Honestly I've been going through art block for like 3 years. And even if I drew, I never felt happy about it. It feels nice to see an artist I look up to kinda reevaluate their work and try to take a new step towards a refreshing direction that makes them happy.

I love how you combined watercolor and colored pencil. This is so beautiful.  I read that many artists combine watercolor and colored pencil as you have, especially for illustration.  It seems logical what you said about your art style evolving. Also, I wonder if trying new watercolor pigments or brushes might help with you.  Siennas, ochre and Ultramarine blue can be very granulating. Maybe you might like the alternatives that aren’t granulating and are more transparent. For example, PY42 Yellow Ochre is less granulating than PY43 Yellow Ochre. Daniel Smith makes Quinacrdone earth tones that are smooth and transparent. Or you could mix transparent, non granulating colors to create the earth tones you seek. I love watching Dr Oto Kano YouTube channel as she swatches and compares various brands of colors. She compares the Daniel Smith Quinacrdone earth tones that are more transparent and make cleaner mixes. Her videos have helped me make better color choices for what my style needs.  You art is amazing! Wonderful to see how your art is evolving.

Also, the Transparent Oxides earth colors are great mixing colors and non-granulating like Transparent Oxide Brown, Red and possibly yellow. Dr Oto Kano compares brands and you can pick which brand of a color has the properties you seek - or even a convenience mixture like Holbein Brillant Green. She helped open a new world for me with watercolor pigments. And their are other channels that swatch out colors. I do love how you blend the colored pencil with watercolor. You bring out the best of both mediums.

Ahhh so enchanting and magical! Adore all the nuanced colours throughout the piece <3
Also, I totally relate to the mid-process struggle, it can be so difficult to combat those "ugly phases" but totally worth it in the end!

Don't beat yourself up over medium. The result is beautiful and entrancing.  Every painting I've ever done always has that mid-point where I hate it and it's a struggle to make it work...and then it does!

I love the way you use your watercolour! And I really love how the final piece looks. ❤️👀👌👌

Yes granulating pigments don't love being layered. They usually become very easy to lift. I'd suggest synthetic pigments that are smoother and don't cause granulation, but they are also much more pigmented. Similar to cerulean might be a phthalo blue/turquoise (but watered down).
Knowing your pigments, and their characteristics can save an artist a lot of headaches. If a person that prefers to use many layers uses non-staining and easily lifted colors (ex., cobalt violet) it will be a much more arduous process and not very fun.

I don't think you should give up on watercolors but to try to be more aware of what you like when using them. I really loved how it was going at the beginning even I could notice the muddiness you said and I absolutely adored how you managed to make it glow with the color pencils. Don't give up. I really love your videos and listening to you speaking of your struggles while painting makes me feel more calm with my struggles. Greetings from Mexico!!

You have my favorite art style and have gotten me to push myself to follow my dreams in doing traditional media illustrations. I have so much anxiety toward drawing traditionally because it feels so permanent, but videos like these help me work out those feelings and be brave enough to actually try. Thank you for all your hard work and for showing us your absolutely wonderful artwork

The transformation is stunning! I can totally relate with feeling frustrated when I can’t replicate the process from my previous works. When you first started incorporating colored pencil into your pieces (and working with colored pencils in general), I was so excited for you because it reminded me of how fun and amazing it felt working with multimedia. You don’t have to stick with one medium, the world of art supplies is your oyster! It’s super smart and efficient to use watercolor as a base and then render with colored pencil. I really admire how much you uses colored pencils to make your pieces since I feel like they require a lot of layering— but that’s what makes your art process unique and yours! When we can’t replicate our processes from before, I think of it like a means to evolve or experiment. I really loved this piece, it felt more so magical and dreamy with the colored pencils!!

