Paint some hearts with me to celebrate the day of love! In this video, I use the following list of tools. You can use all of these or just a single palette. I encourage you to experiment with different colors. Don't worry so much about the exact palette, but rather challenge yourself to try new tools! For example, I use Inktense Pencils (shared below) to define my edges. You can also use any watercolor materials...

Read more

On June 17, 2022, my family and I set off for the small but mighty country of Switzerland. We prepared for eight days of magnificent mountain views serenaded by the tinkling of cowbells and medieval church chimes. The experience ended up exceeding our expectations, as enchanting European cities often do. I planned to record my trip through illustrations and journaling, so I packed only portable painting supplies, as I knew many hours would be spent...

Read more

Here is a simple step-by-step video on how to paint a colorful bunch of carrots! I use the Derwent Inktense Palette as well as the water soluble Inktense pencils to bring vibrant layers to an easy and quick illustration. The whole piece should take less than an hour. See below for the list of materials. Happy painting! Derwent Inktense Paint Pan Palette, 24 Set - link Derwent Inktense Pencils, 72 Set - link Hot pressed...

Read more

Happy Winter! The snow is falling and the winds are howling. So, get inside, grab your watercolors, and join me in painting some  lovely, wintery wonderlands! Participants will use Derwent Inktense Paints to create six small snowy scenes. These can be divided when finished and used as greeting cards or gift tags. The workshop includes demonstrations of the wet-on-wet technique as well as the use of Derwent's waterbrush and traditional watercolor brushes. (The video is a little...

Read more

HAPPY FALL! Join me and paint a little stack of pumpkins! October is my favorite month, and there's no better way to celebrate the spooky season than with a simple squash painting. This is a beginner watercolor tutorial that introduces the wet-on-wet technique as well as the wet-on-dry technique. The painting will take about an hour to complete with drying time. Any watercolor materials will work, but I use the specific following items (see...

Read more

Art and environmental issues... Personally, a lot of environmental issues stress me out, and apparently I'm not alone with these emotions. In fact, an educator named David Sobel coined a term to explain this feeling of hopelessness. "Ecophobia" is used to describe a mindset in which an individual is filled with dread and fear about the future outcomes of the natural world (Sobel, n.d.). At times, the future may seem depressing, so I choose to...

Read more

In July of 2021, with leftover year-old canceled plane tickets, my husband, parents, and a few friends finally embarked on a long-awaited journey to the land of Ice and Fire. We were eager to go and grateful for the international travel opportunity. This was going to be a trip to remember, and we would make sure to savor our time as we explored the North Atlantic coast.  In preparation for this journey, I reviewed my...

Read more

Spring is here, and so are all the beautiful BLOOMS! To celebrate, I recorded a simple tulip painting tutorial with Michaels.com. View the video below. (The video is a little blurry, but the steps are clear.) Happy painting! Here's what you'll need... Paper: Arches 8x10 Cold Pressed Block or any other 8x10 watercolor paper. The point is to create 2 notecards on a single piece of 8x10 paper, so it's important that your paper is...

Read more

Watercolor is such an exciting, versatile, and complex medium, but the world of watercolor materials can be quite perplexing. Hot press vs cold press paper, paint tubes vs pans, blocks vs pads of paper, professional vs student grade, synthetic vs natural brushes.... Is your head spinning? This can be extra frustrating because of prices. Professional products are absolutely worth the money, but most of us do not have over a hundred dollars to drop...

Read more

Just two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic rattled the world, I sat mesmerized by the glistening reflection of the Indian sun on the Kabini Dam. I was in India for an unforgettable and  shareworthy two-week tour of this beautifully wild and culture-filled country. The whole trip was a perfect series of fortunate events, a journey set forth with ideal travel companions and remarkable experiences. While our current travel climate remains stagnant, I feel it’s...

Read more

Cincinnati and much of the U.S. has been invaded! No, the invaders are not villains and I am not referring to COVID-19. I am talking about the green, leafy invaders that you can see along almost any hiking path in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have always understood that invasive species are present and affecting local biodiversity but admittedly have not taken the time to identify and research each species. Since invasive species have always been...

Read more

Greetings! I hope you are all finding ways to relax and make the best of your time at home. I know that is easier said than done as anxiety creeps in, so Chad, my ready and willing husband, and I filmed a simple kid-friendly tutorial that will hopefully bring some chuckles to your home. Read through to the end of this post to see our jokes and learn some fun scientific facts! We call this...

Read more

Well, here we are, all living in a world ironically connected by isolation. I’m thankful for technology as it serves to build community and foster creativity, and this post is my first attempt at sharing information that will hopefully promote fun and relaxation with the use of some educational materials and a colorful activity. I am now going to ask you to turn your eyes from the overwhelming pandemic to the radiant Indian peafowl...

Read more

The digital camera has become a staple tool in the modern travel suitcase. Today, you will see novice photographers attempting to capture stunning wildlife and landscapes at all National Parks and World Heritage Sites. So many of us haul around cumbersome DSLR cameras accompanied by their various accessories, lenses and filters so that we can remember our travel experiences through vivid 4K resolution. If you fall into this category of traveling shutterbugs, consider yourself...

Read more

Hello! Welcome to a blog where life, nature, science and wildlife are viewed through a vibrant watercolor lens. Thank you for being here! My name is Abby, and I am a watercolor artist focusing on wildlife, pet portraits and the surrounding natural environment. I am currently a biology graduate student at Oxford Miami University where I get to soak up all that I can learn about conservation and ecological stewardship. (That might explain why...

Read more