• Woodland Watercolor Fox Painting Tutorial

    Today’s tutorial is for watercolor enthusiasts and beginners alike! In it, I’ll walk you through how to make the sweetest watercolor fox. Free printable handouts will ensure your success!

    Sweet Watercolor Fox Painting Tutorial

    No one can resist a woodland creature illustration … they’re just so cozy and quaint. In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how to paint a watercolor fox lounging in a field of poppies. While this tutorial is suitable for all skill levels, beginners should read the Painting with Watercolors for Beginners and Painting with Watercolors for Beginners Part II before painting this fox!

    1. Gather Your Supplies

    For this tutorial, you’ll need the following supplies:

    Supplies Needed to Paint a Watercolor Fox

    *The exact watercolors that I used for this tutorial came from Greenleaf & Blueberry. They are: Red Ochre, Yellow Ochre, Violet Hematite, Celadonite, and Mayan Red.

    2. Make a Pencil Sketch

    First, open the blank watercolor card and place the Watercolor Fox Traceable Template underneath the card’s front. Place the card and the template against a light box or a bright window. You should be able to see the template through the card, allowing you to make a pencil sketch.

    Pencil Sketch of Watercolor Fox
    Use a light touch to draw your fox! If your pencil lines are too dark, you’ll be able to see them even after you add watercolor.

    3. Add Watercolor to the Fox

    Next, use the Color Placement Cheat Sheet to add watercolor to the fox. The cheat sheet tells you exactly where to paint with each color to make realistic-looking fur.

    Adding Watercolor to a Fox Illustration
    As you paint, use the blending techniques outlined in the Painting with Watercolors for Beginners Part II tutorial.

    As you finish up the fox’s body, the illustration should start to shape up.

    Adding Watercolor to a Fox Illustration
    Be sure to paint the yellow and orange tones of the fur first! After those colors dry, add the deep purple tones on top.

    4. Paint the Poppies

    Now, use your green and red watercolors to add color to the poppies. Give the poppies some depth by painting them with two coats of red. The first coat should cover the entire poppy, then the second coat should highlight individual petals with subtle outlines.

    Sweet Watercolor Fox Painting Tutorial
    The second layer of red on the poppies should enhance the petals and add depth.

    5. Add a Gold Border + Optional Calligraphy

    Now, use your gold watercolor and your dip pen to trace over the oval around the fox. Then, draw tiny half-circles all around the oval.

    Sweet Watercolor Fox Painting Tutorial
    If you’re not sure how to use metallic watercolor with a dip pen to make the border, see this tutorial. It will teach you how to load the gold watercolor onto a nib!

    If you want to make your fox illustration into a card, as I have done, you can use Janet Style calligraphy to write a greeting at the bottom. I used walnut ink to write my greeting, but you could also use the watercolor calligraphy technique with your deep purple tone!

    Woodland Fox: Calligraphy Edition

    Woodland creatures make for a fabulous subject no matter what medium you use to create them! You can use calligraphy flourishing to create a stunning little fox with just your pen and ink, too. In TPK’s Woodland Creatures Calligraphy Flourishing Worksheet, I’ll walk you through how to create the fox pictured below — along with an owl, a raccoon, and a squirrel!

    Instructions for making a flourished calligraphy fox

    The worksheet is a limited edition item that will disappear from the TPK Catalog this coming Tuesday, February 22nd. 

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    I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspires you to paint many more woodland creatures! The secret is to blend, use earthy colors, and — of course — take your time. Happy painting!

    Warmly,

    Lindsey's Signature | The Postman's Knock