It’s here! Today I uploaded my first video to my new YouTube channel, and I’m so excited to share more painting tutorials and videos in this new space. With Spring around the corner, I wanted to create and share a fun tutorial for you of a cute little Easter bunny to get things started. This beginner-friendly watercolor painting is easy to follow, and I provide a list of the supplies I used in the video description (also shared here, below). You could paint and frame this for yourself or as a gift for Easter, or paint a few (or have the kids paint a few!) to send as cards for Easter or Spring.

Some tips & ideas for painting this project:

• Be sure to let the paint dry on the bunny’s face before adding details like eyes, nose, and whiskers. If your paint is still wet, your paint will “bleed” and blend into the other colors. You could also use a pen or marker to draw on features once paint is dry!

• Try different colors! Make this project your own by painting the bunny a different color, why not try pink, or blue, or purple? Have fun with it!

• I painted simple leaves in the background while I let the bunny dry, but you could paint more flowers, or polka dots, or stripes, or easter eggs!

• This painting includes simple shapes, so start with a circle for the bunny’s head, and then add ovals to create the ears. Keeping it simple allows you to add more details as you wish!

• Quality paper makes a big difference when painting wet-on-wet (as we do with the bunny). I linked below to the paper I used for this project, but you can also use a more affordable option, such as Canson, just know that different weights and types of paper are able to hold different amounts of water, which can change how your painting will look. Same goes for the quality of paint used. I had these paints on hand, but you could also try other brands and qualities. I also use and can recommend this travel set & this set for beginners, and this set for enthusiasts.

Supplies:

• Paper: Arches Cold Press 100% Cotton - 300g

• Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolours:

  • Burnt Umber

  • Mars Black

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Opera Rose

  • Cobalt Blue

  • Permanent Sap Green

• Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour Tube Set

• Princeton Heritage brush, size 4

• Princeton Heritage brush, size 6

• Princeton Heritage brush, size 8

• Artist’s tape

It would be such a big help as I get started with this new video project if you could “like” the video and subscribe to my new channel. Thank you!

Have fun, and happy creating!

Simple spring bunny watercolor illustration tutorial for beginners. Paint your own cards for Easter or Spring with this easy watercolor tutorial. *Painting S...

Five Favorite Studio Essentials

1. Quality Pens & Pencils
   Whether I’m sketching out ideas for painting, adding line work, signing prints, or just jotting down ideas, having quality pens & pencils easily accessible in the studio is absolutely essential. These pens and pencils are different from my everyday writing tools (these are my favorite), as they have to serve multiple purposes throughout the day. Currently I use this set of pencils, which come in a variety of grades. For pens, like many creatives, I prefer Micron pens because they are archival, fade proof, and waterproof (perfect for watercolor sketches!).

2. Watercolor Paper
   I use watercolor paper for a variety of projects. Of course it’s great for painting with watercolor, but I also use it for practicing and experimenting with acrylic paints. For beginners, or for working through ideas, Canson watercolor paper is great because it works well and is relatively inexpensive. If I’m working on a painting for a collection, I often use this watercolor paper or this paper for both watercolor and acrylic paintings.

3. Glass Palette
   Say goodbye to those disposable paper palettes—glass palettes are a game changer! The great thing is that you don’t need to purchase a glass palette specifically (although I admit I did because I wanted a white glass one). You can DIY your own palette with a strong piece of glass on a sturdy board backing, just be careful with those edges! I like this glass palette and clean it with a razor blade scraper.

4. Spray Bottle
   An ultra fine mist water spray bottle is another studio essential. I use this to keep my acrylic paints wet while painting by lightly misting the palette, and I also use this to create different effects with watercolor. It also works great to clean your glass palette—simply mist your entire palette and then use your scraper to easily clean away dried paint. Plus, the fine mist is also great for refreshing the plants in my studio!

5. Synthetic Brushes
   I use a variety of brushes when I’m painting but over the years have a few favorites that never let me down. For watercolor painting, a size 6 or 8 round brush is my go-to brush for its versatility and ability to hold water. For acrylic painting, I love having a variety of flat and filbert brushes. This set offers round & flat brushes, a perfect starting place!

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