DAYS OF AUTUMN 🍂 My artist life + the Schmincke Horadam Special Edition palette (swatching + mixing) 

ARTIST VLOG 41 🍂 In this vlog, I'll show you lots of different paintings that I've been working on this past month or so, including a peek inside my sketchbooks. We'll take a wander around the garden to look at the Autumn colours, and I finally get around to swatching the gorgeous Schmincke Horadam Special Edition palette with the leather case that I featured in an art haul about three months ago (I'm sorry it has taken so long to film this!). I've also been reorganising some of my art supplies, and I'll share the new storage solutions with you. I hope that you enjoy this video - it's a cosy one, so make sure you have a cup of something warm to sip while you watch it!

Schminke Horadam Batman should be the name of a secret club :D Loved seeing all of your work in progress. It can be difficult to appreciate how much work a complete painting is, how many layers are necessary when you only see the finished product especially with the truly unique textures you come up with.

Hello Natasha, So yeah, it is pronounced heeelio as it means sun in Greek. With your swatching , the right side needs a damp brush. So I do mass tone, then one slight dip straight down into water, then two wipes of rag, and wipe the bead of water off the ferule by touching it to your rag on a slight angle bent towards you. (I put my rag, right on the edge of desk on the my right side to get this angle). So starting with masstone on left, to do a graduation start with the blank wettest side top right corner, and bottom right corner and without wiping or dipping, stretch it from right to left, and mix it towards mass tone on the left. so your brush gets drier and drier towards the middle part of your graduation, so no back runs this way! So brush goes from damp to nearly dry in one move. Dry your brush a little more on the rag to remove wetness and do your lifting with a nearly dry brush. (It acts like a sponge) Doing well. There are lots of degrees of wetness! If you want a graduated wash with say 5 stages, either start with mass tone, then dip once straight down, then quick wipe twice, each stage. (include ferule wipe as a third drying) Or the other way is the lightest transparent you can make consistency of herbal tea, put a real lot of thin watery colour in your palette, and add more paint, paint each stage, dip once, wipe twice, wipe ferrule, and repeat 3 more times towards mass tone thick like cream in your palette. This method uses more water and less pigment, as you add to your brush, and the pigment isn't washed away in the jar. To get that corner bead colour wettness off the bottom right, dry your brush to nearly dry, and soak up the last little bead. If you have come from acrylic and gouache, Natasha, it would be difficult to control the wetness of watercolour as in gouache there are kind of only 2 or 3 consistencies.. but in watercolour we have more range of consistency. tea for the lightest wash you mix a real lot of this, 2 is coffee, 3 is white coffee, 4 is pouring cream, and 5 is thickened cream for mass tone. So you only need 5 layers if you get thicker and thicker to get a range of 10 shades. but if you put very thin washes over the same spot to get to a black, it will take 10 thin washes to get a black. So try this. Paint 10 squares in a row or column using a flat neutral black very thinly. Then to number 2 square and 3 up to 10 put another thin wash. repeat with 3rd square to 10. ...so 10 will have ten layers on the one square and will be black and 1 should be the lightest thinnest wash. Now try the same thing start a new column of 5 squares this time you are going to start thin, and end thick with mass tone black , change your thickness of water to pigment, it can be black in 5 squares, where 1 is tea, and 5 is thickened cream, a true black. So thicker is quicker, to get to a black. So this is the Jane Blundell way, she does exercises like this, and her swatches start thin and end thick. :) She is such a great teacher. Done a few of her in person courses, but she does courses online too. When you read comments on social media, bring your phone, take a photo of this, so you can practice later, or look up websites later, so then you can save time as you heart or respond...otherwise you will be sifting through trying to find advice or links. Lovely cute whimsical style, how do you make the textures on the hills? Some of your work looks like printmaking, in relief. eg lino or wood cut. Some of your marks look like a roller with cut outs for the white on the hills. Birch trees are also pretty. Really lovely work. Prints came out well too. I love your garden and oak leaves? Do you ever see any hedgehogs? I love echidnas, they are not related but I hope people look out for the hedgehogs and badgers in the UK. Do your roads have wildlife crossing tunnels? I think they are both threatened? In kindred spirit Eliza Dulwich Hill, Sydney Australia xx 10th November 12:31am

