Kat Richardson

@katrichardson

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Kat Richardson@katrichardson· 12d

The last of the #watercolor edge-control exercises. I designed this one myself and worked on it off-and-on for 9 hours. inspired by similar tutorials by #annabucciarelli

Last of the edge-control watercolors: an absolute riot of overlapping geometric shapes (circles, triangles, various quadrilaterals, pentagons, and so on) each segment created by the crossing lines of overlapping shapes is painted separately with no underpainting or glazing over the top and each intersection is a different color from those immediately around or connecting to it. The effect is a large abstract of colorful shapes and intersections swirling around the page, anchored at the center by a small, canted rectangle of dark blue, intersected on the upper left corner by a dark rose circle—creating a pie-wedge section painted bright orange, and a long yellow acute triangle at the bottom left of the rectangle, leaving a stripe of strong blue-green. The shapes are more numerous at the top and become less crowded and less-randomly colored at the bottom of the page.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· 12d

An other edge-control exercise, also less than perfect, but, it's not meant to be a great piece of art. I'm sloppy, but I mostly keep the paint where its supposed to be. Hot dry weather and shaky hands made this harder than it should have been. #watercolor #annabucciarelli

watercolor edge exercise: a 5x6 grid of rectangles that diminish into squares at the bottom. Alternating red and blue and shifting slowly to green and purple as the rows descend to the bottom. All sides touch but don't overlap.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· 14d

Struggling along with the writing, but I did get some edge-control exercises done for the watercolor practice. Overlapping circles with colored segments for each overlap. The purple is very large, so it got sloppy. By me, Kat Richardson, Aug. 3, 2026 #watercolor #annabucciarelli

Large watercolor exercise using overlapping circles to improve my edge control. Each circle is a different color and the overlapping segments are in colors that differ from those next to them. Total of 9 colors for 5 circles. Medium upper left (2 segments): cobalt turquoise and nickle azo yellow (strong neutral yellow). Medium upper right (2 segments): transparent orange with nickle azo yellow. Large center: Ultramarine blue—upper segments nickel azo yellow, lower segments with triple overlap of nickle azo yellow bracketed by rose dore and quinacridone pink from the two lower circles. Medium lower left cobalt teal blue (3 segments including the rose dore and nickle azo yellow from the center circle) and Turkey blue segment for the overlap with lower right circle. Large lower right: Dioxazine purple (4 segments including the cobalt teal blue from the lower left circle, nickle azo yellow in the triple overlap, and quin. pink in the Center overlap. By me, Kat Richardson, August 3, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jul 17

Hey, this Sunday is the Writers Chat & Chill at Ashley's Pub in downtown Bremerton 2-4 PM. No membership or fees, just come down and chat with other writers and like-minded folks.

Poster for Writers Chat & Chill at Ashley's Pub in downtown Bremerton July 19 from 2 pm to 4 pm. Hot Pink print on black.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jul 17

Small, quick watercolor of two pussywillow branches, while I prep for the Chat & Chill this Sunday in Bremerton, and the Cascade Writers Summer Conference the next weekend. Busy! #watercolor #writing #editing #CascadeWriters

Another 4.5"x6" watercolor; two quick branches of pussywillows. (Go ahead and snicker, you know you want to). Two slim, crooked reddish branches move upward on opposing diagonals; small blue-gray fuzzy catkins erupt at irregular intervals on each side of both branches, cupped in small brow shell-like bud capsules, and sporting a little bit of spring green stem. Just a fast little painting "ala prima," very little additional shading or highlighting, which makes the pussywillows seem a bit abstract and loose, but still pussywillow-ish. It was fun to paint these little fuzzy things, and this size is quick and unintimidating, which is nice.

Single pigment pallet, 100% cotton paper. By me (Kat Richardson) July 16, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jul 16

A wild pink rose. The flower is fine, but the stem, leaves, and bud... ummm... not so much. #watercolor

A pink wild rose. 4.5"x6" watercolor. The petal color is a mix of rose doré and nickle azo yellow, that starts at the center as a thin wash of slightly orange yellow and blooms outward on the 5 heart-shaped petal into soft blends of peachy pink to a stronger coral at the edges. A very pale curve of pink defines the highlight were the petals bend outward as the rose is fully open. Squiggles of deep yellow and burnt sienna make the stamens and anthers in the center with dark brown spots indicating the seed ends. The petals have delicate veining of red and orange. Sadly, the stem, leaves, and single bud on the left let the rose down, being poorly formed and unrealistically colored. I guess I just need to work on those a bit more.

