Fall is a season of warmth, even as the temperatures dip. It's a time for cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and of course, vibrant fall foliage! To celebrate the beauty of this season, we'll be diving into a simple yet stunning watercolor artwork using Benicci's premium Watercolor Brush Pens. These vibrant, rich color watercolor markers can be used in a variety of ways, like dry brush painting without water (calligraphy, sketching & coloring) or layering and blending with water. So, grab your art supplies and let's embrace the spirit of fall!
🧑🎨 Level: Beginner
🕑 Estimated time: 20 min
Materials:
- Benicci Watercolor Brush Pens Set of 26
- Watercolor paper
- Pencil
- Salt granules
- Refillable Brush Pen with water (included in the Benicci set)
- Fan brush
Step 1: Pencil Sketch
Begin by sketching a light, circular outline for your wreath on the watercolor paper. Inside the circle, mark the position for your lettering, “Fall Love” (or any other). Then, around the circle, lightly sketch the autumn elements - leaves, acorns, and branches. Remember, this sketch will serve as your guide, so don't stress about perfection.
☝️Quick Tip: Keep your pencil strokes light. This makes them easier to hide or adjust during the painting process.
Step 2: Painting with a Salt Twist
Before you dive into coloring, sprinkle a few salt granules onto specific areas of your sketched wreath where you'd like to achieve a rough, textured effect. Now, choose the desired autumn colors from your Benicci Watercolor Brush Pens – yellows, oranges, reds, and ochers. Begin painting the wreath, making sure to paint over the salt granules.
For a softer, more watercolor-like effect, use the Refillable Brush Pen filled with water. This tool will become your best friend during this project. Lightly brush over the freshly applied colors to blend and spread them, creating a beautiful gradient effect typical of watercolor paintings. The brush allows for easy control over the water's flow, ensuring that your colors are vibrant yet seamlessly blended.
💡Interesting Fact: The salt technique is known as the "Salt Lifting Method." The salt absorbs the water around it, creating a beautiful speckled pattern, which adds depth and texture to your watercolor painting.
Step 3: Hand Lettering
Using the dark brown brush pen, slowly and meticulously hand-letter the phrase “Fall Love” in the center of your wreath. If you're new to calligraphy, practice on a separate piece of paper first.
☝️Pro Tip: For a unique touch, consider varying your letter sizes or styles. You can also sketch a few practice words with the watercolor pens to decide on the perfect shade of brown.
Step 4: The Final Touches
Once you're satisfied with your painting, let it dry completely. This step is essential before brushing off the salt granules. Using your fan brush (like from Benicci Paint Brush Set 12), gently brush off the dried salt crystals from your artwork. You'll be left with a gorgeous, textured pattern! Finally, touch up with brown and black brush pens to add shadows and depth where needed.
And there you have it – a stunning, cozy, autumn-themed watercolor masterpiece made effortlessly with Benicci's Watercolor Brush Pens. Every artwork is unique, just like every leaf in autumn.
For more detailed visuals and guidance, don't forget to watch our short video tutorial on crafting this beautiful piece. Keep practicing, stay inspired, and happy painting!
Looking for more seasonal art ideas? Stay tuned to our blog, and always remember: every season has its color, and Benicci has the tools to help you capture them all!
