Cosset: Beginning the 13 Horses Journey Through Portraits

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!

I have a dear, sweet friend I met while volunteering at a local equine therapy nonprofit. She’s an incredible horsewoman, and I’ve always loved seeing her shared posts on Facebook—photos of her horses, glimpses into her life. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of watching her children grow up through her posts.

When I read that her daughter’s horse had passed away, my heart broke. I’d seen the bond between them, and it was something truly special. I felt deeply moved to try and paint the horse as a memorial for her daughter.

Had I ever painted a horse before? Not really. I’d only been painting for about a year. But I loved horses, and I figured I could find my way through it. So, I messaged my friend, shared what I was hoping to do, and asked if she had any photos of the horse I could use for reference.

My first attempt at painting Cosset wasn’t bad. Looking at it four years later, I’m honestly impressed with what I managed to pull off, especially considering how little I knew back then and how early I was in my painting journey.

At the time, I had just discovered Arches paper, but I hadn’t yet learned the proper way to prepare it before painting. These days, I soak the sheet thoroughly, mount it to GatorBoard with double-sided tape, and reinforce it with staples to keep everything secure. Back then, the paper warped quite a bit—but even so, I managed to get the job done.

I also had no idea how to approach that soft, “white mane.” I made it work, and I’m still happy with how the painting turned out—but looking back, there’s definitely a lot I’d do differently now.

Once I felt I had the body correct, I had to figure out how to paint the mane and forelock

To tackle the mane, I used a product called Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White. Since watercolor is mostly transparent, using traditional white watercolor wouldn’t have worked for painting the strands of this palomino’s light forelock and mane—it just wouldn’t show up. But by mixing in a little bit of watercolor with the Bleed Proof White, I was able to create an opaque, water-based paint. I was pretty happy with the effect it gave me.

I used the same technique on the mane—and it worked. These days, I’d approach those areas differently, but considering I had only been painting for a year or two at the time, I’m still pretty happy with the results.

Looking back, Cosset was one of my first real horse portraits, created when I’d only been painting for about a year or two. While the techniques and polish have evolved since then, this piece remains close to my heart because of the story behind it — a tribute to a beloved horse and the bond it shared with her family. It reminds me how every step in my art journey is meaningful, and I’m excited to continue growing and sharing with you all.

I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever had a special bond with an animal that inspired you to create something meaningful? Or maybe you have memories of a beloved pet you’d like to share. Drop a comment below and tell me your story — or just say hello! Your messages brighten my day and inspire my art.
Feel free to ask any questions about this painting or the process, too. Let’s connect!

Supplies Used in This Piece:

Some links below are affiliate; I may earn a small commission at no extra cost—thank you!

• Arches Watercolor Paper — High-quality paper with a lovely texture, perfect for watercolor. (Affiliate link)
• Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor Paints — My favorite paints for vibrant, smooth color.
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White — I mixed this with watercolor paints to create the opaque colors I needed for Cosset’s mane and forelock.
• Painter’s Tape — Used to secure the paper while painting and help reduce warping.

Heart Hands

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!

Heart Hands from Let's Make Art Tutorial

I first painted Heart Hands from a Let’s Make Art tutorial, the Heart Hands Project back in February 2020. Honestly, if you want to learn everything about watercolor, you can’t go wrong with Let’s Make Art. No kickbacks or affiliate links here—just genuine respect and gratitude for Sarah Cray and the entire team.

When my niece was getting married, I knew I wanted to create a heart hands portrait of her and her new husband. I pulled the photographer aside and explained what I had in mind. She kindly took the photo, and when I offered to pay for it, she graciously said she was happy to do it at no additional charge.

Once I got the photo, I traced the image using Procreate, printed it on Translucent Vellum Paper and transferred the outline onto Arches 140lb Cold Pressed Paper with my LED Light Box. 

Before I began painting, I used ruled washi tape to map out the edges of the composition on Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper, then stretched the paper.  I secured it to my GatorBoard with water-activated tape and staples. The washi tape border keeps everything tidy while I work. (Curious about my prep process? Drop a comment—I might just write a full post about it.) 

To protect the  hands and arms while I worked on the background, I first outlined those areas with masking fluid, before covering them.

With masking fluid protecting the hands and arms, I started working on the background. I wanted the vegetation and beach to feel loose and a bit out of focus, just like in the reference photo, but with enough suggestion that someone might recognize the setting. Once I was happy with the initial layers of the background, I removed the masking fluid and started building up the hands and sleeves.

Once I felt I had gotten as far as I could with the beach at this stage, I removed the masking fluid. Watercolor painting is very much a dance—you think one area is finished, move on, and then realize it needs more work after all. As you’ll see in the photos, the foliage and beach kept evolving as I went.

I learned a lot about mixing colors just by doing—mostly through early tutorials from Sarah at Let’s Make Art. She doesn’t dive into formal color theory; she simply tells you which colors to combine to get what you need. That hands-on approach worked.

As you can see in the photo above from when I first painted Heart Hands, skin tones come from a mix of red, purple, and green. It makes a kind of brownish base, and then you can adjust the tone depending on the skin you’re trying to match.

