KAREN CAMPBELL, ARTIST
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Let's Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!!!

Obsessed with the CURRENT Watercolor Confections Set by Art Philosophy (PRIMA)!

24/7/2023

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If you've been following me for a while, you know how much I LOVE the Complexions Watercolor set by Prima. Since falling in love with that little palette for creating watercolor portraits, I've continued to add MORE Prima watercolor sets to my art supply stash- just like the Terrain set I reviewed last week. 

While I was in Scotland for my last Scottish Castle Art Retreat, I happened to be in a little art shop and noticed the CURRENT watercolor set by Prima that I'm reviewing today.

It's kind of hilarious because I've been meaning to buy this little set forever, at home, and just hadn't. So, while in Scotland, I decided it could be an artsy keepsake from my trip, so into my suitcase, it went! 
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​All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
If you aren't familiar with any of the Watercolor Confections sets by Prima, there are TONS of things to love! First off, they're SO AFFORDABLE! A cute little palette of 12 half pans will only run you about $20-25 on Amazon, or just $2 per little half pan of color!

Love the paintbrush shown below and featured in ALL of my watercolor and fountain pen ink videos? ME TOO! It's by the lovely and talented Polina Bright. Learn more about WHY I love them in this video (or get 10% off your own brushes on her website using the coupon code KARENCAMPBELL at checkout!).
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Last week on YouTube, I reviewed the Terrain watercolor set by Prima, and shared with you how much I also love the cute little swatching card Prima includes with their watercolor sets.

As you can see below, somewhere in my swatching journey over the years, I decided to DOUBLE swatch my watercolors using these cute, skinny watercolor journals - even when a swatch card is included with my set! The main reason I do this  is because the little swatch cards are exactly THAT- small. It can be super easy for these little cards to fall out and slip away into oblivion when you open and close the palettes.
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​Because it's a LOT harder to lose an entire watercolor journal, I started doing this as a backup, just in case :) Plus- I've kinda just fallen in love with the mindless activity of swatching watercolors. It's like art therapy! There is no skill involved, and zero pressure of any kind. I simply put on whatever music suits my mood, grab a paintbrush and totally enjoy myself. Something about it feels kinda like spending time getting to know a quality, new friend to me. 
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In terms of the colors represented in the Current watercolor set I'm demo-ing today, I LOVED them. I did, however, feel there were a couple of shades that were SO similar to another one that they almost felt redundant.

I know!! That's if I'm being really picky. Instead of focusing on that, I tried to appreciate the subtle differences of the colors that felt alike, and challenged myself to use EACH and EVERY shade in the project you're about to watch unfold!
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The project featured in today's video is from a lesson in my Celtic Collective art club over at Awesome Art School.

The Celtic Collective is ALL about fantasy art drawing and painting, all things fairies, elves, castles, unicorns, you name it!

If you'd like to learn how to draw AND paint this magical (dare I say, HOT?!) elf - hop over to the Celtic Collective for the step-by-step drawing and painting lessons in real-time (no timelapse!).

You're also in luck if you happen to be reading this in July 2023, because I'm currently taking on NEW Celtic Collective members right now (enrollment is also currently open for the Mixed Media Society and Fun Fab Drawing Club if those are more your style!).

​Can't decide which club sounds more fun?! Me either!! I love them all!! There's a club for that too, called The Wonder Bundle. Buy two clubs, and get ONE ABSOLUTELY FREE!! 

Enrollment for new club members only happens 3 times a year, so if you're looking for an amazing art community overflowing with FUN lessons designed to make YOU an awesome artist - I'd love to have you!! 
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If you're not in the mood to draw or paint along today, and would rather watch this hottie come together in minutes, meet me over on YouTube instead! 
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​Think Swatching Art Supplies is Boring?

