Illuminate the world around you...
Light the world through watercolor with 25 step-by-step projects exploring glowing sunsets, dazzling night skies, dancing shadows, and more!
...one stroke at a time.
Trust me: You have everything you need to capture the mystery and magic of light, color, and shadow...
Yes please
...and maybe you could use an adventure buddy?
Hello, my friend!
I'm Kolbie, a self-taught watercolor artist...
Growing up, I wasn't one of those kids who loved crafts and sketched everything in sight -- far from it, I thought making visual art of any kind was not in the cards for me!
So, believe me when I say that I know how you feel when you claim to be "not an artist" -- that's how I know there might be more to your creative talents than you know right now. I'd be honored to help you explore!
"Stunning."
"Effervescent, engaging and abundant, Kolbie’s new book exploring landscapes and light is stunning, with so many engaging projects to entertain and educate!”
Sarah Simon
best-selling author of Watercolor Workbook, artist, and creator of The Mint Gardener
"Creating art without the expectation of perfection"
“What makes Kolbie truly something special as a teacher is her ability to communicate that knowledge in a way that’s understandable and encouraging. Her philosophy of creating art without the expectation of perfection will free you to create without self-doubt, putting you on the path to greater confidence in your art and some really beautiful paintings!”
Andrea Nelson
artist and educator
“You will be delighted"
"With this book, Kolbie masterfully instructs students through the tricky terrain of bringing light to watercolor. You will be delighted at every turn of the page!”
Cara Rosalie Olsen
artist and author of
Botanical Watercoloring for Beginners
"Direct and lyrical, imaginative and straightforward"
"Kolbie’s ability to express the step by step of painting is both direct and lyrical, imaginative and straightforward. Before Kolbie, I was terrified of clouds and water, and now I’m drawn to them confidently."
Kristy Rice,
artist, teacher, and author
...how about a free lesson?
How about some free lessons?
If you're still a little nervous...
DO YOU LIKE FREE STUFF?
Show me your receipt, and I'll send you a bonus!
As a great big THANK-YOU for ordering my book, just fill out this form for a fun bonus e-book and tutorial!
Here's what to expect
FIRST, THE BASICS
The first chapter is all about watercolor and light basics, so you can prep for the adventures to come!
THEN, THE PROJECTS
Six whole chapters of step-by-step projects and clear instructions, so you'll always know exactly what comes next and why.
and THEN, THE PRACTICE
This part is up to you! All I can do is show you the way, but it's up to you to actually show up, my friend. But I know this to be true -- you can do hard things!
psst...want a peek inside?
Breaking down the basics
Need a little help getting started? Chapter One is all about breaking down watercolor supplies and basic techniques (for both watercolor in general and painting light specifically) so you can dive into the projects with confidence -- even if you're a complete beginner.
daylight
We'll spend a few projects exploring the world with bright contrast and vibrant colors -- daylight! Learn how to use light, shadow, and color theory to capture the brightness of a midday sun.
Night
The "Night" projects help you explore a desaturated world. Not many colors to see, but still so much light to capture through shadow, subtle contrasts, and movement in the dark!
the breathtaking
in-between
Between Night and Day, we have Blue Hour, Twilight, and Golden Hour. Each with their own color palette and unique features, we'll spend plenty of projects discovering the vast array of color combinations you can find depending on the location of the sun.
Bonus projects
There are five whole projects I wrote and painted that didn't make the cut for the book -- so we turned them into a bonus e-book just for you! Show me your proof of purchase, and I'll send you the bonus e-book, totally free.
Real-Time Tutorial
I filmed the project "On the Road Again" with real-time narration! Show me your order confirmation, and you'll get access to this exclusive video tutorial -- perfect for following along with your book!
"But what if my projects don't look like yours? There's no way I can paint like that..."
- me, 5 years ago
Look, when it comes to loud inner critics, mine comes with a megaphone and a foghorn -- I know what it's like to have a voice constantly reminding you how much you're not doing.
The truth is that your projects probably won't look like mine -- because they're yours. And that's exactly what makes them so special.
Creativity isn't about results, making masterpieces -- it's about celebrating how magical this moment can be, right here, exactly as you are. It's about the tiny moments of wonder that happen when colors blend and ideas flow. Creativity is for you, not for anyone else.
YOU ARE WORTHY OF CELEBRATION, EXACTLY AS YOU ARE.
follow along
@thiswritingdesk
For a more up-close-and-personal view of my work and musings, check me out on Instagram!