Because of that experience, I felt confident painting skin tones, even though many people feel the need to find the “exact” color. And honestly, what color is skin, really? It’s all about the variations and undertones you capture.

After enough practice, color mixing starts to feel natural—you develop an instinct for what to reach for.

Having said all that, my favorite way to mix a skin tone is to start with Raw Umber.  It is a yellowish-brown, and I add Light Red (which, to me, kind of looks the color of blood) to shift to pink, a touch of Cerulean Blue for cooler shifts.  (I am using my Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor 36 Set). Here I’m working on the first layers of their hands and sleeves.  

I wasn’t expecting to have to paint the bride’s white dress with those shirred sleeves. It was a good reminder of something I often tell myself (and other artists): paint what you see, not what you know. I had to take a deep breath and really look at what was in front of me—cool shadows, touches of blue—not just the “white” fabric I knew I was looking at.

Since this was a gift for them, I wanted to include elements in the painting that would help them remember their wedding day: the main focus: their heart hands and the sleeves of their wedding attire.

In the image above this, after working on the hands, I realized the background needed more attention.

Creating artwork is a constant balancing act—a bit of a dance. You get one area just right, and suddenly the rhythm shifts—something else needs adjusting. This painting was no different. Once I got the hands where I thought I wanted them, I realized the background was too light and needed more depth.

…and once you get the background right, the hands need highlights! That’s the nature of watercolor—it’s a dance. You make a move in one area, and it changes the rhythm somewhere else.

Some watercolor purists say never to use white, while others disagree. Let’s be honest—sometimes the paper is just a tad beige, or you accidentally paint over an area you meant to leave light. In this case, a few highlights on the hands helped them pop right off the page and brought the whole piece back into balance.

The happy couple was pleasantly surprised by the framed artwork, and it now hangs in their home alongside other wedding décor.

Do you have a special keepsake or piece of art that holds deep meaning in your life? I’d love to hear your story in the comments!

If this post gave you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative process you enjoyed, consider sharing it with a friend who might love it too. Your support means the world and helps me keep creating and sharing these meaningful moments.

Supplies Used in This Piece:  Some links below are affiliate; I may earn a small commission at no extra cost—thank you!

• iPad
• Procreate App
• Translucent Vellum Paper
• LED Light Box A4, Ultra-Thin USB
• Saral Graphite Transfer Paper (wax-free)
• Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleedproof White
• Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper
• Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor 36 Set
• Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid
• Water-activated tape
• Washi Grid Tape
• Ruled Washi Tape (I used tape from TheArtistLife.com, they are no longer in business)
• GatorBoard - Purchased locally at Blaines Art, mine is cut in half.

Spring, Sass, and Colored Pencils: A Duckling Comes to Life

Sassy Duckling Tutorial by Lorna Dandy

“Spring, Sass, and Colored Pencils: A Duckling Comes to Life”

Who doesn’t love spring—and a sassy little duck?

Back in 2022, I discovered the joy of working with colored pencils. Like most new artistic adventures, I dove in headfirst with the help of tutorials. So when a video by Lorna Dandy popped up in my YouTube feed featuring an energetic little duckling, I couldn’t resist.

Lorna provided an outline and a reference photo, so after tracing the image onto my paper, I got to work.

I really enjoyed her pace. We worked slowly, layering in the duckling’s colors and character bit by bit.

As I often do, there came a moment when I “got it”—something just clicked—and from there, I took off on my own. It’s part of the fun: learning the technique, then putting your own spin on it.

By the time I got to the foot in the air, I going solo, not watching video anymore. It’s funny looking at it now—clearly a little duckling foot caught in motion—but at the time, I had no idea what I was drawing. I just kept going, relying on the reference photo and hoping it would all come together in the end.

This particular duck was created during a chaotic time: a full kitchen remodel and new flooring in our main living area. My studio (otherwise known as the spare bedroom) had become the temporary kitchenet and living room, so I set up a small table in our bedroom. Sometimes I worked on the bed, colored pencils in hand, a video on the TV, and that little duckling coming to life on the page.

That’s the beauty of colored pencils—they’re wonderfully portable, and cleanup is a breeze. No paint, no water, no brushes. Just a handful of pencils and a little space.

But I’ll be honest: colored pencils don’t give you much back. They’re slow. There’s no magic wash or big reveal—you do all the work, one pencil stroke at a time. But that’s also what makes the end result so satisfying.

If you’ve ever been tempted to try colored pencils, I highly recommend starting with a good tutorial like Lorna’s. And if you just came here for the duck—I get it. She’s a sassy little thing and full of springtime spirit.

Let me know what you think in the comments—or share your own favorite medium to create with when life gets messy.

If this sassy little duckling found its way onto a product, what would you be most excited to own, wear, or use? A mug for your morning coffee? A tote for spring errands? I’d love to hear your ideas—who knows, your suggestion might just inspire my next creation!

You can see more of my work (including a few other animal antics) over on my Facebook page. I’m always adding new pieces, so feel free to take a peek. Thanks so much for stopping by—and for letting this little duckling waddle into your day