Hey, friends, Bekah here. Today I’m hoping to encourage some of you to break out of your comfy crafting bubble and do what you do even if you don’t feel like you’re doing it right. I get asked pretty often if I will share my watercolor “techniques.” To be honest, that scares the bejeebies out of me because I have always felt like my process is not technical or proper enough to share. The thought always crosses my mind that when you all find out that I’m a totally untrained spaz of a painter, that you’ll tag me as a fraud and send me on my way. But I can’t deny this crazy thing that’s been happening- God is asking me to come out of hiding and be real with you all. So here it goes. A short story and a semi-tutorialish post for ya.
I really hope that you’re following along with the Gratitude Documented prompts this month. I have definitely been being wrecked in the best way by intentionally searching my heart through this journey. Really great stuff. Last week one of the prompts was “Creativity.” Truth be told, I had to make myself not paint that page first. I have such a deep love for the creative, and for encouraging folks to lean into that part of God’s heart for us. I am SO glad I waited though because I really needed it when I needed it, if you know what I mean. Exodus 35:31-32. I read these verses, and a few before and after, and my heart was so taken by the truth embedded there. I have been called by God, filled with the Spirit, and skilled for all creative works. It’s right there, yall. So what if I don’t have a fancy art degree, or if I hold my paint brush in such an embarassing way that I hide it on Periscope? THE Creator has given all of us unique ways to be creative. We were made for this, friends. So embrace it, roll with it, and share it.
I’ll give a super simple step-by-step for this page.
First, I sketch my idea in pencil (my personal opinion is that sketches done with pretty pencils are prettier by default.)
Then I add stamps/stickers for lettering and trace my design. I do not aim for perfection- ever.
After erasing all the pencil, I start with watercolors. I always always always layer color- light pink base for my flowers, light green for leaves.
I add orange, fuschia, and red to my flowers, and blues and greens (and sometimes purple) to my leaves. There’s not really any rhyme or reason to it except that I like the varied color, and if I hate it, I add more, or I dab it off. See? Random. Around the flowers I try and fade some yellow and orange because I’m obessed with color and can’t bear to leave the background white.
Once everything is dry, I come back and splatter with black, and in this case, some purple and fuschia as well. Then I trace over everything with pen again, making sure to do some scribbling and accents. I added some depth to the word ‘create’ and put some stickers at the bottom of the page.
I love what Natalie shared in her process video last week. “Just be yourself.” It’s fun to learn new techniques, and I am always fascinated with the way everyone does their art. But at the end of the day, if you’re not using YOUR unique voice, then you’re selling yourself short. God is telling a story in all that you do. I am praying that you are discovering the artist He made you to be!
supplies: Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd Bible Mat | Illustrated Faith by Bella Blvd pen | Bella Blvd tiny text black | vintage type letter stamps | archival ink pad
Thank you for the beautiful presentation! Tell me, I just ordered the recommended journaling bible ESV on Amazon but it has lines on the margins. All the pictures on this website show beautiful images without those lines getting in the way. Does your bible have writing lines?
Hi Jessica! Yes, my Bible has the lines as well, but they are hardly noticeable after I paint, draw, or scribble in the margins ???? Praying you enjoy this journey and draw nearer to Jesus through it!
Perfect post my friend!
I love this, your work of art, and your words. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Oh Bekah! I love this. And can I just throw this out there? I have one of those “fancy-shmancy” art-degrees, but in so many ways I feel like it was “Here’s the tools, here’s how to use them… go explore!” and for me, I didn’t really paint much after college and now it’s been like 9 years since I graduated. So I’m the one sitting here going, “Great… how do I do this again?!” and seriously, you inspire me! :)
Thanks a bunch for sharing! I love what God is teaching you through this. It’s so good to just be who God created you to be, and just go with it. Art is so forgiving! It’s yours. Own it. It’s beautiful!