*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, so that I can keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. Thank you!



How do watercolor artists bring their landscapes to life, creating a convincing sense of open space and depth? What key principles and techniques should you always keep in mind to achieve realistic, well-balanced scenes?


Mastering the art of creating believable depth and distance is a game-changer for anyone painting landscapes or scenes.

The good news?

It’s easier than you think once you understand perspective and pair it with essential watercolor techniques like wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry.


In this blog post, we’ll dive into Aerial Perspective and three essential keys for achieving depth in your watercolor pieces, whether you’re painting landscapes or intricate, detailed scenes.

Let’s get started!
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Aerial perspective, also known as atmospheric perspective, is an art technique used to create the illusion of depth in a scene by mimicking the way the atmosphere affects how we perceive objects over distance.

​As objects recede into the background, they appear:

1. Lighter in Value – Colors become paler or less intense.
2. Less Saturated – Colors lose their vividness and become more muted.
3. Cooler in Temperature – Distant elements often shift toward cooler hues like blues or grays.
4. Less Detailed – Texture and sharpness decrease as objects move farther away.

These effects occur naturally because of the scattering of light and particles in the atmosphere.

In certain instances, some of these things will not happen due to dramatic lighting and the local color of distant trees or elements, so you won't always find all four things happening at once. 
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This said, I always try to bring in at least a couple of these principles when creating landscapes or scenes. 

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If you enjoyed this video and found it helpful, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I share a brand new video every week with art tips, drawing and painting tutorials and mindset/productivity tips for artists. *Subscribe HERE*


Get immediate access to these three landscape painting tutorials and over 120+ more real-time, fully-narrated classes for only $6 over on my Patreon!  


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Key 1: Add Greater Detail to Closer Elements

To guide the viewer's eye and create a sense of depth, pay attention to the level of detail in your painting.

​Elements closer to the viewer (or in focal areas) should have more definition and finer details. For example:

• Foreground foliage can show individual leaves or textures.
• Buildings or structures can have sharper edges and clearer architectural details.
• Grasses or rocks might include visible textures and shadows.

In contrast, as objects recede into the background, details should become less defined. Distant mountains, trees, or buildings will appear softer, helping create the illusion of space.

Use wet-on-wet to achieve softer, diffused effects in background areas and wet-on-dry to achieve more defined detail in closer elements.
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Key 2: Use Darker Values for Closer Elements

Value, or tone, plays a critical role in achieving depth. Closer elements in your composition should generally be darker, while distant areas appear lighter.

This technique mimics the way light interacts with particles in the atmosphere, scattering and softening distant objects.

Practical tips for implementing this:

• Foreground shadows can be bold and rich in tone, while distant shadows are lighter and less distinct.
• Layer washes strategically to deepen value in the areas closer to the viewer.
• Use dry brushing or glazing to add depth to foreground objects without overwhelming them.

Use less water and darker color mixtures when painting elements that are closer. 

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Key 3: Warm Colors for Closer Elements, Cooler Colors for Farther Away Elements

Color temperature is another powerful tool to establish depth.

​Warm colors (like yellows, oranges, and reds) tend to come forward in a painting, while cool colors (like blues, purples, and greens) recede.

By adjusting the temperature of your palette, you can create a convincing sense of distance.

Here’s how to apply this effectively:

• Use warm hues for foreground objects, such as sunlit grasses, rocky textures, or tree trunks.
• Shift to cooler tones for background elements, like mountains, distant forests, or skies.
• Gradually transition from warm to cool hues to maintain harmony across the painting.​​

Add blue to colors and/or use more watered down color for elements that are farther away. 

​How to Practice These Keys

If these concepts are new to you, try breaking them down into smaller exercises:

1. Detail practice: Paint a simple scene twice, focusing on emphasizing foreground details in one and softening them in the other.
2. Value study: Create a monochromatic landscape using only one color to practice value changes from dark to light.
3. Color study: Experiment with warm and cool tones in a single scene to understand how they affect depth perception.
   
   

Interested in step by step painting tutorials where I explain how I bring in these key principles in landscapes? Access the tutorials for all the landscapes included here and much more for only $6 over on my Patreon!

