Have you ever wished that there was a coloring book made for your watercolor habit hobby? Maybe something with big, beautiful florals that you could use to practice your no-line watercoloring, or show off your excellent skill? Well, today is your day! You should be arriving from Jenny Colacicco’s blog. If not, you can track back to the Altenew Card Blog to start at the beginning, or continue around until you loop back here.
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brushes would be nice…
Another wish, granted! Not only is there a beautiful watercolor coloring book with black and no-line outline images, you can get some new brushes to get completely outfit! There are two brush sets – one has four detail brushes and the other has five brushes – three round and one flat for washes.
dreamy detailed poppy
Make no mistake! If you are going for realistic, or even semi-detailed, these images will take some time! The images are truly simple line outlines and you will have to bring any kind of movement to the image by creating your own shading and highlights with your painting.
Here’s the thing. Is it time consuming? Yes. Is it kind of intense? Yes. Is it worth it? YES!
I got lost in the creation process. Envisioning the folds and highlights and making them come to life with my painting. I worked on this project over a weekend, taking breaks so I wouldn’t over-work the project, let my eyes (and brain) rest, and come back to really assess what the project needed before starting to work on it again.
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a study in progress
I used the Artist Watercolors for the poppy project above, but I wanted to see how the Woodless Watercolor Pencils would work on this 100% Cotton Cold Press paper, so I started in on one of the no-line images. I first laid down Ultramarine to underpaint this beautiful bloom. You can see where all of the detail will go as I add layers of Sicilian Amber, Yellow Ochre, Maple Yellow, and Fresh Lemon. Ultramarine is the perfect purple-blue for underpainting and adding in extra shadows. You’ll definitely want to check out my detail image below!
Even in its half-finished state, I have more hours in this project than the finished poppy project. Both of these are definitely getting framed and hung in my studio!
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prepping & caring for your new brushes
New brushes often come with a protective coating on them that needs to be cleaned off before first use. And, when you’re finished with your brushes, there’s a way to clean and prep them for drying. I thought I’d do up a little instructional video for you to walk through prepping and caring for your brushes – especially if you’ve only used waterbrushes before now.
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Now, about that GIVEAWAY…
To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 10 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop by 02/16/2021 for a chance to win.
Altenew will draw 12 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 02/19/2021.
Time to hop along!
Be sure to hop over to the amazing Seeka for more watercolor inspiration. And don’t forget to leave comments along the way to enter all the giveaways!
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how exciting that Altenew has their own waterbrushes now. Nicole you are good with your watercoloring and how you explain about the shadows. thanks for sharing.
I LOVE your flower! Beautiful coloring and splatters!
Very pretty flowers. I hope you show us the large flower when it is completed. Thanks fir the video on prepping and storing watercolor brushes. Looks like a really nice set.
Fabulous tips love this
Very pretty flowers. Just lovely. Thanks for sharing.
I need to try underpainting when I watercolor. I really like the way yours turned out.
I am new at watercoloring and I love this idea! Can’t wait to try this!
What a great collection, thanks for the tips and beautiful inspiration projects!
Great tips!!! Thanks!! I love your flowers!!!
So beautiful! I love the soft blue background and splatters of that first card!
Thank you for the brush tips.
Thank you for the tutorial!
Beautiful images and thank you so much for teaching us about brushes and what to do with them!!
Thank you for trying out the pencils on this paper. My “watercolors” are pencils too so I was curious how it would go. It is also interesting to learn about the purple under yellow technique. It looks way better than black or grey.
Thank you for showing us beginners how to care for our brushes.
Thank you for the tutorial, I’m anxious to try the pencils. Beautiful images!
Wow, the under painting with the ultramarine sure gives dimension to the flower. The pictures and explanation are great. Do you use it for other colors besides the yellow? Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.
Amazing coloring Nicole. Love the pretty colors… and the splatters! Thanks for the inspiration!
Phenomenal water-coloring Nicole!! This is an awesome product from Altenew.
Gorgeous colors and examples of the new products! The red poppy looks so real!
I am in awe of your skills. And am happy that you told us that it will take a lot of time to make the flowers come to life. I am impatient…but I am going to try to watercolor some flowers anyway 🙂 Your flowers are very pretty!
Never saw that underpainting technique. I need to see a video on that so when I get this amazing watercolor book I will be able to produce more fantastic flowers!
I did not realize brushes had a coating on them. Thanks for the video and as always your techniques are always tops.
