The Book Bump

I’ve always been a maker — happiest when my hands and imagination are busy. I love all things arts and crafts, but one craft I was desperate to learn was painting. However, not every painter starts with bold colours or acrylic palettes. My journey began with something softer…

How it all began

I’ve dabbled with acrylic paints when crafting with my husband or children, but it’s messy and needs time to set up and clean up afterwards. In Autumn 2023, I was on maternity leave and looking for a new hobby (besides writing, reading, and crochet). Something that would challenge me, something new, something different.

I checked which art supplies I had at home. Pencils and paper galore. But I also found a set of watercolour pencils. I remember using them before, but without being convinced by the results. But then I’d gone in head-down, without researching how to use them correctly.  

This time, I decided to do things differently. I wanted to teach myself how to paint with watercolour. Not just “colouring in” a drawing, but learning to mix colours, layering, and brush control.

After deciding on the medium, I then had to choose a subject. To start with, I chose seascapes and still life (mostly fruit of vegetables).

My early attempts were… unpredictable, in the most humbling way. The colours were muddy and dull, I used too much water, the shading was flat, and the results often lacked contrast

But I continued, despite these early frustrations. I was determined to learn. I watched tutorials and bought a guide to better understand the different techniques. But what I realised was that it didn’t matter how many tutorials I watched, or how many times I read my guide, if I didn’t practice, I wouldn’t get better.

It took time to accept that some paintings would be “rubbish” and “ugly”. But then those paintings teach you the most. A “failure” is the best opportunity to learn. It took time to accept that its unpredictability is what gives watercolour its whimsical beauty.

What Watercolour Taught Me

Watercolour taught me how to mix colours. I was surprised that what I thought I knew about colour theory didn’t seem to apply to watercolour. Watercolour seemed to abide by its own rules.

Happy accidents, I call them, when the paint might not do what you want it to. But trusting in the process and patience are essential qualities that help a watercolour painting really stand out.

Deciding when a painting is finished is never easy. The temptation to keep adding details here and there is strong. But the painting soon becomes saturated and overcrowded. Learning that, sometimes, simplicity is beautiful doesn’t always come naturally.

The hardest “lesson” to learn was letting the paint do its thing. Sometimes, even now, I want to control what the paint does on the paper, instead of letting it do its own thing. And in trying to control the flow, nine times out of ten, I usually make things worse.

So, I guess, even though I have improved my technique, I still have a lot to learn. And that’s why I keep coming back. I never tire of the thrill and anticipation of seeing a watercolour take shape.

Where I am Today

I have since upgraded my materials, buying myself a “professional” brush and a high-quality watercolour palette. I’ve learned I work best with a limited palette and just a couple of brushes. I have twelve hues, but I only use eight regularly: Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red Pale, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine (my most used colour), Viridian Green, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, and Burnt Umber.

I still generally paint seascapes and still life, but I’ve also branched out to animals and the occasional portraits.

Most of the time, I paint in my A5 watercolour notebook. The biggest watercolour I’ve painted is A3, although I find that it is almost too big, depending on the subject.

Watercolour, and to a lesser extent, coloured pencils have influenced my overall illustration style, as I endeavour to replicate their transparency and unpredictability in my digital pieces. There is something whimsical about these techniques that seems to fit so beautifully with children’s illustration. And I find that the two mix together beautifully, along with a touch of ink, here and there, for details.

Watercolour. It started as a curiosity, became a challenge, and eventually turned into one of my favourite parts of my creative life.

And I can’t wait to see where this medium leads me next.

If you enjoy these behind-the-scenes looks at my illustration journey, let me know what part you’d like me to share next — more watercolours, sketchbook pages, or digital pieces?

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