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Have you tried these techniques in your paintings? Let me know how they’ve worked for you in the comments below.

​Thanks for reading and enjoy your art practice!

*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, so that I can keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. Thank you! 


What, exactly, is a "quick sketch" and how will this type of drawing practice help me build up my skills? How can I get started with quick sketch, as a total beginner? Are there any tips to make this type of practice more effective?


Quick sketch involves creating simplified drawings of a subject within a short time frame. The artist is trying to capture the essence (or most important information) as quickly as possible, which usually leads to highly expressive and dynamic results. 

The goal with quick sketch isn't to create a masterpiece or high-levels of accuracy, but to strengthen the connection between your eyes, brain and arm/hand while developing quick thinking, speed, and confidence. 

It is a dynamic type of drawing practice that will help you develop skills that longer pieces simply won't. 

Artists usually time themselves when working on quick sketch, though not always. 


In this blog post, I'll explain must-know information and practical tips on quick sketch that will help you get immense value from this type of exercise so that you can make faster progress in your art journey. 

In the video included here, I share a time lapse of one of my quick sketches. 

If you enjoyed this video and found it helpful, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I share a brand new video every week with art tips, drawing and painting tutorials and mindset/productivity tips for artists. *Subscribe HERE*

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Quick sketch is all about:

• Observing and capturing the essence of a subject quickly
• Focusing on major forms, proportions, and values rather than fine details
• Trying to communicate more with less
• Keeping it simple and letting go of perfectionism
• Strengthening the connection between your eyes, brain and arm/hand muscles
• Developing better line quality and expressive results through drawing from the shoulder

​Typically, quick sketch sessions involve setting a timer—ranging from 1 to 15 minutes per drawing—and working within that constraint to complete a sketch.

The amount of time you give yourself usually varies depending on your current skill level and the complexity of the subject. 

Having a time limit challenges you to focus on what's most important and you eliminate unecessesary distractions. 

Whether you're into still life, figures, landscapes and scenes, animals, or anything else, you can practice quick sketch. Just begin with simpler versions of these things and increase the challenge as you develop your skills further. 

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Quick sketch challenges you in ways that longer, more polished pieces don't.  If artists don't make time for quick sketch, they run the risk of never being able to work more quickly, or create more expressive results. 

Here are 5 key skills that this type of drawing practice helps you develop:

1. Strengthens Hand-Eye Coordination
   It strengthens the connection between your eyes, brain, and arm/hand. It trains you to observe, process, and translate visual information rapidly, building the foundation for more confident and expressive drawing. 
   
2. Improves Line Quality and Control
   By focusing on loose, expressive marks, you’ll develop better line quality and control over your drawing tools. You don't have time to erase or fix your lines. This leads to more unique, dynamic results in your artwork.
   
3. Encourages Gesture and Movement
   Quick sketching is perfect for gesture drawing, helping you capture movement and energy. If you struggle with stiffness in your work, this practice might be what you need to improve further. 
   
4. Develops Speed and Confidence
   Regular quick sketch practice helps you draw faster and more confidently, which is invaluable for both personal projects and professional work under tight deadlines.
   
5. Balances Your Practice
   Pairing quick sketches with longer, detailed studies ensures well-rounded growth as an artist. The former hones speed and expression, while the latter develops precision and more "polished" end results. 

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Here are actionable tips to start incorporating quick sketch into your art practice:
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1. Set a Timer
   Start with 10-15 minutes if you’re a beginner, then gradually reduce the time as you gain confidence. Adjust the time based on the complexity of your subject. Make sure you're starting with simpler, single objects and make your way toward more complex arrangements or scenes as you go. 
   
2. Warm Up First
   Loosen up your shoulder and arm with simple warm-up exercises, such as drawing circles, lines, or figure-eights. This will prepare you for fluid and dynamic sketching.
   
3. Choose Simple Drawing Tools
   Stick to one or two drawing tools for quick sketches, as you won't have time to switch between them as you go. Softer pencils (like an 8B) or charcoal, work well because they allow you to create a range of values with minimal effort. They also allow you to smudge easily with your fingers as you're developing any shading. 
   
