Tag Archives: Watercolor Painting

A Walk in Monet’s Garden: Observing the World Through Art

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“All I did was to look at what the universe showed me, to let my brush bear witness to it.”
~ Claude Monet

When I came across this quote by Monet, it stopped me in my tracks. Such a simple thought, yet so deeply powerful. It reminds me that art isn’t always about striving or planning—it’s about noticing. Truly seeing. Allowing beauty to move through you and out onto the page, canvas, or journal.

Monet painted the world as he experienced it: shimmering light on water, the softness of morning mist, the dance of color in a garden alive with blooms. His work invites us not only to see, but to feel.

That’s the heart of my painting, “A Walk in Monet’s Garden.” It’s a gentle meditation on color and tranquility—a moment where I allowed myself to pause, observe, and let my brush bear witness, too. It’s not a replica of Monet’s style, but a reflection of the awe I feel when I slow down and look at the world with wonder.

Maybe today, you’ll take a quiet moment to do the same. Let beauty find you. Let it speak through whatever medium brings you peace.

Hope you enjoyed this today, thanks for stopping by!!

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Watercolors vs. Gouache: Which Paint is Right for You?

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Lately, I’ve been working on a small handmade journal, experimenting with both watercolors and gouache. Each medium has its own strengths, so I thought I’d share some of the perks and drawbacks of both. If you love painting, you’ve probably come across these two, and while they share similarities, their unique qualities can make a big difference in your creative process. Let’s dive into the pros and cons to help you decide which one suits your style best!

Watercolor

Pros:

  • Transparent & Layerable – Watercolors create beautiful, light washes and ethereal effects.
  • Fluid & Spontaneous – The paint flows naturally, making it great for loose, expressive work.
  • Lightweight & Portable – Perfect for travel and on-the-go painting.
  • Mixing Potential – Can achieve a wide range of colors with just a few pigments.

Cons:

  • Less Control – The unpredictability of water can be challenging to manage.
  • Lighter Colors Only – Once a dark color is down, it’s hard to lighten it.
  • Paper Dependent – Requires high-quality, absorbent paper for best results.

Gouache

Pros:

  • Opaque & Vibrant – Offers rich, bold colors with great coverage.
  • More Control – Doesn’t flow as much as watercolor, making details easier to refine.
  • Reworkable – Can be reactivated with water after drying, unlike acrylic.
  • Matte Finish – Gives a velvety, professional look, perfect for illustrations.

Cons:

  • Less Flow – Doesn’t have the same natural blending effects as watercolor.
  • Can Crack When Thick – If applied too heavily, it may crack when dry.
  • Not as Portable – Tends to be heavier and requires a palette for mixing.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you love soft, translucent layers and effortless blending, watercolor might be your best bet. If you prefer bold colors and a more forgiving medium, gouache is a great choice. Why not experiment with both and see what suits your style?

Which one do you prefer—watercolor or gouache? Let me know in the comments!

I hope you found this helpful—thanks for stopping by!

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Setting New Creative Goals with Watercolor Landscapes

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  • Day 1 – Night Falls
  • Day 3 – Dusky Skyline
  • Day 4 – Beach Bonfire
  • Day 5 – Golden Wood

It’s hard to believe we’re already into November, with Thanksgiving just around the corner. As I start looking ahead to next year, I’m setting some exciting goals for my art journey—planning both what I want to accomplish and the new techniques I’m eager to explore.

One of my personal goals is to complete a watercolor landscape in my journal each week. I’m a huge fan of Kolbie Blume, the talented artist behind This Writing Desk. Her books—Wilderness Watercolor Landscapes, Stunning Watercolor Seascapes, and Mastering Light in Watercolor—are my go-to guides for inspiration and technique. With all three on my shelf, I’ve decided to challenge myself to paint through each one, creating a new piece from her books each week until I’ve explored them all.

The paintings shown here were inspired by an online art challenge Kolbie hosted last year, which was a fantastic learning experience. I’m excited to dive back into her work and continue learning, especially as I build my skills in capturing the beauty of nature with watercolor.

If you haven’t checked out Kolbie’s work, I highly recommend it. Her books, website, and YouTube channel offer fantastic tutorials for watercolor lovers at any level. I hope this inspires you to set your own creative challenges for the upcoming year!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend filled with inspiration! 🌄✨

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Trash to Treasure Art Journaling

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This creation is part of the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram! I fell behind because I’ve got so many projects going on in the studio, but this artwork is for July’s prompt: “Trash to Treasure.” My original plan was to use chocolate wrappers to create something fun, but that would have meant eating a lot of chocolate! Not that I’m complaining, but I am trying to be good 😇

Sometimes things simply don’t go as planned. I had painted a watercolor abstract that just didn’t turn out the way I wanted. But with the July prompt in mind, I thought, why not salvage it and turn it into a treasure?

