I’ve been enjoying my new watercolor hobby, since posting to that time-lapse video I found so inspiring. It’s only been about a month since I started, during which I’ve probably painted four times, but I’m proud of how I’m progressing. I’ve missed making art, even if I’m just painting what amount to cute spot illustrations.
I’ve been experimenting with different paints (tubes vs. pans, student grade versus professional quality), and I’m still finding what I like. You know what turned out to be great though? The inexpensive 36-color watercolor palette I had initially picked up on a whim at Michael’s. I’ve heard from more seasoned watercolor artists that they love it too!
Want to give it a go for yourself? I went back and bought five more palettes, along with some better quality paintbrushes (don’t bother with the one it comes with) to give away to five readers. I also bought five Moleskine Watercolor Notebooks
(I painted this illustration of the prize using only watercolors from that 36-color palette.)
This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide. Just leave a comment below by midnight CST, Monday, January 27 to enter. After the giveaway ends, I’ll randomly draw five winners and ship off a palette, brush, and sketchbook to each. It’s a small way to share a little bit of what’s making me happy these days!
Jill
January 21, 2014 at 9:09 amWoo hoo! I would love this. I took an online watercolor class through Nicoles Classes (check it out – it was great and totally gave me the motivation I needed to actually sit down and paint once a week!)
Rachel
January 21, 2014 at 9:10 amWhat a sweet idea for a giveaway!
Christina
January 21, 2014 at 9:11 amI would love to win this! Watercolors are so fun!
Linda
January 21, 2014 at 9:11 amOH this would be great- since you have been painting and sharing recently I have been admiring and thinking that I would love to try it out for myself!
Denise
January 21, 2014 at 9:11 amI’m glad to hear you like this palette. I’ve skipped it several times because I didn’t think it would be very good.
melissa
January 21, 2014 at 9:11 amI’d love this! I took watercolor as an elective in college but felt rushed through just to get it completed my senior year. Love to try again!
Nicole
January 21, 2014 at 9:11 amOh how sweet! I’d love to start doing some little paintings again. :)
Ashley
January 21, 2014 at 9:12 amOoooh, pick me!
Leana
January 21, 2014 at 9:12 amOh my daughter and I would love this!
lisa
January 21, 2014 at 9:14 amThis would be perfect for my nephew’s birthday. A budding artist needs his tools! Thanks for hosting!!
Jenny
January 21, 2014 at 9:14 amLovely giveaway!!
Erin
January 21, 2014 at 9:14 amI would love to paint my way to spring! Thanks for the inspiration!
Brittany
January 21, 2014 at 9:14 amI would love to win this! I’ve been wanting to give watercolors a try. Also, you’re incredibly talented.
laura j
January 21, 2014 at 9:15 amI’m loving the look of watercolor paintings these days, and that it doesn’t take too much prep/set-up before you can get to the painting
Heidi Devereaux
January 21, 2014 at 9:15 amThank you so much for offering this. It would be the perfect motivation to start painting again. I love your blog by the way and I am not just saying this to get you to pick me! It is truly a bright spot in my day.
Amelia
January 21, 2014 at 9:15 amWhat an awesome giveaway! Love your spot illustrations, too!
Hanna
January 21, 2014 at 9:15 amI’ve been trying to get back into watercolour, but am still trying to find paints I really like :)
Karen Nazzy
January 21, 2014 at 9:16 amYour pictures don’t look novice at all! I have only experimented with watercolor pencils lately but I couldn’t master it. This palette includes a lot of great colors and you’ve inspired me to try real watercolors!
kris
January 21, 2014 at 9:16 amsend it to germany!
Noe A.
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amOhh! Like one of those giveaways from the beginning of blogging times! I LOVE it! :D
Andrea Sousa
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amAn adorable idea! :)
Jamie
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amWatercolors are my favorite painting medium! Your illustrations are delightful!
Manda Miller
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amI was just telling my husband that I wanted to try watercolors! Would love this!!!
rosaria
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amfingers crossed!!
HelloGelibee
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amWhat a lovely coincidence! I’ve decided to finally try watercolor today and I love it. I only have the 8 color ones and it would be cool to receive the 36 color pan :)
Andrea S
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amI’d love this. It has been so long since I painted or done anything remotely crafty.
Renee S
January 21, 2014 at 9:17 amSo fun!
colleen
January 21, 2014 at 9:18 amI’m very much a beginner, but I loved the watercolors workshop I took at Alt a few years ago. Would love to start up again!
Ashley
January 21, 2014 at 9:18 amI have been wanting to try watercolor painting. Would love to win this!
nikki
January 21, 2014 at 9:18 amI would love to win this! I’ve always loved painting, but haven’t had many opportunities to enjoy creative endeavors recently. This would be the push I need to start again!