I used to feel exactly the same way (and at times still can if I'm doing it on a day when I can't sit still). I created the two books below to make the entire swatching process more fun! They're available on Amazons worldwide. 
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If you'd like to use these books for watercolor swatching, I have a little suggestion because these books have not been printed on watercolor paper. Pick a page from one of the books and use it as a reference! Draw the image(s) onto your own sheet of watercolor paper, and swatch away :) 

And - in case you're a newbie here, or just need a reminder, paper is JUST AS IMPORTANT as the other art supplies in your stash (these  are all my faves on Amazon). Sometimes paper is THE MOST important art supply - like in the case of watercolors and water-soluble mixed media art supplies.

Wanna learn MORE about how to choose the right paper for your mixed media art projects? This one's for YOU!


​Want MORE Prima
​Watercolor Confections Set Demos/ Reviews?

Here's the one from last week about the Terrain set:
The one below is about the Complexions set. I'm OBSESSED with this for creating watercolor portraits because I WAY prefer dipping my brush right into the exact color I want, instead of mixing my own skin tones!! 
Enjoy!! And thanks for hanging out with me today!!

Need More Resources? 

​❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
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MASSIVES Advantages of Buying Watercolor SETS - EVEN if You Have ALL the Colors Already!

18/7/2023

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I've been a fan of Prima Confections watercolor sets for years and can't wait to demo the latest palette I picked up. Instead of a straight-up product review today, I'd LOVE to share with you WHY I continue to collect watercolor sets (even though I have a bazillion colors already!), and how a prepackaged watercolor set can benefit YOU in your own art!

Today's video is perfect for watercolor beginners who might not know which watercolor sets to buy, people looking for a little stress relief/ enjoyable art therapy activities, and advanced watercolorists looking for ways to challenge their creativity by limiting themselves to ONE palette of color.
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​All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
If you've been following me for a while, you know I'm a HUGE FAN of Daniel Smith watercolors and totally love creating my own watercolor palettes filled with shades I love.

I've also enjoyed watercolor sets by Prima for years - and recommend their Complexions Set to ALL my students because it's amazing to have a little palette filled with SO many perfect pre-mixed skin tones right at your fingertips. 
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These cute little sets by Prima like the "Terrain" one I'm demo-ing today, are a great "value set" because you get 12 colors for $20-25.

In case you're not familiar with Prima Confections Watercolor sets, these are NOT fine art quality paints, they're basically mid-range products and considered a "craft-grade" product. This doesn't mean they're bad in any way or that you have to spend more money on your supplies- they just may not all be light-fast, so if you're creating a gift or a commission for someone, your work could fade over time. Just something to be aware of :) 

If you're just creating for fun, Prima sets are awesome because they're super affordable and the color combos they've developed are beautiful and richly pigmented. 

How to Unwrap Watercolor Half Pans

If you're completely new to watercolor and bring a set home like the one I'm working with today, it may feel overwhelming to just get started.

​Make sure youclick over to watch today's video because the demo shows you exactly how to unwrap each tiny half-pan of watercolor and assemble your palette before you start painting.
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This can feel really tedious, but just pop on some music or a podcast and get going. Before you know it, you'll be ready to swatch. 

Why You NEED to Swatch Watercolors

Watercolor swatching is something I used to ignore for YEARS! I just couldn't be bothered. I've got 3 kids and was always way too busy. Plus, when they were little, I had zero time to create, and didn't want to suck up all my artsy time with swatching before I even got to the good part of making something!! 

Here's what I learned the hard way, and want to help you avoid...

I spent YEARS grabbing the wrong colors and diving right into my creation process. Years, throwing what I *thought* I wanted on my paper based on the color cap or what it looked like in the pan, etc.

​There are SO many things wrong with those choices! For starters, check out the first color in the second row of the set I'm demo-ing today. It looks like a super dark blue, almost black right? 
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It's NOT!! When I took the time to swatch this set today, I was a little shocked at how light this blue came out on my paper. Check it out...
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If the old me had grabbed this and started painting, expecting a dark navy to appear on my paper, I would've been SO MAD because it's totally not, right?! Swatching your set ahead of time REALLY helps avoid future frustrations like this and eliminates the guessing game of not knowing what's REALLY in your palette.
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One of the things I really love about the Prima sets is they come with a tiny blank swatch card (shown above & below), that I can fill out myself and pop right back into my case.

