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Chocolate Musings

Set your goals - make the plans - artfully create your life - live it beautifully. Grab the good chocolate and find your muse.

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Home » Get Creative

Beginner’s Handlettering Tips

April 17, 2024 Leave a Comment

The Thicks and Thins & The Basics of Modern Calligraphy Handlettering

Do you want to start handlettering? Here are some beginner’s handlettering tips to get you started!

First, we’ll get on the same page when it comes to the modern calligraphy handlettering style. Then we’ll talk briefly about supplies (because I have another post highlighting supplies for beginner lettering). Finally, we’ll talk about tips and tricks to get you started lettering in the modern calligraphy style!

Brush Lettering or Handlettering is more than “writing pretty.” It is illustrating individual strokes to create thick and thin lines to form letters and then turn those letters into words.

Revised 4/17/2024

Handlettering basics - lettering is more than just 'writing pretty' it's illustrating each stroke using thick and thin lines to form a letter - Want to learn more? Learn the basics + beyond | ChocolateMusings.com #handletteirng #beginner #brushlettering

Table of contents

  • The Thicks and Thins & The Basics of Modern Calligraphy Handlettering
  • Lettering Styles
  • What is Handlettering (and What is it Not)?
    • What Type of Lettering Is This Not:
  • What is Muscle Memory In Handlettering (and What Do Muscles Have to Do With Calligraphy)?
    • Developing Muscle Memory for Calligraphy is Similar To Riding a Bike
  • The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Learn Modern Calligraphy
  • Getting to Know the Thicks and Thins of Modern Calligraphy
    • Beginner Handlettering Tip: How to Hold Your Marker
    • Start With the Foundations – Basic Strokes
  • What are the Basic Strokes in Modern Calligraphy?
    • Basic Stroke Names:
    • Yes, But When Can I Break The Rules?
  • Additional Tips When Practicing Modern Calligraphy
  • Do You Need Special Supplies to Start Handlettering/Modern Calligraphy?
  • Beginning Handlettering Supplies – Short and Sweet Recommendation
    • Marker Guides, Practice Sheets & Practice Workbooks
  • Did I Miss Anything?

Lettering Styles

Before we jump into the beginner’s handlettering tips, let’s talk a little about what type of lettering I mean. When I say handlettering, I mean ‘modern calligraphy,’ the kind with brush pens (like the images below). The type of lettering that you see in planners (like artistic bullet journals) or on trending artwork hung on walls.

There are many lettering styles (don’t believe me, ask Google). But what I am referring to is handlettering with a brush pen or using thick and thin lines to emulate the look of calligraphy made with a flexible tip.

Some call this style ‘modern calligraphy,’ some brush lettering, brush calligraphy, etc. Most people don’t care what you call it. Occasionally, you’ll run into someone persnickety who demands it’s called something different, but I wouldn’t worry too much about them. It’s hard to function when your panties are in a wad.

What is Handlettering (and What is it Not)?

My Definition: Modern Brush Calligraphy in my realm is using a brush marker (or similar) to create thick and thin lines using individual strokes and combining those strokes into letters.

It’s not just writing in cursive and making some parts of the letters thick and some parts thin.

Because you form letters by combining different strokes from your brush or marker, it will look a lot like cursive, and yes, typically, the characters link together like cursive writing.

However, cursive is designed for speed (brush lettering is not done quickly). It also (usually) doesn’t leave enough space to allow for the desired thicks and thins, like the modern brush lettering or hand lettering you see on Instagram and Pinterest.

Modern Brush Calligraphy is a Subset of Formal Calligraphy which is a Subset of Typography | ChocolateMusings.com #brushlettering #moderncalligraphy #modernbrushcalligraphy

Honestly, you’ll get different definitions depending on where you go, and they’re all kind of melding together. Here, I’ll call it about modern brush lettering, modern calligraphy, brush calligraphy, or a combination of those words.

Modern Brush Calligraphy is a Subset of Formal Calligraphy which is a Subset of Typography | ChocolateMusings.com #brushlettering #moderncalligraphy #modernbrushcalligraphy

What Type of Lettering Is This Not:

What I’m not talking about:

I’m not talking about ‘traditional’ calligraphy, Copperplate calligraphy, or lettering with a dip pen and ink. Those types of calligraphy tend to be too formal for what I’m going for here. I consider modern calligraphy to be a subset of calligraphy, which then is a subset of typography or lettering.

FYI: Some calligraphy ‘snobs’ may tell you that brush calligraphy is not calligraphy at all. You can choose to listen to self-appointed gatekeepers of the lettering world, or you can move on with your life and make beautiful letters with a brush pen/marker.

Whew. I’m not a calligraphy snob, and I think it’s silly to be snobbish.

I started doing modern calligraphy or brush lettering so I could make pretty headers in my bullet journal. If you’re here, I’m guessing that you’ve seen this type of handlettering and are curious about what you need to get started.

Here’s a huge beginner’s handlettering tip: don’t worry about what other people say and how others define what this type of lettering is – go with someone who wants to teach you and let someone else deal with the labels..

What is Muscle Memory In Handlettering (and What Do Muscles Have to Do With Calligraphy)?

As mentioned above, there’s so much variety in lettering. The best way to start is to decide what style you want to learn and practice making that style until you can do it without thinking. Many people call this ‘muscle memory.’

Muscles have a lot to do with writing—you know that. There are muscles in your hand and arm and nerves that send signals to your brain. I’m not going to go into the anatomy or the psychology of the muscle memory effect, but I can tell you that developing certain skills, calligraphy included, creates a connection from your hands to your brain that will stick with you once you’ve learned the skill.

The key is learning how to do it correctly from the beginning.

There are many articles written about muscle memory. Here is one from the Washington Post that sums up muscle memory nicely.

Developing Muscle Memory for Calligraphy is Similar To Riding a Bike

Developing muscle memory for your calligraphy skills is similar to riding a bike. Those skills will come back naturally once you’ve developed and trained those muscles to know what to do in certain circumstances (such as sitting on a bike and pushing the pedals while keeping your balance and propelling the bike forward).

Now, it’s not saying you won’t be a little rusty and need a little catch-up training if you’ve let time pass by without keeping up your practice, but learning modern calligraphy is a skill that will stick with you once you’ve developed muscle memory.

Here’s a Modern Calligraphy Tip: Like learning to ride a bike, you’ll need to practice to develop muscle memory. Once you’ve trained your hand and brain, they will automatically know what to do when you pick up that brush pen.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Learn Modern Calligraphy

Practice.

I’m not joking. I’m not trying to keep a secret from you or gatekeep information. Consistent practice is the ultimate tool for learning modern calligraphy lettering.

Whatever tool you use will never help you get better or learn modern calligraphy if it sits on your desk or is hidden in a drawer. The number one thing you need to do to learn modern calligraphy is to practice consistently. 15 minutes per day would do it. More if you have time. Practicing each day is better than for 4 hours on a Sunday. But if you only have Sundays – by all means, every week is better than once a month or never at all.

Practice each stroke 10 times. Practice 100 times—keep going until you’ve practiced the basic strokes a million times each. It’s with practice that you’ll create consistency in your letters.

With practice, you’ll create muscle memory. The strokes will come naturally. They’ll become a part of your hand-to-brain coordination, and you won’t have to concentrate on each stroke. With practice, learning modern calligraphy lettering will become an instinct. These strokes will become so natural that you won’t have to think about them. Practice so much that you dream about the beautiful strokes.

The thick and thins of modern callgraphy handlettering tips to get you started | ChocolateMusings.com

Getting to Know the Thicks and Thins of Modern Calligraphy

Calligraphy is composed of thick and thin strokes. Knowing where to create thick strokes and where to create thin strokes is part of the learning process.

Beginner Handlettering Tip: How to Hold Your Marker

Hold your marker at a 45-degree angle so you can easily add or remove pressure to the marker as you make the strokes. It’s important to note that you’re not pressing straight down on the tip of the marker. You won’t damage the marker as long as you have the marker angled as illustrated.

Commit these handlettering tips to memory (even if you’re not a beginner):

When pushing your marker ‘up,’ the stroke is thin. Up = Thin.

When pulling your marker ‘down,’ the stroke is thick. Down = Thick.