What a lovely vlog, Natasha! The bird you started the video with was so precious! I just love your landscapes especially. Your style and use of color is so distinctive. You may already know that many birds migrate at night so your little one in the night sky was particularly beautiful to me. There is a poem by Hafez that includes the line, “I once asked a bird, how is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness? She responded, 'love lifts me.'” Your piece reminded me of it. Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into your videos and for bringing so much beauty into the world! With love, Tara Kate 💖

Schminke Horadam Batman! I'm loving that quick draw Schminke holster. Makes me think of John Wayne westerns. High noon on the main street, the guy peeking over the batwing doors of the saloon...John Wayne and the bad guy (who cheats at cards and steals art supplies) eyeing each other up with squinty stink eyes...the clock hand ticks to noon...John Wayne whips out his Schminke paint box and with a single hand spins it and whips it open... producing brush and paper from inside his dusty leather vest and wetting his brush with the water bucket strapped to his right hip and proceeds to produce an amazing landscape while the bad guy is still stuggling with his fanny pack of plein air supplies. The townfolk, (hiding behind fortuitously placed barrels and stacks of logs to keep them in scene) collectively gasp and then cheer! For peace is restored and bad guy slinks off, thoroughly embarassed. The telegraph office has a lovely peice of art for that one wall that just needs something other than wanted posters. And the tough, yet, warm hearted madame who owns the saloon rushes out and kisses our quick draw (pun intended) hero right on the lips.

Schmincke Horadam Batman! Two years down the road...lovely video, as always. So grateful for your presence here on RU-vid, Natasha. Always wonderful content, and so inspiring to glimpse into your process and expression of your gorgeous, distinctive art.

Schmincke Horadam Batman! 🦹🏻 I love that this phrase is now out in the open! 🤪 What a lovely vlog! So atmospheric and seasonal with the sound of fireworks going off in the background and the shots of the garden too. 🍁 I’m looking forward to seeing what you create with the Schmincke Horadam (Batman) palette! 🎨🦇

Ah another treat! Perfect watch during a nice mani pedi sesh. 🧡

Schminke Horadam BATMAN....A LOVELY VIDEO🥰

Lovely to watch your video on a rainy Pacific Northwest Saturday morning with a cup of coffee. I need to check out your shop and am hoping you offer your beautiful work in card sets. Thank you for sharing, Natasha.

Schminke Horadam Batman 🦇 Love your style 🎨🖌️

Schmincke Horadam Batman! Love watching you paint swatches - so relaxing

The purple magenta swatch looks like a monochromatic scene in itself! The fireworks background was a nice incidental addition. Thanks for the nice scenery at start.

Haha, Schminke Horadam Batman! 😂 I think that's the best one yet.

Schminke Horadam Batman. That's so funny!

Schmincke Horadam Batman! 😂 What a sense of humor!! Loved it!

That pop of coral colour was really lovely! And painting the acrylic gouache lids is a game changer :)

Schmincke Horadam Batman. Love you new prints and always enjoy a little trip outside. Thanks for the video. ❤️Annie

Schmincke Horadam batman and thank you for sharing your work and giving us more swatches.

Schmincke Horadam, Batman! I love your videos. Can't wait for the shop update - the cottage with sheep and birds is just wonderful, as are all your pieces.

Schmincke Horadam Batman😊 I would love to watch hours and hours of your relaxing and most inspiring videos!

Thanks for sharing. Love your shots of the gardens and house! Schmincke Horadam Batman! 😛

Schminke Horadam Batman! Very relaxing video.

Schmincke Horadam Batman!! Love it! Can’t wait for the shop update!

