Therapeutic Watercolor Blobs to Perfectly Imperfect Pumpkins

Watercolor blobs! I LOVE them! They’re another one of those things that are surprisingly therapeutic to make. And transforming them into pumpkins? Well, that’s more perfectly imperfect brain-pleasing fun.

This week I’m also testing some inexpensive watercolor options for you, and jumping back into some arty inspiration from last year’s 52-Week Art Journal Journey.

Welcome to BETTER WITH ART. I’m Melinda and I’m here to encourage you to reclaim your creativity and practice creative self-care with weekly small-art prompts that can be done in an art journal or on paper if you don’t have one.

If you don’t have one, you can keep your art in a folder. One of the benefits of an art journal is the privacy to experiment and express yourself without fear of what others will think.

If you’re ready to invest in one that’s ideal for my simple form of art journaling click here for my top value-for-the-money recommendation on Amazon. I use it in my prompt videos, and for the art journaling groups at the library where I work. I LOVE the paper. It works well with the dry, wet, and layered applications I use it for. If searching for something different than this three-pack, remember the paper needs to be heavyweight and preferably hot-press because although I love the texture of cold-press it’s really hard on markers and pens. This one is 140lb/300gsm.

In this video I try out two inexpensive Basic 8 watercolor sets for you.
Click here for my new favorite, Prang.
I wasn’t crazy about the Cra-Z-Art, but here’s the link, because it costs even less. You don’t seem to get as much paint in each pan either.

I recommend several different less expensive brands of water-resistant fine-tip markers/pens. Sale times vary. Here are two I’ve had good success with (click for Amazon link):
MARTCOLOR fineliners (in 12 sizes)
Guangna fineliners

If you use any of my Amazon links and make a qualifying purchase, I will make a small commission as an Amazon associate. This does not affect your price, but supports my sharing my healthy art habit with others. So thanks if you do!

If you’d like to join an encouraging community of art-makers at various stages of our creative self-care art-making journeys, click here to sign up to receive a link to the private BETTER WITH ART Facebook group.
You’ll also receive no-more-than-weekly emails from me.

To stay up-to-date with upcoming online and in-person workshops, demonstrations, and shows where you can make art with me, see or purchase my art, or purchase my art products or art jewelry and perhaps meet me, click here to sign up for updates. The online Seeking Solace Translucent Layer Collage Workshop is coming soon!

If you enjoy this video, you can scroll down to the bottom of the description on YouTube for more watercolor fun & relaxation!

MAKE ART, FRIEND!