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  • Welcome to TPK! This is your first of 2 free articles. For unlimited access to tutorials and articles, join TPK Premium for less than the cost of a latte.

    My 8 Favorite TPK Art Tutorials

    June 23, 2017

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    Inspiration, Roundup, Tutorials, Watercolor

    Even if you think you’re not artistic, I encourage you to try at least one of the art tutorials in this post! You’ll enjoy the time to yourself, build on your current skill level, and love the resulting project. Once you’re finished, you can display the project in your home, keep it in a sketchbook,…

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    Crayon Gemstones | The Postman's Knock

    When I was little, I had books that showed you how to use a series of shapes to draw an animal. It was amazing to see those shapes come together to make something realistic! I still love working step by step to create an awesome result, and that’s why there are so many art tutorials on the TPK blog! Today, I have compiled a list of my favorite art tutorials on this website. This list goes from oldest to newest — so don’t be surprised if you see something from yesteryear that you missed!

    1. DIY Modern Silhouette Tutorial

    Modern DIY Silhouette Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The DIY Modern Silhouette Tutorial uses watercolor and floral doodles to make the subject stand out! The tutorial uses a woman’s silhouette, but you could apply this concept to any silhouette (guitar, house, hand, whatever). Medium: Pen and Ink, Watercolor | Skill Level: Beginner

    2. Spatter Watercolor Tree Tutorial

    Spatter Watercolor Tree Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Spatter Watercolor Tree Tutorial shows you how to paint trees using basic watercolor techniques. First, you make splatters of different tones of green. Once the watercolor dries, you paint in the branches! Medium: Watercolor | Skill Level: Beginner 

    3. Botanical Letter Tutorial

    Botanical Letter Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The eye-catching Botanical Letter Tutorial requires some freehand drawing! If you’re not comfortable drawing botanicals, you can always try using a simpler subject to fill the letter in. Medium: Pen and Ink, Watercolor | Skill Level: Intermediate

    4. Galaxy Effect Watercolor Art Tutorial

    Galaxy Effect Watercolor Art Tutorial {Guest Post by Gaby Friedman} | The Postman's Knock

    The Galaxy Effect Watercolor Art Tutorial is a guest post by artist Gaby Friedman. In the tutorial, Gaby shows you how to use frisket, white ink, and rubbing alcohol to make an awesome galaxy effect! Medium: Pen and White Ink, Watercolor | Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate

    5. Herbal Watercolor Tutorial

    Herbal Watercolor Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Herbal Watercolor Tutorial is one of my very favorite art tutorials on the TPK website! In it, you’ll learn how to use a light box to make an easy foundation for painting. You’ll also learn how to build up colors to create dazzling contrast. Make sure you have an hour or two to try this one out! Medium: Watercolor | Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced

    6. Hand-Painted Tiles Illustration Tutorial

    Hand-Painted Tiles Illustration Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    Microglaze gives these Hand-Painted Tiles Illustrations an authentic shine! Don’t forget to use art masking fluid to preserve white highlights along the edges of the tiles … it makes them look more realistic. Medium: Pen and Ink, Watercolor | Skill Level: Beginner (Simple Tile Design)/Intermediate (Detailed Tile Design)

    7. Embellished Fish DIY Card Tutorial

    Embellished Fish DIY Card Tutorial | The Postman's Knock

    The Embellished Fish DIY Card Tutorial includes a free printable stencil so you get the cutout right every time! Make sure you have some watercolor paper on hand to make this project. Flimsier paper will bubble because of the moisture from the paint! Medium: Pen, Watercolor | Skill Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate

    8. How to Draw Gemstones with Crayons Tutorial

    How to Draw Gemstones with Crayons | The Postman's Knock

    I still can’t believe that wax crayons can make such convincing gemstones! The How to Draw Gemstones with Crayons tutorial shows you how to use colored pencils, wax crayons, and white ink to create gemstones that look like the real deal. Medium: Colored Pencil, Wax Crayon, Ink (or Paint) | Skill Level: Advanced Beginner


    I know that oftentimes life prevents us from being able to make every project that we want to! That said, art doesn’t have to be a one session sort of thing. If you like one of these art tutorials, try to get it started! If you’re interrupted, no big deal: just circle back to it later. You’ll enjoy the quiet time that the creation process brings, and the (awesome) result of your labor is the payoff!

