Practice with Me - Realistic Fur Techniques - Easy Watercolor Exercises

In this video we'll do simple watercolor exercises to practice fur mark making.
If you want to learn how to paint a cat, a dog, or any animal, this is the easiest way to paint fur with watercolor. If you ever wanted an achievable watercolor workout that allows you to practice the following technical skills all in one this is a great way to practice! We'll look at...
Brushstrokes
Wet-on-dry
Wet-on-wet
Timing
Softening and Blending
Painting long fur
Painting short fur
How to paint in layers to build texture, color, and value
It's great fun, quick to do, and seems like nothing more than quick doodles. But in this video I will show you the importance of practicing like this, and how it helps you to improve your technique in the areas above.
If you are a beginner and want to paint dreamy yet realistic animals (and sometimes other things) here are some of my thoughts for you... / 82080110
If you would like to try out a free sample tutorial of how I teach go to www.rachelsstudio.com/beginnerbunny for a start to finish tutorial - I promise not to spam you when you join as a free member!
If you're interested in learning watercolor from me more closely, join me on Patreon at / rachelsstudio or buy individual tutorials at www.rachelsstudio.com/watercolortutorials or join my KZbin membership at / @rachelparkervarner
My Patreon has the most extensive collection of tutorials and is a great deal because you get access to most ($8) or all ($13) of them when you join! I'm still building my collections on KZbin, although I have a lot available to that membership as well.
Join my community of watercolor artists on fb at / rachelswatercolorworkshop to share your work, get feedback about your paintings and enjoy seeing others' art too!
***************Free Stuff***************
Full Length, Patreon Style Black Cat watercolor painting Tutorial with Traceable, Free to the Public!
• How to Paint a Wet in ...
For free downloads, visit these pages, join as a member for free, and then get access to…
www.rachelsstudio.com/pumpkins
www.rachelsstudio.com/santa
www.rachelsstudio.com/houdini
www.rachelsstu...
www.rachelsstu...
My favorite supplies(contain affiliate links and I make a small commission when you purchase something):
My favorite shirt to paint in, lounge in, eat out in - it has a built in bra and I LOVE it! shrsl.com/41may
Paint Puck - bit.ly/3ktdbcl
PAPER
Hippie Crafter Paper - tinyurl.com/29...
140 lb Cold Press Arches Watercolor Paper - bit.ly/38CA8r8
Fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper - (Cheaper Option for paper) - bit.ly/39wUVwN
PAINT
M Graham Napthol Red - bit.ly/3OPm667
Winsor & Newton Colors... - Burnt Sienna - Cobalt Blue - Ultramarine Blue - Winsor Violet - Green Gold - bit.ly/3LvzJFb
Daniel Smith Colors: -DS Lamp Black - DS Holbein Aureolin - Daniel Smith Permanent Green Light - bit.ly/3y3FqGF
Wisp brush set - amzn.to/2MMbw4A
Silver black velvet brushes - I bought the set of three with the 3/4 oval.
bit.ly/3F00wHi
Asian Sumi Hake Brush Set - bit.ly/3OMIWv3
Scrubber Brushes- bit.ly/3rXGt7h
Princeton Velvetouch Size 4 Long Round - bit.ly/3s1BWRl
Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid - bit.ly/3vWq8Rk
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen in Black bit.ly/3vtHrKw
White Gel Pen- bit.ly/3s4lfol
Kemper Fluid Writing Pen - tinyurl.com/27...
I've also been using Holbein Soft Tape from Holbein. I have found if I leave this tape on my paper too long, it leave sticky residue. Otherwise, I LOVE it! bit.ly/3OMGJ2J
Elmer's Foam Board -. bit.ly/3F9v0qv
Pallette - bit.ly/3F0DGzk
Micron Archival Pens - Micron archival pens - tinyurl.com/4w...
Dot or Splat Spray Bottles -Stampendous has one at bit.ly/3MFyWlj but I haven't tried that one yet. www.artacademy... You have to scroll down and look for 'dot bottles'
everettswaterc... also has dot spray bottles. I think I like these a LITTLE better than the Tom Lynch ones.
Makeup Organizer I use to store art supplies - amzn.to/3cnam9D
Storage Bench for Art Supplies - amzn.to/32IJCdU
Gel Floor Mat amzn.to/3wyIF5X
5 inch Squeegee - amzn.to/2RjVzEE
Credit Card sized squeegee - amzn.to/3uvV88w
Samsung Galaxy - I use a Galaxy to film most of my videos! amzn.to/2IBXL5Y
SanDisk Storage for all my footage! amzn.to/3tZUYpe
Epson Surecolor P900 Printer - amzn.to/2UoSvFs
Epson Velvet Paper - (paper I use for prints) amzn.to/2K3eNKV
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[@miriamsargent3428]

The black and white long-haired cat, Felix, is like the beautiful cat I once owned. His name was also Felixe, and his mum was what we in England call a Torteshell cat, much like the one in your painting.

[@rachelparkervarner]

Your Felixe must have been gorgeous!

[@gailcunningham182]

Good informative video, Rachel! Honestly, it's the first time I've seen an instructor share so much info about brush technique, which is so important to know!! I think some people have no idea you can actually use the side of the brush or smash it to make great marks. I have a lot of old brushes that I've collected over the years, I think I may give some of them haircuts to see what I can create!!! lol ♥

[@rachelparkervarner]

Thanks Gail! Yes, I've cut so many brushes, scrubbed them on concrete, boiled plastic ones, etc etc to get great texture - I'm like that evil kid in Toy Story who maimed his toys for pleasure haha

[@sylphofthewildwoods5518]

I've got a lot of old brushes too. I've considered doing things to them, trim them up like the Rake, be easy to do. Mostly, I've just used them for mixing. Perhaps I'll get out the exacto knives and trim a few up. 😊

[@jaefrankindy]

I got that brush for doing these courses! Going to get started soon!

[@cindysimons2772]

Thank you for this lesson.

[@roberta207]

Thank you so much Rachel! So interesting🙏 and wonderful painting as usual❤

[@rachelparkervarner]

Thank you so much Roberta!

[@fuzzydragons]

great examples of how to create the different fur types 🙂

[@rachelparkervarner]

Thank you! 😊Always enjoy seeing your comments : )

[@suel4269]

Lots of great tips. I have a bamboo brush like that but haven’t thought to use it splayed out.

[@rachelparkervarner]

It works great!

[@stampinturtles]

love the Facebook group. So much encouragement!

[@rachelparkervarner]

Yes it really is a lot of fun!

[@CayGjertson]

This is amazing! How did you discover the flexibility of a bamboo brush? Who knew you could do fur texture with it? I am impressed!

[@rachelparkervarner]

I bought it because it's cheap and fell in love with it!

[@simply-watercolors]

Verry nice and detailed explanation❤

[@rachelparkervarner]

Thank you!

[@klani1309]

Great Tutorial! ty!

[@rachelparkervarner]

My pleasure!

[@DeborahNesbitt-p8w]

You can also use a wisp brush,right?

[@rachelparkervarner]

Yes but a whisp brush won't make a point

[@sylphofthewildwoods5518]

Rachel, what size is your calligraphy brush?

[@rachelparkervarner]

Probably an 8

[@sylphofthewildwoods5518]

@@rachelparkervarner Thank you, I thought so. I looked and I only saw a size 6 sold individually. I think I would prefer the 8. I'm sure they have them, I will continue to look. Ty

[@melissaphilbin6385]

Can't hear

[@rachelparkervarner]

Hmmm, you can't turn up the volume?