Handlettering Basics - Marker Pressure for creating thick and thin lines in your calligraphy practice | ChocolateMusings.com

But here’s another beginner’s handlettering tip (that even more advanced calligraphy students might not know): Fonts of all types follow the thick/thin rule. If the font has any variation in width, it will follow this rule.

Start With the Foundations – Basic Strokes

Now you’re all set to practice. But what do you practice? Ah! The next beginner’s handlettering tip is to practice the right strokes.

Start with the foundations. Practice the basic strokes and get those down. They will help you flourish with modern calligraphy. I promise your foundation in modern calligraphy will be so much more stable than if you start with letters or flourishing or any other method. The foundational knowledge will literally build on itself.


Once you have the basic strokes committed to muscle memory, then you can move on to minuscule letters – or lowercase letters. The letters in modern calligraphy are composed of combinations of the basic strokes.

Tip! Here’s Where You Can Start Learning Modern Calligraphy! Find my Practice Workbooks from the ChocolateMusings Shop

  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Small Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Large Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Modern Calligraphy Guide Booklet | ChocoalteMusings.com #handletteirng #brushlettering #moderncalligraphy
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Guide - Basic Strokes for SMALL Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #lettering #brushlettering
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart

What are the Basic Strokes in Modern Calligraphy?

Basic Modern Calligraphy Strokes | ChocolateMusings.com

Here are the basic strokes in modern calligraphy: Upstroke, Downstroke, Underturn, Overturn, Compound Curve, Oval, Ascending Loop, and Descending Loop.

Practice these strokes until you’re sick of them (then practice them until your hand naturally knows how to create them). Then, you’re ready to combine them into letters. With little to no modification, these strokes will help you form the letters of the alphabet!

Tip: You’ll learn these names as a beginner, but knowing the names is not important once you get the motion down. I teach calligraphy, and sometimes I forget the names!

Basic Stroke Names:

  • Upstroke: This is the starting stroke for letters and usually the connector stroke between letters. Push up with the tip of your brush marker—this should be the thinnest stroke.
  • Downstroke: Start this stroke by pulling down and pushing with the belly of the brush marker. This will be the thickest stroke.
  • Underturn: Start this stroke thick on the down stroke, then turn and curve upwards into an upstroke
  • Overturn: This stroke starts thin. Push your marker up with a thin upstroke, then curve and pull down to a thick downstroke.
  • Compound Curve: Start this stroke with a thin upstroke, curve like you’re doing an overturn, then curve again to an underturn.
  • Oval: This stroke starts in the middle on the right side. Push up using a thin stroke on the tip of your brush, curve to the left, push down with a thick stroke, curve around the bottom, transition again to the thin upstroke, and complete the loop.
  • Ascending Loop: Start with the loop, push up and around with a thin line, and then pull down on the downstroke.
  • Descending Loop: Create this stroke by starting with the thick downstroke. Pull your marker down, then lighten the pressure as you curve around and connect the thin upstroke.

In my basic and lowercase (minuscule) lettering books, I’ll teach you how to make these strokes, how to hold your pen, and how to combine these strokes.

  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Small Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Large Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Modern Calligraphy Guide Booklet | ChocoalteMusings.com #handletteirng #brushlettering #moderncalligraphy
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Guide - Basic Strokes for SMALL Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #lettering #brushlettering
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart

Yes, But When Can I Break The Rules?

I’m all for creating your own style. I support it and encourage it. But like most things, you must know the rules so you can break them.

Here’s another beginner’s handlettering tip: Once you have basic strokes down and you can form letters without thinking using this basic style, then you can start customizing letters with your own flourishes and finesse.

One of the biggest beginner handlettering tips I can give you is: don’t skip the basic strokes.

I’ll say it again, however. Learning the basics takes practice. Whatever you do, don’t skip the foundations.

I hate to admit it, but that’s what I did at the beginning. That’s why I’m so passionate about teaching you the right way. Learn from my mistakes! I tried to skip learning the basic strokes and jump into creating letters and phrases. My lettering looked awful. There was no consistency in shape or sizing. The thicks and thins of my letters were shaky and didn’t look…right.

However, when I went back and learned the basic strokes, that’s when lettering made sense. That’s when my letters looked uniform and, well, pretty.

Additional Tips When Practicing Modern Calligraphy

Go Slow

You’re not in a race! Make each stroke carefully. As a handlettering beginner, take this tip seriously. If you want to create muscle memory, teach your muscles how to create the stroke properly.

Learn the Basics

We’ve covered this in other lettering tips above, but it’s worth repeating: Learn the basic strokes!

Stick to the Strokes

Now, this rule won’t last forever. Once you learn the basic strokes and create muscle memory, you’re free to create your own style. But while you are in the process of learning, stick to the strokes!

Angle Your Pen

Use a 45-degree angle on your pen. It will feel weird at first (if this isn’t the way you hold your pen), but it will allow you to create thick and thin strokes. Remember all that talk about muscle memory and practice? Yes, this is part of it.

Losen Your Grip

It’s easy to slip into the habit of holding tightly to your marker, especially if you’re struggling. But your hand will get tired (faster), and it will be very hard to transition from one stroke to another. Shake out your hand and loosely hold your marker.

Another beginner’s tip: Don’t hold your marker too close to the bottom or too close to the top of the marker barrel. Too close to the paper will not allow you enough movement to make the strokes, and too far away will make your strokes… well, squirrely.

Allow for Mistakes

This beginner’s tip goes without saying, but I feel like I need to remind you that every person started as a beginner at some point. You won’t start out as a pro calligrapher. Allow yourself to make mistakes and allow yourself to be a beginner. Follow the process I’ve outlined and spend some time practicing every day. Your practice sessions won’t be perfect, and it might be months before that muscle memory is built up.

PRACTICE.

Sorry if you’re sick of me saying that word. But the biggest tip I can give a beginner to handlettering is to practice. Practice every day if you can. Practice just a little bit each day. You won’t get a sculpted 6-pack on your abs if you do crunches once. But if you do a little each day, in no time you’ll see those muscles develop in beautiful ways.

Start practicing all the time. Practice in spare moments while waiting for your kids at their activity. Or you can practice while dinner is in the oven. Practice any chance you can fit it in, but the point is to choose some simple supplies and start doing it.

Do You Need Special Supplies to Start Handlettering/Modern Calligraphy?

Honestly, you don’t need specific supplies. I’ve seen amazing modern lettering done with just a pencil and paper or a ballpoint pen and paper.

However, the people who make this art know the principles of creating thick and thin lines with their tools. Modern calligraphy is all about thick and thin lines. Using a brush pen or brush marker makes it easier to start handlettering.

  • Read this post on beginner’s handlettering supplies for more on what supplies you need (and what I recommend for beginners)!

Read on if you’re looking for the short and sweet version of handlettering supplies – those supplies that will get you started and on your way to practicing all those lovely letters and strokes.

Beginning Handlettering Supplies – Short and Sweet Recommendation

Even though you could dive right into large-tipped brushes, paint brushes with watercolor, water pens or many other supplies, I recommend getting a small-tipped marker (start with the Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip). Pick up some good paper and the Basic Strokes Small Marker Workbook #1 from my shop.

Here are the Basic Supplies I Suggest to Start Lettering Now!

Handlettering Supplies - Short and Sweet - Start Lettering Now
  • 32 Lb HP Premium Paper
  • Basic Modern Calligraphy Strokes Workbook #1 (Small Marker) Print on Smooth, Heavyweight Paper (like HP 32 LB Paper)
    >> Find this Product in the Chocolate Musings Shop!
  • Lowercase Alphabet (Minuscules) Modern Calligraphy Strokes Workbook #2 (Small Marker) Print on Smooth, Heavyweight Paper (like HP 32 LB Paper)
    >> Find this Product in the Chocolate Musings Shop!
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip Marker Packs

Beginner’s TIP: I find that if you start with a smaller brush tip and learn the technique of forming the various strokes, your knowledge will translate to the larger brush markers more easily.

However, I have a friend who preferred to start with the Tombow Dual Brush Tips and worked down to smaller brushes.

I say give it a try if you have them to see how they work for you.

