Art Supplies

Annie Mason
- 2 min read

Gift your crafter | artist MOM

My mom loved crafts. She was a professional cake decorator by trade but also loved floral crafts, knitting, crochet, wreath making, and anything she saw that looked FUN to make. Our basement area shelves were stacked full of boxes of yarn, candle wax, needles, and ribbon; you get the picture.

I know, I know...it's hard to buy for someone else's wish list, especially if they have tools that they love. That's when a few questions to the artist/crafter in your life might be helpful. The products below are some of my favorites and I think universal in the art field.

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Active Algae Lightweight Moisturizer

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National Geographic Kids Print Magazine

Annie Mason
- 2 min read

Simply spring, flowers sing.

If you love spring flowers these painting tutorials might get you started with trying some of your own.

Magnolia pen & ink, and watercolor by Annie Mason

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1. Simple Flowers

Materials: (links are my favorites)

Simple flowers. It doesn't have to be that hard. MY MOST POPULAR Idea Pin on Pinterest:

click here ⬇️

A Watercolor Lesson Even YOU Can Do

This IDEA PIN currently has 1,011 Saves, has 13,678 clicks, and has 525, 620 Impressions

What does that tell you? It tells me that people like easy, and "I can do this" art.

Simple Flowers samples

2. Zinnia

Work in simple shapes. Find a real zinnia or a zinnia photo (check copyright) and have it handy to use while you are painting. This flower is basically a big circle, a stem, and big leaves. Remember, it doesn't need to be "perfect". Have fun.

Zinnia flower by Annie Mason Winsor & Newton travel kit

3. Poppies

More detailed than the zinnia, but in this case, I start with a light pencil drawing, then trace over the lines with a black ink pen. You need to let the ink fully dry before you start the watercolor paint. Add the bright reds and greens, and it's like adult coloring books

Poppies by Annie Mason. Pen, ink, and watercolor

4. Stencil flowers

You can always use stencil shapes for flowers. I used a template of petal shapes in this video.

Supplies: Pencil, Watercolor paints, brush, stencils.

Stencil flowers (0:24 sec)

Why...it's a butterfly. Stencil watercolor by Annie Mason Pen and ink, watercolor.

5. Go Abstract

A flower is a flower. The shapes change, colors change. Parts stay the same.

“Nature is a teacher whose wisdom we can learn, and without which any human life is vain and incomplete". ~ William Wordsworth

Once you recognize this...pick up your paintbrush, sing, and dance:

Abstract Flower (0:38 sec)

6. Translucent Flowers

This last sample lets you see how wonderful watercolor's translucent quality can be. It will take a little more practice and the most important factor is to let the watercolor DRY COMPLETELY before adding another layer. The end result is a visual delight.

Waiting between layers is the key. (0:36 sec)