I also love that the swatch card provided by Prima has been printed on watercolor paper (SUPER important if you're a newbie - never swatch watercolors or water-soluble products on just any old paper - you need a thicker, sturdier paper that can absorb the water - so always use watercolor paper or watercolor journals). 
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As you'll see in today's video, I not only swatch directly onto the swatch card that came with my Prima set, I ALSO swatch into a cute, rectangular watercolor journal at the same time. This might feel like overkill, but I've found that it can be easy to lose these little swatch cards for my watercolor sets, and I kinda love having a little reference book of colors as a backup. 

Color Swatching Reference Books

To make swatching more fun, I've created a number of resources to help you. I've got a FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet and TWO books about swatching, my latest one, Swatch! Copy! Color! ...
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and my Fun Fab Swatch Pad, created with my beloved Facebook Group a couple of years ago!! ​
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You can swatch directly into the books for markers, colored pencils, and other dry products.

​Remember, for watercolor swatching and swatching water-soluble art supplies, you always need to be working on watercolor paper or watercolor journals. 

If you love the swatching backgrounds or faces in these books, feel free to freehand them into your own watercolor journals to make swatching even more fun for you at home!! 

Why I LOVE Collecting Watercolor Sets
(Even Though I Already Have a Bazillion Colors!)

This is huge. And it totally goes along with why I always tell my mixed media art students to buy scrapbook paper pads or collections. It's so simple- whatever has been packaged into these sets - whether it's watercolors or scrapbook paper, already GOES TOGETHER!!

This may seem super simple, but this means you can do your art projects with CONFIDENCE AND EASE because you already know the colors and patterns will work together in your project. You can spend more time CREATING, and less time wondering what colors of paint to grab, etc! I don't know about you, but I'd much rather spend more time creating and less time planning :) 
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Another reason I love collecting watercolor sets is because it's fun when a set comes along filled with my FAVORITE COLORS!!

This might feel super simple too, but I've learned over the years, I gravitate to blues and greens. Why fight that?! Lean into it and own that part of you!! If you find a watercolor set pre-filled with your favorite colors - grab it!!  The colors will make you happy and you'll enjoy your art time with them even more. 
AND if you love your art, you're gonna wanna to MORE of it. And if you do more of it-  you're gonna get really good at it!! 
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Sneak peak at NEXT WEEK's video in some of my fave colors!!! 

Which Mixed Media Art Supplies
Go Well With Watercolors?

When it comes to combining other art supplies with watercolors to create a mixed media piece, there are a TON of things you can do! You do need to be careful, because not everything will "play nicely" with watercolor.
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Before you add any art supplies on TOP of your dry watercolor layers, ask yourself :

​DO I WANT THIS WATERCOLOR TO MOVE? (Because it will!).

​If you're a watercolor beginner or mixed media beginner, it's important to understand that dry watercolor WILL re-activate if you add more water to it, or add another water-soluble art supply on top of it like I do in today's video with my watercolor markers.

If you really love the way your dry watercolor layer looks, and don't want it to re-activate, DON'T add any doodles or additional shading with a water-soluble product. Reach or something permanent like Molotow fineliners, colored pencils, etc. 

If you DO want your dry watercolor layer to move or blend - try adding some shading with water-soluble supplies like watercolor markers, watercolor pencils or NeoColor IIs! 
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Not sure if your art supplies are water-soluble? TEST THEM OUT! Simply swatch them off to the side and add a little water. Do your lines melt into puddles, or stay put? This will help you feel more prepared before using the supplies on top of your artwork. 
If you feel like you'd like some tried and true art supply combos to play around with at home, check out my FREE Mixed Media Hot Dog Packet! This is SUPER helpful and will give you tons of ideas, not only from me, but from a bunch of my artsy friends!! 
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Make sure you click over to WATCH today's video, because I have packed this one FULL of even MORE tips and tricks I didn't even get to here - like what makes a good composition, and how advanced watercolorists can enjoy pre-filled watercolor sets as well to challenge themselves!
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​Plus, I don't know about you, but it's so fun to just watch the timelapse of a project coming together isn't it?? Join me over on YouTube for today's super fun video!! 