What size marker do I recommend to start handlettering? Modern Calligraphy Tips and Tricks | ChocolateMusings.com

Marker Guides, Practice Sheets & Practice Workbooks

Use these sheets to practice your lettering. The guides help create consistency in your strokes and uniformity in your letter heights. You can find guides for large and smaller Markers in my shop!

  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    Large Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    $2.50 Original price was: $2.50.$2.00Current price is: $2.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Small Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    Small Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    $2.50 Original price was: $2.50.$2.00Current price is: $2.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Modern Calligraphy Guide Booklet | ChocoalteMusings.com #handletteirng #brushlettering #moderncalligraphy
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Guide - Basic Strokes for SMALL Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #lettering #brushlettering
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Large Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Small Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
Printed guides help your modern calligraphy practice | ChocolateMusings.com
Are you thinking about learning modern calligraphy/handlettering? Here are the tips to get you started as a beginner! | ChocolateMusings.com

Did I Miss Anything?

Are there any other tips you’d like me to cover? Which supplies have you used? Seriously, I’d love to know. Good luck lettering!

Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Blog, featured, Get Creative, Pen & Marker Reviews, Product Reviews, Start Handlettering Here Tagged: beginner, beginning handlettering, calligraphy, handlettering, lettering, lettering supplies, modern calligraphy beginner supplies, supplies

Essential Handlettering Supplies for Beginners

April 16, 2024 3 Comments

Handlettering For Beginners: The Essential Supplies

I teach local classes for beginning modern calligraphy hand-letterers and recommend these handlettering supplies to my beginner students. Some tools make it easier to start modern calligraphy lettering, but I want you to remember that no matter which pen or paper you use, it’s going to take a lot of practice to progress in your handlettering journey.

Remember that practice is the most important tool of all.

Post Updated & Revised: 4/16/24

Beginner Handlettering Supplies - what you need to know to start lettering | ChocolateMusings.com

Table of contents

  • Handlettering For Beginners: The Essential Supplies
  • First and Foremost – What am I Talking About? What Style of Handlettering Are These Supplies Good For?
  • My Essential Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Supplies for Beginners
    • Best Beginner Level Markers:
    • Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip – The Marker I Recommend for Beginners!
    • Tombow Fudenosuke Soft Tip
    • The Difference Between Hard Tip & Soft Tip Tombow Fudenosuke Pens
  • Other Supplies:
  • Optional Handlettering Supplies for Beginners:
  • Additional More Advanced Markers:
  • What I Prefer (to this day)
  • Ready to Start Handlettering?

First and Foremost – What am I Talking About? What Style of Handlettering Are These Supplies Good For?

FYI – the lettering style I’m referring to is what I call “Modern Handlettering” or “Modern Calligraphy”. These styles are typically done with a brush pen that allows you to create both thick and thin lines with a flexible tip.

Handlettering is such a fun bandwagon to jump on – the thick and the thin lines, the flourishes beckon, and the thought of making beautifully crafted words makes your heart race and palms sweaty. Maybe not in a good way. Does the idea of picking up a brush pen scare you? Not sure which supplies are essential and which are ‘nice to have’ when starting your handlettering journey?

I get it – I’ve been there. I remember being completely overwhelmed. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of essential handlettering supplies for beginners. So you know what you *really* need to get started with your handlettering journey and what is just eye candy.

My Essential Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Supplies for Beginners

Best Beginner Level Markers:

Whether you follow my recommendations or not, I highly encourage you to choose one marker type to get started. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you have too many choices. Practice for a while with that marker, then expand your collection.

  • Tombow Fudenosuke
    • Hard tip (I prefer this pen for beginners more than other pens – see below for why!)
    • Soft tip
  • Pentel Sign Touch
  • Sharpie

Shop for the Supplies:

Essential Handlettering Supplies: Small Tipped Markers
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen – Hard/Soft Tip Set
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip Colors 10-Pack
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip Marker Packs
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tipped Neon Set
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Hard-Tipped Marker – 5 Pack
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Soft Tip Marker Packs
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Store on Amazon
Which marker should I choose to learn handlettering? Essential Modern Calligraphy Supplies | ChocolateMusings.com

Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip – The Marker I Recommend for Beginners!

My favorite marker is the hard-tipped Tombow Fudenosuke marker. Even after nearly a decade of lettering, I consistently reach for this marker.

In fact, I recommend starting with the Hard-Tip Tombow Fudenosuke marker when I teach my calligraphy classes.

Why Do I Recommend this Marker Versus Other Markers?

  • It’s a small-tipped marker with enough flexibility to get a thick and thin line, but it’s a little more rigid than the soft-tipped Tombow Fudenosuke Marker. Giving you greater control.
  • With that control, you’ll more easily create consistency in your thick and thin strokes, giving you the confidence to keep going in your lettering journey.
  • If you use high-quality paper or marker paper, these pens will last you a long time!
  • As a bonus, the Fudenosoke hard-tip markers are also available in several color variety packs, so you can change up your marker color.
  • This marker is relatively inexpensive to replace as needed. If you’re going to practice a lot of lettering, consider getting a multi-pack so you can keep one with you, have some at home, or replace them as needed.

Tombow Fudenosuke Soft Tip

This marker has a bit more flex than its hard-tipped counterpart. Which isn’t bad; it just means that you give up a bit of control. Even though I started with the hard-tipped version, other calligraphers swear by the soft-tip version. If you order the dual-pack of Tombow Fudenosuke markers, it comes with both a soft & hard tip marker, so you can choose which you like best.

Tip: Tombow doesn’t make a variety of colors in the soft-tip style. The color variety is only available in the hard-tip version.

How to tell Tombow Fudenosuke Hard Tip & Soft Tip Markers apart | ChocolateMusings.com

The Difference Between Hard Tip & Soft Tip Tombow Fudenosuke Pens

I visited Tombow USA Headquarters here in Georgia a few years ago at a fun little event. While there, I learned how to tell the difference between the two types of Fudenosuke pens by Tombow. Here are two ways I know to tell the difference.

Here are the Ways to Tell Them Apart:

The first way is the color of the pen casing—the hard-tip pen casing is dark blue, and the soft-tip pen casing is black.

The second way to tell the difference is to look for the letters and numbers by the barcode.

  • WS-BH 150 is the hard-tipped one (H=Hard).
  • WS-BS 150 is the soft-tipped pen (S=Soft).

**UPDATE: Tombow has since added a tiny square with the text “Hard Tip” or “Soft Tip” on their markers. But it’s still very hard to see!

Pro Tip: If you still have trouble figuring out which is which (and you like to use one or the other), put a piece of fancy washi tape around one so you can tell the difference!

Which is which? Tombow Fudenosuke pens. How to identify each one | ChocoalteMusings.com
Lose your favorite marker? Use this trick with washi tape to easily find your favorite marker | ChocolateMusings.com

Other Supplies:

  • Pencil (one that you can use to write softly and erase easily)
  • Eraser (I prefer white pearl & polymer eraser)
  • **Smooth paper (32 lb paper is what I recommend – it’s the most cost-effective), Rhodia & Marker Paper are good options too!
  • Any pen
  • Any Marker with a Bullet Tip (rounded tip, not flat or chisel tip)

**The only supplies you really need to start is the paper. Everything else is not necessary.

What supplies do you need to start handlettering? Do you need all this stuff? Find out what you actually need to start practicing modern calligraphy | ChocolateMusings

The pen & marker are so you can create Faux Modern Calligraphy – I’ll explain this technique later in more detail.

The pencil & eraser are simply good supplies to have on hand so you can write out phrases and organize your lettering. You can also handletter using a pencil – which I’m excited to show you in the future.

TIP: Using printer paper or any old paper can cause your precious brush pens to fray or dry out more quickly. Believe me, it’s frustrating to use a frayed marker tip and try to get those coveted thin upstrokes or pick up what you thought was a brand new brush pen only for it to create streaks instead of lovely lines.

