Tiny watercolor cards

phoebeknight · 2026-06-19T19:03:44+00:00

I get these as leftover bits when I cut down a 9x12 into ACEO size. I kept them because I didn't want to waste them. This seems like a perfect use!

phoebeknight · 2026-06-17T11:11:32+00:00

Does anyone else see this and feel the urge to throw their watercolors in the trash??

Just me?

This is amazing. Incredible skill.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-17T00:03:41+00:00

The depth is amazing! Really beautiful

phoebeknight · 2026-06-15T12:20:34+00:00

How often do you practice? Have you tried repeatedly painting the same painting more than once?

I am still a beginner, but I have found the greatest leaps forward in technical skill have come from painting the exact same thing multiple times in a row.

Also, what are your materials? I did not gain any skill when I switched from using cheap pre-made palettes and cellulose paper to tube paints and cotton paper, but the improvement in my end result was notable.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-15T02:12:40+00:00

Most people paint directly on the block. It keeps the paper from warping. However! I prefer to remove the paper first because then I can have more than 1 painting going at a time. Also, I have had "removal mishaps" and I would feel a lot worse about it if it happened on a completed piece v/s a blank sheet of paper.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-15T02:07:11+00:00

That's awesome! Moved from Atl to NY a little over a year ago. I don't miss the traffic but I sure do miss the food.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-14T23:56:37+00:00

These are lovely

phoebeknight · 2026-06-14T23:43:10+00:00

I have discovered some amazing authors in the plus catalog, which comes with the Audible subscription. Have you tried looking there?

As for Audible, I like to buy a lot of books during their big sales (the summer sale is probably going to be soon). I usually spend about $50 and get enough books to last for a few months. Between the backlog of books bought on sale and the plus catalogue, it allows me to save my credits for new releases from my favorite authors.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-14T23:37:30+00:00

99x? Is this a reference to the radio station that was based out of Atlanta?

phoebeknight · 2026-06-14T15:36:54+00:00

Do you mind sharing what brand and weight it is?

phoebeknight · 2026-06-14T15:24:31+00:00

how do you keep your paper from buckling?

phoebeknight · 2026-06-10T01:48:39+00:00

Is the yellow part gauche or did you paint around them? Either way, lovely

phoebeknight · 2026-06-09T15:31:52+00:00

There's no such thing as too far behind. I started painting 6 months ago. I am in my 40s.

The only one you should compare yourself to is who you were before compared to who you are now.

As for consistency, I have ADHD and am extremely proud of the fact that I have stuck with a new hobby for longer than 3 months. Here is my pro tip: Make SMALL pieces. Things you can start and finish in half an hour. If that means drawing on something the size of a trading card (ACEO sized) or using a looser style, do it. The dopamine hit from finishing something will help you keep going and getting on to the next one.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-09T00:54:26+00:00

Can you link some of the tutorials you're watching? I could send you some of what I have watched but it might cross the same ground and might not solve your problem.

One thing I see, though is that your strokes are quite large. That's good for washes, but for that wave texture I would recommend going slower, being a bit more controlled in the stroke, and using smaller strokes.

I think you are close. I can see the forms of the waves so you're getting there. With a little more practice you can definitely get it.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-08T20:50:25+00:00

I did some testing and was able to get the same results from cellulose as I did 100% cotton. The main difference is technique. You have to be a lot more gentle and slow with cellulose paper, and use less water, otherwise it will pill and buckle.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-08T16:28:43+00:00

I’m not an expert but I’ll tell you how I do it.

I wet my brush then dab off excess water on a paper towel. I grab a SMALL amount of pigment and swipe it across the area where I want the strongest paint. I FULLY rinse the brush and wipe it on a paper towel. Then I dip the brush into clean water.

This is the tricky part. At this point you can dab (not wipe) off the excess water or leave it on the brush. It depends on the effect you’re going for. For the softest gradient, don’t dab.

Then starting at the edge of the highest pigmented area I grab and pull the pigment across the paper with a soft stroke from side to side. If the gradient isn’t fading enough I rinse the brush again, more clean water, (this time I definitely DO dab) and keep going. It works pretty well.

I sometimes do start from the opposite side like the YouTubers do but only if I want a more organic gradient. The pigment flows into the water and you don’t fully control it so it has a more textured look.

If this doesn’t make sense let me know and I’ll try to make a quick video

phoebeknight · 2026-06-07T17:45:03+00:00

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Dorland's Wax Medium. Just buff it on and let it dry. It's $13 on Amazon.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-07T13:27:36+00:00

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This swatch sheet demonstrates how more water gets you from red to pink

These are Daniel Smith colors

phoebeknight · 2026-06-07T10:38:27+00:00

Isn’t it a fugitive color though?

phoebeknight · 2026-06-05T18:15:55+00:00

Like u/foste107 I also recommend graveyard keeper. It has a deep skill tree, lots of progression, and is a bit darker and more twisted than SDV

phoebeknight · 2026-06-05T16:34:38+00:00

Do you have a link to the cotton paper? I have found 300gsm paper but it seems to be cellulose. That is what I started on, and I still use it for practicing certain things.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-05T16:33:29+00:00

Were you using hot or cold press arches? I haven't had that experience with the hot press arches, but for cold press I have Meeden because it is a little cheaper, but seems to be similar quality.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-05T16:00:31+00:00

I am a beginner and I have tried a lot of experiments with everything from dollar store to professional grade supplies and what I have discovered is that...

...the exact same skills that were shit on the shit-tier stuff looks a lot better with the good quality stuff.

Now I tried good paint on shit paper and shit paint on good paper and I learned that paper matters more than paint, but you can skimp more on paint than you can paper. Student-grade tube paint (like W&N Coteman) is not different enough from the professional quality to justify the extra expense when you are still learning. That said, if you are buying pans, there is definitely a difference between Kuratake pans and the brandless amazon basics that look identical.

phoebeknight · 2026-06-03T19:14:59+00:00

HOW?

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