Wanna Learn How to Draw the Girl in Today's Demo?

Awesome!! She's a lesson in my Celtic Collective art club membership over at Awesome Art School. I run this club with my Scottish bestie, Lucy Brydon. This club is all about fantasy art and features online art lessons on fairies, unicorns, mermaids, mythical creatures, castles and so much more!! We'd love to have you join us! Learn more here. 
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What to Watch Next

If you're a watercolor newbie and need a fun and easy watercolor painting idea, look no further than this video: 
If you'd like to learn how to create your own watercolor palette instead of using a pre-packaged watercolor palette created by someone else, check out these videos: 
As always, thanks for hanging out with me!! I hope you learned a TON and had FUN!! 

Need More Resources? 

​❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
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My HONEST Opinion of the MeiLiang Watercolor Paint Set of 48

10/1/2023

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Today on my mixed media YouTube channel, I'm testing out a new watercolor set by MeiLiang. If you're new to the brand, MeiLiang is a sister company of Paul Rubens, a very well-established and respected fine art brand. 

I'm excited to try these out and show you what I think! Join me for the full MeiLiang watercolor review and demo on YouTube, or scroll on down to learn more.
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​Super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.

MeiLiang Watercolor Set of 48 Cost

The MeilLiang watercolor paint set of 48 vivid colors will run you just under $30 on Amazon if you'd like to try it. To me, that's an AWESOME VALUE, because it costs me the exact same amount to get ONLY TWO shades of Daniel Smith watercolor tubes!! 
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What's Included by MeiLiang in the Set of 48?

Inside this set, you'll find a really cool acetate sampler of all the shades included (which is actually its own teensy travel palette in case you didn't know)!
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They've also included a really nice swatch card (below) for you to use with a label pre-printed for each shade so you can swatch the set on your own as well. Super helpful!!
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​MeiLiang also threw a water brush in with this set of 48 colors, which is super nice if you don't already have one. 

Typically I only use Pentel water brushes because I'm super picky, but I did test the MeiLiang water brush pen out. Click over to watch the video so you can see what I think.
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Never Used a Waterbrush Before?​

No problem. There's a first time for everything. Click over to the video because I've got a little waterbrush demo for you in real time (no timelapse, starting at 2:04). I show you exactly how to fill a water brush with water, and how to use it. You'll also see a quick comparison of the MeiLiang waterbrush vs. my favorite Pentel water brush pen. 
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Why it's SO Important to Swatch Watercolors

If you've been following me for a while, you KNOW what a huge fan of swatching I am. It's super important to do whenever you get a new art supply with multiple colors - whether it's watercolors, markers, you name it. 

I've been burned way too many times in the past and learned the hard way that color names, marker caps, or what a watercolor shade looks like in the pan are MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, nothing like what you will get on actual paper! Case in point...
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The color called "Flash Red" in this set doesn't look red at all to me! It's more of a gray-purple, kind of like lunar violet by Daniel Smith.

If I had been doing a painting and wanted to add red, dipped into Flash Red, and put it on my paper, I would've been really upset because this is totally purple. 

Swatching BEFORE you paint, will prevent this from happening to you. Trust me, your future self will thank you! 
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How gorgeous is that watercolor brush in the pic above? It's my absolute favorite watercolor brush by Polina Bright. Here's more about WHY I love Polina Bright watercolor brushes and work with them exclusively now. Wanna get one too? Use this link to take 10% off (thanks Polina!!).

Final Thoughts

The bang for your buck in this MeiLiang watercolor set is seriously undeniable. To get 48 gorgeous colors for less than $30 is totally worth it.

