Some of the best brushes for watercolor can still be budget friendly, and what is what you will find in this post. I paint most things with a round size 4 Cotman or Princeton brush. I also love their liners for fine details; and have recently started using the FW markers with watercolors or inks inside for all my fine line work so they made this list as well.
Category Archives: gouache
All about Gouache Paint Traditional and Acryla
All about Gouache
The time has come to tell you all about Gouache. I’ve included everything you need to know in this blog post, including what’s the difference between gouache and watercolor, what paper to use with gouache, how do you pronounce gouache, acryla gouache vs. traditional gouache, and much much more!
Free Thank You Cards to Print
Just a little Thank You for you taking the time to vote for my work on Minted! Free thank you cards to print below; just click on the link to download the pdf. voting is open now until Sept 8 for the Minted x Domino round 2 challenge – my entries are listed with links on the sidebar if you want to see them as prints, go vote!
Click Here to download the Free Thank You Cards to Print
First Day of School Printable Sign
My first grader has already gone back to school (you can see pics here), but we still have another little starting up in a week or so, and I know people without year round school are looking for some cute signs as well, so I decided to make up a classic set of pre-k through 12th grade “first day of school printable sign” Go to my @nataliemalanstudio instagram and double click the image above if you’d also like to see the back to school print as a free download…..
And be sure to check our our free weekly planner download here for more back to school organization.
Click Here to download the First Day of School Printable Sign Free
Free Printable Succulent Painting
Because at my house we believed in first winners, and second winners…… Here’s a fun 5×7 free printable download for everyone who entered my Instagram custom portrait giveaway! Be sure to download it now before it disappears and travels to my etsy print store! NO guarantees how long this will be up.
Is anyone else into succulent houseplants these days? I’ve been seeing lots of cute things on Apartment Therapy, and if you know me I’m definitely traditional when it comes to style. But somehow the clean modernist style is creeping in….. and houseplants definitely seem to be part of the equation. I finally found a fiddle leaf fig last week and can’t wait to see how it does. It’s taller than I am!
I spent the last two weeks prepping and planting my garden so hopefully soon I’ll have more fresh flowers to paint for inspiration. But until then a little print will have to do.
Click Here to Download the Succulent Printable
As always, personal use only, and all images Natalie Malan©
I would love to see how you style your print! Tag me on Instagram #nataliemalanstyle
If you choose to print at home, my preferred paper is a watercolor paper cut to fit your printer, or a cardstock. They should both give lovely results. I like something with a little texture so it looks more like an original gouache painting.
If you choose to print at somewhere like Costco or Sams Club, I ALWAYS turn off the Auto color correct! In my Costco account it’s saved in “My Settings.” I also like to pick lustre. Hope you enjoy the free printable!
Mother’s Day Free Printable
My kids have been so excited about their Mother’s Day presents that they made me open them the second they brought them home from school. I’m now the proud owner of a golden heart fingerprint salt clay necklace and a fingerprint flower bookmark. And I’m always truly touched by the handmade and heartfelt gifts they have given me.
My husband took my dickblick wish list to heart and went all out. I can’t wait to try try these new paints out!
If you’re looking for a last minute printable here’s one I made this morning. Yay for insomnia, am I right???? It took me longer to figure out how to post it as a download than it did to calligraphy and paint it. As always personal use only, Natalie Malan©
Mother’s Day Giveaway!
Update| The giveaway is now closed! But my shop is now open for custom portrait commissions and printables. Click here to take a peek!
Happy almost Mother’s Day to all of you out there who are mothers, have a mother or know a mother. I’m part of a huge giveaway with Oakley from Nothing Down About it, and I’m so excited to be painting a custom portrait of the person of your choice if you win the giveaway!
There are some amazing things being given away so be sure to enter below!
-$100 Crate And Barrel Gift Card from Nothing Down About It
-Mama Bar Necklace From Made by Mary
-$40 Lulu And Roo Gift Card
-$100 Oilo Studio Gift Card
-Shirt For Mom AND Shirts For Littles (up to 5) from Cents of Style
-Solly Baby Wrap AND Matching Solly Dolly Wrap
–Portrait By Natalie Malan Studio
Happy New Year!
A day late. Because that’s how we roll here on Christmas vacation. I’ve been cleaning out my office and throwing away junk all over my house like a mad woman. My poor kids. I did decide to keep all of them so they should be grateful….. Still debating on the littlest though. He decided to start 2015 off right by showing us his crib jail breaking skills. Oh well……
Organizing my gouache and watercolor palettes have been on my to do list for a long time. I wanted one with all my colors in it so I picked up this wonderful metal watercolor tin thing on Amazon, and put all my colors into pans. It’s been so great to have them all in one place! And now I actually know what colors I own!
I haven’t made any actual resolutions yet; other than to clean out all the extra things around the house. That seems to be a never ending job. I would definitely like to spend more quality time with my kiddos in the studio, so I think that will be on the books for sure. Done. Resolution made. Here’s to 2015!
