Relaxing Watercolor: Shapes, Patterns, and Acrylic Accents

In this video tutorial, I explore the creative process of painting with watercolors, focusing on different-sized rectangles in a muted red, orange, purple, and blue color palette. I show how to mix and combine colors to create a harmonious and visually appealing piece. After letting the initial shapes dry, I dive back in with more watercolors for detailed mark-making and finish the piece with acrylic paint pens and gold accents. Join me for a relaxing and inspiring session as we follow where the art wants to go, creating beautiful patterns and designs along the way.
*Supplies I'm using in this video:
(Some of the links are affiliate links. If you use my link, I get a small commission, which will go toward my art supplies and to support this channel! I appreciate your support 🥰)
Masha’s Watercolors: www.etsy.com/s...
Denise Love set of favorites - sometimes in stock - www.etsy.com/l...
Hahnemuhle Collection 100% Cotton Watercolor Pad - amzn.to/43mlJGA
Princeton Artist Brush Neptune, Size 8 - amzn.to/3SznDRX
Posca - Ultra Fine to Fine Paint Marker Pens Set - amzn.to/3wLmIVR
29 5M Medium Posca Markers - amzn.to/3xtTxY8
Archer & Olive - www.archerando...
Kuretake GOLD MICA Ink - amzn.to/3oG04dt
Kakimori Brass Nib - shop.stlartsup...
Kakimori pen holder - shop.stlartsup...
Creative Abstract Watercolor book - amzn.to/3zlICA3
*My very favorite supplies that I might mention in every video:
*You can check out Skillshare here: www.skillshare...
*Check out my Amazon Store for more goodies: www.amazon.com...
*Check out my favorite Sketchbox products here: shopsketch.com...
*Get Sketchbox Subscription: www.getsketchb...
StencilGirl Stencil Club - www.stencilgir...
Joggles Stencils: shrsl.com/4e32b
*Facebook Group for Art Peeps: / deniselovecreativecomm...
Color Cube:
The Color Cube - sarahrenaeclar...
Favorite Paper:
Hahnemuhle Collection 100% Cotton Watercolor Pad - amzn.to/43mlJGA
Arches Watercolor Pad 9x12-inch - amzn.to/3PF9Jfi
12x16 Khadi Paper - amzn.to/3uOHJOG
8x8 Khadi Paper - amzn.to/3SVVKlL
Artway Indigo Journal - amzn.to/3SZngPf
Favorite Pens/pencils:
Faber-Castell Graphite Pencil Pitt Graphite Matt 14B - amzn.to/443RhB0
Faber-Castell Graphite Aquarelle Water-Soluble Single Pencil, 6B - amzn.to/3tmLA4h
STABILO All-STABILO -Black - amzn.to/3URofU8
Posca - Ultra Fine to Fine Paint Marker Pens Set - amzn.to/3wLmIVR
Archer & Olive - www.archerando...
Inks:
Kuretake GOLD MICA Ink - amzn.to/3oG04dt
Kuretake Gold mica Paste - amzn.to/3V2EpYZ
Kuretake Zig Gold Marker - shopsketch.com...
Favorite Paints:
Masha's Watercolors - selections vary - www.etsy.com/s...
Kuretake Watercolor Gansai Tambi 48 Color set - amzn.to/3qaThZW
Kuretake Watercolors Art Nouveau set - amzn.to/3ZWACgp
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint, Set of 60 Colors - amzn.to/3MxPKwp
Liquitex Heavy Body White - amzn.to/3wCyiCz
Favorite Brushes:
Raphael SoftAqua Brushes - amzn.to/3L5Bpq7
Princeton Artist Brush Neptune, Size 4 - amzn.to/3pkXPgg
Princeton Artist Brush Neptune, Size 8 - amzn.to/3SznDRX
Princeton Umbria Filbert 8 - shrsl.com/4fxsb
Pastels and blocks:
Sennelier - Savoir-Faire Sennelier Soft Pastels Half Stick Set - amzn.to/3YpHG69
SENNELIER Latour Spray Fixative Soft Pastels - amzn.to/3Pgsd5Z
Mungyo Gallery Artists' Soft Oil Pastels Set of 72 - amzn.to/3rf0E3v
SENNELIER D'Artigny Oil Pastel Fixative - amzn.to/3X9DfMg
Caran d'Ache Classic Neocolor II Water-Soluble Pastels - amzn.to/468tdPw
STABILO 3-in-1 - Wallet of 18 - amzn.to/3RqdnLs
Misc:
Artist tape - amzn.to/3Hf6fLP
Art Sponges - amzn.to/3L9xf0k
Jack Richeson Grey Matters Paper Palette (50 Sheets), 9" x 12 - amzn.to/423Q7o2
Hardboard art panels - you see me tape things down to these and they come in several different sizes: amzn.to/3C8EK3z
Ranger Heat It Craft Tool - amzn.to/3FVjNLn
Clear Sleeves Storage Bags - amzn.to/3R5GbIj
Zoie + Chloe Multipurpose Silicone Bowl Scraper - amzn.to/4b5iTKS
White Gesso - amzn.to/48rbhiW
Clear Gesso - amzn.to/4bH9GIO

