Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Content

Since starting on Patreon, I've received numerous requests to detail my process for outlining on watercolor paper. With the exception of portraits, all my compositions are crafted through freehand drawing. In this video, I'll guide you through my complete process, using an orchid branch as our example. I'll unveil the fundamental principles and key techniques I rely on to shape my sketches.

It's important to note that my sketching approach stems mainly from experience and observation, enriched by insights gathered from various artists' demonstrations on YouTube. This video isn't intended to be prescriptive; rather, it's meant to inspire and guide your own unique style.

I've incorporated a "live" segment during the drawing process where I narrate while sketching. The audio might sound different due to the limitations of my on-camera microphone and the spontaneous nature of speaking while drawing. Your feedback on this format is invaluable—let me know your thoughts. I'm excitedly anticipating a new, improved microphone that will enhance future sessions like these.

🌺 REFERENCE PHOTO:https://unsplash.com/photos/a-close-up-of-a-purple-flower-on-a-branch-0ro0geX7voM

🎨 WATERCOLOR SUPPLIES:

PAPER: Arches Cold Pressed 140lbs 100% cotton paper, 12 x 12 inches.

PENCIL: Steadtler 3H or 4H

ERASER: any soft retractable eraser, for example https://amzn.to/3Lg2VlE

GLOVES: https://amzn.to/3GFcojf

Thank you for joining me in painting (and sketching)! Wishing you a fantastic day filled with creativity!

Anna

Files

Comments

Wendy Champness

Thank you Anna! I am looking forward to this; I am definitely interested in improving my sketching techniques. And perfect timing for it to appear because I just finished the Bullfinch painting❤️

Anna Bucciarelli

Thank you Wendy! hope you find some of these techniques interesting: Enjoy!

SHASHA SHARTREUSE

Love orchids🌸💕💜💜🩷 thank you Anna for this . Can’t wait to learn more from you🥰

Lashonne

Hi Anna, I am a beginner, hoping to learn to paint with watercolor. How do you take care of all of the pencil lines to keep them from showing in the finished work? Do you paint over them or erase them as you go?

Pascale

Coucou Anna et merci pour ce tutorial :) .... vous parlez de portrait ... est ce que un jour vous nous ferez un tutorial de portrait svp ? .... je trouve vos portraits magnifiques et j'aimerai beaucoup apprendre à peindre un visage à l'aquarelle :) Merci d'avance et Joyeux Noel <3

Linda (Daily) Locklear

I appreciate this so much. Could you do one of how you incorporate more than one reference, please? 😊

Anna Bucciarelli

Hi Pascale! Yes I am planning a portrait for January - after the swans and the orchids:) Happy New Year!!!

Anna Bucciarelli

Great question! Some artists run a soft eraser over the entire drawing before they start to paint, to remove extra graphite marks. I find when using a hard graphite like 3H or 4H pencil, your lines will be super faint already; I generally don't need to erase at all. Sometimes at the end i use a thin eraser to remove any visible markings {after the paint is dry completely}, but would recommend getting a harder pencil first to see if you even need to erase at all:)

Paige Holden

I love this! It’s great to hear your thought process as you sketch in real time. The audio sounds great in the live recorded section, no issues at all! The only thing I would suggest, is it would be nice to have a visual of the reference photo as you are working through it. Just showing it in a corner of the screen or something so we can see what you are talking about with the reference photo in front of us too.

Pascale

ahhh youpie thnak you so much :) <3

Anna Bucciarelli

That's a GREAT idea - I feel so silly for not having thought of that while editing! Thank you Paige. I will definitely include a reference on the screen next time.

Yuki Dickson

Thank you Anna, this is so helpful. Appreciate all the thoughtful detail that goes into all your videos. I’m self taught and learning so much.

Anna Bucciarelli

Oh wow - I've never been able to keep an orchid alive indoors for more than a few months:)

elizabeth barsanti

Unless the freehand drawing is more pleasing for the finished painting, why not just trace? This drawing requires so much patience!

Pamela

I really wish Patreon would make their app sync across all devices (iPhone, iPad and laptop). The way it is set up currently if I join your Patreon on my iPhone, I cannot access on my iPad. Since I paint from my iPad this is really inconvenient!

Anna Bucciarelli

Completely agree! This would be a welcome addition, and I communicated this to Patreon directly in the past. Sadly, I am not in charge of Patreon interface and the new features they introduce [at least this year} are not very user-friendly; they take over 20% of creator's earnings so hopefully they will continue improving the platform going forward based on our feedback. Thank you!

Anna Bucciarelli

Drawing is definitely not a must-have for watercolor practice, and tracing is absolutely fine as long as images are copyright free / your own:) I traced all the time in the beginning, and still do when it comes to portraits / more complex commissions. Drawing flowers is simply something I enjoy from time to time but it's a whole other discipline of study. Thank you, Elizabeth. Happy Holidays!

Monalisa Mackey

Thank you for this teaching, Anna 😊…very helpful!

Pascale

Euh 20 % de commission .... c'est énorme :(

Louise

Hi Anna, Happy Holidays! I am looking for the instructions you once shared about converting an image in Photoshop to create outlines for drawing - I think your tips also explained how to separated highlights and shadows ? I would like to convert some of my own photos and apply your watercolour technique. Could you please re-share the tips for this process 🙏🌷🌻🌺 Thank you. Louise

Anna Bucciarelli

Hi Louise, Happy Holidays! I am afraid i wasn't the one who talked about photoshop conversion - I create my outlines on iPadPro in Propcreate app with a stylus.

Louise

Hi Anna, Thank you for your reply. The comment must have been from another Patreon member 😌

Patricia

I like how you share some important information in your videos. One example would be your discussing non-staining and/or staining colors! Maybe a video going deeper into this topic would be helpful because the results you shared certainly explain some of the issues I have encountered. Also, I learned recently that if you draw your object, rather than trace the object, you are more in tuned with the work you want to reproduce. I think adding the anchor points makes it easier to stay focused as you draw and paint rather than “getting lost” within your drawing/painting. Plus, no wild disproportions! Thank you!

Louise

Hi Anna, I have now started using Procreate on my iPad and the results are amazing! thank you for your help🌺🌻✨

Anna Bucciarelli

Thank you Patricia! I agree - drawing by hand is a bit more "authentic" but I also recognize it might be overwhelming to juggle two subjects {watercolor and drawing} at once, so I provide outlines for a more focused watercolor learning every time. It depends completely on your goals. I appreciate your feedback!

Cari Brown

I am new here, but I have been taking watercolor classes for about 7 years. I have enjoyed and learned so much from the few videos I have watched, and cannot wait to watch them all. I enjoy your teaching technique and all your helpful hints. I like drawing what I am going to paint but you are giving me the confidence to take it to a whole new level. Thank you!!!!!

Di H.

Thank you Anna! This is so helpful and very inspiring to watch. I appreciate learning how you were fixing mistakes and talking out loud your thinking process as you draw. I would love to learn more about composition. Want to add it to the list of topics for your future videos. Thanks!

Anna Bucciarelli

I am glad this was helpful! I am planning some live sessions in the new year to show my sketching process specifically. Happy holidays!

Heather R Hare

Watching you sketch this would’ve been more helpful if you’d kept the reference photo on the screen as a thumbnail, so that we could see how you’re interpreting the shapes. Great tips though and I enjoyed the video. Thanks!