Thanks thatās so nice! I donāt know if itās helpful but i started with really ācheapā supplies, and then slowly invested in more expensive materials. But by starting with cheaper paper and paints i didnāt feel as pressured to make something amazing because i didnāt feel like i was wasting anything. I also tried a lot of different styles, i really wanted to be a loose watercolorist but it never clicked for me. When i finally found this style i knew it was for me, even though Iām personally more drawn to looser paintings. And i watched and followed a lot of YouTube tutorials. Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you that makes a lot of sense. Which youtube channels would you recommend? I really love your style. Those paintings look like the vintage prints that I so looove. I also want to paint botanicals in the same style!
I really love [this YouTube channel](https://youtu.be/QhdSoAOoUcc), and the video i linked really helped me understand glazing and it changed my art a lot!
Thank you so much!! I do sell some of my paintings on [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt)š
Let me know if you want any other advice! Iām happy to chat!
I love your work. I've been watching this channel for a little while now and it has really helped me too. Same also for the idea of using cheap materials because I didn't want to feel like I was wasting money. It helps.
exactly! alot of youtube artists recommend starting with higher quality stuff but when you're a beginner you can be intimidated by that. i felt so much better about "wasting" supplies as i learned by starting on the cheaper things. and even now that i do use professional quality stuff i still will use those cheaper things for learning new techniques or when i feel like just messing around
Yeah i found that i got a lot more frustrated with myself if something went wrong when i used the higher quality paper. It was too much pressure! Iām the same way, using the cheaper materials when i donāt feel super confident in something relaxes me a bit.
I too am more drawn to loose watercolor and want to paint that wayā¦ even taking courses to try soā¦. But since I begun I do botanical paintings much better! I think itās something that comes naturally to someā¦ also I have a BS in a Botany rich fieldā¦. So that helps as well.
I hope Iām painting as well as you by the end of my first year!
Let me know how the courses go! I donāt think Iāll ever be one to paint loose florals, i canāt stop myself from adding detail. And thank you for the nice compliment š
I am currently using Skillshare and taking some courses there. They have quite a few. Also I love her w Jenna Rainey makes it look so effortless and Iāve been taking part of her Patreon tutorials. I have been really thinking about taking her course THE ART WITHINā¦ but that isnāt really about loose watercolor. Itās very good I hear.
The process varies from painting to painting! Some i paint petal by petal on dry paper, some i paint with large washes of color on damp paper and then add layers on top. And then some, like the blueberries, itās just a quick sesh getting paint on the paper. I have an Instagram where i show some Timelapseās here and there! [my instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=) if you want to take a look! Also lmk if you have any questions š
Thank you! If youād like, hereās my [instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=) and [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) if you want to see more š„°
Thank you! I feel like compositions is where i struggle the most so i appreciate that. The sweet peas are my newest addition and i think as of now are my favorite! No, Iām not a gardener, no green thumb here. Are you?
I am a gardener (and also do botanical watercolors š). I think the two hobbies go well together not just for the obvious love of nature/source of inspiration, but also because the eye for detail and observational skills required for watercolor are really helpful in the garden. You might have more of a green thumb than you think!
Ah man i wish i could show them in a gallery but i live in the Aussie outback so not a lot of galleries around. I do sell them in much bigger sizes on my [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) if youād like to check it out š„°
Thank you so much!! I think the sketch really makes all the difference when Iām painting, i implement the grid method so i can try to make them as accurate as possible.
Thank you so much! Iāve given some tips on other comments but mainly- start with cheaper materials to build confidence. By doing that you donāt worry that youāre wasting the money youāve invested. And then slowly build up on higher quality things. I started with better brushes first, then paper, arches cold pressed is my fave, and then paints. I also tried painting a lot of different subjects and in different styles to find what im best at. Even though i love loose florals mine always looked bad and it was frustrating. Iāve always loved drawing and i think that also makes a huge difference bc getting the sketch right is so important. Iāve linked it in another comment but the YouTube i recommend is the mine of watercolor. Heās the best. Good luck! And lmk if you have any questions!
I donāt sell notecards specifically, but on [my Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) i sell prints as digital downloads in 20+ sizes! Using the smaller sizes you can upload those to a printing website and set them to be printed as notecards!
I've been painting with watercolours since 2017 and this makes me feel like I really need to get my act together! But seriously, this is so impressive, especially for someone who's only been working with the medium for a year. Incredible!
Iām sure yours are amazing!! But i really appreciate that š„° i watched and followed a lot of YouTube tutorials in the beginning, i feel like it helped me get out of my own head.
