What Salt Can Teach Us About Creativity - using with Watercolors

A simple watercolor trick with surprising lessons

This week in the studio, I played with one of my all-time favorite watercolor techniques—salt. Yep, good old salt.

Whether it’s sea salt, table salt, or something in between, adding it to wet watercolor can create the most amazing organic textures. And beyond the pretty patterns, this little experiment reminded me of something bigger: creativity doesn’t always need a plan.

In my new Patreon video tutorial, I tested a few types of salt to see how they react with different paint consistencies and paper types. The results were all over the place—and that was the fun of it. Each one had its own unexpected magic.

This is one of those go-to exercises I love for:

• Loosening up when I’m feeling stuck

• Getting back into a playful mindset

• Letting go of the need to control every outcome

For anyone who teaches art, licenses their work, or just needs a reset creatively, this kind of practice is gold. It’s simple, affordable, and totally beginner-friendly—plus, it’s great for demos, workshops, or just getting re-inspired when the creative tank feels low.

🎥 Curious? You can catch a sneak peek here!

And if you want the full, extended video, including my notes on materials and what worked best, you’ll find it over on my Patreon page.

Here’s to more experiments, more messes, and more letting go in the studio.

💛
Kellie

Painting Watercolor Lilacs – Loosen Up and Let It Bloom

Lilacs are one of those flowers that feel soft, romantic, and a little wild—and they make a perfect subject for letting go of tight control in your watercolor practice.

For this painting, I focused on a loose, impressionistic style—letting the paint do its thing, blending purples and soft greens with plenty of water and movement. No perfect outlines, no stress about every petal. Just the suggestion of lilacs and the feeling they give.

Sometimes, we get caught up trying to make things look just right. But florals—especially ones like lilacs—remind me that it’s okay to blur the lines. Let your water and pigment guide you, and don’t worry if it gets a little messy. That’s where the magic often lives.

I also filmed a quick video of this piece coming together, so if you want to see how it unfolds in real time (mistakes and all!).

If you’re newer to watercolor or feeling stuck creatively, loose florals like this are a great way to ease back in. I often remind my students that you don’t need to capture every detail—just the feeling. That’s more than enough.

Want to try it for yourself? Grab your brushes and give it a go—or follow along with the video. You’ll be surprised what can bloom when you stop overthinking and start painting.

💜
Kellie

A Quirky Sardine for Father’s Day!

Sometimes you just need a quick, playful painting to shake off the pressure—and that’s exactly what this little watercolor sardine was for me. 🎨🐟

This piece came together fast: loose brushwork, sketchy lines, and just a hint of whimsy. It’s perfect for a warm-up session or even a quirky Father’s Day card!

I wanted to create something fun and approachable—no stress, no need for perfection. Just a sweet little fish to bring some joy back into the painting process. If you're the type who overthinks your first strokes, this is a great one to loosen up and just go with the flow.

Want to try it? My Patreon members get access to:

• A downloadable line drawing to trace and get started faster

• A step-by-step video tutorial

• And as a bonus—a watercolor trout painting (Patreon exclusive!)

Supplies I used:

• Paints: Winsor & Newton Payne’s Gray, Cad Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Raw Umber

• Paper: Canson XL watercolor

• Brushes: Lebenzon Small Goat Synthetic Blend, Royal Langnickel Zen #2 Scrubber

• Pens: G4Tec pen + Uniball white gel pen for final touches

🛍 You can shop all of my favorite tools right here on Amazon
🎁 Plus! Get 20% off Lebenzon Brushes with code KELLIE through the end of the month: lebenzon-paintbrushes.com

Thank you so much to my sweet Patreon community—you make these fun little moments possible, and I love sharing these playful projects with you.

If you're not a Patreon yet but want to dive into more lighthearted watercolor fun (and grab that trout tutorial too), I’d love to have you join us!

💙
Kellie

Burnout as an Artist: It Happens to the Best of Us

Burnout as an Artist: It Happens to the Best of Us 

I just got back from a mini vacation, and wow—what a difference some time away makes. Burnout can sneak up on any artist, especially when we’re juggling creating, teaching, marketing, and running our own business.

I’ve been feeling like a busy bee lately—constantly buzzing between tasks. So I’m sharing a little reminders today:

In my latest video, I chat a bit about burnout, time, and why being a Patreon member means so much to me. Honestly, 80% of my time goes into everything but painting—admin, editing, emails, content planning. Patreon helps me keep creating and sharing raw demos, fun experiments, and the real process behind the scenes.

