How to Paint It! is a book of six lesson steps to paint 100 easy masterpieces from animals and botanicals, to food and drink. From first washes to final details, these quick and fun projects are designed to help you unwind, and require no drawing skills, just trace the outlines and jump straight into the painting.
Respect space of wildlife (don’t use flash photography nor use magnifying glasses, which can harm creatures in sunlight). Don’t play birdsong, as this can confuse and attract predators. Use with recycled art paper.
Vegan Watercolour Paints and Brushes
Here are paints free from animal ingredients like ox fall, Kandahar ink from shellac, or bone black. Use with recycled art paper.
These handmade vegan watercolours are made in Germany, sold in a pretty tin. At end of use, you can send back the tin for the creator to fill with new colours, using the discount coupon. The paints are mixed with a homemade binding agent made from dried resin. Keep away from children and pets, due to ingredients and choking hazards.
For (supervised) children, Honeysticks Watercolour Paints are made with food-grade ingredients, sold in a pot with a wooden paintbrush.
Quality Vegan Watercolour Art Brushes
deWinton (Yorkshire) makes good synthetic paint brushes, created from sablene, a unique synthetic fibre that mimics properties of sable hair (made by killing weasels, ferrets or minks).
Run paintbrushes under water (agitate lightly) to remove adhesive coating before use, never leave brushes in water. Lay flat to dry, to preserve shape.
Choose from:
- Miniature brushes for painting detailed work.
- Bloom Brush Set for painting flowers.
- A watercolour bundle set or watercolour brush set
A one-time purchase from Canada, The Wonder Forest paintbrushes are also free from animal fur, with ultra-pointed tips for incredible details, buy a set or individually including a wide wash brush (with bristles that snap back, without fraying).
The range includes a mop brush, petal brush and dagger brush (for calligraphic strokes). Recycle plastic protective packaging at supermarket bag bins, if kerbside does not collect.
Natural Earth Paint Watercolour Brushes also use synthetic bristles for watercolour painting. Made with sustainably-grown wood handles and varnished with a nontoxic plant-based resin, the bristles mimic mongoose hair (a perfect cross between sable and hog in softness, but are animal-kind). The set of 4 includes:
- Filbert (curved bristle top) #6
- Round (fine tip) #8
- Filbert (curved bristle top) #12
- Bright (rectangular bristle shape) #16.
A Cotton Watercolour Pad
This watercolour pad is made from cotton cold-pressed paper at 300gsm thickness, to hold large expansive washes, and provides a great surface for detailed painting.
Natural Earth Paint offers creamy tempura-like paint powders, to mix with water. Sold in recycled paper bags secured with twine packaging. These natural paints will gradually wear away with the elements, so are not waterproof. Try to use as soon as mixed. Sold in 9 colours. From age 3 up (always supervise). Everything is vegan (bar the beeswax face paints).
Boulder Colours (US) offers vegan watercolours paints, in various colour palettes using locally sourced ingredients.
Painting Projects to Calm & Soothe
Watercolour for the Soul shows how to create relaxing art with projects from gift tags and bookmarks, to small and larger art to display in your home, or give as gifts.
Quick Sketch Paintings in 30 Days
Ink and Watercolour is a practical book by a seasoned watercolour teaching, helping you to build your skills over 30 days, to create stunning ink and wash drawings. The book includes 30 projects.
A Whimsical World of Woodland Watercolours
Watercolour in the Woods offers beginner-friendly tutorials of Beatrix Potter style cottage core art, from pencil sketches to charming art projects like peacock butterflies, wild strawberries and field mice. Includes 30 projects.