Category Archives: Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #164

July 20, 2026 – 7:03 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #163:

Peaches are my favorite summertime fruit, especially South Carolina ones! I used Daniel Smith watercolors for this demo and started with Hansa Yellow Medium.

After that layer dried, I painted the stem area with a very thin glaze of Rose of Ultramarine and Quinacridone Rose. Next I wet the rest of the peach and added more Quinacridone Rose, being careful to let the yellow underpainting show in a few spots.

I waited for this layer to dry and then rewet the area to add a hint of shadow and texture with a little more Rose of Ultramarine on a damp piece of sea sponge. Next I painted the leaf with Sap Green and scratched in the veins with the end of a metal paint tube. I used a mixture of Bloodstone Genuine and French Ultramarine with a hint of Quinacridone Rose for the cast shadow. The final step was to add the stem and a few darker touches with watercolor pencils.

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Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #163

June 20, 2026 – 7:12 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #162:

I started by getting the paper wet and painting the sky. While it was still damp, I used yellow to paint the first layer of the foliage. Next I painted the ground and distant trees. After these dried, I added another layer of trees. I waited for this to dry before painting the second foliage layer and starting the tree trunk.

When these were dry, I darkened the foliage in places and added more definition and detail to the tree trunk.

I used a stiff fan brush and darker green to suggest cast shadows under the tree. The final step was to add more detail with a 05 Micron pen. It’s fun to scribble in the foliage!

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Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #162

May 20, 2026 – 10:16 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #161:

Here’s the inspiration for this mystery technique! First I painted the background foliage. Next I applied clear contact paper over the tree hole shape before painting the bark. While the paint was still wet, I used the end of a metal paint tube to scratch in linear marks, then sprinkled on some kosher salt for additional texture.

After this layer dried, I brushed off the salt and removed the contact paper.

I also used contact paper to save the mushroom shape before painting the tree hole with the same techniques. When this layer was completely dry, I removed the contact paper and painted the mushroom.

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