How to Paint Holly in Watercolour

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Is Holly the hardest leaf shape to paint?

[@annwornell7510]

Its been lovely sitting at home on a wet morning and watching your lovely helpful and beautiful painting of Holly. At 81 I'm teaching myself tto do my own Christmas Cards. 😊

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Wonderful! I love the sound of that!

[@galemckiddy5120]

Your use of the watercolors is really lovely. I struggle with overpainting my watercolors, and these videos are really helping me to see the beautiful effects of stopping sooner! Thanks!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

I'm so glad!

[@123craftygal]

You really make these lovely paintings look doable. Your shading on the leaves is perfect. All in all I think I’ll give this a try. And thank you for all of your videos, they are very much appreciated 🥰🎨

[@deWintonPaperCo]

It’s all about practise! You can do it

[@Yatsua]

Thank you for zooming in so we can see all the details and how you use the brush :D

[@deWintonPaperCo]

You’re welcome

[@susanamer7904]

Dear Harriet, a simple sprig of holly and berries turns out stunning . Your precision when holding the brushes and applying the paint is a joy to watch . I had lots of berries on my holly tree but the wild pigeons have already eaten them !!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Oh wow, I didn’t realise birds liked eating them!

[@elainecaldwell7627]

Thank you. I loved the video.

[@elainecaldwell7627]

Great video.

[@lindacsmith13]

I was totally surprised at how hard holly leaves were to paint. I'm glad you agree! Thanks for breaking it down for me.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

You are so welcome!

[@Artistandkeepsakes]

Fabulous as everxx

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks!

[@janehayes1357]

Thanks, Harriet! Can’t wait to try this one!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks so much Jane

[@donnabitterman4572]

It was so easy to follow you and make this holly. I had fun!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

I'm so pleased to hear that!

[@amandastratton8242]

Thank you Harriet lovely jolly tutorial x

[@deWintonPaperCo]

You’re welcome!

[@donnabitterman4572]

Love painting this! You made it so easy to follow along.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks so much 😊

[@elizabethalke9717]

Thanks for describing the use of water to drag colour from the edge into the body of the leaf. iam a beginner, so learning control is important.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you for watching! 😊

[@redparrot53]

I have a monster sized holly bush in my yard, it's in full berry right now, I love looking at it!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Amazing!

[@h3arty]

absolutely beautiful. i did this and i'm so happy with it. thank you for sharing your talent.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Wonderful!

[@sarahmiller6183]

Just beautiful. TFS

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Sarah!

[@donnafitzpatrick4379]

You made it look doable. Thanks

[@deWintonPaperCo]

That is my main aim!

[@lincorrie5894]

How I love these! Last Christmas I tried various techniques of painting holly leaves, with various equally grim results 😠 Your method is the best by far of all that I've seen, bless you. Can't wait to try it. Thank you xx

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Glad you like them!

[@nokm2006]

Just lovely.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks!

[@annemiekebelgraver7400]

Lovely, I think I can do this! Thanks for the video!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Great!

[@elenavaleto]

I love how you are painting leaves. It also reminded me how we painted dandelions with you. Awesome!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Ah yes! I’ve become way more fond of leaf detail recently

[@rosalynsolinger1069]

The holly and berries are lovely. My advent calendar arrived safely in great packaging. I look forward to starting the project and hope I can do the lovely format justice.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Wonderful Rosalyn! So glad it arrived safely!

[@SheriSturgess1]

Such a useful lesson. Thanks!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

You’re welcome!

[@joannesarlo518]

adding color to the middle of the leaves gave them a lot of dimension... almost like they were folded over slightly.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Yes!

[@connieohara6529]

I love painting holly, but have not done any with the smaller brushes.Love the crisp points on the leaves and your color mixes and shading. Thank you, Harriet! A great project for, yet, another rainy day in the Pacific North West, USA🥴

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Wonderful thanks Connie!

[@snapout_of_it2079]

Really beautiful way to paint Holly and Berries, thank you.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks!

[@coastalcutie2000]

These holly branches are so lovely, and you make them really look simple. Thank you!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Ann!

[@sambill2045]

Beautiful, thanks!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you too!

[@mycreativeescape]

I love this!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you :)

[@cece_h]

Lovely style.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@margaretwalsh3257]

These holly leaves are so lovely and you make it all seem so easy!! Loving your videos. Thank you.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Margaret!

[@susansheehan9516]

I really like this, Harriet, finally holly that looks realistic. I'm home now for the rest of the day so am going to give it a try and hopefully will be able to improve on my previous attempts. Thank you

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Fantastic! I hope you enjoy painting it Susan

[@MPessoa]

Lovely! Thank you!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you!

[@mariannehaugaardantonsen7108]

Exquisite, and doable, I love this one!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Marianne!

[@ritaharker8792]

Love this holly, it is really impressive but also doable, I think, with a bit of practice. I’m certainly going to have a go! Thank you for a lovely tutorial.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Rita!

[@glenda7921]

I’ve loved in previous tutorials how you’ve brought in a real sprig and done a study. So helpful to see how the “real” can be interpreted and replicated just enough. Especially for colour. I would find that helpful. Loving these Harriet thanks so much

[@deWintonPaperCo]

When I can

[@claudetteguerin104]

Lovely

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Claudette

[@susansheehan9516]

I forgot to say, I painted the mistletoe and was really pleased with the layering results. Thanks for that as well

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Wonderful!

[@heneryjohnson4759]

So lovely and adorable.Really thank you for sharing pretty project with us🌸💙🌸

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks so much 😊

[@Carina-2906]

This Holly looks wonderful! What an amazing video! Thank you so much Harriet!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Acarina!