The end result is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, Chris, and this melding of watercolor for the first layers and colored pencils for more controlled finish may just be the technique that helps you arrive at the exact look you’re going for.  But, cerulean blue is a very hard pigment to use as a blender base. It’s generally highly opaque, and granulating, and with it’s tendency to appear chalky, it just doesn’t like to play well with others in multiple layers, at least not if clarity and transparency is the effect you’re going after. YEARS AGO, I stumbled upon a book called  by Jim Kosvanec that helped me tremendously in understanding how the properties of individual pigments affect the mixing of transparent glazes. Unfortunately, the book is out of print, having been published in 1994, but last I looked, you can still obtain copies for a decent price on the used book market. He breaks down traditional watercolor paints into five categories: Transparent non-staining, semi-transparent non-staining, transparent staining, semi-opaque and opaque colors, and whitened and blackened colors. He explains quite well how to mix and layer the colors from each category, and how to avoid mixing mud and laying down dull washes and glazes. I read it as a beginning watercolorist, and to say it saved me countless hours of frustration would be an understatement. One of the things that bugs me is the way watercolor paints are being marketed to aspiring artists nowadays. The focus is on hundreds of boutique colors, often with ambiguous and unhelpful names that promise great results, but leave people confused as to why they can’t to get beautiful, clean mixes and washes. Traditional single pigment colors with traditional unsexy names, used in proven and age-old fashion techniques isn’t nearly so marketable anymore. It’s unfortunate.

I think using watercolour to fill in big spaces/do the first colours of the pieces is pretty smart to save on time and looking pretty, and then detailing with coloured pencils makes them a match made in heaven. The end piece is super pretty and inspiring 💞

I really love the background the granulation makes the vibe feel like she’s super cozy resting while there is a storm ⛈ like when in real life you’re in bed cozy listening to rain fall on the roof! I love it 🥰

I have a general idea of how you feel about mixed media but, I still don’t think you realize how OKAY it is to use mixed media and how beautiful your works are! I understand the frustration you had about this piece, with wanting it to only be in watercolor at first but, having to surrender to other media to complete the artwork. At the same time, You should feel proud of yourself for being able to let go and use all the tools at your disposal to make it match your vision and meet your standards. Do you know what I mean? 😅 Anyways, I still love your artwork and how you’re experimenting with mediums so, keep it up!

You're definitely asking yourself the right questions. Follow your vision. The old methods and ways will always be there for you to come back to.

First I want to say that your finished piece is absolutely beautiful! Looking at the granulation I don’t think it was a fail, I think it added character...adding to the dreamy vintage look of your style. I think you have the right idea about using watercolor as your base and other things like colored pencil & gouache to render and finish your work. I’m curious have you ever used inktense, Caran d’Ache watercolor pencils or neocolor? Perhaps adding watercolor pencils/sticks would be a fun alternative. Either way I think what you said made a lot of sense and could ease your frustrations when using mainly watercolor. Best of luck on your continued journey and ty for letting us follow you along ☺️

I totally get what you’re saying about looking at past work and wondering how you were able to create it, and then getting disheartened (just made a video myself about that lol). I think you’ve naturally gravitated towards using watercolor as a base, so embrace it! Who knows, maybe you’ll go back to just watercolor in a few years, but this season of your art is mixed media. Much love to you

It’s so cool to see you paint with watercolor! Sometimes it has digital art effect or a fun story telling illustration style and I love it !⭐️😃😍

Can u pls make an in depth tutorial on how u do it ?

First of all, I think you are an amazing storyteller!!! I love your work!!  This one was different than your usual for sure... I think that it was bolder, but also it had a ton of depth. I always struggle with linework versus painterly as well. Admiring the linework of others and yet never committing to it in my own work... This piece has that great balance that I am always drawn to.  
In regards to your speckles... I believe a big part of it is due to the granulation, but also the hotpressed paper.  I know it is so much smoother but I find those speckles always occur and I find it distracting after a few layers.  Sometimes it is granulation, other times I think it is just the "pilling" of the cotton (I also use Arches HP).  
I hope you don't "give up" on  watercolor... selfishly :p but that it becomes as you say a foundation for the painting.
Thank you for always honestly sharing your struggles and joys, I appreciate you!

It turned out great, lovely colours and super cute. It makes me happy

How can I just be so much in love with your art... It's just amazing and every time you post I instantly want to grab a pencil and start drawing!

(also I'm going though an art crisis too and it feels nice to not be alone)