Single pigment pallet, 100% cotton paper. By me (Kat Richardson) July 16, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jul 11

Watercolor of the Fishermen's Trees. Found on a cliff in Northern California this past winter. The trees' broken lower branches are festooned with old fishing floats and boat fenders. by me (Kat Richardson) July 10, 2026. #watercolor #northerncalifornia

The Fishermen's Trees. 7"x10" watercolor of three towering, twisted coastal redwoods clustered together at the edge of a cliff in California. Two of the trees twist together, festooned on their broken lower branches with old boat floats, orange ball floats and and other bits of aging fishing andt boating equipment. A small blue-and red bird house sit on the far left of tree, resting on the stump of a now-missing branch, a large fish-bone sculpture made of drift wood and rope hangs beside it on the trunk above a dark void between the two trees that have grown into each other. Two ancient orange fishing floats have mysteriously found their way to the topmost branches of the twisted trees. The third tree stand slightly aloof from the others, missing nearly all its lower branches with only a few high above reaching into the sky. A small patch of dull grass stretches across the tops of a tumble of broken granite from below the trees to the edge of the gray-blue sky. Mixed pallet on 100% cotton paper. By me, (Kat Richardson) July 10, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 28

Apparently, someone is claiming to be me and representing themselves as an editor associated with HBG Basic Liberty. They've stolen my photo (long hair, black leather jacket), my bio, and refer to my website, but the "Kat Richardson" at yahoo is NOT me. HBG is a real press, but this "Kat" is a scam!

Bright yellow diamond-shaped traffic sign bearing the words "Scam Alert" in black letters, in front of a background of brown, mowed fields and a bright blue summer sky with a few fluffy clouds

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 26

Still procrasti-painting. A walled garden. Got bored. Finished stupid fast. Maybe I'm finally ready to write again...? #watercolor #Ishouldbewriting #procrastination #writing

6"x9" watercolor of garden against a pale stone wall and narrow staircase. Many different flowering plants (Indian paint brush, coral peonies, rose campion, lavendar, blooming allium, coneflowers, blue star creeper, marigolds) and grasses, a climbing vine with red flowers, a few large rocks...some dirt. Very loose and basic. Cute, but not what I'd hoped to get. Lost interest after 3 days and just... painted a lot of grass and dirt. By me (Kat Richardson) June 22-26, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 23

A single red... anemone? I was using a limited pallet of single-pigment, transparent watercolor, painted on Lamali 100% (recycled) cotton paper. Alas, the black and the Volcano red aren't really transparent, but... the rest are. I'm not hating it. By me (Kat Richardson) June 22, 2026. #watercolor

A single red... anemone? Well, I guess it's an anemone—a slightly orange-red multi-petal flower with a dark center and a wealth of thread-like black stamens in the center. A dull olive green stem curves down and there are two basic leaves in extremely pale green with thin, bright green highlights on the edges and center vein. Highlights to indicate shape were created by lifting some of the paint off using a damp brush, while shadow and lowlight indicating curvature away from the light were indicated in deep layers of increasingly dark reds, oranges, and black.
I was using a limited pallet of single-pigment, transparent watercolor. Swatches of the basic colors are aligned on the edges of the page and the pigment information is given in pencil: Sennelier Rose Doré (PR122), Schmenike Volcano Red (PR108, granulating), Daniel Smith Nickle Azo Yellow (PY150), Meliang Coal Black (PBk7) for the flower; Cotman Phthaloblue green shade (PB15:3), Meiliang Sienna (PR101), and Winsor Green, yellow shade (PG7). This was painted on Lamali 100% (recycled) cotton papaer. Alas, the black and the Volcano red aren't really transparent, but... the rest are. I'm not hating it. By me (Kat Richardson) June 22, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 22

I'm still figuring out what it does, so sometimes I under or over estimate moisture on it. At 200gsm, it's not actually "heavyweight" paper in spite of being very thick.

pink-and-maroon Shibori-covered journal from Lamali featuring 18 sheets of 100% rag cotton, 200 gsm paper.

End-on view of handmade 100% cotton paper in Lamali Shibori journal, showing the thickness and deckle edges of each page.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 20

Some yellow water irises. Wet-on-dry this time with a more traditional round brush. It's a bit messy and this was painting on extra-thick handmade 100% cotton paper. By me (Kat Richardson) June 19-20, 2026. #watercolor

Some yellow water irises. Wet-on-dry this time with a more traditional round brush. Three large, three-petaled yellow flowers with darker yellow-brown fine lines for texture and veining stand on long blue-green stalks with a few long upward-reaching leaves. Two barely-opened iris buds spring up in the upper left corner of the page. tall grass is suggested by long marks in green and olive.
It's a bit messy and this was painting on extra-thick handmade 100% cotton paper. By me (Kat Richardson) June 19-20, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 19

