This step by step tutorial will have you using tonal values in painting a watercolour swan with in less than an hour. It is a quick fun project that is also tremendously helpful in building the skills you need in your painting arsenal.

Let’s begin!

Choosing the right background for your watercolour painting can make or break the whole painting.

Don’t be alarmed though - even though the background is important, it doesn’t have to be complicated. There are lots of options available to you and once you know what there is to choose from I am sure you will find the whole process far less vexing than it might once have appeared.

Let’s review your options…

I have spent a glorious month painting autumn in watercolour. It is, by far, my favourite season. I had imagined that I would be painting autumn landscapes in watercolour and of course those beautiful autumn leaves.

But a total cutie popped up in one of my paintings this month …