🖌️ Ugly Stage, Happy Heart

🖌️ Ugly Stage, Happy Heart: Real Art (and Real Life) in the Watercolor Wizardry Academy

Hey everybody! It’s Zarah from Watercolor Wizardry 👋 and I have a quick (almost daily!) check-in for you as I paint, build, and figure things.

If you’re here for perfect, polished advice...well, let me give it to you real. This is real art life, human and sometimes hilarious, and lucky for us, that’s where all the good stuff happens.

🎨 My Community Is Open (as I am building it, so it's feels a bit bare, but that’s good!) Watercolor Wizardry Academy is officially open for BETA! Is it all decked out and ready for the red carpet? Nah, not even close. But that’s what makes it special. I’m in there daily, painting live, sharing my every “aha!” and “oops,” and cheering on anyone brave enough to dive into the challengeing and wonderful world of hyper-realistic watercolor.

Right now, you can literally ask me anything while I work. If you ever wanted to poke an artist’s brain in real time, this is your moment.

🖥️ Where to Find Me (And How to Hang Out) So, what’s new? Yesterday, I went live twice! I streamed to my Academy community, then for the “whole wide world” across YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, LinkedIn, Kick... maybe X too?! So if you want to hang out virtually, just look for Watercolor Wizardry on just about any channel.

And, full confession: I’m still dusting off the old live streaming skills. I accidentally left a YouTube stream running waaay too long (whoops), and I’m still sorting out why I can’t see my chats. Growing pains are real, friends—but that’s what being in beta is all about.  My main goal is to keep going, keep improving a little at a time.

🍐 Painting a Pear—But Not the Way You Think I’m working on a lesson painting a hyper-realistic pear. Funny thing—I thought this would be a chill, beginner-level project, but wow, it’s a stretch. Definitely more of a challenge than a warm-up. The pear is currently living in that “ugly stage” that nobody talks about—covered in tiny dots so it basically looks like a badly shaved beard right now 😂.

But honestly? It’s part of the magic. Every painting goes through an awkward phase, and the ugly stage is a sign you’re building something real.

📝 Supplies Matter (Paper Is #1!) If you take one thing away today, let it be this: paper quality is king 👑. You can fudge your way through brushes, maybe even paints (not really), but your paper sets the whole tone. I’m currently working on my “study” paper (Bee Watercolor Paper, 100% cotton but a bit rough), and you better believe it’s making me work for every highlight, edge, and shadow.  Definitely on the struggle bus with this paper.

Professional paper isn’t just for pros. It will teach you more, save you time, and let you actually enjoy the painting process. Trust me on this one!

⏳ Life Happens, But I’m Still Here I call these posts “Almost Daily” now because life is...life. I skipped a podcast day because I was just plain tired (and fishing trips aren’t going to enjoy themselves 😜), but today I’m back at the easel and loving it—even with dots and doubts.

💡 Key Takeaways from My Studio

• Beta Is Beautiful: The messy middle is where learning and community really happen.

• Don’t Fear the Ugly Stage: Every masterpiece passes through awkward beginnings. 

• Enjoy the process:  Laugh at yourself.  You'll have endless laughter.

• Paper Before Paint: Treat yourself to good paper—it’s the one thing you can’t fake.

• Show Up, Even If You’re Not Ready: Progress > perfection.

• Connect, Ask, Share: I’m here and accessible—bring your questions, share your struggles, let’s encourage each other.

💪 Action Steps for Your Creative Practice

1. Try a “Challenge” Subject: Pick something juuust outside your comfort zone and embrace the awkward stage.

2. Upgrade Your Paper: If you’re struggling, swap out for 100% cotton watercolor paper like Arches, and see what changes.

3. Check In With Community: Ask a real, messy question. Show your WIP (work in progress). Let’s normalize learning together.

4. Make One Tiny Tweak: If something isn’t working (supplies, schedule, mindset), adjust ONE thing and see what moves.

✨ The (Subtle) Moral Growth in painting, business, life; happens right smack in the middle of the mess. Celebrate it. It means you’re trying. It means you’re learning. And it means you’re part of a community that’s cheering you on.

Want in the Academy? Right now is the best time to join!  Come check out the Watercolor Wizardry Academy (In BETA!), find me live, or hit reply and let me know what you’re working on, even if you think it's a complete mess.

Talk soon,
Zarah
Your imperfectly enthusiastic Watercolor Wizard 🧙‍♀️🖌️

The dots look like beard stubble... 😅... the ugly statge is necessary!

PS: If you want lessons on watercolor, creative business, and surviving the ugly stage, make sure to subscribe to my updates at WatercolorWizardry.com. Just sign up for the waitlist and you'll be in my world.  I can’t wait to see you inside!