​I feel like the colors in this palette are bright, cheery, and remind me of summertime! There's also a really nice sampling of shades from each color family, which I really like. MeiLiang wasn't stingy on the neutrals they included. I feel like the entire rainbow is well represented in this palette, AND you get a BONUS row of metallics on the bottom row! So fun!! 
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I highly recommend MeiLiang's set of 48 watercolors. It's the perfect palette - especially for beginners who want to play with a LOT of colors but not invest a million dollars into their first watercolor set!

​Ready to REALLY Get Creative with Me?

Check out the Mixed Media Society with me over at Awesome Art School! You'll learn even more about the myriad of art supplies on the market and more importantly HOW TO USE THEM to create mixed media masterpieces you can be proud of! We're having a blast and would love you to join us!! 
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Need MORE Art Supply Reviews?

Binge this playlist! You'll find my opinions and demos of everything from gelatos to pencils, markers, paint brushes, art books by other people and SO MUCH MORE!!

Wanna Stay in the Loop?

And get notified EVERY TIME I publish a new video on YouTube? ​Join my Email Newsletter!

​As my way of saying thanks - grab a copy of my FREE Fun Fab Swatch Sheet or my Whimsical Face Drawing Guidelines! 
​

​Need More Resources? 

​❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my online art classes @ Awesome Art School
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON (affiliate links)
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP
Thanks for hanging out with me today!! 
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Why I'm IN LOVE with POLINA BRIGHT BRUSHES for Watercoloring!

20/4/2022

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I've been using Polina Bright brushes in ALL my watercolor and fountain pen ink paintings for the past TWO YEARS!

I know I've told you I'm obsessed with both Polina's art AND her watercolor brushes, but I just got her latest watercolor brushes set & thought you'd love to see the unboxing!

​If you've been on the hunt for the best synthetic watercolor brushes, or an excellent watercolor brush set for beginners that you can GROW with - today's video is a MUST SEE!!
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If you're new to watercolor, or have a brand new watercolor palette, make sure you grab my FREE Swatch Sheet so you can swatch your watercolors out before you do your next painting.  Simply click on the button below, and I'll send it straight to your email! ​
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​Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.
I first purchased Polina Bright's watercolor brushes a couple of years ago just because I love her work (example below), and wanted to support her. I had no idea I would fall so in love with her brushes, or that they would become my absolute favorites for watercoloring and mixed media painting with fountain pen ink, water soluble pencils, pens, markers- you name it!
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If you're interested in buying any of these watercolor brushes to try out yourself, Polina created a coupon code for all of my followers. You can SAVE 10% when you purchase brushes on her website. Simply enter the coupon code of my name in all caps, KARENCAMPBELL at checkout.
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I used to only be a fan of watercolor brushes with natural bristles (like those found in Black Velvet brushes - at right below), because of their ability to hold MORE water than synthetic brushes. 
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Whatever synthetic material Polina uses to create these brushes, holds water extremely well. I think their ability to absorb so much water also has something to do with the shape of her bristles and their length. 
The body of the bristles are about twice as long as those of the Silver Black Velvet brushes (above left). ​

Having a synthetic bristled brush that has the same absorbency as a natural bristled brush hasn't really been a thing in the world of commercial watercolor brushes, until now. ​
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As an animal lover, I REALLY love the fact that the bristles on Polina's brushes are vegan and cruelty free.

I also love things that are simple to identify. Polina's numbering system for her brushes just go from 0-3. Plus there is a "mop brush" (for laying down large swaths of color), and a "rigger brush" (for detail work)
​. Easy!
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Hop over to the video to see these beauties in action! I demo a quick comparison against a Silver Black Velvet watercolor brush. 

​Then, if you're in the market for a new watercolor brush set -make sure you take the coupon code of my name in all caps (KARENCAMPBELL)  either to Polina's website to get 10% off!

​Thanks for hanging out with me today!

❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP  
❤️ FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
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LOVELY LLAMA Watercolor Tutorial with Karen Campbell

1/8/2021

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​Today's llama watercolor tutorial was inspired by a pop socket! Inspiration can come from the wildest places, right?! I thought he was adorable & decided to challenge myself. I'm using my Daniel Smith watercolors, some Noodler's fountain pen ink, and a little gouache at the end. This one is simple, so even if you're a beginner ...come paint with me!!

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Before we continue - super quick announcement! All product links below are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support!
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I get A LOT of requests for llamas from my students, and I've actually only ever done one - believe it or not!! He was done "hamburger style," with collage and acrylics. 
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For today's watercolor llama tutorial, ​I'm using a single sheet of Fabriano cold pressed watercolor paper.  When I want a single sheet of watercolor paper, I typically reach for cold pressed paper because I LOVE the texture. Cold pressed watercolor paper is "bumpy" and has a gorgeous texture under anything you do from watercolor to drawing. 

Today I felt like doing something a bit different and selected a sheet of Fabriano hot pressed paper, which is SUPER smooth! 
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If you're interested in learning how to draw a llama, watercolor illustration or watercolor drawing ideas- this project is very simple.

I used my graph gear mechanical pencil to lay out the initial drawing,  and later decided to stylize my lines with a wiggly/ whimsical look instead of keeping them firm and controlled. 
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Since this is a watercolor illustration project, I'm OF COURSE using my Daniel Smith watercolors. If you're new to Daniel Smith, here's more about why I'm obsessed with them, plus advice on how to start your first collection. 

I also recently did a video on how to build a travel watercolor palette using Daniel Smith watercolors. If you've got a trip coming up, this is perfect for you!
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I used the shade cascade green by Daniel Smith to shade the cacti. I'm using some brand new Polina Bright watercolor brushes all the way from Australia in this video!

If you follow me, you know I typically use my silver velvet brushes, but have really fallen in love with a recent splurge- watercolor brushes created by Polina Bright in Australia.
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They're a bit expensive if you buy the full set of four, but I love her work and decided to give them a try.

​If you're looking for a watercolor brush that's more middle of the road price-wise, I absolutely LOVE my Mimik Brushes by Creative Mark. I find that they actually come to a point much better than my Silver Black Velvet brushes, so I find myself reaching for these quite a bit!
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Look at how juicy that gorgeous blue is below!! It's actually NOT watercolor, but fountain pen ink - straight outta the bottle!! If you're new to my work, fountain pen ink is another mixed media art supply I'm obsessed with an often work into my watercolor paintings, or do complete projects with. 
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This particular shade of blue is turquoise fountain pen ink by Noodler's.  It's SO rich and dreamy. If you've never tried painting with fountain pen inks, this is a MUST - especially if you love watercolor.  
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I've collected a TON of these inks over the last couple of years and actually store my inks in these gorgeous, vintage purfume bottles that I find when I'm thrifting. If you're interested in learning more about how to paint with fountain pen inks - be sure to check that video out! 
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​I finished up today's adorable llama with some teensy white polka dots using opaque white gouache. So fun!! 

I hope you had fun watching or CREATING this project right along with me today!! If you're interested in doing this watercolor llama step by step in real time with me - it's part of the Mixed Media Society project collection. 

If you're interested in joining The Mixed Media Society, please add your name to the waitlist here. We open up for enrollment twice a year. 

​Thanks for hanging out with me today!!

​​❤️MY ARTIST BESTIE, LUCY BRYDON & I created a NEW ART MEMBERSHIP together called The Celtic Collective! It's now open for enrollment! Join us before the price increases on August 7.
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​❤️ CHECK OUT ALL my art books on AMAZON
❤️ MY FAVORITE ART SUPPLIES on AMAZON
❤️ MY BELOVED FACEBOOK GROUP  
❤️ FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM
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EASY Travel Watercolor Palette Set Up from Scratch!

