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Watercolour Plan Banner Picture

January Watercolour Ideas Plan

Daily Painting Exercises
Picture Leaf Element

The idea is to paint a smaller watercolour picture every day for 10 minutes. 

Anyone who wishes to draw or paint regularly must make this skill a habit. It is much easier to achieve this goal by taking 10-15 minutes a day, rather than a couple of hours per week. It is the daily repetition that creates a new routine.

There are 6 days of the weeks with new projects and the seventh day is reserved for work you haven't finished or to rest. Please note that these painting exercises are provided for beginners to intermediate to aid in getting a daily routine.

January Week 1

  • 1 JAN
  • 2 JAN
  • 3 JAN
  • 4 JAN
  • 5 JAN
  • 6 JAN
  • 7 JAN
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Start With a Simple Leaf

We begin with the simplest of form of a leaf. Apply the white lines with masking fluid by using a nip pen. Allow the masking fluid to dry until it becomes gum like and you can touch it. Then designate colours.
The most common error in watercolour is going to rework an area to fix mistakes. Once applied, it should not be removed, unlike oil. Returning to solve a problem typically makes it worst since it disrupts an even blend.
Watercolour Simple Leave Picture

Paint Jellyfish

Another stunningly attractive and straightforward form is that of the jellyfish.

After drawing the shapes, proceed to paint them using watercolour. 

Watrcolour Jellyfish Picture

Draw Any Shapes and Colour in

This is a simple yet useful exercise. Draw whatever kind of shapes you like, animals, humans, or objects and colour the whole form at once by mixing the colours together smoothly.  

Don't do any more details.
Paint Any Shapes Picture

And once more...

We will repeat yesterday's lesson because it is such a simple and enjoyable exercise.

Choose some different shapes and fill them with even looking watercolour in different colours that run smoothly into each other.

Refrain from trying to add more detail.
Picture

Paint Wooden Board

This is another beautiful and easy exercise.

Use only one lighter colour for the top and another darker for the sides of each board. Then mix a darker tone and add more detail, and repeat with an even darker tone. Note that the scratches on the round board are very closely in tonal value to the colour underneath, just a bit more grey. Avoid giving them too many tone differences; that would be overkill.
Paint Wooden Board Picture

Paint a Honey Pot

Paint a honey pot and if you have more time add some honey comb.
Paint Honey Pot Picture

Paint Free Day

Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.

January Week 3

  • 15 JAN
  • 16 JAN
  • 17 JAN
  • 18 JAN
  • 19 JAN
  • 20 JAN
  • 21 JAN
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Paint Succulent Plants

This is almost as easy as number painting. Draw the bowl with succulent plants with a 2H pencil on a mid-rough watercolour paper and paint the different sections in watercolour.

Always let a colour dry before painting a shape right next to it.
Watercolour Succulents Picture

Paint Fern

Today we are painting a species of fern that so wonderfully curls. In front we are setting some pointy thick leaves as a contrast.


Watercolour Fern Picture

Paint a Tree

Paint a tree by drawing a few outlines in pencil and then begin adding the lightest colour first. Wait for it to dry and add the next darker colour on top.

When painting greenery, always paint a smooth background with little details and add some more defined details on top. Watch out for where the light and darker areas are.
Paint Tree in Watercolour Picture

Paint Ice cream

Please not that within the ice cream between the light and the dark is a sharp line mostly on the left, whereas on the right the light blends softly into the darker areas. 

In the diamond shape dark section on the waffle notice that the dark is slightly stronger on the top of each section and lighter on the bottom and a little to the right.
Paint Ice Cream Picture

Paint another Tree

Once more another tree and a bit of grass to continue with some flora.
Paint another Tree Picture

Bushes and Grass

Today we just do a couple of bushes and grass. When mixing greens and find that your colours are too bright, add some mid red to it to make it look more natural.
Bushes and Grass Picture

Paint Free Day

Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.

January Week 4

  • 22 JAN
  • 23 JAN
  • 24 JAN
  • 25 JAN
  • 26 JAN
  • 27 JAN
  • 28 JAN
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Paint a Pot

Start with the lightest colour and fill in the whole form apart from the couple of highlights.  With every further layer use a bit if a darker colour. The last highlight can be achieved buy dropping a bit of clear water after you have applied the mid tones while they are still wet. Or you can use a tissue to gently withdraw the colour in those areas.

Have precise outlines, but let some accidents happen within the form to give it character.
Paint a Pot Picture

Painting a Cheeseburger

The beauty with watercolour is that you get relatively quickly a realistic look.

Always start from light to dark, adding more colour with every layer after each layer has dried.

Create the Sesame seeds by using a q-tip to take some of the colour off while it is still a bit wet.
Paint a Cheeseburger Picture

Paint Stacked Books

This is a sweet little setting for using watercolour.  Do a quick sketch with the pencil before using watercolour.
Paint stacked books Picture

Paint a Simple Pot

We are painting a simple metallic pot. Notice the different kind of greys. Some are more green whereas others are more yellow or blue.

Whenever grey is involved, all primary colours are used, with the blue being the most dominant and usually involves ultramarine blue.
Paint Simpe Pot Picture

Painting Hazelnuts

Maybe you have some still some hazelnuts left from Christmas you can use or use this example to do paint some closed and opened nuts.

Place them by overlapping some and others keep separate for interest.
Paint Hazelnuts Picture

Paint Peanuts

Nuts again! Paint some with their shell and other that have been opened. You can also leave some who have the soft red brown thin skin on them for interest.

