is Cheap “Jelly Gouache” Worth it?

February 2, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

Jelly gouache is an affordable way to experience gouache – but is it worth it? Let’s talk about it!

Schmincke Super Granulating Watercolours: SHIRE set

January 29, 2022.Reading time 4 minutes.

A close-up look at the new Shire super granulating watercolour set by Schmincke.

Shinhan Touch Twin Markers for Landscapes

November 20, 2021.Reading time 2 minutes.

I love markers for landscape drawing. They are so portable. No water, no palettes, no extra STUFF. Just grab a few and head outside to sketch the beauty, and you’re good to go. This is my limited palette for landscapes.