You live in such a beautiful place! No wonder you have inspiration of landscapes and you house is huge and beautiful 😍

Yes!! Been waiting patiently for this. ❤

Scmincke Horadam Batman. Loved 🎉❤❤

Schmincke Horadam Batman! lol Beautiful colors and so relaxing to watch :)

Schminke Horadam Batman - your birds are gorgeous!

Schmincke Horadam Batman! Lovely video to watch while having my breakfast. A great way to start the day! 😊

"Schminke horadam, Batman! Just look at those colours!! Quick, let's jump in the batmobile and find an Art store- on the double! Don't tell Robin though, he'll just get jealous!!"😄💖🦇💥

Schmincke Horodam Batman!.. And I am sure there will be more than a few of us to be able to say that. Thanks for this quiet, relaxing blog!

Schmincke Horadam Batman! lovely video as always!

Schminke Horadam Batman, loved it all. Take care!

Schmincke Horadam Batman! I mean, are those gorgeous colours or what? And the mixes… I have a couple of those but may have to get the rest.

Holy Schmincke Horadam, Batman! Why haven’t we seen that comedian Dominic appear as your assistant yet? Maybe you are saving it as a Christmas surprise.😂 I love the colors you mixed from this palette, especially the greens and that deep teal. I totally missed the strap feature that helps get the palette out of the leather case, so thanks for that.🤓 The IKEA bins are genius for pencils. Perfect color, I must say. Thank you for sharing your art, your beautiful home, and Dominic’s sense of humor.

So nice to have another studio Vlog. I di love the view from your studio window,and tthe garden is looking really amazing as atumn changes all the colours,it must be inspiring some of your paintings. And lovely to seesome of the paintings you have ben working on too. So glad you did a mmon painting with the Kremer palette,a larger version would look amazing too I'm sure. I love thw inter bird with the snowflakes that really made me smile.Please make the birds into a postcard set,that would make such a great set,and the night time dove with the olive branch is really magical looking,would make a creat christmas card,but also it could be an ilustration for a child's picture book too. The paintings look good to and the one on the easel is really taking form as well,it wil be great to see the finished painting in the future. I'm glad the client in the states loved the final painting and the coral colour does really bring the painting together. I have a helio green in a handmade paint from Etsy and it's a great mixing green,I also use it as it as,but It also looks good with metallics layred over it.The Schminke palette wors so well too,the colours are really vibrant,it's lovely to haer you react to a colour,like you did with the magenta,always makes me smile,but I do the same when I try a new colour too,maybe it's our inner child coming out.I suspect the shop update will sell out again (hope it does). I'm wel ubderway with doing the Huevember challenge now and it's going okay so far. Maybe a future video about the Folktales art challenge that you like to do,that would be realy fascinating to watch,to see how you interpret the prompts and in your style. I did take advntageof the Caran D' Arche sale on Jacksons and they also have the gansai paints on offer too so added to my collection of these. We all swatch colours in our own ways,the way you swatch works for you so go with that.Look forward to hearing more about the collaboration you mentioned too. sounds intreguing. (matt) P.s I'm realy enjoying the Acryla Goauche so far, this could becmae a new staple in my cahce!! thank you for inspiring me to try this medium.

Schminke Horadam Batman. Your videos are such a joy to watch and your voice is so calming. You're artwork is beautiful!

Schmincke Horidam Batman! Always a joy to see what you have been painting and creating. Can’t wait for patroon👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻😍

Scmincke Horadam Batman… I made it! Thank you for another lovely video. ❤️

Schmincke horadam batman. It's nice to listen to your voice, the tempo of your videos are just right, not a major rush bit never boring

Schminke horadam batman. Lovely vlog

Thank you for sharing the color mixes 😊

Schmienke horadam batman, love your new works. The sheep and birds are so light and lovely. Thanks for sharing.

Schminke Horadam Batman! Lovely video. So gentle and calming.

"Schminke Horadam Batman". Nice work. So different than my own. I'm loving your videos.

I think is was "Schminke Horadam Batman" you wanted us to say if we stayed till the end. Well, I always stay till the end for all your videos/episodes. Your paintings and your home and grounds are awesome. Thank you for sharing.