Resa
January 21, 2014 at 9:18 amWhat a fun prize. And a great way to add color and life to this terribly cold winter.
Jessica
January 21, 2014 at 9:19 amI’ve always wanted to try water colors out! I was having a little too much fun with those paint by water books with my daughter.
St349
January 21, 2014 at 9:19 amLove the lamp you are making!
Ariane
January 21, 2014 at 9:19 amI’d love a set ! Wonderful idea indeed, thanks.
susan
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amawesome prize! I’d love to win! :)
Alicia
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amI’d love to see what I could do with this!
Elizabeth
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amWhat the heck? You painted those things? Holy smokes! I’m so impressed!
Jessica @ SundayLoves.com
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amI’ve been loving your updates here. I miss painting with watercolours. And you should be SO proud as they’re so difficult to paint with!
I loved tube paints back when I was actively painting. I loved being able to so easily decide on the opacity I wanted.
Oh, and great give away idea!
Annette
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amWhat a sweet treat!
Amanda
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amWould love love love this!
Candace M
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amYes, please! This is an awesome idea! I’ve been wanting to get back into watercolor.
Laura S
January 21, 2014 at 9:20 amSuch a great idea! All of your paintings really have inspired me to give it a shot & I’ve been meaning to pick up a kit but we’re busy packing to make a big move… needless to say, I haven’t had a chance to make it to the craft store!
Jennifer Rodgers
January 21, 2014 at 9:21 amThis would be great motivation for me to start painting again too.
Patricia
January 21, 2014 at 9:21 amI would absolutely love to win this! I ‘ve gone back to painting with watercolors too, and I currently use my son’s palette from school. :)
Melissa
January 21, 2014 at 9:21 amPainting with watercolors is my ultimate stress reducer. I would love to win!
Malia
January 21, 2014 at 9:21 amYay. Giveaways of tried-and-tested stuff is great!
Sara Anne
January 21, 2014 at 9:21 amNicole, I just started acrylic painting and it’s so rewarding! Would love to try watercolor–your pieces look great.
amanda
January 21, 2014 at 9:21 amHow fun! What a great way to cheer up the winter!
mjb
January 21, 2014 at 9:22 amI used to love playing with watercolors!
Erica Oberbauer
January 21, 2014 at 9:22 amI love your plant paintings, it would be so fun to win this. I live by the beach and would love to paint down by the sea side with this kit!
Bethany
January 21, 2014 at 9:22 amYes, I love this giveaway! Such a great idea.
Andrea
January 21, 2014 at 9:22 amAwesome :)
sarah maiello
January 21, 2014 at 9:23 amI would LOVE to win this!! What an awesome giveaway!
Kelly
January 21, 2014 at 9:23 amI like your paintings – the sofas especially! We like to paint in our house so some water colors would be welcome!
Amanda A.
January 21, 2014 at 9:23 amMy daughter would love this! My daughter is just starting to work with other stuff other than pencils in her drawings.
sarah
January 21, 2014 at 9:23 amsuch a lovely idea for a giveaway. will definitely lend some happiness and color to some lucky folks’ winters :)
Alexandra Pereira
January 21, 2014 at 9:23 amThis is a great giveaway, there’s been a while since I last used watercolors, this would be a sweet comeback ;)
Bonnie-Jo Evans
January 21, 2014 at 9:24 amhow sweet!
Jayne
January 21, 2014 at 9:24 amWhat a lovely giveaway! :-)
susan altfeld
January 21, 2014 at 9:24 amsounds like so much fun
Lindsay F
January 21, 2014 at 9:24 amI love watercolors… They’re so fun! :)
Bere
January 21, 2014 at 9:24 amI hope you randomly pick me ;-)
Trina K.
January 21, 2014 at 9:24 amSuch a great idea to share the love of your own personal talents and to pay it forward to future artists in the making! :)
Maria Jemimah
January 21, 2014 at 9:25 amI would love this!! Great idea for a giveaway! :)
Christy
January 21, 2014 at 9:25 amI have just discovered you and I am so excited!!!! I have been doing watercolor for just a few months now and it is so lovely! I ALWAYS need inspiration! I am thrilled to have found your page!!!!! Yay!! Your work is lovely!
Nicki Traikos
January 21, 2014 at 9:25 amoooh. I’d love to play with that palette. You are so very talented!! x
Jaylyn
January 21, 2014 at 9:25 amI would love this! I have been wanting to experiment with watercolors recently but just haven’t gone out to buy the supplies!