4. Avoid Erasing
   Quick sketching is about embracing imperfection. Start your drawing lightly. I'd recommend using the overhand grip to help you achieve thicker, blurrier lines in the beginning. Try to erase as little as possible and simply use darker line work to emphasize the "correct" shapes. 
   
5. Draw Large
   Use a larger sketchbook (at least 9x12 inches but preferably larger) to encourage drawing from your shoulder rather than just using your wrist. Larger newsprint sheets can also be mounted on a drawing board or easel. This helps improve line quality and control over your drawing tools. I explain why drawing on a tilted surface is so important in this video here. 
   
6. Observe First
   Take a few moments to study your subject before starting. Look for major shapes, proportions, and potential challenges, then form a mental strategy before putting pencil to paper.
   
7. Work from General to Specific/Large to Small
   Begin with broad shapes and proportions, then refine details as time allows. This ensures you maintain accuracy and structure in your sketches. Check out my video on the 3 Keys to Drawing Anything. Understanding these will help you move through your drawing process more successfully. 

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• Practice Regularly: Make quick sketch a part of your daily or weekly routine.
• Experiment with Subjects: Draw a variety of objects, scenes, and figures to keep things interesting and challenging.
• Use Reference Photos and Real Life: Work from both photos and direct observation to build versatile skills.
• Be Patient: Your first few sketches may not turn out as you’d like—and that’s okay. Improvement comes with consistent effort.
• Track Your Progress: Save your quick sketches and revisit them over time to see how much you’ve improved.​​

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Quick sketch is a powerful tool for beginner artists looking to improve their drawing skills.

​It trains your eye, sharpens your technique, and boosts your confidence, all while adding a fresh, expressive quality to your work. By making time for both quick sketches and longer studies, you’ll become a more versatile, confident artist.
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Ready to give it a try? Grab your sketchbook, set a timer, and start capturing the world around you with speed and simplicity.

The more you practice, the better you'll get and the more fun quick sketch will be!

*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, so that I can keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. Thank you!
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Looking for fun watercolor tutorials to help you practice essential techniques while enjoying the holiday season? Want some awesome ideas for Christmas watercolor greeting cards to give away to loved ones?


Whether you're into still life, landscapes, loose botanicals or animals, you'll find a tutorial you'll enjoy in this compilation.

All of these tutorials are beginner-friendly, step-by-step, and help you practice essential watercolor skills and techniques that you can take with you to future paintings. 

The "Watch on YouTube" icon on the bottom left of each video will take you to my tutorial over on Youtube. There, you'll find extra links and supplies in the description box below each video, in case you're interested. 

Ready for some fun?

Grab your supplies and let's paint together! 




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Watercolor Gnome with Salt Background​

Practice essential techniques such as wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry and layering with this fun, whimsical Christmas gnome piece. 
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*The outline sketch for this tutorial is available for free here. 


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​Colorful Christmas Ornaments Step-by-Step Tutorial

In this Christmas ornaments tutorial, I take you through my entire process, from preliminary pencil sketch to bright watercolor washes.


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Watercolor Snowman Beginner-Friendly Tutorial with Salt Background

Let's paint a cute snowman together! In this one, we're using the salting technique to create a beautiful falling snow effect in the background. 
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Christmas Greeting Card Watercolor *Workshop Recording*

In this workshop, I teach you how to sketch and paint a Christmas stocking using just a few colors. 
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*The outline sketch for this tutorial is available for free here. 

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Christmas Wreath Watercolor Tutorial 

Follow along to paint a simple but stunning Christmas wreath with just a few colors. This is a great one for practicing different types of leaves. 




​Watercolor Christmas Bells Tutorial

In this one, I teach you how to paint golden Christmas bells with pine tree leaves and berries.
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*The outline sketch for this tutorial is available for free here. 



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​Winter Landscape Watercolor Tutorial

How do you paint snow with watercolor? It's easier than you think! In this one, I teach you how to easily paint snow scenes and evergreen trees.