[@windyhollow22]

Always a pleasure watching 🥰 I have the book, Creative Abstract Watercolor, it been fun painting the different projects from it. Thank you, Denise 💕🎨

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Wonderful! Thank you! 🥰

[@andreabrown8551]

So pretty Denise 😍. Very relaxing to watch too. Reminds me of a beautiful patchwork quilt. Certainly focuses the mind compared to lose abstract pieces, probably a good art practice to try the two styles. Thank you, always look forward to your new videos and different techniques you share here. 🙏🏻😍🙏🏻😍😘

[@2lilowlsstudio]

It does look a bit like a quilt! I love that. Thank you! 🥰

[@MsMoniqueWilson]

What a fun idea. Love how it turned out. And that book is on my Wishlist!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

You’ll love that book. Glad you enjoyed this! Thank you! 🥰

[@NellieandRuthDesigns]

An extremely fun video, Denise. TFS ...... mark making can be soooo relaxing. Another great piece of art. xo

[@2lilowlsstudio]

This is the kinda piece you can slow down and relax the mind! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🥰

[@catherineminor5323]

You never fail to inspire! I love this painting. The book looks interesting. Love the colors and the mark making. 😍😍😍😍😍

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you so much! 🥰

[@Lainers2000]

I’LL say it’s relaxing…I fell asleep half-way through the video ( I was up pretty early). The watercolors are so beautiful. Totally agree with you about the blue circles on the green. This piece reminds me of a structured totem , which I just love to do. It’s very pleasing to the eye. Have a great paint day, Denise🤗🤗🤗

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Hahaha!! You fell asleep!! 😝 too funny 😂. So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you! 🥰

[@Harper.s_Art]

😂 watching Denise Love’s videos and painting my own things has been my bedtime ritual since I had a spinal fusion in February’24…. I’m actually saving this one to watch tonight

[@TheTalljules]

@@Harper.s_Artme too. (Not the spinal fusion. I hope you are feeling better.). So watching videos is so calming to me. But gets the creative juices started.

[@patigc1]

This is a good one. Interestingly, I find this kind of piece hard to do. I think it's because it requires patience and all the mark making takes so much time. If I decide to try this again, I might do it in short sessions and not feel like I have to finish everything all at once. BTW, I got the book you mentioned here as well as Abstract Painting by Kate Ashton and The Pigment Trail by Debra Luker. All so beautiful and inspirational. These, along with my Color Cubes, keep me busy creating. Thanks for always sharing such wonderful recommendations.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

These are a bit harder, I agree… and take longer. Doing them in multiple sessions is a great idea! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🥰

[@suzanneartist1026]

Love this! The shapes make me happy 😍

[@2lilowlsstudio]

I'm so glad! Thank you! 🥰

[@LMAbstractArt]

How inspiring, this is a wonderful demonstration! Thanks for sharing ❤️

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you loved it! Thank you! 🥰

[@crunchypickles99]

It's so beautiful!! 😍 I love the colors you made too, especially that green! ❤

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@junimondin]

I enjoy watching. And tomorrow i have some relaxing time and i will give it a try. Thank you for this Inspiration. ❤❤❤

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Have fun! 🎨🎨🎨 Thank you! 🥰

[@deborahruth5072]

Just what I needed. I haven't been around or painting due to a turn of events with home owners ins. Now I needed art and have to have it for my own sanity. Thank you for all you do. You are appreciated.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

You’ve really made my day. Thank you! 🥰

[@reginamalm6263]

Love masha watercolor!! I had half the watercolor in your favorite set from a previous 16 set so she work w me and made me a custom palette and it was work between kids in camp and dr appts and she was so helpful and thoughtful . She built me a gorgeous group of colors. I love your tutorials. The days when I feel worn down or have new paints , your tutorials are a great way for me to paint without feeling overwhelmed. Plus your accent makes me feel like I’m w my family back in McAllister, OK.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