    I hope that you enjoyed this post, and if you know of any other art tutorials (TPK or not) that you think others may like to try, please feel free to share them in the comments! Thanks very much for reading the TPK blog, and enjoy the rest of your day.

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock

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About The Postman’s Knock (TPK)

Hi, I’m Lindsey Bugbee, the illustrator, calligrapher, and author behind The Postman’s Knock (TPK). Since 2012, the TPK Blog has been a vibrant creative space filled with tutorials and lessons on modern calligraphy, hand lettering, and illustration. After publishing The Calligraphy Book, I wanted to elevate the quality of content even further—so I launched TPK Premium. You can join here to receive access to some of the internet’s best creative inspiration and project tutorials.

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9 responses

  1. Dee Tracy Avatar
    Dee Tracy
    June 24, 2017

    I agree, Lindsey! You have gathered a lovely collection of tutorials! Thanks so much for sharing your talent and knowledge with us!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      June 25, 2017

      Thanks, Dee! 🙂

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  2. Reggie Avatar
    Reggie
    June 24, 2017

    I’ve been with the blog for awhile now and time after time, the Galaxy Effect Watercolor Art Tutorial is my favorite. This is still one art tutorial that is simply eye catching. What a wonderful tutorial by Gaby. I’m surprised your hand drawn maps or the Christmas gift tags didn’t make the list?? Those are truly amazing.

    I think your stars and planet letters would make a great font. (How to Develop an Artistic Hand Lettering Style)
    And your husband does an amazing job with the site. I love how I can just click on the tag words to find more posts. I.e. Inspiration

    Thanks again for showing your work and sharing with us.

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      June 25, 2017

      Haha! This comment made me so happy — you have a fantastic memory. 🙂 I did consider the Christmas tags, actually, but then I decided that that probably wasn’t a tutorial that would get people excited in the middle of June! I love those. And the maps are wonderful! Just a bit time consuming, and I’m afraid that the tutorial needs to be redone to make it a bit more understandable. Still … I am so happy that you thought of those! And thank you for the compliment for Hernán; I’ll pass that on to him. I think a lot of people don’t think about the technical side, so that’s very kind!

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  3. Nota Bene Avatar
    Nota Bene
    June 24, 2017

    This article is a great idea. I love being reminded of all your beautiful ideas (almost summer – hope to find some time to make something). I like it very much that you also added some older tutorials. I’ve been following you for quite some time now, but still missed out some of the older ones, like the silhouette and the trees. Love them both! I have been collecting silhouettes for more than two years and now suddenly I know what I can use them for! Thanks for the inspiration!
    Enjoy your weekend, Nele

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      June 25, 2017

      I thought that would be the case — that some of the older tutorials had slipped through the cracks! The photos aren’t as good and the directions probably aren’t as clear, but they’re still worth a look. 🙂 And I can see you making a fantastic silhouette!

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  4. Andrea Goo Avatar
    Andrea Goo
    June 23, 2017

    What a great collection!

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    1. Lindsey Bugbee Avatar
      Lindsey Bugbee
      June 25, 2017

      Thanks, Andrea! 🙂 I thought you might particularly like the spatter tree tutorial … it would look really neat on a card!

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There is nothing like a clean, well-organized wate There is nothing like a clean, well-organized watercolor chart. I used to make watercolor chart layouts using math and grids (which, trust me, was painful for someone like me, who doesn’t *love* numbers/measuring/calculations) ... then it occurred to me that I could use Photoshop to give myself a little boost. Much less math and fretting, which for me equals much more joy! Palette is from @greenleafblue — she made it so I could have a gorgeous palette for “The Calligraphy Book”, and this color chart definitely helped to boost the aesthetic of an already stunning supply. 🎨😍

If you’re curious about this technique for making a watercolor chart, you can search the TPK website for “watercolor chart” ... there’s a detailed blog post over how to use the template method that I’m showing you here!

#watercolorpalette #watercolorchart #colorchart #watercolorpaints #artchart
An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of thos An X-Acto knife (aka a hobby knife) is one of those tools that is indispensable for a lot of applications. It was designed to make precise cuts, which, of course, it does well! But, you can also use it to scrape off unwanted ink smears (pro tip: after the fact, you can smooth disturbed paper fibers with a pebble), create interesting interior cuts, trim tiny details that scissors can’t reach, make stencils and templates, refine collage elements, and gently correct small drawing or calligraphy mistakes.