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Christmas Cookies Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners

In this full tutorial, I take you through my entire process for a set of realistic Christmas watercolor cookies. I explain how to draw these and my simple, 2-layer painting process for realistic results.
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6 Ways to Add Falling Snow to Watercolor Paintings

Here are 6 must-know techniques that will help you add a beautiful falling snow effect to watercolor winter scenes. 

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Watercolor Polar Bear Tutorial

In this painting tutorial, I teach you how to paint a realistic polar bear using just a few colors. I explain how I use masking fluid to easily create the illusion of falling snow, as well as to help enhance fur textures.


*The outline sketch for this one is available for Patreon members here. 




Recommended Watercolor Supplies:
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For a full list of my current favorite art supplies, go here. ​



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​For immediate access to a library of over 120+ my exclusive sketching and watercolor tutorials, join my membership over on Patreon for only $6!

I post new videos over on my YouTube channel every Monday, so make sure to subscribe and click on the notification bell so you can get notified when new ones get posted. 

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Happy painting!

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*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, so that I can keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. Thank you!


Wondering how to use watercolor pencils for best results? How are watercolor pencils different from regular colored pencils and traditional watercolor paint? Where to start when learning about this versatile medium?


Learning how to use a new art medium can be incredibly exciting, but it can also be overwhelming.

It's hard to find watercolor pencil tutorials where the full process is shown and where the why behind the artist's decision-making is explained so that you can actually build a solid foundation to jump off of. 

If you're a beginner who's looking for full watercolor pencil classes that help you practice essential techniques so that you can make faster progress, this compilation is for you! 

Whether you're into still life, botanicals, birds or landscapes, you'll find something here. 

The "Watch on YouTube" icon on the bottom left of each video will take you to my tutorial over on Youtube. There, you'll find extra links and supplies in the description box below each video, in case you're interested. 

Ready for some fun?

Grab your supplies and let's paint together! 

*If you'd like to have my outline sketches for these tutorials, most of them are available over in my Patreon for only $1! 

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Watercolor Pencil 101- Full Guide for Beginners

Here is a thorough guide for beginners where I explain must-know information and provide helpful exercises that will help you practice foundational techniques. 

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Watercolor Pencils vs. Traditional Paint (Similarities + Differences)

Watercolor pencils are very different from traditional watercolor paint. In this video, I explain similarities and differences, and share painting time lapses so that you can see how the process and end results are different. 

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How to Layer and Blend Colors With Watercolor Pencils

Learn layering and blending techniques that will help you effectively combine colors and create smooth gradients. 



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Watercolor Pencil Red Bell Pepper Step-by-Step Tutorial

In this step-by-step tutorial, I explain how to protect highlights and layer watercolor pencils to achieve realistic results. 
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Realistic Colorful Cupcake Watercolor Pencil Tutorial

In this tutorial, I spill the tea on all my favorite watercolor pencil techniques that help me achieve glowing results as I share my process for a realistic cupcake. 

*My outline sketch is available over in my Patreon shop here. 

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Orange Still Life Watercolor Pencil Tutorial

In this full class, I share my entire process, from freehand pencil sketch to layering watercolor pencils for a full still life painting. 

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​Mountain Bluebird Watercolor Pencil Tutorial

Gain useful insights to help you better choose colors before starting a new painting and follow along to learn how to layer for depth and texture.




The Best Watercolor Pencils for Beginners

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​Blooming Yellow Rose Watercolor Pencil Tutorial (Only 3 Colors!)

In this class, I explain how I use Analogous colors to achieve believable depth in a blooming rose piece. Follow along to learn how to shade using only 3 colors! 


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Watercolor Pencil Boat Scene Tutorial

In this step-by-step tutorial, I explain how I approach scenes and landscapes using watercolor pencils. This is a method you can take with you to successfully paint any scene. 

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​Step-by-Step Blue + Gold Macaw Tutorial

If you love drawing and painting birds, this tutorial is a must-watch! I share how to paint different kinds of feathers easily and how to layer for realistic results. 


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I post new videos over on my YouTube channel every Monday, so make sure to subscribe and click on the notification bell so you can get notified when new ones get posted. 