[@lilyofthevalley752]

So magical!!! Thank you so much our beautiful artist

[@deWintonPaperCo]

You’re so welcome!

[@chrischurchley7003]

Terrific! I have never achieved the perfect Holly - too overworked - but you have a great technique there which produces a very realistic branch. Thank you 🙏 so much!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks so much Chris!

[@anoukearakal3075]

You make it so simple and inspired me to attempt...now I've got so excited I created quiet a few of them to make cards with. Lots of love to you🤗😇

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Brilliant!

[@arlenewalsh8671]

Thanks for the beautiful tutorial Harriet. This is on my list to try even though Christmas day has gone.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Have fun!

[@carolwetherington429]

I love this and the mistletoe. So pretty!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks so much Carol!

[@dilyssewell1907]

So beautifully simple, I love it. Thank you 😄

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks so much!

[@Obsidian_Iris_]

Lovely! Thanks! I think maple leaves are the most difficult of the usual leaves seen in simple drawings, papercrafts, etc.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Yes they are!

[@FreeSpirit350]

The best holly I’ve seen! Thank you so much for all these great tips, much appreciated 🙏🏼🎄

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Wow thanks so much!

[@debbieekes5718]

Will be trying this. Thank you!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Hope you like it!

[@sharonlane5647]

Thank you! I love this video! I have been wondering what I was doing wrong when I tried to paint the leaves. I even think I might be able to learn from this detailed lesson! This would make a lovely Christmas card. I appreciate your tutorials.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cathylambert7820]

I'm si glad to see your painting! I don't understand english but I try😉 Kiss from Belgium😘

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@patriciatrondsen6617]

Love ❤️ your work!! Just received your christmas 🎄 🐈 cats !!! Thanks love 💕 them!!!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Amazing, thanks!

[@bienveperez9165]

Precioso, me encanta, es un verdadero placer verte, muchísimas gracias. 🧡💛

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you

[@susanyee1]

Really enjoyed this tutorial. When I paint it looks so sloppy, but watching you, I see that slowing down may be the key for me!😂

[@deWintonPaperCo]

You can do it!

[@susanyee1]

@@deWintonPaperCo Thanks!

[@susanspeidel312]

From one teacher to another, Harriet you do a wonderful job of explaining, modeling techniques and how to hold the brush. Thank you! I also loved how your added dimension with dark color on the edges. However, I would like to also show the bright shine that holly leaves naturally have. How can that be done?

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Susan. The shine is acheived by leaving some unpainted space, just like I did on the berries

[@amyd7569]

Thank you for a great, easy video for painting Christmas cards! Still have a little more practice to do on the berries but the leaves turned out pretty well even on my first try.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Ah so pleased Amy

[@lilyannepaints]

Oh, this is lovely! I’m glad I didn’t attempt this for my Christmas cards because the beauty is in the details and I don’t think I could have done that for dozens of cards and done it justice. But I thinks this would make a lovely framed picture for my table. Thank you!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Ah that’s a nice idea too

[@cathyhaynes2700]

Very nice! I had holly trees surrounding the house I just sold. Someone planted them as shrubs before I got the house. It was a literal pain to clean my windows lol. But, they were stunning.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Oh wow!

[@samanthab3927]

Thanks!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thank you so much!

[@42Drewdy]

This is just beautiful!! I have a hard time adding shadows and not getting cauliflower spread.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Try having less water involved

[@42Drewdy]

@@deWintonPaperCo thank you for your suggestion. I will try it.

[@paulinehiggins8239]

Loved this but I watch you so often doing those beautiful fine lines, I just can’t do them. I have some really good sable fine line brushes but I just can’t get them to load and I don’t know if it’s the water or the paint that’s causing the problem. 💕

[@deWintonPaperCo]

So I use synthetic brushes. I’ve never got on with sable

[@elsiebarkess1954]

Great

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Elsie

[@norenebroyles283]

You continue to amaze me…love your teaching style. I'm going to give this a try. When you added the center of the leaves how did you blend the paint without creating blooms or picking up paint. I continue to struggle with blending…thanks so much!!

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Wonderful!

[@lorisartshare7691]

Thank you Harriet for this tutorial...I've always struggles with Holly Berries...although it seems to be a rather easy shape. I had a hard time with my first layer drying very light and dull, so I put a 'wash' over after and am not sure that helped or overworked it. I wonder how you kept yours so vibrant.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

I loved seeing your progress on insta! I have quite a lot of blue tone in my green which I think keeps the vibrancy up

[@lorisartshare7691]

@@deWintonPaperCo Thank you for you continued encouragement. You know I love your art and tutorials.

[@joanpringle-canning2834]

🎄💙💖🤗

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Joan!

[@01fatina]

💕❤️💗

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks!

[@annemiekebelgraver7400]

May I ask what paper do you use? Because I don’t see any tape.

[@deWintonPaperCo]

No tape. This paper is daler rowney cold presse

[@annemiekebelgraver7400]

@@deWintonPaperCo thanks!

[@rosemorales3135]

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Rose!

[@Gingy50]

It's pronounced "a liz are rin crimson " 😉

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Yes I know! I just never remember!

[@YanninaHolmes]

I love your paintings and your tutorials are excellent. My only negative is the background music while you paint, it is so repetitive and really gets on my nerves. You have such a sweet and calming voice, but I have to turn off the sound as the background music? is awful and just plays on my nerve endings, especially the sound that is very similar to a respirator breathing for someone.

[@neytcho]

Lovely

[@deWintonPaperCo]

Thanks Nick