I have used X-Acto knives for many TPK Blog tutorials, but up until last week, I’d never written a guide that puts the X-Acto knife front and center. That guide now exists, and you can find it by visiting the link 🔗 in my profile. Be sure to watch the tutorial video!

#xactoknife #hobbyknife #papercutting #papercutart #xactoknifeart
Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Just back in the TPK Supplies Shop: Finetec Arabic Gold watercolor pans (and the fabulous Finetec Golds palette). ✨ Gold makes *anything* gorgeous, but use it to make a calligraphy medallion, and it’s just next-level. 🤩 (Tutorial for this particular medallion can be found in the Dancing Pen Calligraphy Medallions Worksheet Set). 

To find the golds + the worksheet, visit the link in my bio, then navigate to “Shop”. Happy weekend! 

#goldcalligraphy #goldwatercolor #pointedpencalligraphy #fineteccoliro #goldcalligraphy
Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a Hard to fit everything in, but this was 2025 in a nutshell at TPK! 🥜

This year, I loved teaching at @thehappyevercrafter’s Workshop Week and participating in @calmingcalligraphy’s World Calligraphy as Meditation Day. And seeing the TPK calligraphy kit featured in @newyorkermag’s 2025 holiday gift guide was an unexpected (and delightful) cherry on top! 🍒

So much of what happened over the past year, though, was shaped by the TPK Premium community. Their questions and feedback helped guide Hand Lettering 101, while their encouragement fueled tutorials on topics ranging from turning red wine into calligraphy ink to illustrating recipes, painting with a wedge brush, and creating greeting cards and envelope art. 💌 That same support made it possible to create new worksheets and resources that others were able to enjoy as well, which I’m very grateful for. 

For a fuller recap (with helpful links and details) I shared a 2025 reflection on the TPK blog (link in bio).

#handlettering #gracefulenvelopecontest #pointedpencalligraphy #discordcommunity #calligraphyteacher
Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The fi Which is your favorite koi-themed envelope? The first one (A. Moreira), which was created as a prop for “The Calligraphy Book” ... *or* the second (Nigel Wright), which was created for the photographer who took pictures of the Moreira envelope for “The Calligraphy Book”? (When I heard how much Nigel had loved the first koi envelope, I made him his own variation!) 🎏

#mailart #snailmail #mailbox #snailmailrevolution #koiart
✨ A little comparison today … because not all ✨ A little comparison today ... because not all golds behave the same.

✦ Finetec gold → bright, cheerful, and versatile
✦ Greenleaf & Blueberry faux brass → softer, muted, and stunning
✦ Yasutomo pale gold → velvety, subtle shimmer with a sensible amount of sparkle

I love having all three on hand and choosing based on the feel I want for a project. It’s tough to go wrong! ✨

#moderncalligraphy #calligraphytools #goldink #watercolorcalligraphy #letteringcommunity mailart calligraphypractice artmaterials creativeprocess handlettering
🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for 🕊️ I originally made these printable tags for gifts … but now I want them everywhere. On presents 🎁, yes; but also tucked into snail mail, sprinkled across a holiday table with happy words written inside (“joy”, “love”, “peace”), or styled on a mantle for a cozy seasonal touch 🎄. They’re simple, charming, and versatile. Find them on the TPK Blog (link in bio)!

#thepostmansknock #printableart #giftwrappingideas #snailmaillove #happymail handillustrated holidaydetails paperlove creativegifting handlettering makersofinstagram stationeryaddict thoughtfuldetails slowdownandsendmail gifttags diygifttag giftwrapping giftpresentation handwrappedgift
I experimented with using the chic poppies techniq I experimented with using the chic poppies technique (see my reel from a couple of days ago) to make pretty stationery. LOVE how it turned out! The poppies are just an elegant way to add personality and elegance to any paper good. If you’re a TPK Premium member, *definitely* check out Lesson 6 of the Beginner’s Modern Calligraphy Online Course (2025 version). In it, you’ll find a detailed video demonstration that shows you how to bring these poppies to life! ✍️

#stationery #diystationery #floralillustration #penandink #handdrawn #drawing #painting #sumiink #snailmail #mail #mailart #snailmailrevolution #happymail #mailbox #calligraphy #pointedpen #dippen #rosegoldsumi
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