I did this quick demonstration on my YouTube channel after showing how to build a quick table easel with three different heights. I was tired of using upturned yoghurt cups and anything I could find to prop up my watercolors while painting wet-in-wet. Finally got around to creating a useful tabel easel.

Granulating Watercolors

My latest Youtube video on granulating watercolors. Hope you find it useful. One can create very intersting landscapes using watercolors that granulate.

I had a request from a student on how to mix browns in watercolor. I hope this video I made will help anyone struggling with browns. I did forget to mention in the video that I often use neutral tint mixed with burnt sienna which makes a lovely warm brown.

Shades Of Winter

I painted this watercolor on a gray day in Sausalito, California. We look out over Richardson bay, which leads into San Fracisco bay. I love the neutral tones of the sky and land on days like this. As you can see, I took a lot of artistic license to make the watercolor more appealing. I wanted to show what one can do with a little imagination. I used only two colors, French ultramarine and quanacridone burnt orange. I did add a little white gouache for texture in the dark landscape area. The inspiration was from this photo below taken from my deck.

Natures Templates

I'm always on a quest to find unique ways to create textures in my paintings and techniques that help to create abstract landscapes in watercolors. After some experimentation, here is a  short Youtube video on my experiments in using nature's templates to create interesting textures in watercolors. Explore ways to use these templates to create abstract watercolor landscapes. I hope you find this useful and would love to hear your comments.

Painting A Simple Sunset

I created this Youtube video on how to paint a simple sunset. I thought by simplifying the composition it would help watercolorist at the beginner level to paint along with me and learn how to mix colors to create a glowing effect.  Hope you enjoy it.

Abstract Landscapes In Watercolor

I  just published my sixth watercolor course. This one was by far the most popular with more than fifty signups the first day. I hit on a niche that seems to be popular - Abstract Landscapes In Watercolor. I have an introductory 25% off for this week if anyone is interested in doing the course - just click on the title in the text.

My latest YouTube video covers using neutrals in watercolor and painting abstracts. I was surprised at the number of visits it received. Made me realize I need to create a course in abstract painting. I also shared my latest brush purchases. I painted this particular abstract using very watered down mixtures of Payne's grey, and indigo mixed with burnt sienna.I used a little salt in the bottom left area and the darks were made by using black indian ink, which always creates an interesting result when the watercolor repels the ink.  It flares out in all directions. For the fine white lines I used a white fine jelly roll pen.

Spending my time off this week painting. Thought I would try something different and see if I can create a decent abstract. Much more difficult than painting an object or scene. I used watercolor, india ink, watercolor pencil and gold goauch pigment. Size 11" x 15".

Abstract Landscape Patterns

I love experimenting with textures. Have some old netting that I bought for this purpose. It worked out quite well in this piece. Also added a few scrapes with a sharp knife to create more texture.

Abstract Landscape I

Using just Payne's grey and an acrylic ink I experimented with color and texture in an attempt to create an abstract landscape. I was pleased with the end result. My first painting of 2017.

Through The Mist

I haven't painted in a while because I was too busy creating how-to courses. Decided today was time to paint again. It was great getting back in the painting groove and doing something really loose and semi-abstract. I am working on being more abstract with my landscapes. I always admire the work of artists who paint interesting abstract landscapes - something I wish I was better at. Well, it makes life interesting when you make your craft a continual learning experience.

Reflections On Water

My latest Youtube video on how to paint reflections on water.  I do a different demonstration every two weeks, so if anyone is interested, please subscribe to my Youtube channel to be notified when new videos are uploaded. I had fun doing this. I used my favorite Saunders Waterford cold pressed paper and just three colors, raw sienna, burnt sienna and Paynes grey.

Painting a Fall Scene Demo

I recently did a Youtube how-to video on painting a simple Fall scene.  It was basically an exercise in choosing colors for a larger painting and how to keep your paintings loose. Hope you enjoy it, and if you do, please subscribe to my channel where you will get regular demonstrations on all things watercolor.

Blue Vision

I like to simplify my paintings and nearly always work wet-in-wet. I like the soft look it creates. I live in the seaside town of Sausalito CA, and the surrounding landscapes are an endless inspiration for my watercolors. We have the bay on one side and the mountains on the other - not to mention the redwood forests and nearby marshes. I am inspired by all of this, but at the same time like to put my own interpretation on what I see, sometimes changing the colors and other times using materials to stretch the boundaries of my watercolors.

Monochrome Landscape

I paint most of my watercolors from imagination but I am influenced by the landscape around me. Every afternoon I take my dogs for a walk on the trail above where I live in Sausalito CA. Everything is already starting to turn brown even though we are not into Fall yet. I guess this is what I had in mind when painting this watercolor. Couldn't think up a better title so I'd love to hear some better suggestions.

I went out of my comfort zone to see if I could pull off painting a sunflower wet-in-wet. I probably chose one of the most difficult flowers to paint in this style. I filmed the process and have posted it on my Youtube channel for anyone who is interested. The colors I used were, winsor yellow, new gamboge, perylene green, perylen violet and a little transparent pyrrole orange - all Daniel Smith colors except for the winsor yellow. I enjoyed the experience and think I will continue practicing florals wet-in-wet.

Storm Over The Marsh

Another wet-in-wet watercolor inspired by World Watercolor Month. I love to paint the marshes in different lights. I used only three colors for this watercolor, raw sienna, burnt sienna and neutral tint. I find the neutral tint mixed with burnt sienna makes a lovely rich dark.

Through The Haze

Working on my wet-in-wet skills and trying to loosen up and create more of an abstract landscape. I quite liked the effect of this one. I actually used neutral tint and raw sienna for the sky and raw sienna, indigo and burnt umber for the land area. It's World Watercolor Month this month so I feel compelled to paint more watercolors to celebrate.

Setting Sun

I'm doing a series on Youtube about color choices for beginners. Last week's video was about the reds I use. I did a demonstration on painting a sunset with a few different reds. It wasn't intended for it to be a finished painting, but I liked how it was going, so I finished it up off camera and posted it on my web site.