16/7/2021

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​Today I'm showing you how EASY it is to set up a travel watercolor palette from scratch! All you need is a small metal tin (an empty altoids or mints tin works great!), some watercolor tubes, watercolor half pans, an adhesive magnet roll or glue gun, a sheet of watercolor paper ... and you're good to go!

Before we continue - super quick announcement! All product links below are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support!
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Watercolors are one of the easiest art supplies to travel with because they don't take up much room. If you make your own diy watercolor paint palette - YOU get to choose how many colors to include and how big the palette is.

Today I'm choosing my tin first. I've got a number of random ones in my stash on hand that I've purchased at my local craft stores or other shops when I've been out and about. You can often find cute, empty tins for $1, sometimes less! I also found this little set of tins on Amazon in case you're interested.
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One of my favorite ways to travel with only a few watercolors is to create an altoids watercolor palette! It's so compact - you can pop it into any bag and bring along 3-4 of your favorite colors. These make the cutest little gifts!!
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All you need to do this is an empty Altoids tin and a few empty watercolor half pans (shown below). 
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Next you need to decide how you want to affix your half pans into your tin! My two favorite ways to do this are to either cut off a snippet of adhesive magnet tape, or to hot glue each half pan into the tin.

​Be sure to click over to the video to SEE how I'm doing this!

I've found using magnets is a great way to give yourself some flexibility in case you want to change your colors out from one trip to another. For example- if I'm headed to Scotland I know I'll want a variety of greens, grays, purples, light blues and golden shades to paint fairies, florals, landscapes and castles!

If I were headed to the beach- I might trade out a lot of my greens for a wider variety of blues, and I may add in more colors to paint sunrises or sunsets - depending on what I'm in the mood to capture!

If trading out the colors of your travel paint palette sounds like something you want to do - definitely use the adhesive magnetic tape.

I actually found 50 half pans on Amazon with magnetic strips already attached
 for only $6! 

Next, we need to select which watercolors to include in your palette. Honestly- this is probably the hardest part! The struggle is REAL as I start pulling out my watercolor tubes and comparing them. 
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If you're having a tough time choosing from the tubes and only have room to include a few - do a little swatching to compare the shades and help you narrow things down. 
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Once you decide which colors you want to include (I only have space for 12 today), simply squirt a little paint from each watercolor tube into your half pans and let them dry overnight. ​

If you want to know exactly which colors I selected, scroll down to the bottom of this post or click over to the video and check out the description box. 
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Since the watercolor half pans I'm using actually had some raised writing on the bottom, my adhesive magnet wouldn't stick so I needed to use hot glue to get them to stay in my tin.
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After all of my half pans were in position in my tin, I cut out a piece of watercolor paper to fit inside my tin, and traced some ovals on the sheet with this template. Then I added a touch of watercolor to each half pan and labeled what color each oval was (so future me knows which watercolor tube to pull out later when it's time to refill my half pans). Easy!!
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​When my swatches were finished, I brought my swatch card outside and sprayed it with a touch of Mod Podge Clear Acrylic Sealer (in matte). 
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​I've found this stuff to be amazing because it doesn't re-activate the watercolor I've already put down, and it's fantastic for when I'm actually watercoloring later because that little card is protected. If I spill water or a drop of paint on top - it TOTALLY wipes off! 

Click over to the video to see how EASY this is!!

If you have a laminator- that would be a great choice too, and you can totally skip the mod podge spray.
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Once my mod podge sealer was dry, (or your swatch card has been laminated), I flipped my card over to spray some multipurpose adhesive on the back. This way I can pop that card into the lid of my tin, glue it in place, and not worry about it falling out! (Trust me - this step is SO helpful becuase those little cards ALWAYS fall out!!) ​
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SO EASY, right?! These cute travel watercolor palettes make excellent gifts and are also a good way to split the cost on more expensive watercolor tubes (like Daniel Smith!), if you have a creative friend who wants to share a few tubes together! 

