04/10/2026
I recently teased one of my newer watercolor session participants about her “rogue” ways — I cautioned her about “hard lines,” and she proudly loved her hard lines anyway. She’s an incredibly creative and talented artist in other mediums, but watercolor is a brand‑new journey for her.
I wanted to share her latest project because it shows just how far she’s come and everyone needs to see this beautiful work.
After our last watercolor session, she decided to invest in the quality supplies I recommended — professional watercolors and good cold‑press paper. Unlike many artists, she didn’t use a reference photo. She painted entirely from memory, which is a bold and impressive choice.
For once, she followed the rules: she bought Daniel Smith paints, taped her paper to a hard surface, and lightly sketched her scene before painting. She learned a lot along the way, but she never gave up.
Life gets complicated sometimes, and slipping into the art zone can be incredibly grounding. It has helped me throughout my life, and Ruth Perino found it cathartic as well. Even on busy days, she carved out small pockets of time — sometimes just 15 minutes — to keep working on her piece.
I think she did an amazing job, and I wanted to share her accomplishment with everyone.