If you’re feeling drained or stuck, here are a few tips that helped me recharge:

• Take intentional breaks — Even short time off can refresh your creativity.

• Set small, manageable goals — Avoid overwhelm by breaking projects into bite-sized steps.

• Change your environment — A new view or workspace can spark fresh ideas.

• Remember why you create — Reconnect with the joy and passion behind your art.

• Be kind to yourself — It’s okay to slow down and prioritize self-care.

Burnout doesn’t mean failure — it’s a sign to pause and refill your creative well.

How do you handle creative burnout? 

And if you’ve ever considered supporting artists on Patreon—thank you. It matters more than you know. 💛

Kellie

Mastering Water Reflections in Watercolor (and How Gouache Can Help You Fix or Finish)

Mastering Water Reflections in Watercolor (and How Gouache Can Help You Fix or Finish)

Creating realistic water reflections in watercolor can be one of the trickiest techniques to master. Water is fluid, reflective, and constantly changing—capturing that with a brush takes a mix of observation, layering, and patience.

My Tips for Painting Reflections:

• Start light: Lay in your base water tones using wet-on-wet to keep things soft.

• Mirror shapes: Whatever’s above the waterline gets loosely mirrored below—but soften the details.

• Pull down and blur: Use a damp brush to gently pull color downward while the paint is still damp for that natural ripple look.

When It’s Not Working…

Sometimes reflections end up too dark, too harsh, or just off. That’s where gouache can be a lifesaver.

• Use white gouache to pull back highlights or add ripples.

• Mix gouache with your watercolor paints for softer, more matte adjustments that sit on top of the paper.

• Think of it as layering light on top, especially useful for sparkles, boat highlights, or cloud breaks.

Watercolor is about letting go of perfection—but also knowing when to grab a tool like gouache to guide things back.

If you’ve struggled with reflections, you’re not alone. I just finished a painting of Bunker Harbor that had me rethinking every brushstroke on the water. But I stuck with it, used a little gouache magic, and now it’s one of my favorite pieces.

Check out the Video for this painting Here and you can purchase this painting or prints in my Etsy Shop! 

Happy Painting,

Kellie 

Want to feel more creative in your studio? Try setting up zones.

Want to feel more creative in your studio? Try setting up zones.

When I moved into a bigger Victorian studio space this year, I realized I needed structure — or I’d just end up overwhelmed!

I created 3 simple zones:
🎥 Filming & Computer Area (for teaching classes)
📝 Walking Desk (for brainstorming + planning)
🎨 Painting Space (near the best natural light)

Having separate areas helped me:

✔️ Focus faster
✔️ Stay more organized
✔️ Feel more inspired to create

Even if you have a small space, setting up “zones” (even just mentally!) can be a game changer.

One helpful course I recommend: Creating a Creative Space That Works for You on Skillshare.

How is your studio set up? I'd love to hear!

#ArtistLife #StudioSetup #CreativityTips #SkillshareTeacher #ArtStudioInspo

Watercolor Paper Sizing – Why It Matters (And What It Actually Means)

Ever wonder why your paint behaves so differently on one paper vs another? 

It’s not just the brand—it’s the sizing.

What is “sizing” anyway?

In short, it’s how the paper is treated to handle water.
There are two kinds:

• Internal sizing (mixed into the pulp)

• External sizing (applied to the surface, usually gelatin)

Let’s break it down with two popular options I use in the studio...

Arches Watercolor Paper

Sizing: Internal + External (gelatin)

This combo makes the surface more resistant to water, which means:

• Paint sits on top longer

• You get brighter colors, cleaner edges, and smoother blends

• It’s easier to lift or glaze without staining

• Feels slightly slick when wet—great for wet-on-wet fun

Pro tip: You can rework an area more before the paper gives up on you. It’s amazing for detailed layering and vibrant results.

Canson XL Watercolor Paper

Sizing: Internal only (no surface sizing)

Because there's no extra surface sizing:

• Paint sinks in fast

• Colors dry softer or even dull

• Lifting and blending are harder

• Paper can start to pill if you fuss with it too much

Best for quick practice, flat washes, or loose sketching
Pro tip: Work quickly, or with a lighter hand to avoid damage

So, which one should you use?

• Use Arches when you want more control, vibrancy, and room to layer

• Use Canson for budget-friendly practice, warm-ups, or looser work

• Check out my video - my first try on Canson XL paper HERE!