There’s something completely magical about a fly agaric toadstool, and in this tutorial we’ll capture that wonderful fairy-tale quality in watercolour. I’ll begin by showing you how I use masking fluid to preserve the little white spots on the cap, before mixing some beautifully delicate pinks, blues and lilacs to capture the cool reflected light of an autumn day. We’ll then build those gorgeous richer reds and subtle shadows while keeping the painting fresh and luminous. As we work down into the stalk and surrounding ground, we’ll add texture and character with grasses, tiny dashes and loose flicked marks. You can keep the setting beautifully simple or have fun adding your own little touches – perhaps some earth, extra grasses or even a tiny worm if you’re feeling inspired! It’s a wonderfully playful project filled with colour, light and texture, and the finished painting would make a gorgeous little greetings card too.
