Today I have something completely different to show y’all. I am a huge fan of Lindsay, the Frugal Crafter who not only paper crafts, but also makes jewelry, knits, crochets, and paints. In fact, I can’t think of a craft she can’t do! For the last month or so she has been posting watercolor painting tutorials and I watch in fascination because she makes it look so easy. Yet, I think “there is no way I could do that”. Lindsay however, is a crafting cheerleader… bubbly, energetic, and most importantly encouraging. Well, I finally decided to try it out since I had some unexpected alone time (read as “no witnesses to the watercolor carnage if it all went horribly wrong”). I found a $4 set of watercolor paints at a closeout store awhile back thinking I could make ombre backgrounds, but almost a year later I still hadn’t done it. Persuaded by Linsday’s most recent tutorial, I actually painted a scene!!! Check it out… and those who actually have artistic ability, please be kind… its my first painting. EVER. And no, its not corn dogs with mustard that fell in the grass, its supposed to be cattails, albeit from the viewpoint of a ladybug 🙂
The sky didn’t turn out the way I intended, but I don’t dislike it entirely either. My paints definitely did not react the way Linsday’s do when she adds them to wet watercolor paper, so I suspect mine were already outdated when I bought them (the $4 price tag should have tipped me off), and they certainly haven’t gotten any fresher in the bottom of my drawer. That said, I might have to ask Santa for a decent set and palette for Christmas. Now I have to decide what to do with this? Save it for posterity? Nah. Add it to a card? Probably, and if it does you will be seeing it again! (Sorry!) I’m also going to have to take another look at some of those tutorials to see what else I can try. Check out Lindsay’s blog and/or YouTube channel and see if you might be willing to experiment too! I’ll be back in a day or two with a more traditional project 🙂
Misplaced Mojo 
You did a wonderful job esp for your first time! I don’t think watercolor paints ever go bad so no worries, I think the paper is why the paint did not flow. I really like the Stathmore and canson watercolor cards and papers for beginner artists and practice use, they are affordable, easy to find (craft store paper pad isle or blick online) and give good consistent results. Keep painting, I see talent there!
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Thanks Lindsay! You don’t know how much that means to me 🙂 I suspected the paints were bad cause a couple had a peculiar smell, but having never used watercolors before I didn’t know if that was normal. They are Pennelli brand and say they are artist quality. Most of the colors felt more like acrylic to me as they were more opaque than I expected. The paper was Canson 120lb “rough surface” and says “substantial, yet easy to use for the learning watercolorist” but it did feel like the colors wouldn’t float or spread, especially the blue, and the texture of the paper became more pronounced the wetter it got. With the colors not blending like you show, I painted more like I color/shade with Promarkers and went back with plain water to smooth blend it. I will check the craft store today for smoother paper to see if that makes a difference. Thank you so much for doing the tutorials and giving me feedback!!!
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