If you're interested in building your own Daniel Smith watercolor collection - I've got a video on that to help you. I know these are super expensive and it can be so hard to decide which colors to get. They're all gorgeous and there's no wrong answer, but check this video out for a few pro tips before ya buy!!

Need a list of the colors I added to my travel watercolor palette today? Here ya go!!
  •  Green Gold 
  • Sap Green 
  • Phthalo Blue (red shade) 
  • Phthalo Turquoise 
  • Alvaro's Grey 
  • Burnt Umber 
  • Quinacridone Gold 
  • Rose of Ultramarine 
  • Imperial Purple 
  • Sepia  
  • Permanent Red 
Bloodstone Geniune (no link found)

Thanks for hanging out with me today! See ya back here next week!
​
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How to Begin Your First Daniel Smith Watercolor Collection

29/12/2020

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There are SO many watercolor supplies on the market today! It can feel totally overwhelming if you're a beginner thinking about trying watercolors for the first time, or someone who wants to invest in a special watercolor palette, and no idea where to start! 

Which watercolor brand should you buy? If you have a limited budget - which colors should you start with? 

Today's 
YouTube video on my mixed media channel is all about what I WISH someone had shared with me before I started building my first watercolor collection!
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I'm in LOVE with a watercolor brand called Daniel Smith. If you're new to Daniel Smith watercolors, these tubes are pricey, but if you want to try watercolor, I recommend cutting through the cluter on the shelves at your craft store and choosing something that will give you a quality experience from the very beginning.

You can absolutely try something cheaper that gives you more colors for less money, but I guarantee you'll go back to the store looking for something better in time, and you'll spend MORE on trial and error with your supplies than if you had selected one or two shades of Daniel Smith watercolors to play with from the start.
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To me, there is just something magical about how Daniel Smith watercolors look when you put them on paper. They have some GORGEOUS granulation properties in them that make me feel like I'm working with raw elements directly from the earth when I paint!!
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In today's YouTube video I'm showing you EXACTLY how to build your first Daniel Smith watercolor palette! 

A watercolor palette is simply a case to hold a collection of colors. Many brands carry sets of prefilled palettes, but typically I prefer to create my own.

Before we continue, super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links, but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support!!  
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​There are multiple ways to go about making your own palette. The one above contains tiny, removeable squares called half pans. I buy them empty so I can squeeze my favorite colors into them and create an entire palette of beautiful options to paint with. 


Alternatively, you can select a watercolor palette that has indentations or little wells in it - like the one shown below- to hold your colors. You choose whichever style you like best to work with! 
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As you'll see- when you squeeze watercolor tubes onto your own palette- the paints look much darker here than they do when you add water to them and put them on paper! Because of this- it's SUPER EASY to wet your brush and think you're dipping into black, when it's actually indigo, green or purple!! 

To help yourself remember which colors live where in your palette, you'll want to create a little "key" for yourself. This is called color swatching. You can cut out a piece of watercolor paper to fit inside your palette, or you can swatch in your watercolor sketchbook, etc.  

I bought this adorable, long watercolor sketchbook and have decided to use this to swatch the colors I'm dropping into a new palette with only my absolute FAVORITE Daniel Smith watercolor shades!  
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​Be sure you watch the video to see just how I do this so you can replicate it at home for yourself whenever you're ready! In the video I also give you my recommendations about which colors you might want to start with if you have a limited budget or just need some ideas on where to begin!!

I also love using Silver Black Velvet watercolor brushes, but if you need help selecting a watercolor brush - I've got an entire VIDEO on this subject ready and waiting FOR YOU!! 
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​I hope you find this helpful and I can't wait to see what you create!!! I think you're going to LOVE the world of watercolor - especially if you're using Daniel Smith!! 

See ya back here next week!! 
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    Karen Campbell

    Founder of Awesome Art School.  Mixed Media Artist.  Author of 18 Instructional Art Books!

    Posting on YouTube every single Wednesday of the year!  

    The Alliance of Independent Authors - Author Member

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