As a Florida-based watercolor artist, I find endless inspiration in the lush landscapes and vibrant wildlife of the Sunshine State. My watercolor paintings capture the essence of Florida’s coastal charm, and I’m excited to take you behind the brush to explore the techniques, stories, and creative processes behind some of my most noteworthy watercolor pieces.
Each painting reflects my connection to Florida’s natural beauty, blending simplicity with the elegance of Palm Beach style. In this post, I’ll be diving into the creation of four of my signature watercolor artworks: the Pink Flamingo, Sea Turtle with Monstera Palm Leaves, Palm Tree, and Monstera Palm Leaf.
1. Watercolor Pink Flamingo: Embracing Simplicity with Wet-on-Wet Technique
The Watercolor Pink Flamingo holds a special place in my heart for its iconic representation of Florida’s wildlife. This simple piece features a single flamingo, painted in soft pinks on a plain white background.
For this painting, I used the wet-on-wet technique, where the paper is dampened before applying the watercolor. This allows the colors to flow and blend naturally, creating soft transitions and a gentle, ethereal effect. The goal was to capture the flamingo’s grace and elegance without overwhelming the viewer with detail. Sometimes, less is more, and this piece embodies that philosophy.
2. Watercolor Sea Turtle with Monstera Palm Leaves: A Fusion of Techniques
The Watercolor Sea Turtle with Monstera Palm Leaves is a true fusion of two separate watercolor elements that I painted individually. Each part of this artwork, the sea turtle and monstera leaves, was carefully created and digitally merged into one print.
This piece showcases the versatility of watercolor paintings and the power of modern digital techniques. By painting the sea turtle and leaves separately, I had the freedom to experiment with composition and layering before finalizing the design. The result is a vibrant celebration of Florida’s coast, combining two favorite subjects: sea life and botanical elements.
3. Watercolor Palm Tree: Minimalism Meets Nature
Like the pink flamingo, my Watercolor Palm Tree embraces minimalism. This piece was also created using the wet-on-wet technique, producing soft, fluid transitions in the palm fronds that give the tree a light and airy feel.
The simple composition—a single palm tree on a clean white background—allows the viewer to focus on the tree’s natural beauty. Florida’s palm trees are iconic, and I aimed to capture their elegance in the simplest way possible.
4. Monstera Palm Leaf: A Detailed Botanical Study
Lastly, my Watercolor Monstera Palm Leaf is a detailed study of one of my favorite botanical elements. The monstera leaf, with its distinctive shape and intricate veins, symbolizes the tropical charm that inspires much of my work.
This painting, like the others, is set against a plain white background, allowing the leaf’s detailed textures to shine. The Monstera Palm Leaf painting was eventually incorporated into my Watercolor Sea Turtle with Monstera Palm Leaves print, where it added a fresh, botanical contrast to the sea turtle’s soft textures.
Capturing the Elegance of Florida in Watercolor Paintings
Each of these pieces holds a unique story and represents a different aspect of my artistic journey as a watercolor artist in Florida. Blending traditional watercolor techniques with digital tools allows me to create artwork that is both timeless and innovative.
I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes looks at my creative process in future blog posts, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can explore these prints with my watercolor paintings in my shop. If you’re looking for a piece of Florida’s beauty to bring into your home, these prints are a perfect reflection of coastal charm with a Palm Beach flair. Tap on the “Shop” button above to explore more.
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