Again let some of them overlap and other keep separate for good composition.
Paint Peanuts Picture

Paint Free Day

Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.

January Week 2

  • 8 JAN
  • 9 JAN
  • 10 JAN
  • 11 JAN
  • 12 JAN
  • 13 JAN
  • 14 JAN
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Paint a Handbag

This is a simple form of a handbag and yet is appears quite 3 dimensional. It is a brilliant image to learn how to blend softly without making a mess.

Always remember that it is better getting your result in fewer steps rather than too many as most will make a mess.

Try this handbag several times until you are happy with the result.
Paint a Handbag Picture

Paint a Cup Cake

Here you can see how to simplify a form. The brain usually complicates images we see, it is an art to learn how to reduce what you see to its minimum without lacking clarity.
Paint Cup Cake Picture

Paint a Vase

Today we do a simple painting for which we will need masking fluid. This is a lightly coloured liquid that you can apply with different size nip pens to create the white lines within this painting. The masking fluid will dry to a gum like substance within a few minutes and prevents the colour from spreading beyond where the lines have been applied.

You then easily can apply the colours without having to be so careful to create even lines. Once the picture has completely dried rub off the masking fluid and voila!
Paint a Vase Picture

Paint Bamboo

Paint some stalks of bamboo by using nice fresh green colours. 

To give  your painting a final touch,  use an old toothbrush to flick some watercolour onto the painting. Try this first on another piece of paper to see how much watercolour to use for it to work well.
Watercolour Bamboo Picture

Paint Silhouettes

This is just a bit of fun painting the silhouette of a row of houses and then do the same with a much weaker colour behind for more interest.

You can use almost any shapes for doing this, from flowers to trees.
Watercolour Houses Picture

Paint Wedding Rings

This is a beautiful  simple exercise creating a golden shine on wedding rings.
Watercolour Wedding Rings Picture

Paint Free Day

Today you can either rest, or try to finish some of the uncompleted work due for this week.

January Week 5

  • 29 JAN
  • 30 JAN
  • 31 JAN
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All About Coffee

For the rest of this week we are painting different items related to, yes one of my favourite drinks, coffee!

I hope you enjoy this coffee grinder and the other examples as much as I enjoy painting and drinking this amazing exotic drink.
All About Coffee  Picture

A Cup of Coffee

The subject today is a cup of coffee with some cinnamon and almonds. 

This is a simple but effective painting.
A Cup of Coffee Picture

Paint Small Coffee Sack

On the last day of this coffee week, we are painting a little sack for holding the rest of our coffee beans.

Enjoy.
Coffee Bag Picture
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MARTINA POOK ©  2016-2022                     |                     68 Armstrong Way, Highland Park, QLD 4211                    |                   Trading as Martina Pook                  |               ABN 54905 254 156
  • Home
    • Art School Surveys
    • Mailing List
    • Art News Blog
  • Art Tips
    • 1 Year Drawing & Painting >
      • Daily Watercolour Practice >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • Daily Drawing Practice >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
    • Art Business Tips >
      • Before Starting A Business
      • Earn from Your Drawings
      • Pricing Your Artwork
      • Art Business Planning
      • Arts Marketing
      • Artist Media Release
      • Artist Proposal Writing
      • Creative Website Writing
      • Copyright (eousness)
      • Organise Your Art Business
      • Networking for Artists
      • 5 Tips for Instagram Success
      • The Power of Pinterest
      • Art Is A Business
    • Free Art Business Books
    • Free Art Instruction Books
    • Free Stockphoto Collection >
      • Art Students Photo Collection >
        • Peculiar Photo Collection
        • Landscape Photo Collection
    • Artists Reference Photos >
      • Artist Reference Bundles
    • Best Art Websites
    • Book Recommendations
    • Gift Ideas for Artists
    • Art Magazines
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    • Art Accountants
    • Art Competitions
    • Art Infographics
    • Artists Info Sheets
    • Artists Signatures
    • Web Tools For Artists
  • Martina's Articles
    • Painting Tips
    • 15 Must Have Skills for Art Students
    • Art Competition Benefits
    • Benefits of Art Classes
    • Coloured Pencils Article >
      • Coloured Pencil Studies
    • Colour Mixing Article
    • Did You Know?
    • Learn to draw in 15 minutes a day
    • The Art of Learning Art
    • Why We Need Creativity
  • Art Workshops | Classes
    • Art Materials Lists >
      • Art Material Glossary
    • Art Student Portal >
      • Arts Ministry Liberti
      • Drawing Introduction >
        • Line Contour Variation
        • Measuring Proportions
        • Atmospheric Perspective
        • Shading Laws
        • Composition
      • Painting Introduction
      • Portrait Drawing Introduction >
        • The Eye
        • The Nose
        • The Mouth
        • The Ear
        • The Head
      • Coloured Pencil Introduction
      • Colour Mixing Introduction
    • Gallery >
      • Kids Art Gallery
      • Teen Students Gallery
      • Adult Art Students Gallery
      • Student Scholarship >
        • 2018 Scholarship Winner
        • 2018 Scholarship Winner
        • 2017 Scholarship Winner
        • 2015 Scholarship Winner
      • Artist in Residence >
        • 2017 Artist in Residence
      • Opportunities for Students
    • Gold Coast Art Teachers
    • Refund Policies
  • About
  • Contact