I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve painted a goldfish, so have this cute little oranda! I just love how fish make such goofy, fun expressions. It contrasts so sharply with their beautiful, elegant fins that I can’t help but love them.
Oranda Goldfish Rainbow Watercolour Painting Read More »
Please enjoy this little fox being very little and cute.
This is my first little experimental piece using acrylic inks. All of my ink pieces before this have been done with India ink, but it tends to create crumbs as it dries in the palette. So far, the acrylic ink seems to dry less crumbly, so I’m very pleased!
New Experimental Piece – Little Fox in Acrylic Ink Read More »
I’ve just launched my latest Skillshare class teaching you how to paint with watercolour on wood! This is a super simple project that covers all the basic watercolour techniques (and a few more advanced ones), which is perfect for dipping your toes into painting on wood. (Or you could just jump in head first with your own design!)
My new class can be found here: https://www.skillshare.com/en/classes/watercolour-on-wood-paint-a-vivid-luna-moth/616202462?teacherRef=162776546&via=teacher-referral&utm_campaign=teacher-referral-616202462&utm_source=Skillshare&utm_medium=class-teacher-referral-email
New Class! Watercolour on Wood – Paint a Vivid Luna Moth Read More »
After painting so many fluffy animals recently, I had the urge to paint a tortoise. This is a sulcata tortoise, one of the most charismatic tortoises you can meet imo.
I had a ton of fun painting the scales on this cutie. Sulcata’s have quite thick spur-like scales down their legs that create beautiful, dramatic shadows. I’m still working on balancing the more subtle scales on the face, but painting each leg scale individually felt right for this guy.
One of my biggest frustrations with painting on wood is how poorly it scans. The yellows and oranges have so much more depth in person that gets lost in the wood when scanned or photographed. But even so, I’m pretty happy with this piece! I’d love to paint more tortoises in the future. Do you have a favourite tortoise or turtle species?
Rainbow Sulcata Tortoise Portrait Read More »
Another week, another black animal study! I tried to implement what I learned with the kitty last week to improve this week’s wolf. I think the contrast turned out well, and I like the textures around the face.
My two big take-aways from this one are: 1. I very much prefer using warm colours on the face. 2. Black animals need purple or blue faces to look black. (Also something something use thinner paint something something.)
What do you think? Is this an improvement? Can you tell it’s supposed to be a black wolf, or does it look grey to you? (It looks grey to me haha)
Rainbow Black Wolf Watercolour Study Read More »
It’s hard to believe it’s been a couple years since my last leopard gecko painting! These guys are so charismatic and cute. They have such an unusual texture, too, which is a real challenge to paint. Summer seems like the perfect time to be painting reptiles, and I hope to paint at least a couple more before fall hits. 
Learn to paint like this through my Skillshare classes: https://www.skillshare.com/en/user/squidtarts
Baby Leopard Gecko Watercolour Painting Read More »
It’s been a little while since I’ve painted a lizard (almost a year!), so have a crested gecko!
I really struggled with this piece. Painting the crestie went pretty smoothly, but the background was just one problem after another. I used salt in the background textures, which is something I almost never do. I accidentally dumped a ton of salt on the rock in the back, so it really stood out with a ton of texture. I also realized the swoop in the background, the gecko’s back leg, and the back rock were all the same value; which looked terrible. I ended up lifting up most of the back rock, then going over it with very faint layers of white gouache. That helped smooth out the texture and contrast. Then I increased the contrast on the gecko’s back leg to help it stand out a bit. I’m happy with where it ended up, but it was definitely a journey haha!
Crested Gecko Mlem Watercolour Portrait Read More »
Halfway through the year, and I’ve finally found time to update my freebie sticker design. Every year, I draw Tarts the bobtail squid with either fruit or a tart, and this year I chose blueberries!
I used to do a lot of character art but have moved away from it in favour of portraits. I love portraits and one off designs, but it’s always really fun to revisit Tart each year. Bobtail squids are also a treat to draw, because they’re just orbs with little noodle legs and can come in any colour. It’s also a great opportunity to play with colours, textures, and elements I don’t usually include in my portraits or animal sticker designs.
Anyone who orders from my Etsy shop or website for the rest of the year will get one of these little guys as a thank you gift!
New Freebie Sticker – Blueberry Tarts Read More »
Here’s another new sticker I actually painted a little while ago during the first snow of the season. I just love watching the chickadees flit around the trees foraging in the winter. Even though they’re out all year, they feel like such a winter kind of bird, and I have them strongly associated with snow.
This little one has been foraging to grow even fatter and rounder! Adorable!
You can get your little chickadee sticker here.
New Sticker – Chickadee! Read More »
Now in my shop: Please enjoy the world’s happiest ichthyotitan! Why is she so happy? Idk maybe she just ate a whale.
Ichthyosaurs are some of my favourite prehistoric friends, and ichthyotitans are just xl ichthyosaurs. Instant fav! I decided to give this one spots like a leopard shark, because I thought it would be really cute despite being pretty unlikely on an apex predator. ~fashion~
New Dino Sticker – Ichthyotitan Read More »