A wet-on-wet practice piece with a dagger brush. I've never used this brush before, but some painters swear by it. It's kind of cool, but it'll take some getting used to. Overall it's not bad for a quick little piece on the inside of a ruined greeting card. June 19, 2026. #watercolor

some wet-on-wet flowers for practice with a new dagger brush. Red and orange poppy on the left, blue bearded iris on the right. Dagger brush takes a bit of getting used to, but it does offer many stroke options from ultra fine dots in the center of the poppy to two-toned leaf strokes and wide sweeps for the petals. Mostly happy with this.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 14

I used a 10/0 "short liner," but since the line doesn't have to be perfectly straight, it wasn't quite as hard as it looks. It does take some patience, but I find it calming just letting the brush do what it's good at. #watercolor

White 10/0 Simply Simmons "short liner" watercolor brush on a cutting mat of gray and white 1" squares. Overall length of brush: 7.5". The extremely narrow bristle bundle is 0.5" long and 1 mm wide at the base, tapering to a pinpoint only 1 bristle wide.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 14

A little watercolor practice: two piles of simple, stacked rocks in varying shades of gray flanking a single Peace rose pink-and-gold petal with the actual petal beside it. The real petal has shriveled and darkened a bit in the heat. by me (Kat Richardson) June 13, 2026. #watercolor

A small watercolor practice: two piles of stacked rocks in varying shades of gray flanking a single Peace rose pink-and-gold petal with the actual petal beside it. The real petal has shriveled and darkened a bit in the heat. by me (Kat Richardson) June 13, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 10

A promising start to a watercolor rose from a tutorial by Anna Bucciarelli, which I unfortunately overworked. Phooey. I'd mind less if it hadn't taken a week to do it, due to work schedules and my grumpy wrist acting up. Alas. Try again another day, I guess. #watercolor #oops

Base color layer for large watercolor rose in shades of pink with soft peach, yellow, and purple contouring and some color lifting to creat light veining/fold texture. By me (Kat Richardson), June 9, 2026

Completed watercolor rose: badly overworked, strong pink edges and center contrast overwhelm the initial soft shades of pink, peach, and violet; center stamens are a dark mess. Alas! Line work for petal veins, folds, and edges are too strong and overwhelm the rest of the work. Stames at center are dark and muddy. By me (Kat Richardson) June 9 2026

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Jun 2

A curve of steep coastal scrub with a few trees, rising above a steely-blue bay with gray clouds encroaching on the blue sky above. A trio of bare-branched trees stands in the upper left. By me (Kat Richardson), June 2, 2026.

Watercolor of a curve of steep coastal scrub with a few trees, rising above a steely-blue bay with gray clouds encroaching on the blue sky above. A trio of bare-branched trees stands in the upper left. By me (Kat Richardson), June 2, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· May 11

This coming Sunday (and continuing the second or third Sunday of the month for the rest of 2026) I'll be hanging out at Ashley's Pub in Bremerton WA from 2-4 just chatting and chilling, possibly playing games, having a cider... whatever. Drop in!

tan print on brick-red background: flyer for Cascade Writer's Chat and Chill in Bremerton WA, Sunday May 17 2-4pm, at Ashley's Pub, hosted by author/editor Kat Richardson. Center illustration of a steaming cup of coffee/tea (but it's a pub, so... it could be something else...)

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· May 11

A small Mother's Day card I made for my mum-in-law. #watercolor by me, May 10, 2026.

greeting-card sized Mother's Day watercolor of a bouquet of wild and domesticated flowers: yellow/red tulips, dark blue bachelor buttons, lavender, dark purple butterfly bush, wild blue forget-me not, dark pink peony, yellow cone flowers, a few tiny yellow flowers. Green stems all tied with a light turquoise ribbon. Bee 100% cotton paper, mixed pallet, by me (Kat Richardson) May 10, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· May 5

A salt marsh. Bee 100% cotton paper, mixed pallet. by me (Kat Richardson) May 4 2026. #watercolor

6X9 watercolor of a salt marsh. cloudy blue sky in the background with a few birds in flight, islands of brown and black below from which blackened stems and slender tree trunks sprout upward into a haze of dusty green and gray foliage. In the foreground a few tussocks of reed and low-growing green foliage from which green reed wands emerge, flying faint flags of white. Aqua water cuts channels in the soft mud and a few small stones break the water surface near the outcrops of plant life. by me (Kat Richardson) May 4 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Apr 29

A yellow-and-black butterfly perched on a large cluster of mauve phlox blossoms with white centers and small yellow stamens. From a photo I took in our yard last spring. Mixed pallet on Blick 100% cotton paper. By me (Kat Richardson) April 28, 2026. #watercolor