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Happy painting!


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*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, so that I can keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. Thank you! 


What is the best way to add falling snow to watercolor winter scenes? What are some techniques you can use to make winter or holiday scenes more magical?


There are many techniques we can use to add the illusion of falling snow in watercolor winter scenes, each of which provides a slightly different effect. 

In the video below, I share six techniques that will help you elevate your art, while adding an ethereal vibe that's perfect for seasonal pieces. Along the way, I provide many must-know tips for success. 

I'd recommend experimenting with all of them so that you can find your favorite(s).

​*In these examples, I’m using Indigo for my blue washes to create a rich, wintery atmosphere.

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If you enjoyed this video and found it helpful, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I share a brand new video every week with art tips, drawing and painting tutorials and mindset/productivity tips for artists. *Subscribe HERE*

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1. Splattering with Water

This method is perfect for creating soft, subtle snow effects.

Start by painting a wet wash. While the paint is still wet, splatter clean water across the surface using a stiff(er)-bristled brush.

​The water droplets push the pigment away, creating random lighter spots resembling snowflakes.
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Tips for Success:

• Work quickly, as the technique only works on wet paint.
• Test on a separate sheet before splattering on your painting to control the size and intensity of the droplets.​​​​

Recommended Supplies:

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2. Splattering with White Gouache

For sharp, opaque snowflakes, splatter white gouache after the wash has dried.
If you're looking for softer, blurred effects, you can splatter the gouache onto your watercolor, while it's still wet. 

Mix the gouache with a small amount of water until it’s fluid but still opaque, and use a toothbrush or stiff-bristled brush to create random specks with lots of variety. 

Pro tip: Use Permanent White or Titanium White gouache for visible, vibrant snow effects.

Tips for Success:

• Experiment with brush sizes to vary the snowflake dimensions.
• Protect areas where you don’t want snow by covering them with scrap paper.

3. Masking Fluid

Masking fluid creates crisp, negative-space snowflakes. Before applying paint, splatter masking fluid on clean paper using a toothbrush. Let it dry completely before painting over it with your wash.

Once the wash is dry, gently rub off the masking fluid to reveal clean white spots.

Tips for Success:

• Use an old toothbrush or cheaper brush to apply the masking fluid, as it can ruin watercolor brushes.
• Ensure the masking fluid is fully dry before painting to avoid smudging.
• Avoid drying masking fluid with a heat tool, as it can harden and adhere more strongly. ​

4. Salt Technique

Sprinkling salt over wet paint creates a textured effect that mimics scattered snow. The salt absorbs the pigment as it dries, leaving unique snow-like patterns behind.

This technique can be especially helpful when painting windy snow scenes or blizzards.

Tips for Success:

• Use coarse salt for larger flakes or table salt for finer effects.
• Allow the painting to dry completely before brushing off the salt to preserve the effect and avoid smudging. 
• Make sure you completely dust off any remaining salt, especially if you'll continue painting. 

5. Wax Resist

This technique involves using a wax-based medium, like a white crayon or Prismacolor pencil, to create snow patterns on clean watercolor paper.

Draw snowflake shapes or random dots with a white crayon or wax-based pencil on your paper before painting your blue wash.

The wax repels the watercolor, preserving the white of the paper underneath.


Tips for Success:

• Press firmly with your wax tool to ensure a strong resist effect.
• Test this technique beforehand, as lighter wax marks may not show up well.
• For a layered snow look, repeat the process by adding more wax marks and washes.

6. Lifting 

This method allows you to "lift" or absorb paint off the paper to create snow effects.

After painting your wash, use a Q-tip, tissue, or rolled-up paper towel to dab at the wet paint, creating lighter areas.
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Tips for Success:

• Dab gently to avoid tearing the paper.
• Shape your lifting tool for precise marks.
• This technique works best with non-staining colors, as they’re easier to lift.

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Each of these techniques brings a unique touch to your watercolor paintings, from subtle falling snow to dramatic, bold blizzards.

You might find some work better for specific scenes and you might even find a combination of techniques that you enjoy the look of.

Happy painting!
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