Birch Trees – painting with a plastic card

I love painting with a plastic card. Today I have birch trees that I painted using this fun technique.

Happy Sunday! 💚

Using a plastic card to apply watercolor is easy to do and very enjoyable.

Paper of choice: I recommend a cold pressed watercolor paper. Cold pressed paper can stand up to the plastic card pushing and pulling paint without damaging the paper. In addition, the slightly textured surface of this paper gives the trees a more realistic look.

Simple Technique: Using a plastic card to apply paint.
Dip the edge of a plastic card into a puddle of paint (see photo above) or directly into pigment and then apply the paint to the paper using the card.

A view of the beginning stage.

I used the card to print lines on the paper and create various tree shapes. Then by dragging the card left and right I can pull and push paint to look like markings you might see on birch bark.

It doesn’t look very good at first but by continuing to add more paint and detail, the trees start to look quite nice.

I used three colors that really play nicely together:
Prussian Blue
Paynes Gray
Sepia

In the same area on the mixing tray, the colors slowly start to mix together as I dipped into them over and over. I just continued to add back each color to the puddle as needed.

I also swiped the edge of the card into concentrated pigment to get some nice color for darker areas. In some places a damp brush with a little water helped move paint around a bit.

It’s really all about playing and seeing what happens!

8 x 8 inch – Birch Trees on Fluid Watercolor paper

To finish things off I added a sky and some grasses. The darker area around the base of the trees helps to anchor them so that they aren’t just floating on the page.

I had so much fun painting these trees that I think I will try this again and work larger. I hope you are inspired to create art and do something you love.

Until next time, share a smile and sprinkle kindness everywhere!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram @pattyanneart.

Inspired by Nature

I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite photos. I love the beautiful colors and patterns found in nature.

I hope you enjoy. 💚

The patterns here are so amazing. It looks like leaves painted on leaves. I took this photo a number of years ago and still remember my excitement when I walked past these beautiful leaves.

A look into the center of this plant and you can see tiny ribbons unfolding in all directions.

Lily of the Valley in my garden always delights me every year. I love the delicate white bells against the larger green leaves that seem to swirl about on the page.

Another beauty taken a few years ago. Oh how I love these colors!

This landscape photo was taken from the car last week. I looked out to see this gorgeous sky and was able to quickly take a few photos with my phone before we drove by.

Until next time, take good care of yourself and enjoy the beauty that is around you.

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram @pattyanneart

Beach painting – then and now

I’ve been working on more landscape paintings lately. I thought it might be good to look back and remind myself just how far I’ve come. Today I have a recent beach painting to share and a few to look back on.

So here we go back to 2017

Beach watercolor – 2017

and then 2018

Beach watercolor 2018

Below is a recent beach painting before final details were added. I really like the color palette and the simplicity of the sky.

Beach watercolor 2022

I decided to add a few birds and some grasses in the foreground. I think that really completes the scene.

Beach watercolor 2022

I can definitely see the progress I’ve made over the years and that makes me really happy. As they say, practice makes progress! 😊

I am enjoying the journey and trying to remember that not every painting will be a success. When I am unhappy with a painting I find that taking time to step back and reflect on what worked and didn’t work helps me with the next painting.

I hope you are inspired to create art and do something you love. Until next time, keep playing and having fun!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram @pattyanneart

Little seascape painting

Today I have a seascape to share with you. I was playing in my 5×7 inch sketchbook and was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Happy Sunday! 💙

My first step was color mixing. I painted a few samples in my sketchbook documenting the colors that I planned on using.

The next step was deciding where to place a light pencil mark for the horizon line. The space is quite limited in the 5 x 7 inch sketchbook but I didn’t let that stop me.

I worked from top to bottom with the wet on wet technique. I simply wet the paper by brushing on clean water first and then added some paint on the damp paper.

I like to focus on the sky first and then move on to the middle and foreground areas. There’s something very calming about painting a water scene and I love all the blues of the sea.

I placed a matt over the painting to see how it might look in a frame. I think it looks pretty good that way. 😊 I hope you make time to play in your sketchbook and have fun.

Until next time, share a smile and shine on.

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

A few landscape paintings

It’s been a while since I posted a landscape painting so here we go.

Happy Thursday! 💙

I really like the distant hills in this landscape. The pine trees and the birds make me very happy.

I have a few in progress shots of the next landscape. I painted and let things dry overnight before continuing. That allowed me time to view my painting with fresh eyes and make some decisions.

Here I started out with some rocky hills in the distance.