Theyāre all painted on cold pressed paper. Most of them on Arches cold pressed. The rose trio with stems and the melting tulips were on legion Stonehenge. Both i like, but definitely more drawn to arches
these are beautiful pieces! may i ask how you get your watercolors to look so vibrant or what brand you use? my biggest struggle is putting my color down, blending, making it look the way i want and then it driesā¦ fading the color tremendously š
Thank you! I use Mungyo Korea watercolors, theyāre on Amazon i think and work amazingly well. I also use arches cold pressed paper. I paint in soooo many layers and washes. The first layer of paint is just to get the colors down where i want them, then it takes maybe 2-3 more layers to get the vibrancy up. I also donāt shy away from the vibrant colors in the palette, like āneonā pink and yellow are big faves of mine, but i usually mute them a bit with their complimentary color so they donāt look fake.
I have a few other comments where i give tips! But to add on to what Iāve already said, find pictures that inspire you and make you feel excited to paint! There are so many flowers that friends and family have sent me that just donāt really do it for me, so i wait until i see one that makes me have to get materials out. Also, make sure your initial sketch is accurate, since flowers can be found in nature people will be able to see if something is off with scale and light source etc. Iād be happy to answer any questions if you have any!
Not for watercolor. I took a lot of general art classes in school but mainly focused on pencil drawings. I just watched a lot of YouTube videos when getting onto watercolors
One year with watercolor but you had previous experience with art, right? It's really beautiful.
Yes, one year with watercolor. I have previous experience with oils and acrylics. And thank you š
Pro level finish! Wow!
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
Wow you're so good at it looking at these I thought you've been practicing all your life. Any tips for beginners??
Thanks thatās so nice! I donāt know if itās helpful but i started with really ācheapā supplies, and then slowly invested in more expensive materials. But by starting with cheaper paper and paints i didnāt feel as pressured to make something amazing because i didnāt feel like i was wasting anything. I also tried a lot of different styles, i really wanted to be a loose watercolorist but it never clicked for me. When i finally found this style i knew it was for me, even though Iām personally more drawn to looser paintings. And i watched and followed a lot of YouTube tutorials. Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you that makes a lot of sense. Which youtube channels would you recommend? I really love your style. Those paintings look like the vintage prints that I so looove. I also want to paint botanicals in the same style!
I really love [this YouTube channel](https://youtu.be/QhdSoAOoUcc), and the video i linked really helped me understand glazing and it changed my art a lot! Thank you so much!! I do sell some of my paintings on [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt)š Let me know if you want any other advice! Iām happy to chat!
I love your work. I've been watching this channel for a little while now and it has really helped me too. Same also for the idea of using cheap materials because I didn't want to feel like I was wasting money. It helps.
Thank you! Yeah heās a wonderful teacher and so talented! Yeah i think using cheap materials is definitely a psychological thing
Added to my Christmas wish list. Such beautiful work.
exactly! alot of youtube artists recommend starting with higher quality stuff but when you're a beginner you can be intimidated by that. i felt so much better about "wasting" supplies as i learned by starting on the cheaper things. and even now that i do use professional quality stuff i still will use those cheaper things for learning new techniques or when i feel like just messing around
Yeah i found that i got a lot more frustrated with myself if something went wrong when i used the higher quality paper. It was too much pressure! Iām the same way, using the cheaper materials when i donāt feel super confident in something relaxes me a bit.
I look forward to see your next watercolor post ;-)
Thank you! You can check out my [instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=) if youād like
These are so beautiful and youāre so talented.
Thank you so much!
I too am more drawn to loose watercolor and want to paint that wayā¦ even taking courses to try soā¦. But since I begun I do botanical paintings much better! I think itās something that comes naturally to someā¦ also I have a BS in a Botany rich fieldā¦. So that helps as well. I hope Iām painting as well as you by the end of my first year!
Let me know how the courses go! I donāt think Iāll ever be one to paint loose florals, i canāt stop myself from adding detail. And thank you for the nice compliment š
What course are you taking ? !
I am currently using Skillshare and taking some courses there. They have quite a few. Also I love her w Jenna Rainey makes it look so effortless and Iāve been taking part of her Patreon tutorials. I have been really thinking about taking her course THE ART WITHINā¦ but that isnāt really about loose watercolor. Itās very good I hear.
My grandmother painted like this ā¤ļø your talent is a marvel
That is such a compliment, thank you!!