Schmincke Horadam Batman 🤗 enjoyed 🥰

Schminke Horadam Batman! I just love all your videos, they have such feel good vibes.

Good evening and Schmincke Horadam, Batman! I enjoyed every minute of your video, thank you for sharing. Your music was very relaxing. I love your birds and would love to have a set of post cards. Your birds are so sweet looking towards the heavens and your peace dove flying by the moon.The moon, by itself, is brilliant and would love to see it larger. I can feel how relaxing and refreshing walking around in the colorful woods is wonderful. The Schmincke Horadam swatching was very helpful and mixing the colors made it even more useful. I’m not used to using watercolor as I’m a Pen & Ink artist. I was trying to add colors to my Pen & Ink work I tried to use watercolor. 🥴🤭 I moved onto colored pencils before I found Derwent Inktense! 😇 Ahhhhh 🎶 I still play with watercolor….. Have a wonderful weekend. Fran

That commissioned piece is so beautiful- stunning.

I have purchased and been using for approximately 3 months 5 different sizes of the strathmore 500 series mixed media 100% cotton sketch books I just love working in it and I’ve been trying not only water colored colored pencils but different colored pencils too and actually using my caran d ache neocolor 2 pastels loving a lot of my mediums that I haven’t used a lot , thank you , it’s your videos and a few other you tube artists are to be thanked for giving me the ambition to do so

Schmincke Horadam, Batman! lol I'm so glad that I found your channel. There are so many lovely art supplies that I just did not know about. Also, the vibe is so calming and lovely.

Yes I get confused with warm and cool colours too!

Schminke Horadam, Batman! This video was nice and relaxing. I love the middle row of colors in the swatches. Pthalos have never appealed to me, but they do look like great mixers. I also adore your paintings and the look at those autumnal colors. A sight for the eyes, all around!

Schminke Horadam Batman 👍 Enjoyed it very much 💖🌹♥️

Goodness you live in a beautiful place- so blessed!. And beautiful artwork too

Schmincke Horadam Batman! Thank you for another lovely vlog 😊

Schmincke Horadam Batman… lovely beautiful art!

Schmincke Horadam Batman! hehehe It was fun, thank you for the video.

Schmincke Horadam Batman! Loved seeing those swatches & your new prints are gorgeous!

I saw those lil sheep and had to jump off to your store and immediately buy your postcards to hang in my studio. Thank you, Schmincke Horadam Batman ;)

Schminke Horsham batman 😆 great vlog. Thank you.

the schmincke horadam aquarell special box is sooo nice. never seen this colors in one box before 😊🥰 i also love the perylene colors und paynes grau bluish very much. but also chinacridon gold is beautiful

I too have difficulty with the warm/cool distinction. I'm in the U.S. (but long to have been born British) so I say Hee-lio. And of course I watched to the end; I'm a Natasha addict. I'm sure you know how lucky you are to be amidst such natural beauty. I loved the mix of colors in one of your garden shots - just grand!

Batman! It’s Schmincke Horadam 😉 love your style! And your channel, thanks for sharing with us

What a lovely video, Natasha! Thank you very much!

Schminke Horadam Batman 😆 I love your longer vlogs. I find them very peaceful and encouraging…they are getting me through some difficult days recently. I always think you are so good at the watercolour swatching! I was also very relieved to hear you say about the challenges in distinguishing colour temperature as I am completely hopeless at it and feel like all other arty people seem to instinctively know. I thought I was a bit weird.

Schmincke horadam Batman! Beautiful work✨

Schmincke Horadam Batman. I enjoyed this video for several reasons. The paints were lovely, your art is beautiful and you yourself are delightful and original. I see so much of my former colleague in you and it makes me miss her. She retired a few years ago and is an expat from Sheffield living here in Alberta, Canada. The things you say and do are so her! 🥰 Right down to enjoying smelling books when you buy them! 😉

Schmincke Horadam, Batman 😄 Looks like a pretty smart colorchoice in this special edition!