Ellen McK
January 21, 2014 at 9:25 amThis would be so fun to play with. You mean watercolors come in more than 8 colors? Going to have to keep my kids’ paws out of this set if I win it. ;)
Anna
January 21, 2014 at 9:25 amNicole, your pieces look really great! Not at all any sort of ‘beginner’ to them whatsoever! I’ve always wanted to try and get into watercolors, but since I can’t draw to save my life in any form I’ve sort of stayed away from it – but you’re making me want to give it a big ol’ go!
Kamilla Vinther
January 21, 2014 at 9:26 amHow’s the quality of that brand of watercolor? Well, I wouldn’t mind testing it ;)
Lots of blog-love from Denmark…
Shari B.
January 21, 2014 at 9:26 amI decided to start watercoloring last year, But then my son got interested and he took over my watercolor palette and used most of the colors. If I won this, I could start again. I’d hiide it from him however ;)
Darcie
January 21, 2014 at 9:26 amYour paintings are so cute!
Kara F
January 21, 2014 at 9:26 amMy niece loves watercolors, this would be a gift to her if I won :) Your home is looking beautiful, Nicole!
Lena
January 21, 2014 at 9:27 amHow fun! I’ve always loved the look of watercolors but never got into them…perhaps now is my time :)
Barbara Camarillo
January 21, 2014 at 9:27 amSo inspired by your work and whims! Thanks!
Jennifer
January 21, 2014 at 9:28 amAww, I almost went out and bought myself some because you seemed to be enjoying it, but I let myself get intimidated out of it! I hope I win!
Mary Ann
January 21, 2014 at 9:28 amGreat giveaway! Wonderful way to explore your creative side even more.
Alex K
January 21, 2014 at 9:28 amWhat a great giveaway! I’ve been wanting to increase my creativity in a way other than knitting. I’m planning on adding some touches to a painting I just bought to make it more modern. I’d love to give watercolors a try.
Posey
January 21, 2014 at 9:28 amI’ve been checking out watercolors, too! Winning would be awesome!
Schaneon
January 21, 2014 at 9:28 amI would love this! Thanks for the opportunity!
Sarah
January 21, 2014 at 9:29 amThis is amazing! Thanks to your earlier post about watercolors I have broke out my tube colors. However, I do not have a lot of time in the evenings and a pan set would be an amazing solution. I could take it to work with me and use my lunch break to do something creative!
Thanks!
Lyn
January 21, 2014 at 9:29 amGreat giveaway!! I have my pans leftover from college that I play with every once in a while. However college was in the mid ’90s. I could definitely do with an upgrade!! Thanks!
Heather Neibaur
January 21, 2014 at 9:29 amI would love to create more art in my home. This is such a great giveaway! Thank you for the chance..
Paige Phelps
January 21, 2014 at 9:29 amI normally paint acrylic but have been trying to get into watercolour. Thanks for making this contest open to everyone!
SuSa S.
January 21, 2014 at 9:29 amHow absolutely sweet of you Nicole, thank you. I love the idea of watercolouring again. Used to do alot of it growing up. xxx
Ashley M
January 21, 2014 at 9:29 amAmazing and incredibly generous of you! What a great giveaway! I’ve been yearning to start practicing with watercolours, so this would be really great to win :)
Suzanne Quinn
January 21, 2014 at 9:29 amLovely! Sweet of you.
Rachel S.
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amThis looks like so much fun!
Kelly Anne
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amYour paintings are beautiful! I’ve always loved watercolors! So lovely.
Becky
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amI love the look of watercolors! This is definitely something I need to try.
Kelsey
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amSo awesome, I would love to receive one of these sets!
Gina Stoney
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amIt would be so much fun to win this.
Tina
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amWhat a wonderful idea!! Your little paintings are too!!
Jennie Cain
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amLove this :D
The beautiful watercolors you’ve made are inspiring!
Shannon
January 21, 2014 at 9:30 amThank you for the giveaway!
Laura
January 21, 2014 at 9:31 amI love your watercolor creations! Thanks for the giveaway. I’d like to give it a go.
Katie
January 21, 2014 at 9:31 amThis is a really sweet thing to do. I think it might be the cutest giveaway ever.
Jenn Martinez
January 21, 2014 at 9:31 amI would love to have these! :) I left all my watercolor and brushes back in China when I need to go back home… my husband told me it’s unnecessary to bring it with me, but now I am dying to get a new set…can’t go out shopping for a new one because I am breastfeeding full time and too busy with online work. :( These would be a lovely gift for me this new year… hope I can win them.
Mechelle Wallace
January 21, 2014 at 9:32 amThis shop sparks something, within me…I’d love to win!
Amanda
January 21, 2014 at 9:32 amWould be fun to try out!