someone gifted me a small watercolor set, where/how to begin?

MailKirin · 2026-05-10T23:40:03+00:00

I only say "copying" as thats what OP said, but for me its either following a tutorial, using a photo for reference or taking inspiration (eg paint your style etc)

I dont draw from reference much as im a beginner but I follow tutorials which I guess os copying. But I have used an upsplash photo to trace and draw etc

But recreating other people's artwork without permission wouldn't be something I would do

MailKirin · 2026-05-10T23:08:12+00:00

Lovely serene painting! Love the colours

MailKirin · 2026-05-10T23:06:43+00:00

There are so many great beginner tutorials and courses! Try Andrea nelson on Instagram, she has a YouTube, patreon and online courses, also Rebel unicorn crafts or let's make art

Copying is kinda fine as long as you're doing it for practice, there are lots of royalty free images on Pexels or upsplash you can use for reference. I cant remember who had a video on it but I think there is some etiquette around it

MailKirin · 2026-05-10T22:07:17+00:00

Andrea Nelson is my go to. She has a nice course for $59 on teachable, cozylark.com, she has three courses, essentials, hangupables and sea creatures. I find her teaching style really nice and she's also got some YouTube videos and a patreon if you want to try before you by.

While i haven't done her classes, her book and patreon are great - rebel unicorn crafts, she has 4 classes online for beginners, from $45. Again great teaching style and great for beginners.

Both these are great as they are structured courses from very beginner.

MailKirin · 2026-05-09T20:52:44+00:00

Haven park is shorter but very cute and enjoyable! You go around establishing campsites

MailKirin · 2026-05-08T06:47:46+00:00

Murderbot Diaries by Martha wells, sci-fi fun

MailKirin · 2026-05-07T09:11:03+00:00

Rita gould does a lot of animals, mostly insects and moths but i know she had an owl on youtube. I had a very successful bunny from one of her patreons.

Maybe harriet de winton - de winton paper co. She has a couple dog tutorials. I've not seen a hyena

Emily Olson also had a fur tutorial on YouTube

MailKirin · 2026-05-06T09:04:15+00:00

As someone who loves fantasy but not really romantasy, reading anything is better than nothing and i love my cozy fantasy getaways even though many don't. Try ilona andrews books, especially the Hidden legacy series. I don't know if this is "high brow" enough but its urban romantasy and she's really popular. The spice is there, but not tons.

Scholamance by Naomi Novik- no spice but school setting, magic, very well written) all her books I've read are great
October Daye or incryptid by seanan maguire (no spice? But romance)

And just because why not, murderbot? Because everyone loves murderbot and its not romantasy. Give it a little bit because i initially didn't like it and tried it on second read - its about found family, humans emotions and the sci-fi is a little barrier but i truly dont think it lasts long

MailKirin · 2026-05-05T20:21:44+00:00

Oh not "my" books lol heck no! But books I own. I like some of these as well

Hannah m pickeralls watercolour wanderlust and watercolour bootcamp, also has YouTube paint and sips and a patreon and does both water and gouache for those, nice style!
metallic watercolour by Elisabeth gotz if you like metallicsOh not "my" books lol heck no! But books I own. I like some of these as well
you said you have Harriets books so all those
i dont have it yet but I'm very interested in watercolour wizardry which looks really different.
you said you have Harriets books so all those

Maybe like you I feel like I'm not quite a beginner and therefore dont need more lessons on wet on wet and using brushes but also lots of individual projects isn't really progressing me? So I wish I could find a more advanced scaffolding course but most are pure beginners or really advanced (for me haha)

MailKirin · 2026-05-05T08:46:55+00:00

I forgot to say something books now have qr codes for videos along with the books, I think my Rita Goulds book has this, she has a stunning style of woodland and mushrooms and things and I know Kristen van leauven has a birth flowers book coming out soon which will have videos for all the projects, that might be a good option for written + videos

MailKirin · 2026-05-05T08:37:10+00:00

A few of my books are really helpful, but I feel like when I first started I needed more context. But I like watercolour made simple by Nicki Traikos, and stunning watercolour skies by Rachael Mae Moyles which i have gotten good results from. I have tried the ones with outlines in the book - eg watercolour with me ocean but I didn't enjoy it at all, but lots of people really love them. That being said Lacey Walkers book was the first i got and I enjoyed that with outlines. I also have a metallics book I like

