I haven't always had a symbiotic relationship with painting.

In fact, watercolors used to give me a TON of anxiety.

Back in the day, I held a strong belief that nothing I made was worth the very paper I painted on. I'd get so stressed about making something amazing that I'd choke up and bail before my brush ever touched the paper.

But there were two main "Aha!" moments that changed my unhealthy perspective.

The first: I realized I could paint with watercolors in my journal.

This was a game changer for me.

For the first time ever, I could relax because my goal wasn't to make high art -- my goal was to make a functional, but pretty, page. This took the pressure off and let me have fun with watercolors in a more relaxed environment.

And I started painting on a consistent schedule, which was a double whammy.

The second: I discovered that watercolor sketchbooks exist.

Thanks to my new watercolor journal obsession, I started searching for journals that could better withstand the abuse of watercolors. The wet medium can be quite harsh on journal paper, and I needed thicker paper.

My search led to the discovery that a whole genre of sketchbooks exists for wet media. I found a variety of options ranging from watercolor paper to mixed media paper -- all offering a whole new world of possibilities.

Once I started using a watercolor sketchbook, I could finally play and experiment with my painting without worrying about trying to make something amazing.

I could just goof around and learn without all the intense pressure.

It was a huge relief.

Both of these Aha moments were born from reframing my thinking and approaching watercolor differently.

Once I figured out that painting with watercolors didn't need to be so stuffy and rigid, I could finally paint things freely.

If you're feeling stuck and frustrated with watercolors, it's time to shift your perspective and try another approach.

The Foxsy Watercolor Academy can give you the fresh new angle that you need to finally crack the code.

Receive professional guidance, learn from top-notch instructors, and practice with dozens of step-by-step projects to watch your painting skills bloom.

See why the Watercolor Academy is the change in perspective you need to finally get unstuck and become the artist you want to be.

​Check out the Watercolor Academy.​

Cheers,

Shelby Abrahamsen
Foxsy Co-Founder

P.S. Wanting to learn how to draw? Don't forget to register for tomorrow's Drawing for Beginners class! It's free to register, so feel free to invite a friend!