Watercolour Class– Folk Tales and Forest Magic
In this class, we painted a calm and misty forest scene in watercolour.
Watch here:
I used mostly watercolours from tubes, but if you prefer pans, that works just as well. It’s all about enjoying the process. I showed you a few simple techniques, including one where I used a broken bank card to apply the paint – a lovely way to add texture and those soft, uneven edges you find in nature.
We built our forest up slowly, layer by layer, using five or six gentle washes to create that misty depth. Once the soft blues and greys were dry, I added a few deep black silhouette trees in the foreground. And of course, the finishing touch – a tiny red fox painted in gouache to bring a little warmth and story to the piece.
This class was recorded on Zoom, so the video quality is a little lower than usual. I’m working on getting my normal recording software set up again soon. But even so, this session felt so peaceful and full of creativity. I love how the muted colours give such a calm feeling, almost like turning a page in a storybook – which fits beautifully with this month’s theme, stories.
I hope you enjoy painting your own misty forest and that it brings you a sense of stillness too. I can’t wait to see what you create – remember to share your artwork for a chance to win this month’s giveaway!
Materials used:
Watercolour paper (A4 or similar size)
Watercolours (from tubes or pans)
A small amount of red gouache (for the fox)
A few brushes in different sizes
A broken bank card or bit of stiff card
A pencil for sketching
Kitchen roll or tissue
A hairdryer (for quick drying between layers)
Optional: coloured pencils for finishing touches