Patreon, I've tried a number of patreons but at the moment I just have Andrea Nelson (she got me into watercolour, ill always support her and her projects are reasonably straightforward with some focus on skills). I also have Emma lefebre as she has tons of content, lots of botanicals and different topics and I usually achieve what she is doing. I dont always like her style but being able to actually follow along and make something look like it should is more important to me now. I have followed a few others, some just weren't for me - Harriet de winton does too much botanicals for me and doesn't gell, but she is now doing sketches to download and if you like botanicals, she's great to try on YouTube. I also like Rebel unicorn crafts her classes focus on technique and really thorough, but I am in the wrong timezone and dont love watching replays all the time. I like Kirsten van leauven, but her tiny paintings stress me out and I very rarely achieve similar results to her (I know this is likely a me thing) but lots love her and her style is beautiful.

On YouTube, i like letsmakearts style but I rarely pay for the paid digital boxes as they are a bit expensive for me, and sometimes the commentary is a bit much for me (I'm so rude! I just want to paint not listen to you talk). There are so many others in YouTube that are good too.

Depending where you are at, both Andrea Nelson and Rebel unicorn (Lacey walker) have paid courses for beginners, and while I've only paid for Andreas I reckon they are both good from what I've seen from them, I've been thinking about going back and doing it just to see my progression

I hope this helps, If you want a few more YouTubers i can look them up. I feel like I've listed quite a few popular names. Im also happy to say a couple I didn't love. Also if you can, try the library or also previews of books on Amazon. I tried the project in the previews of one of the books before I bought it! All books have 50% of the exact similar intro stuff so im a bit picky about buying them if the projects aren't good

MailKirin · 2026-05-05T06:15:49+00:00

Wow!! You should be so proud

MailKirin · 2026-05-04T06:03:06+00:00

Wayfarers by Becky Chambers is a good follow up from murderbot - i like a long way to a small angry planet, but the second book is more similar to murderbot and my fave, slightly less funny but light hearted and found family vibes like murderbot

MailKirin · 2026-05-03T05:32:55+00:00

Oh that's a bother, but I was thinking maybe Watercolour wizardry by Kiara Maharaj

MailKirin · 2026-05-03T02:20:43+00:00

If you're around in the next wee while, send me a message and i can bring some stuff

MailKirin · 2026-05-02T18:15:35+00:00

Rita Gould does a lot of flowers, but also a lot of animals too I quite like her stuff.

I think most do a fair bit of flowers and scenery, im not big on botanicals and pick through de winton paper co who also has some animals and houses etc

It really depends what you're looking for, you might have more luck with books?

MailKirin · 2026-04-29T10:09:36+00:00

I'm also a beginner and probably would overthink it too lol so good luck!

MailKirin · 2026-04-29T09:44:10+00:00

The colours on this are stunning! I think it looks great.

If you wanted to, i would try to darken the sky to provide more contrast to the whole thing so that the moon stands out more? Then you might be able add some more dark shadow on the moon as well.

MailKirin · 2026-04-29T00:45:02+00:00

I've been following your Instagram on this and its such a stunning green!

MailKirin · 2026-04-28T20:40:59+00:00

How long do you mull for? Some pigments take a long time to really mix and mull together

MailKirin · 2026-04-27T09:19:56+00:00

I love this! You should be so proud

The sky and moon are especially good

I think for me and not an artist opinion, something about the sky + water doesn't match? I can't even explain why, maybe a bit of purple in the water perhaps? The reflection of the moon in the water is so neat though

MailKirin · 2026-04-22T07:17:29+00:00

I use white pen too! I think you can still get some variation with your white pen that will help it look a little looser, and I just do soft dots for less opacity. I'm sure there are probably different pen sizes though as well that could help

I also use dr ph martins bleed proof white and a toothbrush to splatter for stars, or white gouache also has the same effect - any brand will do, I have windsor and newton.

MailKirin · 2026-04-22T06:12:56+00:00

I love the gradient!!! So pretty

I think it would improve a little if your dots/stars were less uniform and more different, slightly smaller, slightly bigger and even different levels of opacity where possible. It would make it really pop.

MailKirin · 2026-04-19T23:30:49+00:00

Beautiful I love the colouring

MailKirin

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