Hey friends,
In this week’s tutorial, I dove into one of my favorite types of scenes to paint—loose wildflowers with a sweet little country barn (inspired by a wedding venue I visited!). If you're looking to loosen up your painting style, this one's for you.
This post is for anyone who's ever asked:
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“How do I stop overworking my paintings?”
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“Why does my watercolor look muddy?”
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“How do I paint loosely and still end up with something that feels finished?”
Let’s walk through a few tips I shared in the video:
🖌️ 1. Start Loose—Stay Loose
One of the most common questions I get is how to keep things loose without losing form. My answer? Start loose and stay loose as long as possible. Trust the process and resist the urge to "fix" too early.
✏️ 2. Sketch Lightly
I use a mechanical drafting pencil (thanks to my husband’s military drafting days!) for a light sketch. If you mess up, go easy on your eraser—use a soft polymer or gum eraser to protect your watercolor paper.
🎨 3. Simple Supplies Are Enough
I painted this with:
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Fabriano 140 lb cold press paper (bright white, 100% cotton)
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Silver Black Velvet size 12 brush
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A handful of primary colors
You don’t need a ton of supplies. For years I used a 12-pan Winsor & Newton set and learned how to mix everything from that. Fancy brushes and paints can come later!
🌼 4. Embrace the Blooms and Happy Accidents
Whether you’re lifting clouds with a paper towel or splattering flowers with a loaded brush—let the watercolor do its thing. You’ll often get those magical little blooms when you least expect it.
🎨 5. Color Mixing: It’s OK to Mess Up
I had a few “oops” moments where things got muddy—like when yellow mixed with a red that leaned toward purple. It happens! Just keep layering, splattering, and adjusting.
🏠 6. Keep Structures Simple
The little red barn is more of a background shape. I used a light gray wash and added shadows while it was still wet to keep things soft and natural.
🧠 7. Get Out of Your Head
When I paint while FaceTiming my mom (like I did for this one), I tend to relax more and just play. It’s a great reminder to not overthink every stroke.
🖼️ 8. Layer in Details Last
Once the main washes are dry, I switch to a smaller brush and flick in details—like stems, darker shadows, and foreground flowers.
💬 9. Everyone’s a Rookie Sometimes
Even after 20+ years, I still make "rookie" mistakes. The key is not to let it stop you—just keep painting and learning.
🎥 10. Want the Full Tutorial?
You can find the full-length extended version of this tutorial, plus a printable traceable outline, over on my Patreon page.
Whether you're just starting or you've been painting for years, the joy is in the process. Try letting go of the outcome, and just play with the paint.
Have questions or want to share your version? Drop a comment or tag me on social—I’d love to see it!
Happy Painting!
– Kellie 🎨💛