The next step was to soften the sky a little and work on the foreground.

While I was happy with the rocks added in the front, I felt like the rocks in the center were too dark and needed to be lightened up. Also the distant hill on the left seemed too dark as well.

The white gouache that I added did provide some nice highlights but I knew that wasn’t enough.

It’s one of those things…. risk overworking the painting or just leave it as is. I decided that the risk was worth it since I still wasn’t satisfied.

9 x 12 inch – Rocky shore watercolor painting

I worked on lifting some of the color on the rocks in the center using a damp brush. I tried to be gentle and not damage the paper. I also used a damp tissue and blotted some areas. Both techniques worked pretty well.

I’m happy with the improvements and glad that I kept going. Whether successful or not, this painting did provide me with an opportunity to try various techniques and build my confidence. I will keep showing up, having fun, and enjoy the process.

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love. Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

Watercolor warm up

Today I have a simple watercolor warm up to share.

Hope your day is wonderful! 💙

This little landscape warm up in my sketchbook was a great way to loosen up and play a bit.

It’s always fun to watch the colors mix and mingle on the paper. I love that it ended up looking like waves rolling in.

I hope you take the time to do what you love and enjoy the process. Until next time, share a smile and shine on!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

Landscape Painting Series -3

Today I have another recent landscape to share with you.

Hope you are enjoying your day. 💙

9 x 12 inch watercolor – Look Beyond

Materials used:
Fluid Watercolor paper – hot pressed
Daniel Smith watercolors
Brushes: Flat 1 inch, Squirrel Mop #4, Liner #1
Cut up plastic credit card
Spray bottle

I’m loving this limited color palette. The pretty blue really stands out and just makes my heart sing. The raw sienna seems to glow and gently guides your eye around the painting. I love the little bits of unpainted white paper, it creates a little sparkle on the page.

I hope you are inspired to create art and have fun. Until next time, share a smile and shine on!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

Visit my shop at Society6

Landscape Painting Series -2

Today I have another landscape to share with you.

I hope you are doing well and enjoying your day. 💙

12 x 16 inch – Saved by Grace

Materials used:
Arches hot press watercolor paper
Brushes: Round #14, Flat 1 inch, and Liner #1
Daniel Smith Watercolors

This painting was inspired by artist Scott Swinson on youtube. As with most landscapes I started with the sky area first and then worked my way down the page. Most of my time was spent on the middle section where the focal point is. I love how the distant trees turned out. The snowy path leads your eye into the painting (hopefully 😊).

One minor issue I had while painting the trees was that a little paint spattered into the finished sky. I was able to go with it and carefully turned them into distant birds. yay!

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love. Until next time, share a smile and shine on!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

Visit my shop on Society6.com

Landscape Painting Series -1

I’ve been painting more landscapes lately and am having a lot of fun.I feel like I am making progress. I’m finding that decision making is getting easier and feels more natural. I’m trusting myself more when things don’t go as expected and am able to work with it instead of against it.

Today I’m sharing the first in a series of recent landscapes.

Happy Thursday!

On and On – 9 x 12 inch watercolor

This painting was a simple practice in my sketchbook using a limited palette. There’s something very peaceful about this painting. I love how the distant land goes on and on.

Lately I’ve been very inspired by Steve Swinson and have been enjoying his watercolor tutorials on youtube. I love his work and teaching style. I painted the trees in this painting using a fan brush, just one of the many tips I learned watching Steve.

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love. Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent.

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

Visit my shop at Society6

Long lost landscapes

I’ve been working on cleaning up my art/painting area this week. I’m trying to pack away some older work and tidy things up. I found a few simple landscapes from 2018 that I wanted to share with you today.

Happy Sunday, friends! 💗

I love the mood and the soft blue trees in this one. They look a bit frosty to me. This is painting #669. As of today I have painted close to 1500 pieces.

Even though the horizon is not straight (something I would fix today), I love the color of the distant trees. This is painting #671.

This final landscape was painted on 9 x 12 inch Arches watercolor paper. I love the blue green trees and the pretty sky. The placement and separation of trees created a nice depth that really draws me in. This is painting #668.

It’s fun to look back at my older work. I’m kind of amazed at how much painting and learning I’ve done over the last few years. I still have more cleaning to do, I wonder if I will find any more long lost paintings that will be saved from the packing box.

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love. Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

Visit my new shop at Society6

I’m Just getting started on Society6 (an online marketplace that allows artists to sell their work on a variety of products). More details to come. 😊