One of the most common comments I get from both students and admirers is “I really envy people who can paint…”.  Well.  Here’s a secret: ANYONE CAN PAINT!!!  I have no training, no special skills.  I just use color to create form, and then let that inspire stitch.  It really is that easy. (see tutorial link below)

To follow are a few examples of simple first-step watercolor washes.  I work on unbleached muslin right off the bolt–no prewashing or ironing, unless the fabric just looks like my dog slept on it–then a quickie iron, and I move on.

If you’re looking for specifics, go here *link* to free tutorial on watercolor underpainting: Spring;  it goes from blank muslin to finished stitchery.

Supply-wise, I prefer Aquarelle watercolor crayons and Winsor Newton half pan watercolors. With that said, I wouldn’t be fearless if I didn’t admit to using pretty much anything from around the house to make color: paint (cheap acrylics and spray paint), tea, coffee, dirt, makeup, rust, herbs and flowers–really, anything.

I am an admitted organization freak however, so my watercolors live in a set of WONderful wooden boxes I’ve collected from Hobby stores (they contained other paint/art sets, but I removed the guts and custom fit my own favorite stuff.  DIYODSS (do it yer own damn self sistas!!!)

This is the largest underpainting I’ve ever done–4ft by 5 ft.  See the story over in the Root System Diary *link*

In Butterfly She (pictured below), the painting is simply a background and enhancement for the stitching (avail as a full color design sheet in the Fearless Stitcher shop *link* )

For the example, see Free Tutorials, Watercolor Underpainting: Butterfly She   *link*

Now be inspired, be fearless, and GO stitch up the place!!!