Ding dong! That’s awesome and I loved your art style my friend.☺️❤️ God bless you.🙏🏻

Schmincke Horadam Batman! I love your videos. I am working my way back through some older ones as I new to your channel. Thank you!

Schminke Horadam Batman 😂 Where do I begin … so many beautiful things in one Vlog ! Gorgeous artwork, beautiful pigmented watercolours and gorgeous garden ! Now I have a sudden urge to go IKEA 😍

Schminke Horadam Batman..love your vlog, it’s so relaxing watching you swatch and your art is so distinctive and gorgeous..🥰

Schminke Horadam Batman 😆 The brown and teal you mixed are stunning. And, I love the details (and punch of coral) in the commission piece you did.

Schminke Horadam batman! Great video. Nice to see the kind of work you are doing at the moment. Really inspiring

Schmincke horadam batman 😂 Beautiful work Natasha! Your color choices are always so inspiring to me. I too have always loved soft muted tones and the way you put them together just speaks to me. 🥰. I’m buying that sludge too - the color is gorgeous!!

Schmincke Horadam Batman :D I always watch to the end, I don't want to miss a second of your beautiful videos. Your art is Amazing...

Schminka Horadam Batman!! Lovely vlog Natasha xx

Schmincke Horadam Batman, haha! always love your vlogs. x

Schminke Horadam Batman, your work is beautiful!

Schmincke Horadam Batman haha. Love that bright colour palette, I need that in my life for sure :-) One of my fave vids so far Natasha.

Schmincke Horadam Batman! I have been waiting for you to swatch the special edition palette. Thank you!! Beautiful pieces going in the shop too :-)

lovely video as always.

Schmincke Horadam, Batman. Thank you, Natasha. Very, very nice. Don (in New Orleans)

Schminke horadum Batman lmao that was a great palette I love the colors, and ur little birds are adorable! Great video Natasha I love these vlogs it’s like visiting with a friend thank u for sharing with us❤️

Horadman Batman!! Really enjoyable video, thankyou

Schmincke Hordam Batman. I did giggle when you said that. A lovely artists vlog, Natasha :) That Schmincke Hordam palette looks perfect for someone who is just getting into watercolours. I genuinely thought that the fireworks were outside initially and not from your video! I'm loving all the pieces that you've been working on. They're such beautiful colours and there's so much texture. I'm working on figuring out how to add texture to my work and you are such an inspiration.

Schmincke Horadam Batman. 😉 I've been away from social media for weeks (due to renovation work at our home), and yours is one of the first videos I'm getting to watch again. What an amazing house you're living in! So great I caught your watchword (or rather phrase) at the end. Now off to watch some more new to me videos on your channel.

Hahahahha schmincke horadam batman! I always make it to the end

Schmincke Horadam BATMAN!

Schmincke Horadam Batman? 😁😁 Such a good idea with painting the top of the lids, I was just thinking about that the other week! 🧡

Lovely❤

Nickel quinacridone gold by M Graham is one of my favorite colors. In it's mass tone, it's like a deep sienna. Washed out, its a glowing warm yellow. Another fun quality (or frustrating, depending on what you are trying to do with it), is that it's a rogue yellow - the nickel in it causes it to be pushy. In wet on wet painting, it will shove darker colors aside.

I love your calming videos. I just had breakfast and coffee with it, that was perfect (and inspiring, I also need to change the storage of my art supplies but am a liitle bit stuck..)! And also: Schmincke Horadam Batman :D

Batman hehe! Lovely vlog! Thanks for sharing

Wow your house and garden is absolute dream world 😍 amazing

Holy batman I love your studio updates! Also YESSS to the schmincke watercolors! I love that brand. I just got some of their gouache and can't wait to try it.

Schminke Horadam, Batman! I had to laugh as I watched this because I was filming my own swatching video just this morning, and was saying that the colors were too muted for me as I love using bright ones! 😂 I think if we were sisters and had to split a paint set for Christmas we’d be fine because you’d have the muted ones and I’d have the bright ones! Love your artist vlogs and always leave inspired to get back to my desk and paint some more.