Shop for the Supplies:

Essential Handlettering Supplies: Other Supplies
  • 32 Lb HP Premium Paper
  • Art Graf – Pack of 2 Pencils with Soft Lead
  • Copic Markers – Multiline Inking Pen Set – Waterproof – 9 Tip Sizes
  • Paper mate White Pearl Eraser (Latex Free)
  • Papermate InkJoy Pens (all versions)
  • Pentel Gold Gel Pen
  • Pentel Hi-Polymer Erasers
  • Pentel Sharp Mechanical Pencil .7mm Metallic
  • Pentel Touch Pen
  • Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens – Waterproof – 10 Sizes
  • Winsor & Newton Fineliner Pens – Pack of 5 – Waterproof (Assorted Sizes)
  • Zebra Zensations Technical Drawing Fineliner – Waterproof – 6 Pens

Optional Handlettering Supplies for Beginners:

The supplies listed below are not required. I like to use each one of them (and I was surprised at how useful the lightbox was), but they are not required to start lettering.

  • Ruler
  • Laser Level
  • Small Marker Practice Guides (find them in my shop!)
  • Modern Calligraphy Workbooks (in my shop!)
    • Small Marker: Basic Strokes <– Start Here
    • Small Marker: Minuscules (lowercase letters)
    • Large Marker: Basic Strokes <– Start Here
    • Large Marker: Minuscules (lowercase letters)
  • Lightbox (if you don’t want to write on the practice guides)

Shop for the Supplies:

Essential Handlettering Supplies: Optional Supplies
  • 12″ Helix Circle Ruler One of my favorite circle maker tools!
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • 12″ Metal Ruler with Cork Base
  • 12″ Rolling Ruler
  • 6″ Metal Ruler with Cork Base
  • 6″ Rolling Ruler
  • Laser Level – Basic
  • Light Box – A4 Multiple Light Levels
ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!
  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Small Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Large Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Modern Calligraphy Guide Booklet | ChocoalteMusings.com #handletteirng #brushlettering #moderncalligraphy
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Guide - Basic Strokes for SMALL Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #lettering #brushlettering
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    Large Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    $2.50 Original price was: $2.50.$2.00Current price is: $2.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Small Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    Small Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    $2.50 Original price was: $2.50.$2.00Current price is: $2.00.
    Add to cart
  • Alphabet Inspiration Booklet (Traveler's Notebook)
    Alphabet Inspiration Booklet (Traveler’s Notebook)
    $8.00
    Add to cart

Additional More Advanced Markers:

Tombow Dual Brush Pens are large markers—If you start with these beauties, you’re likely to get even more frustrated because they’re not as easy to control. Karin markers are similar to Tombow dual brush pens, so they’re probably not for beginners.

You can letter using paint brushes & water pens, but I would wait until you have the technique down for forming each part of each letter before starting with a paintbrush or water pen.

Shop for the Supplies:

Essential Handlettering Supplies: Large Markers/Advanced Supplies
  • Karin Brushmarker Pro Box
  • Karin BrushPro Markers Mini Box 26 Colors
  • Karin Decobrush Metallic
  • Tombow Dual Brush Markers 10 Pack Brights
  • Tombow Dual Brush Markers 10 Pack Tropical Pack
  • Tombow Dual Brush Pens (ALL OF THEM!)
  • Tombow Fudenosuke Store on Amazon

What I Prefer (to this day)

Hands down, I reach for a Tombow Fudenosuke Marker. Hard-tipped version, of course.

I love my Tombow hard-tipped fudenosuke pens.

They also last a long time. After a couple of years of heavy usage, my pens are finally dying. In general, I don’t like the ‘old marker look.’ However, sometimes, that style is fun. So I keep a few old markers around, and I label them so I know which ones are old and which are new.

If you were to peek in my marker drawer, you’d find more hard-tip Tombow Fudenosuke markers than anything else. And I always have one or two in my bag.

Which markers should you start with when beginning modern calligraphy | ChocolateMusings.com

Remember, as I said in the beginning, that practice is the most important tool. So, whichever marker you choose to start your handlettering journey, you must put in the practice to accompany it.

Ready to Start Handlettering?

Get your practice guides & practice workbooks in the shop below!

ChocolateMusings.com Shop - Find it in the shop!

  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Small Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Learn to Handletter with Large Markers - Lowercase letter practice book | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #moderncalligraphy #lowercase
    Workbook #2 Lowercase Alphabet (Miniscule) Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Modern Calligraphy Guide Booklet | ChocoalteMusings.com #handletteirng #brushlettering #moderncalligraphy
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Large Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Modern Calligraphy Handlettering Guide - Basic Strokes for SMALL Markers | ChocolateMusings.com #handlettering #lettering #brushlettering
    Workbook #1 Basic Strokes Modern Calligraphy Workbook for Small Markers
    $15.00 Original price was: $15.00.$12.00Current price is: $12.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Large Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    Large Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    $2.50 Original price was: $2.50.$2.00Current price is: $2.00.
    Add to cart
  • Sale Product on sale
    Small Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    Small Marker Calligraphy Guide With & Without Slants
    $2.50 Original price was: $2.50.$2.00Current price is: $2.00.
    Add to cart

3 Comments
Filed Under: Blog, Fun with Handlettering, Get Creative, Get Inspired, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration), Pen & Marker Reviews, Product & Book Reviews, Product Reviews, Start Handlettering Here, Tutorials & How To Tagged: beginner lettering, handlettering, lettering, supplies, tips & tricks

Project: Creating Contrast in a White Door Subject – Watercolor Portrait Painting

February 20, 2024 Leave a Comment

Watercolor Project - White Door Portrait - How to create contrast and interest with White Subject Matter in Watercolor | ChocolateMusings.com

Project Details: White Door Portrait

In this post, you’ll learn how to create contrast when watercolor painting a white door.

I love painting doors. There’s something magical about entryways. Some doors could be the portal to a whole new world. I love to paint colorful doors with contrasting colors of flowers framing the door frame. But what do you do if you want to paint a white door? How do you create enough contrast in the painting?

When someone near and dear to my heart came to me and asked me to paint their grandmother’s door – which they called their happy place – I knew I was in for a challenge since the door was white. Not only was the door white, but so was the siding, the railing, and the front stoop.

How in the world do you paint white on white with watercolor? By using shadows and other contrasting elements. Challenge accepted.

White Front Door Portrait - Create Contrast with Shadows when white is the main color in your painting | ChocolateMusings.com

Table of contents

  • Project Details: White Door Portrait
  • The Challenge: White Door Painting
  • Project Details
  • Shoppable Product Links
  • YouTube Paint With Me Video
  • How I Created Contrast in this White Door Watercolor Painting
    • Base Color
    • Keep Your Shadows Consistent
  • Fixing Watercolor Mistakes: When You Add Too Much Color
  • Tips for Painting While the Layers Dry
    • How To Know If an Area is Completely Dry
  • Use a Good Brush
  • Removing the Tape & Finishing the Painting

The Challenge: White Door Painting

The challenge with this painting is that this door is white, the house is white, the railing is white, and the stairs are white. Creating contrast is difficult when everything is white. If you stop and look at the photo for a minute, you’ll start to notice shadows and variations of color. This wasn’t going to be a painting of a white door. No, instead, this painting would emphasize the shadows and colors to frame the door to make this door stand out.

I used several reference photos and combined them to create a whole new photo. One where I could see the welcome mat, another photo featured the bushes in the front, and a third photo featured the door details.

Project Details

(See Below for Shoppable Product Links)

5×7 Arches Watercolor Paper – Trimmed from a bigger sheet
Daniel Smith Paints
#4 & #6 Round Brushes
Flat 1″ Wash Brush
Masking Tape
Art Board

Believe it or not – despite this project being a white door with white siding, here are all the colors I used.

  • Buff Titanium
  • Paynes Gray
  • Raw Umber
  • Indigo
  • Quinacridone Rose
  • Sap Green
  • Deep Sap green
  • Amethyst Genuine
  • Rose of Ultramarine
  • Imperial Purple
  • Raw Sienna
  • Raw Sienna Light
  • Yellow Ochre
  • Cobalt Blue
  • Phthalo Blue – Green Shade
  • Dr. Ph Martin’s Iridescent Copperplate Gold

Shoppable Product Links

White Door Portrait
Arches Cold Press Paper Pad – 10×14Arches Cold Press Paper Pad – 10×14 This size trims to 5x7 perfectly!

