November Watercolour Challenge

Daily Painting Exercises
Watercolour painting exercises for beginners and intermediates to aid in getting a daily routine. 

November Week 1

  • 1 NOV
  • 2 NOV
  • 3 NOV
  • 4 NOV
  • 5 NOV
  • 6 NOV
  • 7 NOV
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Paint a Bird Cage

First, draw the subject then apply a wash starting with pink and blending into purple over the hole cage. Add some darker details and at the end use a pink and purple ink pen draw straight hatching lines from different directions. 

With this type of technique you can create all sorts of simple drawings, as you will see in the following illustrations for this week. 

Illustrate an Older Clock

Using the same technique as yesterday, we first draw the image. then we apply a simple wash, blending from light yellow and pink. 

If you feel insecure use a rule to apply the pink ink pen. But continue to practice cross hatching. 

City Pigeons

Once again here an example of creating an under wash with watercolour, creating dark and light and then add drama by using an ink pen to draw straight lines as a feature. 

Dramatic Bridge

One more example of a nearly monochromatic under painting in watercolour, added with dramatic ink line work. 

Paint a Church

This is a straightforward monochromatic painting of a church that is quite some fun to do. Draw the church with a pencil first and then add a light layer of a very light colour. While it is still wet, you can use an embossing tool to create the writing instead of trying to paint it with a small brush. It looks stunning it is easier that way. But it only works if the watercolour is wet. The colour will gather in the indention and creates those darker marks for the writing or lines.  The other options would be using coloured pencils.

Urban Scenery

This urban street view is created by applying a wash of a light beige colour onto the whole surface of the image. Don't be too precise and even but rather sketchy. When it has dried draw the scene with a pencil and then add a few colours here and there. 

Catch Up Day

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

November Week 2

  • 8 NOV
  • 9 NOV
  • 10 NOV
  • 11 NOV
  • 12 NOV
  • 13 NOV
  • 14 NOV
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Paint a Cow

Towards the end of the year, we will be creating some works that are a little more realistic rather than sketchy. This week we will be painting animals with a finished look. As always your work does not need to be finished but can be completed at a later stage. 

Cow Painting

Yesterday we painted a cow and today we will be completing the work with some background. You can either do a new one or add some finishing touches to the work you did yesterday in the style you see here. 

Paint a Deer

Draw the deer in pencil and begin adding the lighter colours gradually going darker. For the background use some salt for effects. 

Paint a Dog

In this example, you can see how easy it is to add a background to harmonise a painting and to give it a completed look. 

Paint a Dog 2

Today we continue in our series of animal drawings and will be painting a dog facing away.

A Dog Portrait

Two days ago we were painting a dog portrait with a harmonising background. Today we are using a more dramatic approach by using a contrast-rich background to achieve a powerful effect. 

Catch Up Day

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

November Week 3

  • 15 NOV
  • 16 NOV
  • 17 NOV
  • 18 NOV
  • 19 NOV
  • 20 NOV
  • 21 NOV
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Fishing Boat

Today we tackle a stranded fishing boat. 

Beach Scene 1

Today and tomorrow we will be applying a simple way of creating a beach scene that could be used for postcards or as a little painting. After having sketched the main features apply masking fluid for all white sections, let it completely dry and then just run a one coloured background to it. Watercolour can't be easier than that. 

Beach Scene 2

Like yesterday we are painting a simple beach scene, this time with mountains in the back and using two colours instead of one.  Apply masking fluid to all white areas and once dry place a wash over it. 

Flowers in Pink

Draw the flowers and paint the flowers first. Then add the background by using a relatively dry brush and apply some salt for effects. 

Tulips

Painting that use strong colours, work very well with some grey. 

The Lily of the Valley

Growing up in Germany the "Schneegloeckchen", lily of the valley is the first flower to be seen in spring. Often appearing when still snow is present it breaks through as the first sign of warmth. Such a humble and delicate flower it is my absolute favourite one. 

Mask the flowers before painting the rest. 

Catch Up Day

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

November Week 4

  • 22 NOV
  • 23 NOV
  • 24 NOV
  • 25 NOV
  • 26 NOV
  • 27 NOV
  • 28 NOV
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Yellow Rose

This powerful split complementary colour combination is excellent for painting a yellow rose.  Using complementary colours always achieves dramatic images and combined with a bit of grey, the colours stand out even more. 

Heart Design

Today we are playing with simple shapes. The idea is to create red hearts in brighter colours all over the the image and than adding an opaque gouache layer of white onto top leaving only a few hearts fully exposed in their brightness. Then add some writing with a permanent black marker.

Watercolour Ink Cat

Today we are using watercolour combined with ink in the fashion of yesterdays exercise. Once more create a bright under painting, add opaque white and then use a permanent black marker to sketch a cat with hatching lines. You can add black lines onto the white or add white lines with gouache onto black areas. Both will work and look fine. Just play and have fun.

Paint a Camel

Draw the camel in pencil and then add layers of colours starting from light to dark.

Quick Flower Illustration

We are taking it easy today with an easy small flower illustration.

Rose Dream

When creating postcards or smaller works of art for friends we can cut time by painting the larger part with simple washes and only honing into details in one small area of the image. As long as you use harmonious colours and only indicative details in the background, you will create something stunning.

Catch Up Day

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

November Week 5

  • 29 NOV
  • 30 NOV
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Flamingo Beauty

Although the background has been created by using airbrush, you can create a somewhat similar effect with the watercolour brush.

Red Tulip

For the last day of November we are painting a red tulip.