New to Watercolor?
This is a great place to start!
I started using watercolors in 2013 and have loved teaching what I have learned about the media since 2018. My goal as a teacher is to show you how to control watercolors so that you are able to master them, so that you can create on your own. No need to find a tutorial every time you have an idea or an itch to paint—by following my tutorials and lessons, you’ll quickly learn the “why” behind the “how” and grow in your confidence and overall watercolor ability.
Art Supplies
Let’s take out the guess work, shall we? I’ve linked a full “shop” of many of my very favorite art supplies including my favorite watercolor palette, beginner friendly watercolor paper (that won’t break the bank), my favorite watercolor brush and even some of my favorite pigments.
FREE Beginner Watercolor Tutorials
In my fine art tutorials, we focus on learning not only the techniques, but the philosophy behind art. You’ll not only learn how to mix your colors to get the color that I’m using, but WHY I added in each pigment and my thinking behind each stroke, making it easier to grow and create on your own
Full Art Courses
If you’re ready to get serious about your art, or you just want MORE instruction and attention to detail, then check out my full art courses! These classes are designed to take you from absolute beginner to practicing and understanding advanced techniques within days. Color Theory class coming soon!
Hungry to get started? Here’s a few of my most recent tutorials
Not sure where to start on your watercolor journey? Look no further! This fun, easy landscape painting tutorial will take you through the step by step process of painting a simple landscape and show you several watercolor techniques along the way #howtowatercolor #easypainting
In this simple watercolor landscape tutorial, I’m going to take you through my step by step process for creating this happy, spring themed landscape! Complete with some darling sheep in the field! I’m so excited to dive into these watercolor techniques and show you how to make something that looks a little more advanced with ease
In this video tutorial series, I’m going to show you how to draw and then paint a realistic BLUE JAY with pencils and watercolor. I’ll share some of my favorite tips and tricks for painting realistic feathers, adding details and bringing unexpected colors into your palette to increase the overall beauty.
In this video tutorial series, I’m going to show you how to draw and then paint a realistic clematis flower with graphite pencils and then watercolor painting. I’ll share some of my favorite tips and tricks for painting realistic flowers with watercolor, adding depth and interest and creating a cohesive painting.
In this video tutorial series, I’m going to show you how to draw and then paint a realistic robin with pencils and watercolor. I’ll share some of my favorite tips and tricks for painting realistic feathers, adding details and bringing unexpected colors into your palette to increase the overall beauty.
Loose, expressive landscapes in watercolor was just the thing to fit my mood on this winter afternoon! In today's video tutorial, I'm going to share with you my super easy watercolor techniques to create this beautiful winter scene
In this video tutorial I’m sharing how I painted these red mushrooms! We’ll explore beginner friendly techniques and show you how easy it is to achieve beautiful watercolor mushrooms without too much effort using watercolor pigments that can be found in most beginner palettes. #watercolortutorial #watercolormushroom #mushrooms #redmushrooms
In this video we’re going to test out some new to me watercolor pigments! I’ll share the pigment formula, lightfastness and show you a live swatch and dry image. I’m sure you’ll find the process oddly satisfying as we explore new watercolor pigments together #danielsmith #watercolorswatches #oddlysatisfying
Learn how to paint fog or mist using watercolors in this video tutorial. During this painting process, I was able to test out a few theories and came up with a quick watercolor fog tutorial for you (and a bonus watercolor tree tutorial, hah). Enjoy and happy painting!
We’re taking our loose, mini landscape tutorials and adding some water reflections and bolder color palettes. In today's tutorial, I'm going to share with you my super easy watercolor landscape techniques. Perfect for beginner watercolor artists!
In this video I’m sharing my favorite tips and tricks for painting white watercolor flowers. These beginner friendly watercolor techniques will help take the overwhelm out of painting and help you with your next white watercolor flower project. #watercolorpainting #watercolortips #watercolortechniques #beginnerwatercolor
I’m excited to dive into part 2 of this blueberry tutorial where we’ll add the watercolor to the realistic blueberry drawing that we created together in the last video. In this easy, step by step tutorial you’ll learn how to watercolor blueberries in an easy but realistic way.