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith – Amethyst GenuineDaniel Smith – Amethyst Genuine

>> Link to Product Amazon
Daniel Smith – Buff Titanium 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Buff Titanium 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith – Deep Sap GreenDaniel Smith – Deep Sap Green

>> Link to Product Amazon
Daniel Smith – Imperial PurpleDaniel Smith – Imperial Purple

>> Link to Product Amazon
Daniel Smith – Indigo 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Indigo 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith – Payne’s Gray 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Payne’s Gray 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith – Quinacridone Rose 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Quinacridone Rose 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product
>> Link to Product
Daniel Smith – Raw Sienna 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Raw Sienna 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith – Raw Sienna Light 15ml TubeDaniel Smith – Raw Sienna Light 15ml Tube

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith – Raw Umber 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Raw Umber 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product
>> Link to Product
Daniel Smith – Rose of Ultramarine 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Rose of Ultramarine 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith – Sap Green 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Sap Green 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product
>> Link to Product
Daniel Smith – Yellow Ochre 5 ml TubeDaniel Smith – Yellow Ochre 5 ml Tube

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Dr. Ph Martin’s Iridescent Copperplate GoldDr. Ph Martin’s Iridescent Copperplate Gold My go-to favorite gold paint!

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Masking TapeMasking Tape

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com
Princeton Heritage Pro 4050 Synthetic Sable Brushes Round 2, Round 6, Round 12, and Angle Wash 1/2″Princeton Heritage Pro 4050 Synthetic Sable Brushes Round 2, Round 6, Round 12, and Angle Wash 1/2″

>> Link to Product Blick.com
Princeton Heritage Pro 4050 Synthetic Sable Brushes Round 3/0, Round 3, Round 10, and Wash 3/4″Princeton Heritage Pro 4050 Synthetic Sable Brushes Round 3/0, Round 3, Round 10, and Wash 3/4″

>> Link to Product Amazon
>> Link to Product Blick.com

Do you know someone who wants to start watercoloring? Check out my Christmas Watercolor Wish List!

Colors in this watercolor project - is it a garden? a tree in full bloom? No. Believe it or not, it's a door portrait painting. A white door portrait painting with white siding. What did I do with all these colors? Find out more. |  ChocolateMusings.com

YouTube Paint With Me Video

Watch the YouTube Video here. I’ll show you all the techniques I used to create contrast while painting this white door and give you even more tips and tricks.

How I Created Contrast in this White Door Watercolor Painting

The trick to watercolor painting anything white is to paint the contrast in the shadows but not let the shadows take over. In the case of painting this white door, I used the shadows from both the door frame and under the siding to break up large blocks of color.

The other trick is to find and emphasize any color in the frame – use it to contrast the white. In this case, I used the flowers upfront, the doormat, the little decorations hanging outside the door, and many-layered shadows to emphasize the door frame and siding.

Door Portrait Line Drawing #beforethepaint - How to Create Contrast with a white door and white siding - watercolor tips & techniques | ChocolateMusings.com
Door Portrait - Finished - Lots of Color, Lots of Contrast in What Could Have Been a Boring Painting | ChocolateMusings.com

Base Color

Instead of pure white, I used watered-down buff titanium for the base color. It’s very soft and warm – a perfect undertone for this door. The more water you use, the softer the color – but the more color you will need to build up to create contrast.

Painting deeper tones such as (very) watered-down Indigo, Payne’s Gray, or Neutral Tint around the door frame adds more contrast and helps the door stand out from the background.

The idea is not to be too dramatic with the colors but to create layers of varying contrast as you watercolor this white door.

Adding the first layer of shadows surrounding the door for this door portrait. It's important to build up the color when the colors are soft and muted | ChocolateMusings.com
More layers of shadow to create more contrast with a light color palette | ChocolateMusings.com

Keep Your Shadows Consistent

Painting in shadows is one of the best ways to create a distinction of color in this painting. Build up watercolor layers to create the right contrast around the white door and frame.

To keep your shadows consistent, decide where your light source is before you start painting. In this case, I chose the light source from the left.

TIP: If you struggle with remembering and creating consistency in your light source, add a reminder dot or sticky note to reference while painting. You could even cut out a cute little sun or light bulb and tape it to your painting board to remind you where the light is coming from.

Fixing Watercolor Mistakes: When You Add Too Much Color

One struggle throughout this process was that I kept adding too much color to the siding. I used a paper towel to dab the still-wet color away to fix the mistake.

Don’t forget that you can lift watercolor off the page if you make a mistake or need to lighten the tone slightly. This works best if the paint is non-staining. But even with staining paint, you can lift a lot of the color off the paper when the paint is still wet.

Added too much color? Blot it out with a dry paper towel before the paint dries. It's much easier to remove wet paint than to try to remove paint once it's dried. | Watercolor tips & tricks | ChocolateMusings.com

Tips for Painting While the Layers Dry

Sometimes I get too impatient with watercolor – but if you don’t let it dry between layers, you’ll end up with a muddy mess or watercolor blooms. So that’s why I flit about the painting and work on different areas at different times.

In this door painting, I used the door frame as a buffer between the areas of wet-on-wet painting so I could paint one area (like the door) and work on a different area (like the siding) while the different areas dried.

How To Know If an Area is Completely Dry

You will know if an area is completely dry if it is no longer cool to the touch. If it’s cool when you touch it, the paper isn’t yet entirely dry.

Use a Good Brush

Use a good paintbrush. Except for a wash in one place, I painted nearly everything with a #4 or #6 size brush. What’s nice with these size brushes is that you can get a pointy, fine tip to the end of the brush. You can hold so much water in the brush and get amazing blends and washes when needed.

Adding Shadows to the Railing - Build up your color base and add layers of watered down color to create more contrast in your watercolor paintings | ChocolateMusings.com
Shadows to the siding - add color diluted with gray for more shadows, then blend it out with water to create soft shadows | ChocolateMusings.com
Adding more color with plants - creates interest and contrast in your color scheme | ChocolateMusings.com

Removing the Tape & Finishing the Painting

For the oh-so-satisfying part of removing your tape, ensure the page is 100% dry before removing the tape. If you don’t, it will tear. Remove the tape at an angle and watch those satisfying, clean lines reveal crisp edges.

I’m glad for the opportunity to paint this client’s happy place. It was such a great exercise in balancing contrast and tone for this white door portrait. I’m sorry I didn’t take better pictures of the final result. I sent off the final painting too quickly to its new owner. And I didn’t photograph it very well.

Satisfying Tape Peel from Completed Watercolor House Portrait Painting | ChocolateMusings.com
Satisfying Tape Peel from Completed Watercolor House Portrait Painting | ChocolateMusings.com
Door Portrait - Finished - Lots of Color, Lots of Contrast in What Could Have Been a Boring Painting | ChocolateMusings.com
White Front Door Portrait - Create Contrast with Shadows when white is the main color in your painting | ChocolateMusings.com
How to Create Interest and Contrast with White Doors and White Siding - Watercolor House Portrait - Watercolor Door  - Watercolor Tutorial | ChocolateMusings.com

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Filed Under: Blog, Creating Art - Watercolor, Painting & Drawing, Get Creative, Paint Tutorial / Paint With Me Tagged: how to, paint with me, tips and tricks, watercolor

2022 Christmas Watercolor Wishlist

October 18, 2022 Leave a Comment

Watercolor Christmas Wishlist - build your list - get ideas - celebrate | ChocolateMusings.com

Here is my 2022 Christmas Watercolor Wishlist! Each year for Christmas, my husband likes me to send him a list of items I’d love. He doesn’t like me to send a small list because then I’d know what’s under the tree (I’m really good at guessing). This year, I decided to share my wishlist with you and include items that a budding watercolor artist would enjoy. I’ll also add a Bullet Journal Christmas wishlist as well. I hope some of these products inspire you – either for yourself or someone who likes to watercolor paint or bullet journal (or both!).

I don’t consider myself a beginner when it comes to watercolor. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t like to study techniques. I’m a self-taught artist with a few art classes scattered throughout high school and college, so there are LOTS of things I don’t know.

No matter where you (or your loved one) fall on the progression scale, I’m sure you’ll find something that suits your skill level or desire to improve in my 2021 Christmas Watercolor Wishlist. Whether you are an observer, an absolute beginner, a beginning dabbler, or someone with intermediate skills, I’m excited to share this wishlist with you and think you’ll find some fantastic products to add to your Christmas Watercolor Wishlist as well.

