Demo: Blue Pumpkin Using Granulating Watercolors (Patreon)

Welcome to the Blue Pumpkin demo. In this real-time watercolor recording, I showcase my complete painting process featuring Forest Blue, a super-granulating pigment from Schmincke. This is a relatively quick two-layer painting, taking around 1.5 hours (not including drying time between layers). Unlike fully narrated tutorials, this video is for demonstration purposes only and does not include a voice-over. 🌺 Enjoy!

🎨 To help guide you, black-and-white outlines, photo references, and step-by-step photos are included below. The reference for this blue pumpkin, called the Blue Doll, was generously provided by Brian from Blue Pumpkin Seed Co.

🍁 If you are interested in seeing a fully narrated watercolor tutorial for this technique, a larger 3-Pumpkin composition featuring the same Blue Pumpkin, is available on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141745387

A FEW NOTES:

VoiceoverAs with all of my demo compositions, there is no voice-over included since these are my own creative exercises. These pieces feature many experimental pigments and techniques that later become the foundation for my detailed Patreon tutorials. However, there is a brief YouTube video where I narrate key parts of the painting process.

MaterialsI used a variety of blues and oranges in this piece to test different combinations. You don't need this entire range of colors—or even the Forest Blue specifically. Feel free to use any granulating pigment (for example Lunar Blue from Daniel Smith), or skip granulation altogether, and instead focus on layering to build depth and dimension. I always encourage experimentation with what you have on hand.

CompositionThe final composition is loosely based on the references below. While the photos are a starting point, I free-handed the drawing and added my own interpretation of the organic shapes. So, the result may differ from the photos in some areas.

🎨 WATERCOLOR SUPPLIES:

PAPER: Arches Cold Pressed 140lbs 100% cotton paper, 7 x 9 inches {could be sized up to 10 x 14}

BRUSHES:  You will need at least 2 round pointed brushes: Larger {sizes #3-4} for big washes, and smaller {#00-01} for finer details. I am using a larger Winsor & Newton Series 7 in size #4, some old Raphael and Escoda brushes.

Pencil 2-4H and eraser.

🎨 WATERCOLOR PIGMENTS:

Forest Blue from Schmincke: https://amzn.to/3TrE0jl

Dioxazine Purple {PV23} from QOR: https://amzn.to/4ddnr24

Phthalo Blue Green Shade {PB15:3} https://amzn.to/3QO1sVd  

Aqua Green from W&N {Phthalo / no CI}: https://amzn.to/3QE3vLB 

Perylene Green: https://amzn.to/4a3PY8V 

Transparent Pyrrole Orange: https://amzn.to/3L0diJO  

Burnt Sienna: https://amzn.to/3qRqjyz 

Cobalt Teal: https://amzn.to/46bXWM1 

Quinacridone Coral {PR209}: https://amzn.to/4d44hfk

Quinacridone Burnt Orange {PR206}: https://amzn.to/3VyhuXK

Quinacridone Gold from QoR

Green Gold {PY150, PY3, PG36}: https://amzn.to/4glhRgi