Loose, moody landscapes in watercolor was the perfect outlet! Lots of color play and simple composition is perfect for my tired little soul. In today's tutorial, I'm going to share with you my super easy watercolor landscape techniques. Perfect for beginner watercolor artists!
In this video I’m going to share with you how I created these beautiful watercolor lilacs! There is a lot of prep work that I’ll talk you though as I don’t normally paint flowers with these tiny petals. We’ll also talk through supplies, how to achieve a realistic but soft look and dive into some more advanced techniques. I’m so excited to share these watercolor techniques with you as we paint these watercolor lilacs together
In today’s video I’m going to share with you my step-by-step technique for creating these beautiful, realistic watercolor roses
Time to remake my old Loose Watercolor Peony tutorial! This beginner-friendly watercolor tutorial was originally made in 2018, but has been in need of an update with more details and a better video all around. I hope you enjoy it! #watercolorpeony #watercolortutorial
In this video I’m going to share with you my steps and process for painting these pretty, fluffy white clouds with watercolor paints. I think you’ll find it surprisingly simple and easy to recreate!
In this video tutorial I’m going to walk you through my process for creating a simple watercolor landscape. We’ll talk through some of the basic techniques for creating depth and realism in your landscapes and how to use a limited color palette without losing your mind or painting the canvas a single shade of green, hah!
In this video I'm going to share my super simple process for creating realistic bird eyes—that double reflection, the soft intensity, the underlying color—all of these watercolor techniques will be shared in today's mini video tutorial!
In this video tutorial I'm going to show you how to paint watercolor forget me not flowers in a realistic, but playful way. I loved having the opportunity to play around with the color palette and make it a little more interesting.
Are we starting a bird series? I think I smell a watercolor bird series and I’m not mad about it one bit! For today’s tutorial, we are spreading our watercolor wings and painting a beautiful golden oriole. This male oriole's beautiful, bright color and patterned wings are the perfect excuse to explore using layers as a watercolor technique.
A beautiful watercolor ruby throated hummingbird doesn’t have to be intimidating (though I admit that I was at first!). This easy-to-follow step by step tutorial will help you capture the beautiful hummingbird watercolor painting of your dreams! #watercolortutorial #watercolorhummingbird #rubythroatedhummingbird
Where do you even START with a color palette?? In this video I'm going to share my experience and what colors I think are most valuable for a beginner. We'll talk through the exact colors that I am going to be using for this beginner series (based off of a few popular Windsor and Newton kits) and the kit that I would purchase for myself if ALL of my paints suddenly disappeared!
A beautiful watercolor ruby throated hummingbird doesn’t have to be intimidating (though I admit that I was at first!). This easy-to-follow step by step tutorial will help you capture the beautiful hummingbird watercolor painting of your dreams! #watercolortutorial #watercolorhummingbird #rubythroatedhummingbird
After sharing my 3 Tips to Mastering a New Art Medium a few weeks ago, my head started spinning with different ways that I could share different watercolor techniques and tricks with you that I think would make it more memorable and impactful. While there are a number of valuable beginner classes or courses that you could take for watercolor, I trust and hope that this series will have something fresh and new to offer. This first video/blog will cover different art supplies and what we will specifically be working with
I have been day dreaming about this watercolor iris way too long to leave it in my head a moment longer! I am so excited to share how I painted this watercolor iris in my signature loose watercolor flower style. Also known as “loose for me but not loose at all for some people but other people like it”. Hope you’re one of the latter “somebodies” :) #loosewatercolorflowers #watercolortechniques
Learn how to watercolor realistic butterflies with this simple video tutorial! Watch each step of the process while I use some of my favorite watercolor techniques (and share how I would paint it differently next time!). Another addition to our Watercolor Butterfly series that I’m sure you’re going to love!
In this video I'm excited to share some of my favorite watercolor tips and tricks (that actually work)! This is more than your typical "salt" or "crayon resist" tricks that so many people share—instead, these are tools or techniques that have helped to take my fine art watercolors to the next level or have made my life as an artist significantly easier.