I really love all of her watercolors. She is so creative with those and her palettes! So glad you enjoyed this one! Thank you! 🥰

[@chantalm7110]

J'aime beaucoup merci Denise

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🥰

[@anastasiarose9003]

This is so beautiful and relaxing to watch. It will be a great way to get my hand back in with my watercolors without having a huge expectation of myself. I have some issues with my hands, so doing what I usually do isn't going to work. However this definitely will. By the way, I love hard lines a lot of the time. There's a time and a place for all different aspects of watercolors. Thank you very much for videotaping this and sharing it with us.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

These are the perfect way to dip your toes back into watercolor! Have fun!! 🎨 Thank you! 🥰

[@doloresparra4604]

Wow! I am going to try this idea, you make it look so easy.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Have fun! 🎨 Thank you! 🥰

[@andreaharutunian3838]

Love it, great colors 🎉🎉🎉

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@robygayle9449]

I love this one. Thank you

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad! Thank you! 🥰

[@lorielong8284]

That is the book that got me started not too long ago. Then I went on KZbin for tutorials and found you! I've been playing with the colors and it is so inspiring and mindful, just love all of this.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Wonderful! Thank you! 🥰

[@gloschurman8775]

Love this idea

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@MegUSN52]

Out of all the videos I have watched on your KZbin and Skillshare, this is one of my favorites, though I do love your journal-making ones on Skillshare, too. This one seemed to have more purpose than some of your other pieces, and I could visualize the direction you were going in. The color choices were just gorgeous.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you loved this one! Thank you! 🥰

[@ann-marielofberg1159]

Inspiring, I actually ordered that book and choosed as a birthdaygift from my mom. Hope it arrive soon!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

You’ll love it! Happy Birthday!! 🎉🧁🎨

[@adumelial]

I was so glad for you to bring out Kate's book? Yayeee...lols!? Your painting technique was so reminding me of her chapters on her watercolor technique, Denise? So cool you became deliberate in this piece!? I would so love to see you do one like this with your DS watercolors as I just got their dot card and need to swatch and decide what colors I might want in the future? I LOVE LOVE watercolors!! ~❤~

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you! 🥰

[@rhondasavage8590]

I realize I will gravitate towards this kind of work when I feel like my life is spinning out of control. Its my minds way of gaining a sense of control.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

It’s a great exercise to calm the mind! 🎨🎨🎨

[@denisegribble6916]

Beautiful work Denise. Really enjoyed watching a more mindful, determined and refined look while still being intuitive and abstract. Love the colour pallet as well.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you enjoyed this one! Thank you! 🥰

[@sandrift]

I bet you could use up that gold ink by using it with a small spotter or detail/liner brush!

[@bonnerdebbie]

This type of painting is one of my favorites. I love all the mark making!! Stunning paint day!!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@giovannascotti488]

Lovely!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@1982MsCara]

One of my most favorites! I love the watercolor markings. ❤

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you loved it!! Thank you! 🥰

[@ChantelleArts]

This is so satisfying ☺☺

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@Alignedwithmyself]

Ooh. I know what I'm doing today. My last chance to play before everything in my art/dog/utility room has to be moved out for new flooring. Going to make the most of the time. I have that book as well. Xxx

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Have fun!! 🎨🎨🎨 Thank you! 🥰

[@sheilaschmid7768]

Painting now….perfect Sunday afternoon surprise! Love your piece…I seem to fail in the precision department so I’m just going with wiggly edges 😂

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Haha! I like wiggly edges 🤗🎨😁

[@Jim49265]

Love this tutorial. And quite different from the Color Cube challenges you do a lot of; not complaining mind you lol. This will be my next project 😁

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Have fun! 🎨🎨🎨 glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! 🥰

[@user-el4fn1xl2c]

One of my favourites. Just love playing with watercolour. Thank you for showing us more ways of fun with mark making ❤

[@2lilowlsstudio]

You are so welcome! 🥰

[@emilywilliams9916]

And you my day!!❤

[@TammieWardArt]

Yeah!!!! When I saw today's project. Oh wow.❤❤❤ you now want me to clear my watetcolor area up to make 1 or 20 of this style painting. I love the abstract book. She really breaks down how to do beautiful projects herself. Very detailed in describing how to make beautiful paintings. Your choice of colors is amazing. I am hoping next week I get my 45 piece set from Ocean Paper in Hawaii. They are handmade as well and I see reviews where they are fantastic. I chose 3, 15 different color combos so I am excited for them. But today I will settle for daniel smiths, thank you for sharing this one today. It really is inspiring. At least to me, your bff in watercolors, lol. ❤❤❤