I had a lot of fun punching out butterflies—each one unique—and adding them to my journal. After finishing, I thought maybe leaving the background white would have been better—sometimes less really is more! But you know what? I still like how it turned out. And now, I’m officially all caught up! 🎉

I hope this piece inspires you to create something fun this weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

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“Open your heart and mind like the wings of a butterfly. See then how high you can fly.” ~Zeenat Aman

Labor Day Sale 2024: Enjoy 25% Off Handmade Art at FlowingWatersArtShop

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Thrilled to announce this special Labor Day Sale going on now through September 3rd, where you can enjoy 25% off in the shop!🎉 Whether you’re looking for a new painting to brighten up your space or a keepsake ornament to add to your collection, this is the perfect time to shop for something unique and handmade.

The sale is live now, but don’t wait too long—these deals are only available for a limited time. Head over to my Etsy Shop now and find your next favorite piece before it’s gone! (Discount will be automatically applied at checkout.)

Thank you for supporting handmade art, and happy shopping!

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Makes my Heart Sing Art Journaling

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Ever wondered what goes on inside an artist’s mind? Well, this journal layout is a little peek into mine! I’m all about bright, fun, happy colors, whimsical touches, and the magic of everyday life. Roses and flowers? Absolutely love them. Music and art? They all make my heart sing.

This creation is part of the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram. I fell a bit behind because of the many projects I’ve got going on in the studio, but this artwork is for June’s prompt: “Makes my heart sing.” So many ideas came to mind, but the real challenge was capturing the feeling in a way that truly resonates.

After some thought, I chose ‘Art’ because, no matter what’s happening in the world, creating always brings me joy, happiness, and peace. This artwork was made in my favorite 4.5×5″ handmade watercolor journal. I used watercolor paints and markers, a white Posca pen for highlights, a sketch pencil for shading, and of course, a bit of glitter for that extra sparkly magic✨

I’ve got one more layout to do for July, and then I’ll be all caught up. I’m planning to work on that this week, juggling it with my other projects. I hope this piece inspires you in some way!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I’d love to hear what makes your heart sing. Have a fantastic weekend!

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Photo by Unchalee Srirugsar on Pexels.com

The Sea Art Journaling

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I’m excited to share my latest artwork with you for the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram! This month’s theme is “Salt,” and after tossing around a few ideas, the sea 🌊 kept calling to me—it’s salty in the best way! To add a bit of interest and fun, I even sprinkled some coarse sea salt onto the background.

This ocean-themed piece found its home in my cherished 4.5×5″ handmade watercolor journal—a thoughtful gift from my sister on a past birthday. I love working in this journal; the size is just right, and the colorful thread binding adds such a special touch that I made sure to paint around it. To make it even more interesting, I drew a boat and some sea life, then stamped the quote, “My heart is at home by the Sea,” and secured it with some washi tape. I even found a delightful mermaid washi tape by Jane Davenport in my stash, which I thought was the perfect finishing touch. I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out—it’s cute and captures that salty sea vibe!

I have to admit, I’m a little behind on this challenge, so I’ll be catching up on the other two designs over the next week or so. My studio projects have been keeping me busy, but taking this creative detour was a refreshing break.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead. 🌟

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Shop Update: Lavender Mist Abstract

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Lavender flowers, with their vibrant purple hues and delicate blooms, are a true feast for the senses. Their beauty is captivating, evoking images of serene fields bathed in sunlight. The delightful scent of lavender, both calming and invigorating, has a timeless allure that enchants and soothes the mind, body and soul. As one of my favorite flowers and scents, lavender served as the inspiration for this painting.

I’m thrilled to introduce “Lavender Mist,” the latest addition to my Etsy Shop. This abstract painting, crafted with professional paints on 9×12 inch, 140 lb cold press watercolor paper, exudes elegance and charm.

“Lavender Mist” captivates the senses with its serene hues of greens, blues, and violets. The touch of metallic paint adds a beautiful shimmer, infusing the artwork with a touch of magic.

Enhance your space and soothe your mind with “Lavender Mist” and let its timeless beauty inspire your soul. Don’t miss out – make it yours today and let the enchantment begin!

Thank you for your support!

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Sea Girl Portrait Art Journaling

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I can’t believe how long it took me to complete this art journal portrait! I began with the sketch in December, and after several layers of watercolors, she’s finally finished. 👏👏 The sketch itself was time-consuming, as I wanted to get it just right. Then, I meticulously added layer upon layer of watercolors, with a few enhancements using colored pencils—though not too much. It was truly a labor of love, and I poured so much time and effort into each detail. This video shows how it all came together 😊

I hope this inspires you in some way. Have a great weekend! ⠀

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Butterfly Art Journaling

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This artwork is for the Scrappy8Challenge on Instagram, and this month’s theme is “Don’t label me!” Coming up with this design was quite the journey! I played around with watercolors, pen, stencils, some cool stamps, collage and a bit of glitter. For this theme I added a few empowering phrases that speak volumes:

“STOP comparing”
“labels are limiting”
be YOU-nique!”

I created this design in my 4.5×5″ handmade watercolor journal that was gifted to me by my sister from ArtsiRosi Etsy Shop. I’ve been using this journal for the challenge and it has quickly become one of my favorite journals!

I hope this piece sparks your creativity and inspires you to break out your art supplies for some weekend fun! Wishing you a safe and Happy Memorial Day!!

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