Looking For a Particular Item? Skip to it Here

  • Fineliner Pens (Waterproof)
  • Watercolor Tutorial Books – Perfect for your 2021 Christmas Wish list
    • A Little Summary About the Artists From This List – My Opinion, Of Course
      • Jeannie Dickson
      • Anna Victory Calderon
      • Jenna Rainey
      • Anna Koladych
      • Marina Bakasova
      • Mako
      • Adelene Fletcher
  • Step-By-Step Floral Drawing Books & Flower Reference Books
  • What’s on Your Watercolor Christmas List this Year?

Watercolor Paint – Christmas Wishlist Tips

Watercolor Paint - explore my favorites and add some to your Watercolor Christmas Wishlist! | ChocolateMusings.com

When shopping for paint, if the person you’re shopping for already has some supplies, get a list of what they already have OR what paint colors they want. Maybe they’ve had their eye on a particular Daniel Smith paint tube. Paint tubes are pricey (they last a long time, especially if you can fill half-pans with the tubes) but pricey upfront nonetheless.

I love my Daniel Smith paints, but it all depends on what they have already. In general, the more expensive paints, the better they will be. If you can opt for artists’ grade or professional grade paints. Believe me. The paint tubes go farther than you imagined.

If you’d like to start with just a few colors, opt for a mixing set or start with pre-filled pans. Don’t try to get all the colors all at once.

By the way, you’d also be surprised at how much paint you can get from a dot card sampler set. The dot cards are a very good way to test colors and see which ones are your favorites. It’s how I determined which paints to add to my wishlist and which ones I don’t care much for.

Watercolor Paints
  • Dr. Ph Martin’s Iridescent Copperplate Gold My go-to favorite gold paint!
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Coliro Finetec Iridescent Pearlcolors Watercolor Paints
  • Daniel Smith – 15 Half Pans Ultimate Mixing Set
  • Daniel Smith – 238 Watercolor Dot Color Chart
  • Daniel Smith – Essentials Mixing Watercolor Set
  • Daniel Smith – Introductory Essentials Watercolors with 6 Tubes
  • Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints
  • Daniel Smith – Payne’s Gray 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Raw Umber 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product
    >> Link to Product
  • Daniel Smith – Rose of Ultramarine 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Dr PH Martin’s Bleed Proof White
  • Marie’s Travel Paint Set – 18 Colors
  • Marie’s Watercolor Paint Set – 48 Half Pans
  • Meeden Travel Fold Out Watercolor Paint Set
  • MeiLiang Watercolor Paints – 36 Colors – Fun Beginner Paints
  • Paul Reuben Glitter Metallic Watercolor 48 Colors
  • Paul Reubens Watercolor Paint Metallic Glitter – 24 Color
Daniel Smith Individual Paint Tubes (5ml)
  • Daniel Smith – Amethyst Genuine
    >> Link to Product Amazon
  • Daniel Smith – Buff Titanium 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Deep Sap Green
    >> Link to Product Amazon
  • Daniel Smith – Imperial Purple
    >> Link to Product Amazon
  • Daniel Smith – Cobalt Blue 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Indigo 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Payne’s Gray 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Quinacridone Rose 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product
    >> Link to Product
  • Daniel Smith – Raw Sienna 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Raw Umber 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product
    >> Link to Product
  • Daniel Smith – Rose of Ultramarine 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Sap Green 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product
    >> Link to Product
  • Daniel Smith – Yellow Ochre 5 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith Individual Tube Paints (15ml)
  • Daniel Smith – Phthalo Blue Green Shade 15 ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Daniel Smith – Raw Sienna Light 15ml Tube
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
Daniel Smith Sets
  • Daniel Smith – 15 Half Pans Ultimate Mixing Set
  • Daniel Smith – 238 Watercolor Dot Color Chart
  • Daniel Smith – Essentials Mixing Watercolor Set
  • Daniel Smith – Introductory Essentials Watercolors with 6 Tubes
  • Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints
Liquid Watercolor
  • Dr. Ph Martin’s Iridescent Copperplate Gold My go-to favorite gold paint!
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com

Watercolor Paper

Watercolor Paper - which is your favorite? What would make it on a christmas wishlist? | ChocolateMusings.com

Paper is something you’ll probably develop your own preference for. However, getting started can be somewhat daunting. First of all, yes. It needs to be paper specifically designed to handle watercolor.

Here are two types to try:

Canson Cold Pressed paper & Arches Cold Pressed paper. Those are my selections for getting started. But if you want to give (or get!) something different than you might buy for yourself – consider a watercolor block with a cover or an art journal. Similar to the Paul Rubens Watercolor Paper Block or the Strathmore Watercolor Art Journal. For some reason, these two products feel…special. Which is what’s intended in a gift, right?

Arches paper can seem a bit intimidating because of its cost. But it accepts paints beautifully, in my opinion. There is a different feel switching from cotton paper to pulp paper (not cotton). Give your inner artist a chance to try the ‘expensive’ paper.

Side note: I was also surprised at the good quality of the Arteza cotton paper.

The difference between a watercolor pad and a watercolor block is that the block is glued together on all sides, so only the top page is accessible at once. It creates a better surface to use a lot more water since the pages don’t buckle. Keep in mind that there are ways or alternatives when using a paper pad.

Watercolor Paper
  • Arches Cold Press Paper Pad – 10×14 This size trims to 5x7 perfectly!
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Arches Watercolor Block 140lb 9×12
  • Arches Watercolor Paper Pad 140lb 9×12″
  • Arteza Watercolor Paper Pad 9×12″ 140lb
  • Canson XL Watercolor Pads 140 lb Watercolor Paper (9×12) – other sizes avail. in the link
  • Paul Rubens Watercolor Journal – Travel Art Journal – Field Notebook Style 7.6×5.3
  • Paul Rubens Watercolor Paper Block 15.4×10.6″ 140 lb
  • Strathmore Softcover Watercolor Art Journal
  • Strathmore Watercolor Journal – Wire Bound 5.5×8

Watercolor Brushes

What Watercolor Paintbrushes would make your Christmas Wishlist? | ChocolateMusings.com

Just like your paper, your paintbrushes can make or break your painting. I love my Princeton brushes. I also have a set from The Pigeon Letters that I love to use as well. There are a few other types that I’ve enjoyed listed below, too.

Whichever set you settle on, take care of your brushes. Please don’t leave them in the water or smash them on the bottom of your water cups. Take care of them!

I don’t often use water pain pens anymore, but they are fun for travel and other situations.

Watercolor Paintbrushes
  • Disposable Masking Fluid Paint Brushes
  • Princeton Heritage Series 4050 Synthetic Sable Watercolor Brushes
  • Princeton Heritage Synthetic Sable Paint Brushes
  • Silicone Tipped Paint Brushes for Masking Fluid
  • The Pigeon Letters Paint Brushes
  • Watercolor Water Pens
  • ZenArt Eatercolor Synthetic Paint Brushes

Other Watercolor Supplies – a Perfect Addition to a 2021 Christmas Wishlist

Additional {essential} (and fun!) supplies for watercoloring enthusiasts - Christmas Watercolor Wishlists should include supplies you might not buy for yourself | ChocolateMusings.com

I love to use watercolor pencils for my base sketches before watercolor painting. The watercolor pencil marks fade away with water, so no annoying pencil lines are showing through my finished painting, making them worthwhile. I wouldn’t say I like to use watercolor pencils exclusively – so having a few pencils is all I need.

Of course, if the artist you are shopping for wants to try watercolor pencils, who am I to tell them no? Here are some great watercolor pencils that would go great under someone’s Christmas tree or add to your wishlist.

I’ve also included some other watercolor supplies that make me very happy. Empty tins for making your own palettes and empty half-pans for pouring your own paint and making a customized watercolor paint palette. Yes, these are some of my favorite things.

If empty watercolor half-pan wells end up on your watercolor Christmas wishlist this year, get the kind with magnets. That way, you can choose if you want to use the brackets in the tin or if you’d rather arrange them as you please.