[@2lilowlsstudio]

I have a set of the Ocean Paper watercolors. They are beautiful!! You’ll love those. I have hesitated bringing them out for KZbin because they are a bit expensive. 😳😂🤗

[@TammieWardArt]

@2lilowlsstudio well I just jumped right in buying the OP watercolors. LOL but I still intend on using my kuretake ones. They have been the best so far matching the color cube. Being ill sparked my 2024 buying spree. I also just received the Holbien seasonal gouche sets. I located a great price from a Japanese company. Looking forward to swatching them. I'm hoping I can color cube with them as well. I think I now have enough for my kids to inherit. LOL 😆 🤣 😂

[@jodinicholas890]

This is one of my favorite pieces you've made so far. Love your videos!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Glad you loved it!! Thank you! 🥰

[@dianaclaus629]

Love that you used Marsha’s. I forget about them and they are so lovely.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

They are lovely! Thank you! 🥰

[@yovamccoy2806]

I love this piece. Thank you for explaining how to create color unity by color mixing. Thank you for mentioning that Masha's restocks your favorites on occasion. I was able to snag a set today. I am looking forward to playing with them.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you enjoyed this one… eeek!! Hope you love the Masha’s set!! 🤗🎨☺️

[@dreamwoodsbutterfly]

That set of watercolors is just so pretty! I love the colors!. Love how this one developed and is just beautiful!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Those watercolors are really cool! So glad you enjoyed this one. Thank you! 🥰

[@susanstemmet607]

This is definitely something I must try. The page is really great. Love it.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you loved it! Thank you! 🥰

[@mell3749]

just started playing with this book. great warmup exercises for days when you dont want to think

[@2lilowlsstudio]

It is fantastic for that! ☺️

[@avirtualcanvas7584]

Denise the final piece is stunning,I loved the format of the blocks or tiles and he formation thaet became and then they realy came to life wih all the marks and colours you addeded ontop and the gold accents too. The way you used colour harmony to bring the piece together really worked,the piece invokes morocan or maybe portuguese tiles as well. (matt) P.s I have that Creative Abstract Watercolour book as well,and it is a stuning book and so inspiring and ts realy well written too.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

It does kinda look Moroccan a bit! I love that. Thank you! 🥰

[@avirtualcanvas7584]

@@2lilowlsstudio Denise do you know about 'Aquapasto' medium? its a medium you can add to water colour to make it thicker,in effect impasto painting but with watercolour,but it means you can use tools to make marks in the thicked watercolour paint,it's great for mixed media as well,but it allows you to use watercolour in a whole new way (matt)

[@scrapbagstudios]

Love it! Thanks for sharing this. xoxo

[@2lilowlsstudio]

You are so welcome! ☺️

[@emilywilliams9916]

Thanks!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Eeeek! You’ve really made my day! Thank you! 🥰

[@alineroberts]

I just loved today's video! Each rectangle kept getting more and more intricate. For me, the end result turned out to be these happy little Turkish rugs (lol). 💕

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Oooh! Turkish rug!! I love that! Thank you! 🥰

[@Catefn]

Enjoy your videos and learn a lot. Thank you!

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@jjsmakeupobsession323]

I love that Abstract watercolor book! I paint on my kitchen table, so I have the book in my kitchen. Of coarse I need to protect my table, so I have plastic I lay on the table to protect it.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

It is a great book! ☺️

[@amyb82941]

💜💜💜

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰

[@amherst88]

An inspiring adventure as always Denise -- I confess I couldn't deal with the sense of confined areas but I love watching you do it! ❤On a different note, is there a Daiso store in Atlanta? It's kind of a high-class Japanese dollar store (most is $1.75) but there are a lot of really interesting papers and art-making paraphernalia including Kuretake things -- if there's one in your neck of the woods it's worth checking out.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

So glad you enjoyed this. Doesn’t look like there is a Daiso store around here. Sounds cool! Thank you! 🥰

[@karenadams1889]

Love, love, love this piece! The colors, the shapes & all the marks. Where do you get your boards? They look like the boards with clips & carrying cutouts, but I cannot find JUST the boards anywhere.

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰 Those are hardboard art panels and they come in several different sizes: amzn.to/3C8EK3z

[@glynismccartneyintricatesc5281]

🇨🇦🌞🌸❤️

[@2lilowlsstudio]

Thank you! 🥰