One of the most beautiful things about watercolor is the way it feels alive. It flows, it surprises, it forces you to let go and lean into its gentle unpredictability. That’s part of why I fell in love with it, and why I cherish the times I’ve had learning from artists who carry on that same spirit—especially Ray Henderson and his son, Bradley Hendershot. I was blessed to take a course with Bradley myself, and watching him demonstrate both his own and his father’s techniques left me with tools I still treasure every time I pick up my brush. He is a kind soul that answers your questions and is fun, by the way.
Today, I’d love to share some of those lessons along with my own discoveries—practical tips and tricks for watercolor artists who adore landscapes, barns, birds, and fur as much as I do.
1. Supplies That Make a Difference in Watercolor
Before we even dip into mixing colors, let’s talk tools. Watercolor really sings when you have the right supplies:
Paper: When possible, go for 100% cotton, cold-press watercolor paper (300gsm/140lb or heavier). Cotton absorbs the water better, giving you control over washes and textures.
Brushes: A few high-quality brushes are worth more than a whole drawer of so-so ones. At the very least I recommend:
A large round brush (size 10–12) for washes
A smaller round (size 4–6) for detail
A flat brush (¾–1 inch) for edges, barns, and boards
A rigger brush for fine lines like grasses, whiskers, or feather filaments
Palette: A ceramic palette holds mixes beautifully without beading up.
Paint: Quality matters! Schmincke, Winsor & Newton, Daniel Smith, or Holbein are great choices. They give you rich pigments that lift, mix, and glaze like a dream.
2. The Magic of Color Mixing
Getting natural, believable color is often the trickiest part of watercolor—but also the most rewarding. Here are some tried-and-true mixes, inspired by the Henderson style of capturing the spirit of a place or subject.
Landscapes:
Earthy greens: Mix Ultramarine Blue with Burnt Sienna and just a touch of Lemon Yellow. Adjust warmth by tipping the balance toward the yellow.
Distant hills: A softened mix of Cobalt Blue and Alizarin Crimson with lots of water creates that atmospheric, hazy violet-blue.
Animals & Wildlife:
Fur tones: Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna make a lovely golden-brown base; drop in Payne’s Gray for depth in shadowed fur.
Bird feathers: For subtle iridescence, glaze thin washes of Phthalo Blue over a Burnt Umber base. The layering mimics feather sheen.
Barns & Boards:
Weathered wood: Burnt Umber + Payne’s Gray. Lighten with water for sun-worn highlights; deepen with indigo for shadows tucked under eaves.
Brick & stone: Use Burnt Sienna with dabs of Ultramarine to break up the monotone. Sprinkle in salt on damp paint for the gritty, mottled effect of stone.
Tip: Keep your washes on the creamy side (think consistency of milk). If the mix is too watery, you’ll lose richness. Too thick, and it won’t flow.
3. Creating Texture: Tricks of the Trade
Watercolor may be fluid, but with the right tricks, you can coax it into rough bricks, fuzzy fur, or leafy trees.
Bricks & Stone Walls: Lay down a light base wash first. While still damp, sprinkle a bit of coarse salt—it creates crystalline textures perfect for aged stone. After it dries, go back with a fine brush to outline cracks or mortar.
Trees & Leaves: Use a dry brush technique with a round brush to suggest bark texture. For leaves, tap the side of a round brush into puddles of varied greens—let them mingle on the paper instead of pre-mixing them. It gives life and variety.
Boards & Barns: Drag a nearly dry flat brush loaded with a gray-brown mix across textured paper. The natural skip of the brush mimics weathered grain beautifully.
Bird Feathers: Work in layers—start with a light wash for the base color, then use a rigger to add fine feather lines when the base is completely dry. Keep the hand loose so the feathers don’t look stiff.
Fur: Start with broad, soft washes for the underlying tones, then add layers of directional strokes (always following the way the fur grows). Use a rigger or small round brush with slightly thicker paint for the final details around eyes, muzzle, and ears.
Spattering: This is one of my favorite techniques for instant texture and life! Load a brush with watery paint, then tap it gently against another brush handle or your finger to create random speckles.
For trees, spatter different greens to mimic clusters of leaves.
For stone or dirt paths, spatter earthy browns for natural grit.
For wildlife scenes, spattering white gouache can create snow or dappled light effects.
Other Fun Textures:
Plastic wrap: Lay crumpled plastic wrap over a damp wash and let it dry. When removed, it leaves abstract, fractured textures perfect for rock faces.
Lifting: Blot with a tissue or dry brush while the paint is damp to lift out highlights—great for clouds or shiny animal fur.
Scraping: Use the edge of a palette knife or even an old credit card to scrape through wet pigment, creating wood grain or grass blades.
4. Learning from the Henderson Legacy
What I admire most about Ray Henderson and Bradley Hendershot is how they balance precision with soul. Their watercolors are full of quiet detail, but they never feel overworked. That’s a lesson I carry with me: let the watercolor breathe.
Don’t try to control every stroke—leave little bits of white paper showing for sparkle.
Layer in stages, letting washes dry completely before adding details (or you can use a hairdryer if patience isn’t your virtue).
Step back often. Sometimes the texture you’re aiming for is already there—you just need to stop before overpainting.
5. Consistency is Key
Watercolor consistency changes everything:
Thin like tea for distant skies, background hills, and soft shadows.
Like milk for mid-tones, barns, and most natural textures.
Creamy like yogurt for final details, deep shadows, and sharp edges.
Practicing with these “food consistencies” in mind makes it much easier to judge how your brush will behave on paper.
At the end of the day, watercolor is as much about heart as it is about technique. The Hendersons taught me that—yes, precision matters, but it’s the warmth of your hand and the love you bring to your subject that shines through most.
So, whether you’re painting the weathered boards of an old barn, the glint of feathers on a bird’s wing, or the soulful eyes of a wild animal—don’t forget to let the paint dance a little. Play. Spatter. Sprinkle salt. Drag your brush across the page. Experiment. And above all, enjoy the gift of creating.
Because every brushstroke is not just pigment on paper—it’s a piece of you.
