Calm & Easy Watercolor Animals - April Challenge Week 3

Week 3 of the April Challenge is here, and this one’s all about slowing down, relaxing, and letting watercolor do its thing.

This week, I painted five gentle animal studies:
🐦 A sweet hummingbird
🐞 A cheerful ladybug
🐰 A soft and fuzzy bunny
🐟 A graceful koi fish
🐝 And a buzzy little bumble bee

Each one focuses on simple, calming techniques—like soft blends, wet-on-wet washes, and gentle brushwork. These little paintings are a great reminder that you don’t need to overthink it. Sometimes, just sitting down and letting the paint flow is exactly what you need. If you missed the first two weeks, don't worry you can catch up anytime and watch them. Click to watch Week 1 and Week 2!

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Let the Paint Breathe — Don’t Overthink It

One of the biggest lessons watercolor teaches us is to let go. It’s easy to get caught up in making everything perfect — the shape of a wing, the exact color of a shadow — but honestly, watercolor shines when we step back and let it do its thing.

This week’s animal studies are a great reminder that you don’t need to overthink it. A few loose shapes, some soft color, and a little space to let the water move can say more than hours of detailed work.

Some of my favorite parts of these paintings are the happy little accidents — a color bloom here, a fuzzy edge there. That’s where the magic lives.

If you find yourself overworking your piece or second-guessing every brushstroke, just take a breath, loosen up your grip, and let the water lead a little. That’s when it gets fun again.

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I’ve created a short video showing snippets of each animal and some of the relaxing techniques I used. You can watch the overview on my YouTube channel to get inspired!

✨ Want to paint along with me?
I’m sharing the full-length, step-by-step versions of all five paintings over in my Patreon group. These are perfect if you want to follow along in real time or build your skills in a calm, supportive space.

👉 Join Patreon for full tutorials

This challenge is all about making time for yourself and finding joy in creating — even if it’s just for a few minutes a day.

I hope these peaceful little creatures bring you a smile and a little artful calm this week. 💛
Thanks for painting with me!

– Kellie

April Watercolor Challenge – Week 2: Spring Skies & Weather

April Watercolor Challenge – Week 2: Spring Skies & Weather ☁️🎨

Welcome to Week 2 of our April Nature Watercolor Challenge!
This week we’re diving into 5-minute experiments with green—but with a fun twist: we’re focusing on sky moods and weather scenes.

Each day brings a new mini challenge, perfect for boosting creativity and loosening up your brushwork. These are designed to be quick and approachable, even if you’re short on time.

Here’s what we’re painting this week:

• Mon, April 7 – April Showers: Think rainy skies or playful puddles

• Tue, April 8 – A Windy Day: Swirling clouds, bending trees

• Wed, April 9 – A Vibrant Sunset: Let loose with color!

• Thu, April 10 – A Starry Night: Try moon glow and deep blues

• Fri, April 11 – A Rainbow After the Rain: Soft pastels and blends

• Sat/Sun, April 12–13 – Free choice or catch-up time

How to Join In:

• Paint one or all prompts at your own pace

• Share your art in our Facebook group: Kellie Chasse Art Group

• Use the hashtag #AprilNatureWatercolors so we can all see your beautiful work!

This week’s theme is a great way to loosen up and play with green tones, skies, and layered washes. You’ll be surprised how much emotion and story you can pack into a 5-minute painting!

Want to see what brush I’ve been using for these studies?
👉 Check out the FUUMUII Brush on Amazon (affiliate)
👉 Watch my unboxing video on YouTube