7"x10" watercolor of a yellow-and-black butterfly perched with open wings on a large cluster of mauve phlox blooms at the top of a long, dark green stem with several two-tone leaves and supporting stems. An additional stem of a few small phlox blossoms springs from the bottom of the main stem near the lower right corner of the page. By me (Kat Richardson) April 28, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Apr 23

A couple of lemons hanging from a branch. Done from memory. Not bad for my firs time painting lemons. They even look a bit round, which pleases me. #watercolor

Small watercolor of a couple of lemons. One larger and one smaller bright yellow lemons hang from a green branch with a few leaves. The lowest lemon hangs straight down with a shadow at the bottom, bracketed by two leaves of two-toned green. The smaller lemon is a little farther up the stem, sticking out a little as it rests between the larger lemon and a couple of leaves. The thin branch from which they hang enters the frame from top right and curves down toward the lower left.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Apr 18

Two little paintings. Left: some pink-and-dark red carnations, plus 1 blue carnation type flower. All with dusty-green foliage. Right: ornamental cherry in bloom, leaning into the wind. by me (Kat Richardson) Apr. 16 and 18 2026. #watercolor

small watercolor of 4 pink-and-dark red carnations, plus 1 blue carnation type flower. All with dusty-green foliage. by me (Kat Richardson) April 16, 2026

small watercolor of an ornamental cherry in bloom, leaning into the wind. a few individual pink blossoms float away on the prevailing breeze and off the page to the left. by me (Kat Richardson) Apr 18, 2026

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Apr 17

Bright cobalt blue cornflowers (also called bachelor's buttons) and two buds with pink-and blue tips on slender, dusty-green stems with slim leaves. Center details are in pink, purple and white. By me (kat richardson) April 16. 2026. #watercolor

A small watercolor painting on plain cotton paper of four bright cobalt blue cornflowers (also called bachelor's buttons) and two green buds with pink-and blue tips on slender, dusty-green stems with slim leaves. center details are in pink, purple and white. by me (kat richardson) April 16. 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Apr 8

First time I've ever gotten the salt-on-wet watercolor technique to work. Indanthron blue wash with off-white stars created by dropping coarse kosher salt on the wet (but not pooling) painted surface. #watercolor

Indanthron blue wash with off-white stars created by dropping coarse kosher salt on the wet (but not pooling) painted surface.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Mar 26

Just one watercolor sweet violet by me (Kat Richardson) March 25, 2026. #watercolor

watercolor of a single sweet violet: 5 two-toned petals in violet and white around a bright yellow cone-shaped center. A few dark purple lines radiate from the center out on 3 of the 5 petals. A green stem arches up from the top of the flower and down into a cluster of three circular green petals. Lamali handmade watercolor journal, mixed pallet. by me (Kat Richardson) March 25, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Mar 22

Big floating fantasy flowers—yellow, multi-petal transparent flowers with red edges and metallic gold stems and stamens. Big and flamboyant. Because that makes me smile. #watercolor by me (Kat Richardson) March 22, 2026.

watercolor of two large fantasy flowers—multiple layers of transparent yellow petals with red edges and centers, metallic gold stems, stamens, and seeds—floating in air.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Mar 21

Some silly little yellow chicks in both wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques. #watercolor Bee paper, Cotman cadmium yellow and Daniel Smith pyrrol orange. by me (Kat Richardson) March 20, 2026.

small watercolor of some fluffy little yellow chicks in both wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques. the chicks are in various silly poses: standing, walking, jumping, dancing, or upside down. by me (Kat Richardson) March 20, 2026.

Bee paper, Cotman cadmium yellow and Daniel Smith pyrrol orange. by me (Kat Richardson) March 20, 2026.

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Mar 21

A small watercolor of sweet violets and dandelions. Not too good, to be honest. Also some tiny M birds in the blue sky. Lamali handmade paper watercolor journal, mixed pallet. I have also discovered that this paper is too soft for masking fluid. By me (Kat Richardson) March 20, 2026 #watercolor

small watercolor of sweet violets and dandelions. Very childish, not too good, to be honest. Also some tiny M birds in the blue sky. Lamali handmade paper watercolor journal, mixed pallet. By me (Kat Richardson) March 20, 2026 #watercolor

Kat Richardson@katrichardson· Mar 19

Some dried fennel twigs with their dried flower clusters and seed heads on long brown stems in front of a green and brown wash. This was one of the first times I've worked with very fine brushes. Not great. But it looks like I remember. #watercolor By me (Kat Richardson) March 18, 2026.