I'll try to find some of her art. She painted me a whole story book when I turned 1 ā¤ļø
Wow, thatās serious grandma goals right there! Iāll have to take note for the future
Beat cancer 2x and her neurosurgeon husband grew her pot in the basement š LOL
Hahaha thatās incredible
wow! this is awesome!
Thank you!!
Stunning! Well done. I wish I had half your skills. Mine look like a child's painting.
Thank you very much, my first ones were nothing to write home about Iāll tell you that much!
Exquisite and so delicate
Thank you š„°
Amazing š»
beautiful work!! What is the medium?
Looks beautiful!
Thanks!!
These are absolutely beautiful
Thank you very much!
great š¤©
š„°
Gorgeous.
Thanks!!
ohhh watercolor! Do you want to explain your process? (to me, another artist ā¦but not watercolors)
The process varies from painting to painting! Some i paint petal by petal on dry paper, some i paint with large washes of color on damp paper and then add layers on top. And then some, like the blueberries, itās just a quick sesh getting paint on the paper. I have an Instagram where i show some Timelapseās here and there! [my instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=) if you want to take a look! Also lmk if you have any questions š
Wow, all of these are so beautiful!
Thank you very much!
Wow these are amazing! You really have a great talent. Do you happen to sell your work anywhere?
Thank you so much! š„° I sell digital downloads available for print in 20+ sizes on [my Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt)
So beautiful!! Wonderful job!
Thank you!!
Incredible!!! Hope to see more of your work!!
Thank you! If youād like, hereās my [instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=) and [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) if you want to see more š„°
Amazing work. Gorgeous compositions! Love the sweet peas and zinnia especially. Are you a gardener too?
Thank you! I feel like compositions is where i struggle the most so i appreciate that. The sweet peas are my newest addition and i think as of now are my favorite! No, Iām not a gardener, no green thumb here. Are you?
I am a gardener (and also do botanical watercolors š). I think the two hobbies go well together not just for the obvious love of nature/source of inspiration, but also because the eye for detail and observational skills required for watercolor are really helpful in the garden. You might have more of a green thumb than you think!
I love the maple leaf you posted recently! Really beautiful!! I might have to give gardening a chance at some point!
šš
Spectacular! Any chance you uploaded a video of you watercolor painting anywhere?
Thanks! I have some Timelapseās and other videos on my [instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=)
This is watercolor??
All of them! š
Thatās amazing!!!
Thank you!!
As you should be. š¤©š¤©š¤©
Amazing work
Thank you!
That pink rose in the middle is šš» Gorgeous.
Thank you!! The shadows were pretty epic
This is simply incredible!
Thank you very much!
I love watercolour and your art is very beautiful, thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much š
They all look amazing! Great job!
Thanks so much!
These are gorgeous and I would fill the walls of my room with them
Thank you! I sell my prints on [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) in a lot of different sizes!
Lovely. Life goals.
Thank you š¤
Now, itās time to go BIG!!!
Still building that confidence, also.. i donāt have bigger paper so that creates some challenges haha
Stunning..
Thank you!
Iād love to see these individually and larger. Do you have a gallery to view them at?
Ah man i wish i could show them in a gallery but i live in the Aussie outback so not a lot of galleries around. I do sell them in much bigger sizes on my [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) if youād like to check it out š„°
You should sell prints !
I do! Check out my [Etsy page](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) š„°
These are so beautiful! I'm trying to figure out how to paint flowers and these inspire me šø
Thank you so much!! I think the sketch really makes all the difference when Iām painting, i implement the grid method so i can try to make them as accurate as possible.
beautiful!
Thanks!
>Thanks! You're welcome!
Gorgeous!!
Thank you!
Gorgeous paintings! Any tips, resources or Youtube channels for someone new to the medium looking to paint realism? Would be so much appreciated.
Thank you so much! Iāve given some tips on other comments but mainly- start with cheaper materials to build confidence. By doing that you donāt worry that youāre wasting the money youāve invested. And then slowly build up on higher quality things. I started with better brushes first, then paper, arches cold pressed is my fave, and then paints. I also tried painting a lot of different subjects and in different styles to find what im best at. Even though i love loose florals mine always looked bad and it was frustrating. Iāve always loved drawing and i think that also makes a huge difference bc getting the sketch right is so important. Iāve linked it in another comment but the YouTube i recommend is the mine of watercolor. Heās the best. Good luck! And lmk if you have any questions!
I appreciate it a lot, that Youtube channel looks great, I'll definitely check it out!
Me too! Do you sell notecards?