Gorgeous paintings Nicole! It certainly was worth the time you spent coloring these beauties. I would definitely frame them, even if mine aren’t as pretty as yours, thanks for the tips!
How pretty! The ultramarine really makes for a natural shadow on the yellow petals.
Beautiful work! Thanks for the information about new brushes. I never knew the had some kind of coating.
Frameworthy…just beautiful!
Beautiful water coloring. I learned something new today regarding using purple with yellow. Thanks so much for sharing
Just fabulous that you used both the watercolor pan set, and watercolor pencils! Your shading and highlights are on point, and so realistic.
Beautiful water coloring! Your yellow and lavender card is so fun and intriguing. Artsy!
The floral images are so gorgeous! And the inspiration is just fantastic. Thanks of sharing!
Great show of the pages. I like the underpainting. Will watch the brush tips a bit later.
I’d love to be able to water colour like you. Beautiful cards x
Thank you for the tips. I do need to get these brushes!
Gorgeous and love seeing the one in progress
So much information! The underpainting was fascinating. Thanks for the video on the brushes.
Beautiful cards and lovely watercoloring. Thanks for the tips. I love this coloring book!
Wow! Fabulous colors!
Thank you for the tutorial on how to care for brushes; that was super helpful.
Gorgeous cards!! Love the look of the underpaining! And thanks for the tips about the brushes!
What wonderful colouring on this stunning poppy! The second will be equally spectacular. It is interesting to see it half coloured showing the underpainting for the shadows! Certainly worth the time and effort!! Thanks so much for the inspiration! Stay safe! 🙂
What an informative video! I learned so much about brushes that I never knew…thanks for all the tips, Nicole!! Your florals are gorgeous and you make it look so easy!! STUNNING
Nicole you are a wonderful person, time to put on some music and do some colouring.
Thanks for sharing the tips to look after the brushes. I have a few I have had for years and they do last if you take care of them. Love poppies and this is beautiful.
Thanks for all the great tips – under painting, brush care and first time use. Loved your class on stenciling. Hope to hear more from you in the future.
Amazing. Love seeing everyone’s style come out!
Thank you for the video, I learned a lot! You did a beautiful job watercoloring the floral images!
So pretty. I absolutely adore poppies! Love this coloring book idea
Beautiful frame worthy watercoloring from this super nice release by Altenew. Enjoyed the video on brush prep and care, as I am a stickler for storing my gear and the cases are perfect. I also like the ergonomic handle base for good handling of the brush as you work. Nice release bundle.
Nicole-I never knew about prepping my brushes. Thank you for the guidance. I am waiting to see the final project.
Lovely! I really liked the underpainting tip.
Thanks for the honesty about the fact the flowers will require creativity and time to create magic.
I’m glad I’m not the only crafter that takes forever to complete a project…your creations are beautifully watercolored! Thanks for sharing all your tips, so very helpful!
Beautiful cards and watercoloring.!
Thanks so much for sharing…
So beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
I never thought of using blue as a shadowing color. I love the effects.
Thanks Nicole! The brushes are a. Investment and that’s good information!
Beautiful water color flower, awesome shading and soft background too. Thanks for good info about the bundle of brushes etc too.
So pretty! Love your painting! The brushes look amazing!
wow -love these cads – great coloring
Wow, just wow. Beautiful.
What a magnificent and spectacular release! You did a spectacular job to showcased creative ways to use everything. YOU SO ROCK!!
Such beautifully colored art!
Simply lovely!
Beautiful images! Thank you so much for sharing your technical knowledge.
The flowers are vibrant. Cool to see watercolor paints and pencils were used.
Love all the information on taking care of the brushes. I do such a poor job with that. Your cards are wonderful.
Wow! This is so pretty, Both of them and you can tell a lot of love has gone into both. Thank you for the tips too!
Wonderful cards!!!
I’m just trying watercolor and love it. It’s so relaxing and enjoyable to slowly paint your way to being stress free! I think the coloring book is a great idea and can’t wait to try it.
Magnificent! Lovely flowers. You make it look easy, but I know it isn’t. Thank you for your amazing cards.
Thanks for sharing your technique for achieving this gorgeous watercolor flower!!!
Lovely cards and coloring!
What pretty cards, so talented!
Love your poppy print it has so much ‘life’ with the folds of the petals and the colors. Thanks for sharing your amazing creativity with us. 🙂
Unbelievable to see the purple beneath the yellow…almost magical. Stunning!