🎄 Let the tree be wonky!

Painting is just about making marks

Hey Reader

Let me let you in on a little secret…
Painting is simply about mark-making.
It truly is...One brushstroke at a time. One moment of showing up.

And yet… if you're like me - we manage to pile so much pressure on it.

Especially at this time of year - when everything feels busy, loud, and a bit too much - the idea of sitting down to paint can feel undeserved.

That’s why this week, I’ve been teaching how to paint the simplest little Christmas tree in watercolour.

No finnicky details.
No perfect branches. In fact mine's a bit wobbly.
Just making marks with a big brush - oh and adding a bit of bling too!

A few loose strokes. A bit of green. Some water doing what water does best.

And here’s the magic part - once you stop trying to paint a tree, and simply allow yourself to make marks that suggest a tree… everything softens.

Your shoulders drop.
Your breath slows.
Your mind stops racing ahead.

Because you’re not thinking about the outcome anymore - you’re having a bit of well-deserved time out - a bit of 'play time'. And you know what - that's allowed.

It's one of the reasons I fell in love with watercolours in the first place, because they quietly teach you how to let go. And boy did I need to let go of control!

So if painting has been feeling heavy or intimidating lately, I invite you to strip it right back.

Let the tree be wonky. Let the branches lean. Let the paint do what it wants to do!

Because painting doesn’t ask you to be perfect.
It asks you to be present.

And sometimes, especially in the middle of a busy season, that’s very much needed...

Until next time...Merry Christmas

Sue Hay
x

P.S. I've just released my 'Little Box of Joy'.

It’s a small, thoughtfully put-together watercolour box containing everything you need to begin painting '6 Mini Landscapes in watercolour with me'.

All of your supplies sorted and ready in a beautifully curated art box...

Just open the box, allow yourself some time, make a cup of tea and begin painting. Have a look inside:

👉 GET YOUR BOX OF JOY HERE >>

Inside, the 'Little Box of Joy'® you’ll find:
• A 12 colour mini watercolour palette
• A watercolour brush - perfect for painting these 6 mini landscapes
• An original piece of art from me - in a cute gold frame
• x12 sheets of watercolour square paper (2 different sizes)
• A mini roll of washi tape
• An info card and bio - with QR code to the course...
• Exclusive access to my guided 'Mini Landscapes' course, where I walk you step-by-step through painting six mini watercolour landscapes. They’re designed to be simple, achievable, and calming - perfect if you’re new to watercolour or just want a gentle creative reset.

This isn’t about perfection or pressure. It's a little dose of JOY!

Whatever you’re creating today, I hope it brings you a moment of calm.
Until next time...

Sue Hay
x

P.S. ONLY 10 LEFT IN STOCK - makes a beautiful gift...