Watercolor Pencils
  • Art Graf – Pack of 2 Pencils with Soft Lead
  • Arteza Pack of 3 Watercolor Pencils
  • Faber-Castel Watercolor Pencil Tin (24-Pack)
  • Kimberly Watercolor Pencils – 4 Neutral Colors
  • Watercolor Pencils – 72 Count
Watercolor Supplies
  • Ceramic Paint Palette – Large 17 Wells + 2 Large Mixing Areas
  • Ceramic Paint Palette – Large Square – 32 Wells + Mixing Area
  • Ceramic Paint Palette – Medium
  • Ceramic Paint Palette with 7 Wells 9.5″
  • Empty Watercolor Half Pans
  • Empty Watercolor Tins – With and Without Half-Pans
  • Kimberly Watercolor Pencil Neutral
  • Masking Tape
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • Watercolor Ground – Transparent
  • Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid

Drawing Pencils & Erasers – Essentials for a Watercolor Christmas Wishlist

Pencils & Erasers - Watercolor isn't just about slapping paint on the paper. It's about planning and composition etc. That's why a good pencil and eraser set makes my Christmas Watercolor Wishlist! | ChocolateMusings.com

Watercolor is more than just slapping paint on paper. Many times you have to plan out your piece, which means sketching, measuring, and other things. Of course, these are just preparation before using your paints. But depending on your subject matter, preparation makes all the difference.

Erasers
  • Dust Catch Eraser – Black
  • Paper mate White Pearl Eraser (Latex Free)
  • Pentel Hi-Polymer Erasers
  • Sand Eraser – to Remove Colored Pencil & Pen Marks
Pencils
  • Pentel Sharp Mechanical Pencil .7mm Metallic

Fineliner Pens (Waterproof)

Waterproof Fineliner Pens - which make my list of favorites? There's more than just Micron pens on my favorites list. | ChocolateMusings.com

You may wonder why I listed fine liner pens in my Watercolor Christmas Wishlist. You can use waterproof pens for lots of techniques in a watercolor painting. For one, draw a line drawing directly on the paper and then do watercolor washes over the top. Another way is to paint abstract colors/shapes in the background, and then once the paint is dry, draw over them with a fine-liner pen. Adding details to a nearly-finished painting or outlines to the edges of your painting to your drawings are also fun techniques.

Inking Pens - Fineliners (Waterproof)
  • Copic Markers – Multiline Inking Pen Set – Waterproof – 9 Tip Sizes
  • Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens – Waterproof – 10 Sizes
  • Winsor & Newton Fineliner Pens – Pack of 5 – Waterproof (Assorted Sizes)
  • Zebra Zensations Technical Drawing Fineliner – Waterproof – 6 Pens

Rulers/Measuring

Rulers and Measuring - what devices do you love and which would you love to get? | ChocolateMusings.com

The Helix circle maker tool is hands down one of my top favorite tools. This circle maker tool is both for bullet journals & watercolor painting – this simple yet amazing tool is always a favorite. Yet, having a good ruler is always necessary. I’m partial to the metal rulers with cork backers.

Have you ever tried a rolling ruler? They’re magical.

Rulers & Measuring
  • 12″ Helix Circle Ruler One of my favorite circle maker tools!
    >> Link to Product Amazon
    >> Link to Product Blick.com
  • 12″ Metal Ruler with Cork Base
  • 12″ Rolling Ruler
  • 6″ Metal Ruler with Cork Base
  • 6″ Rolling Ruler
  • Circle Maker – Helix Angle Maker (one of my favorite tools ever!)

Skillshare – Learn all the Skills

My favorite learning platform - you get so much more than YouTube | ChocolateMusings.com

Although YouTube is great, I LOVE Skillshare and feel like I get so much more out of the Skillshare lessons I take. I try to take at least one lesson per week. And it’s not just watercoloring. I love Procreate Art lessons on the iPad, time management, creative practice, and so many more.

Skillshare is a great option if you’re looking for a great gift for a creative loved one – no matter their skill level.

Watercolor Tutorial Books – Perfect for your 2021 Christmas Wish list

Tutorial Books - step by step - do you prefer books or videos? I like a little of both! | ChocolateMusings.com

I also love watercolor books. Even though I have several watercolor books already, there are a few more that make my 2021 Christmas Wishlist.

Watercolor Books
  • 15-Minute Watercolor Masterpieces
    >> Link to Product Amazon
  • Adeline Fletcher – Watercolor Books from A to Z
  • Ana Victoria Calderon – Watercolor Books
  • Hello Watercolor! Watercolor Book – Creative Techniques and Inspiring Projects for the Beginning Artist
  • Jenna Rainey – Watercolor Books
  • Marina Bakasova – Watercolor Books
  • No-Fail Watercolor: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Painting with Confidence

A Little Summary About the Artists From This List – My Opinion, Of Course

Jeannie Dickson

Jeannie Dickson is one of my favorite watercolor artists. She’s fascinating to watch and very inspiring. Any of her products would be a great gift.

Anna Victory Calderon

Ana Victoria Calderon is another one of my favorite watercolor artists, and she has so many amazing watercolor technique books available. I purchased a class from her on Domestika. In this class, she spoke in Spanish, and the subtitles were in English, so I had to pay extra attention to the class; otherwise, I’d miss everything. It was one of the most difficult classes I’ve seen simply because I had to read everything quickly (I even slowed it down a little!). But it’s also one of the classes that I learned the most.

Jenna Rainey

Jenna Rainey’s books look interesting as well. I don’t know if I could purchase something from her, but if I got it as a gift, I might use it.

Side Note: You might be wondering why I’d say that I couldn’t purchase from her. She shared one time that she acquired a box of artist supplies through a mistake that her moving company made. She ended up with someone else’s prized art supplies. I don’t know the whole story; perhaps she tried to find the original owner through the moving company. But I know if I lost my box of art supplies when I moved, I would be devastated. I wouldn’t have an issue if she tried to find the original owner. The box of supplies changed her life. I’m all for life-changing moments but not at someone else’s expense.

Anna Koladych

Anna Koladych – I own her 15-minute watercolor masterpieces book. The easy approach to the varied techniques in her book makes watercolors approachable. I think if I got into Guache or Oil Pastels – I’m sure these books would be wonderful.

Marina Bakasova

Marina Bakasova – What a fun, whimsical style she has! Watercolor Success in Four Steps looks intriguing, and I certainly love the loose, whimsical style she shows.

Mako

No-Fail Watercolor: The ultimate beginner’s guide to painting with confidence – By Mako. Mako is absolutely one of my favorite YouTube artists. She has this way of making you feel at ease while explaining her techniques. You best believe that I will be on the lookout for more books and resources from this artist.

Adelene Fletcher

After stumbling upon Adelene Fletcher’s watercolor books, I knew I needed to add some of these to my 2021 Christmas Watercolor wishlist. With a series of various paintings from A to Z and another series using pocket palettes, I would be excited to explore the watercolor world through her books.

Step-By-Step Floral Drawing Books & Flower Reference Books

Beyond painting tutorial books - Floral Tutorial Books are some of my favorites. I love painting florals - so why not learn how to draw them better? | ChocolateMusings.com

I think that step-by-step books are a great place to start. Especially when the subject matter is flowers. So if you’re shopping for a budding artist or you are a budding artist, add some step-by-step drawing books to your Christmas watercolor wishlist.

I already own several floral drawing and reference books. In fact, here’s a post with my top favorite flower books. I’ve expanded my list of flower reference books below, and I’m excited to share them.

Beyond step-by-step flower drawing books, I love floral reference books. My favorite books provide photographs and artist’s drawing of the books. I find that the artists’ drawings help me see the most important parts of the flowers, making drawing each flower easier.

Floral Drawing Books Step-by-Step
  • Draw Like an Artist: 100 Flowers and Plants
  • How to Draw Modern Florals
  • In Bloom: A Step-By-Step Guide to Drawing Lush Florals
Flower Reference Books
  • An Illustrated Guide to Garden Flowers
  • National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers
  • The Watercolor Flower Painter’s A to Z
  • Wild Flowers by Colour

What’s on Your Watercolor Christmas List this Year?

So now that I’ve shared my wishlist and favorite watercolor supplies. I’d love to know… what’s on your watercolor Christmas wishlist for this year? Be sure to pin the image for later. You know, you don’t have to make a wishlist ONLY at Christmas, right?