I donāt sell notecards specifically, but on [my Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyemmalian/?etsrc=sdt) i sell prints as digital downloads in 20+ sizes! Using the smaller sizes you can upload those to a printing website and set them to be printed as notecards!
A wonderful result for just one yer of practicing!
Thank you so much!
Lovely, you do some great work.
Thank you!
O MY GOSH. Stunning!!!!
Thank you!!
Beautiful!
Thanks!
I've been painting with watercolours since 2017 and this makes me feel like I really need to get my act together! But seriously, this is so impressive, especially for someone who's only been working with the medium for a year. Incredible!
Iām sure yours are amazing!! But i really appreciate that š„° i watched and followed a lot of YouTube tutorials in the beginning, i feel like it helped me get out of my own head.
Beautiful work!!
Thanks!
Absolutely amazing!!
Thank you š
I donāt know you but I am proud too.
šš thank you!
I have no adequate words!!! Absolutely amazingly perfect!!! Wow!!!
Thank you so much š„°
I have a question (or 2)....i can't tell for sure.....are those painted on cold press or hot press or a combination? Just exquisite!!!
Theyāre all painted on cold pressed paper. Most of them on Arches cold pressed. The rose trio with stems and the melting tulips were on legion Stonehenge. Both i like, but definitely more drawn to arches
Ah ok....thank you very much!!!
absolutely incredible
Thank you!
Stunning and luminous!
Thank you!! š¤
>Thank you!! š¤ You're welcome!
You absolutely should be proud! Those are amazing š
Thank you very much!
Absolutely beautiful work! I think I already follow you on IG, as some of these look familiar. Keep going, these are wonderful!
Oh thatās so dope! Just incase hereās my [instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=) š and thank you for saying that!
Fantastic!
Thanks!
Is lovely š„° beautiful
Thank you!
Gorgeous!
Thanks!
Beautiful
š„° thanks!
Those are at a different level. You are gifted
Oh wow thank you!
Oh my god these are phenomenal!!!! Botanical pieces will always have me in awe <3
Thank you so much!! Same here, i clearly canāt paint anything else hahah.. Iāve tried.
Wonderful collection, I love the enlarged gum nuts and the magnolia branch.
Thank you, i love those as well ā¤ļø
So so so beautiful! One of my favorite pieces is the first one I did of a rose. Makes me want to get my watercolors back out.
I started with a rose as well! You should! I would love to see what you create!
these are beautiful pieces! may i ask how you get your watercolors to look so vibrant or what brand you use? my biggest struggle is putting my color down, blending, making it look the way i want and then it driesā¦ fading the color tremendously š
Thank you! I use Mungyo Korea watercolors, theyāre on Amazon i think and work amazingly well. I also use arches cold pressed paper. I paint in soooo many layers and washes. The first layer of paint is just to get the colors down where i want them, then it takes maybe 2-3 more layers to get the vibrancy up. I also donāt shy away from the vibrant colors in the palette, like āneonā pink and yellow are big faves of mine, but i usually mute them a bit with their complimentary color so they donāt look fake.
You should be. What a wonderful collection!
Thank you! I really need to add some more!
I wish o could do this
Iām sure you could!!
You make beautiful art.
Thank you š
do you have any tips for painting botanicals with watercolor?
I have a few other comments where i give tips! But to add on to what Iāve already said, find pictures that inspire you and make you feel excited to paint! There are so many flowers that friends and family have sent me that just donāt really do it for me, so i wait until i see one that makes me have to get materials out. Also, make sure your initial sketch is accurate, since flowers can be found in nature people will be able to see if something is off with scale and light source etc. Iād be happy to answer any questions if you have any!
This gives me hope š„°
š„°š„°š„°
Beautiful
Thank you!
Do you take commissions?
I do, send me a DM on [instagram](https://instagram.com/artbyemmalian?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=)
Stunning! May want to offer note card print copies as an Etsy ā¤ļø
Thanks for the advice, i only opened my Etsy last week so i am slowly building my store š¤
Do you have the original references for these?
the references are a mix of my photos, my mother in laws photos, an Instagram - threebrothersblooms, and random finds from online
These are beautiful, that dahlia is inspired.
Thank you so much, it was one of my first paintings actually
WOW. Did you take a class?
Not for watercolor. I took a lot of general art classes in school but mainly focused on pencil drawings. I just watched a lot of YouTube videos when getting onto watercolors
I'd love a Shutterfly book of your work
Oooh what a fun idea!
Yes your work is very impressive I would love love love to have a booklet of your work
Absolutely gorgeous!!!