Your tools

Watercolor brush pens

Watercolor brush pens are a game changer. With watercolor, comes worries, not limited to:

• Where to get the water?

• Where do I place the water?

• Did I even bring something to put the water in?

But, I've found that watercolor brush pens eliminate all of those worries (find some here). They are always ready to use with no mess. It makes painting on-the-go not a big deal, but makes painting everyday totally doable. I have even painted in a moving car with these tools in hand!

Small watercolor palette

This will just make your paint more accessible. You can buy one on amazon (I bought this one) or you can buy an empty one and fill it with your own paint!

*Fun idea: find an antique pill box. Use the compartments as paint pans and squeeze your paint into them! This makes your palette compact and oh so fashionable!

Small watercolor sketchbook

I would buy a small watercolor sketchbook off amazon (here is the one I have) or a local art store. I tend to like landscape sketchbooks when on the move because I use them predominately to capture the scene. Get whatever you think will fit your needs the best. The size is important though, so you can carry it around with you anywhere.

I recommend making sure you have access to your tools at all times when out and about. I like to keep mine in my purse, backpack, or my car. On the subject of your paintings: paint whatever you want!

Now it is time to paint

When you start off, focus solely on the colors of what you are painting. Do not worry about whether it looks accurate or has the right shapes or proportions. Just focus on the undertones you see. Some things I ask myself when painting landscapes include:

• What colors reflect from the sky onto the water?

• Is the grass a little dead? If so, is there some brown? red? yellow?

• What is the movement of the colors?

• How do the colors interact?

Here is an example of a journal entry I did where I focused on color alone:

It is only after I feel I have a grasp on the colors, that I am able to recognize all of the colors in a scene, that I even begin working in shadows. Notice where the light hits, and where it is absent. Once you start adding shadows, it will evolve into shapes, and you can focus on proportions.

The point of painting daily is not so it looks “good” (that is such a relative term when it comes to art). The point of adding painting into your daily routine, at least for me, is that you will start to intentionally notice the everyday beauty around you. Make sure you sign and date it, and I like to put the location of my painting too- this way when you look back on it, it will take you back to that moment. The point of adding painting into your daily routine, at least for me, is that you will start to intentionally notice the everyday beauty around you. It is such a fun way to journal!