2021 Watercolor Christmas Wishlist - build your list - get ideas - celebrate | ChocolateMusings.com

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Filed Under: Blog, Creating Art - Watercolor, Painting & Drawing, Get Creative, Get Inspired, My Muses (My Favorites & Inspiration) Tagged: Christmas, products, watercolor, wishlist

Painting Adorable Mushroom Houses with Chalkola Gouache – Beginner-Friendly Project

August 26, 2022 Leave a Comment

Paint With Me: Whimsical Gouache Mushroom Houses Featured Image | ChocolateMusings.com

Here’s a great beginner-friendly paint project – whimsical mushroom houses.

Gouache Mushroom Houses + Tips & Tricks Video | ChocolateMusings.com

Whether you paint with watercolor, gouache (like I used), or acrylics, these adorable, whimsical, brightly-colored mushroom houses are sure to add a smile to your face.

Full Disclosure: Chalkola sent me the paint & I received some compensation to make content using the products, but all opinions and creations are my own.

With autumn right around the corner, I started thinking about how I could use the changing season as inspiration. Well, one large rabbit hole later, I knew I wanted to paint some colorful mushroom caps. And what’s better than forest-inspired mushroom doodles? Definitely whimsical mushroom houses.

These houses are beginner-friendly for drawing and painting. And as a bonus, they also provided the perfect subject matter to try out the gouache paints I got from Chalkola.

Table of Contents

  • Paint With Me – YouTube
  • Painting Mushroom Houses with Gouache – Tips from the Video
  • How to Start Painting Your Mushroom Houses? Beginner-Friendly Tips & Tricks
    • Choose Your Media
    • Choose Your Colors
    • Mix Your Colors
    • Start Painting!
  • Supplies Used:
  • How to Create Your Own Mushroom Houses
    • How to Transfer the Design to Your Paper
    • Find Inspiration and Style for Your Mushroom House

Paint With Me – YouTube

Painting Mushroom Houses with Gouache – Tips from the Video

I usually paint with watercolor, but trying new media is always fun! Spoiler alert: I also used gouache paints in my bullet journal (not in the video), and loved it.

In the meantime, here are some tips from the video that I learned about using Chalkola Gouache:

  • Mix the right consistency of water and paint.
  • The right consistency and a brush full of paint will go a long way.
  • With gouache, do not keep adding water as you do with watercolor. This helps you keep the same water-to-paint ratio consistent.
  • Gouache dries much faster than watercolor.
  • Blending colors isn’t as easy with gouache as it is with watercolor.
  • Creating hard-line shadows adds to the style and is easy to do.
  • Wait for each layer to dry thoroughly.
  • Be careful not to add too much water on top of dry layers, you can stir up paint from previous layers.
  • Unlike watercolor, you can paint light colors on top of dark colors since the paints are more opaque.
  • Gouache dries matte, so there is no shine when taking pictures.
  • To lighten a color, add white instead of water.

How to Start Painting Your Mushroom Houses? Beginner-Friendly Tips & Tricks

Whether you are a beginner or not, it’s always good to have a general game plan. Here are some great tips for getting started with the paint and brush.

Looking for inspiration for your mushroom houses? Keep reading I’ve got an entire Pinterest board linked below exclusively for mushroom house inspiration. (LOL – it’s funny and true!)

Choose Your Media

Depending on your media (meaning paint), you can start with either dark or light colors. Generally, watercolor begins with the lightest colors and slowly builds to darker shades. However, if you paint these mushroom houses with gouache as I did, you can start with dark colors and layer lighter colors on top.

Choose Your Colors

Chalkola Gouache Paints in Action + Video Review | ChocolateMusings.com

Now that you’ve decided on your paint media, it’s time to choose your colors. I used bright, whimsical colors that contrasted well. For instance, the yellow stem with the purple house or the orange house with the blue ridges and door. Both sets of colors are complementary – meaning they are opposite on the color wheel from each other.

Want to know more about how to combine colors or determine what colors go well together? I found an article by Nayda Cruz – I love her simple graphics and explanations.

If you’re looking for more in-depth tutorials on color mixing, I compiled a list of Skillshare classes that are beginner-friendly.

Mix Your Colors

Since I was using gouache in the video, I needed to mix the colors consistently for a smooth texture. I found that gouache paint works the best for me if I keep the water-to-paint mixture the same throughout the painting process. Of course, that would be different if you were painting with watercolor. I also found that adding too many colors to my palette initially caused them to dry up before I was ready to use them.

Start Painting!

As a beginner, it’s hard to make that first brush stroke. Tell yourself ‘here goes nothing’ and put that brush to paper.

I’d love to know what you created and how your mushroom house paintings turned out. Don’t be afraid to try multiple styles! I know that I learned while filming that I preferred a hard shadow method with gouache rather than my typical style of blending colors.

Supplies Used:

Here are the supplies I used to paint these beginner-friendly mushroom houses:

Mushroom Houses Tutorial
  • Canson XL Watercolor Pads 140 lb Watercolor Paper (9×12) – other sizes avail. in the link
  • Ceramic Paint Palette with 7 Wells 9.5″
  • Chalkola Gouache Paint Set – 36 Count + Brushes & Palette

How to Create Your Own Mushroom Houses

Turn this line drawing into this fun, whimsical mushroom house painting | ChocolateMusings.com
Line Drawing Printable for Watercolors - Download, print, transfer to watercolor paper. Start painting! Easy! Whimsical Mushroom Houses | ChocolateMusings.com

The easiest way to start painting your mushroom houses is to use a ready-made design. Beginner or not, it’s fun to jump into a project and start painting without having to draw, erase, and redraw your scene. If you want to follow my video, you can get the exact design I used in my shop!

How to Transfer the Design to Your Paper

Print the design, use a graphite transfer paper sheet over your paper, and trace the lines. The graphite will transfer to your paper underneath. Or you can use a lightbox and place the printed paper under your watercolor or drawing paper to trace the outlines.

  • Whimsical Mushroom House Line Drawing for Watercolor, Gouache, Acrylic & coloring books
    Mushroom Houses Line Drawing
    $3.00
    Add to cart

Otherwise, if you want to doodle a unique design, start with one mushroom at a time. Then slowly add the community of houses. Short, stout mushrooms seem to work well for creating mushroom houses. It’s easier to paint these cute-as-a-button forest dwellings when you have a lot more surface area to paint. Unless you’d like to use very small detail brushes.

Doodle some basic shapes – test out rounded roofs (caps), see if you prefer pointer roofs or rounded caps—practice different body shapes. There is no rule that you can’t mix and match a tall-skinny mushroom with a large, flat cap. It doesn’t matter if they don’t exist in nature. I’m pretty sure these mushroom houses don’t exist except in creative imaginations. However, if you need more inspiration, check out the Pinterest board I’ve gathered below.

Find Inspiration and Style for Your Mushroom House

You’re in for a treat. Doodling mushroom houses is very easy and ultra forgiving even if you are a complete novice at doodling.

Here is a Pinterest Board filled with mushroom and mushroom house inspiration. As you can see from my finished art piece, I went simple and bright. You can choose to add complex elements and designs, or you can choose to stay simple. I’d love to see what you create!

Turn this line drawing into this fun, whimsical mushroom house painting | ChocolateMusings.com
Line Drawing Printable for Watercolors - Download, print, transfer to watercolor paper. Start painting! Easy! Whimsical Mushroom Houses | ChocolateMusings.com
Beginner-Friendly Gouache Paint With Me + Video - Adorable & Whimsical Mushroom Houses | ChocolateMusings.com

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Filed Under: Blog, Get Creative, Gouache Painting, Paint Tutorial / Paint With Me Tagged: beginner friendly, gouache, paint with me

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About Me


Hi! I'm Tricia, the creative behind ChocolateMusings.com, I know how it feels to lose your inner muse. After years of darkness (which I call the dark ages of my life), I found my inner muse hiding in the forgotten corners of my soul, I vowed never to lose sight of her again.

Bullet journaling helped reignite the passion for art and living life again while organizing my days. I also discovered modern calligraphy and watercolor. Since then, my use of the bullet journal system has evlolved and I call it 'creative planning'. Here on the blog, I show you how to use your planner to ignite your inner muse and explore creativity and art while staying beautifully organized and living a joyful life.

I invite you to grab some good chocolate and dive into my musings. Let’s ignite your inner muse.

Read more on the about me page. You can also find my policies and disclosures here.

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