I’ve been getting some positive feedback whenever I would paint with my watercolors or illustrate on my social media channels. It’s so fun to know that you enjoy the process as much as I do.
Some people have been asking what I use. I thought it would be easier to compile what I’ve found helpful in a post.
This video should give you a summary of the process.
The #plantmom phone case from the video is a product that I created for our online shop. It can be purchase here or by clicking on the image.
The right tools can really make your life a lot easier. Knowing how to use them well will be an ongoing journey. I’ll give you some basic tips below.
(All rights reserved. designs and video are copyrighted ©LDDesignLoft ©LorenaDepante – some links may be affiliate links – meaning purchases support our work at NO extra cost to you, the consumer.)
The Art Supplies
1. Brushes
I’ve been a fan of Dana Fox from Wonder Forest when I started learning to watercolor, so when I found out she had her own brushes I wanted to give them a try.
The brush set has a nice variety of sizes for the beginner. The bristles are beautifully pointed for detailed work. You get sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 with this set. I’ve really liked using them so far. Plus, they’re so pretty with the rose gold and blush pink wood.
2. Watercolor Paints
For the watercolor paints, I use tubes from Mont Marte. I like the variety of colors included in this set. These have a high pigment level, it’s simple to control the transparency and tinting too.
3. Paper
I use portable sketchbooks by Canson, I enjoy being able to have them handy. Since I’m digitizing the artwork, I like a clean white surface with not as much texture. I choose either a mix-media book or the one specifically for watercolors so that it holds the water and colors well. The right paper matters.
You can purchase larger sheets too. Larger sheets give you more space to work in, just keep in mind, if you’ll be digitizing the artwork, you may have to scan it in segments and piece it together after in Photoshop.
The Digitizing Process
After the paint has dried on your art pieces, you’ll need a high-quality scanner. I’ve been using a printer/scanner that seems to do the trick. It can scan up to 600 DPI (dots per inch), if your scanner can go higher, opt to go up to 1200 DPI. Save the file as a high-quality PDF, TIFF or PNG.
If you don’t have a scanner at home you can bring your art pieces to your local FedEx Office, keeping my recommended DPI in mind.
I have an older model printer/scanner and it’s not available anymore, but it’s from the Brother CDW family if you wanted to know.
Image Editing Programs
Adobe Photoshop
I use Adobe Photoshop to cut out the background and adjust the colors from the scans. I’ve been using this software for many years now and it has some powerful capabilities. (We can talk about Photoshop in another post). You can use the pen tool & selection tool to clean up your artwork.
Canva
Another way you can crop out the background is by using Canva’s Pro version. Just note that you are limited to the size you can upload and work with. I suggest cropping in close like my example below.
You would upload your image and the background extractor will do its magic. Make sure you zoom in close to get into the details. Download the file as a high-resolution PNG.
Canva with Adobe is a powerful combination when you’re creating.
After I’ve digitized my art, I use them to create for my licensing partners, clients and Etsy shop. There are different ways you can monetize in the online space, I highly recommend you do your research of what business plan will work for you.
The Video Set-Up
Lighting
I use natural light when I paint, so finding a big window and testing for the best lighting is very important. Natural light, for now, is all you need… no expense there.
Tripod
To have the space to do the artwork and shoot with your smartphone , I suggest getting a proper tripod. This tabletop tripod has a flexible head and gives enough room for a sketchbook.
NOTE: Since this tripod above is only compatible with the iPhone 6 and 8 size, I used my travel tripod’s extra attachments. The piece for smartphones can adjust to larger phone models. Here it is below.
I record different clips from each stage and think of how I’d like to tell my story. Having short clips and screen recordings can add some visual interest to your video.
Music can also enhance the clip, keep in mind that some songs may only be used for each platform. You can use royalty-free music and add it to your video on Canva.