A Sneak Peek at the Nostalgia Exhibit: Penny Lane and the Endless Summer Hi friends! I’m so excited to share a sneak peek of the piece I’ll be exhibiting in the upcoming Nostalgia show at the Cumming Arts Center, opening January 14. The theme of this juried exhibition—open to both members and non-members—is Nostalgic . The moment I heard the theme, I knew exactly what I wanted to paint. You see, I recently fulfilled a lifelong dream: I finally own a VW Bus. If you’ve ever be

Every year, my family and I have a tradition of taking a long, relaxing weekend trip just after Christmas, stretching into the New Year. This year, we decided to try Orange Beach — and it turned out to be exactly what my soul needed. The condo we stayed in sat right on the Gulf, with panoramic views that carried us from sunrise to sunset each day. No matter how much I love Christmas — and I truly do, especially time spent with family — there is something uniquely restorative

If you’ve always wanted to paint but didn’t know where to start, this class is for you! Beginning January 15th, I’ll be teaching a six-week introductory watercolor course designed specifically for those who are brand new to the medium or returning to it after many years. Why Watercolor? Watercolor painting is a beautiful way to express creativity. It allows you to explore colors, shapes, and textures in a relaxed environment. Whether you want to create stunning landscapes, vi

"Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity." — Simone Weil My husband doesn’t let me drive on road trips. When we were first together, a million years ago, we would share the driving. Not anymore. Let me explain. My husband is a typical Virgo. He wants to have things organized and lined up. If the map says it should take x amount of time to get to a location, that is the target. To be honest, he likes to beat that time. He drives straight ahead and doesn’t stop un

What if watercolor isn’t supposed to be controlled perfectly? What if some of the most beautiful parts of painting happen when we loosen our grip, let go of perfection, and allow watercolor to do what it naturally wants to do? That’s the heart behind Wild & Loose, an upcoming watercolor workshop with artist DeElla Hoberg at the Cumming Arts Center. This playful, experimental workshop is designed for artists who want to loosen up, quiet the inner critic, and rediscover the joy

Watercolor artist DeElla Hoberg is now enrolling students in new sessions of Watercolor Next Steps, an intermediate watercolor course designed for painters who are ready to move beyond the basics and develop greater confidence, control, and artistic understanding. This six-week class is ideal for students who have completed a beginner watercolor course or already have a basic understanding of watercolor materials and color mixing. Rather than focusing only on exercises and te

DeElla Hoberg is excited to announce new sessions of her popular Beginner Watercolor course at the Cumming Arts Center this summer and fall. Designed specifically for absolute beginners, this six-week hands-on watercolor class helps students build confidence step by step in a relaxed, supportive environment. Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush before or you’re returning to creativity after years away, this course is designed to make watercolor approachable, enjoyable,

There’s something really special about painting animals. They don’t pose perfectly.They don’t sit still.And they definitely don’t try to look “polished.” What they do have… is personality. And that’s exactly what I try to capture when I paint a pet portrait. 🎨 Meet Louie Louie came to me as a commission, and from the very beginning, it was clear—this wasn’t just any portrait. This was a dog with a story. Between the reference photos and the conversations with his owner, one

There’s something about an art festival that just feels different. Maybe it’s being outside.Maybe it’s the energy of people walking around, discovering things they didn’t even know they were looking for.Or maybe it’s the simple joy of seeing art in person—not through a screen, but right there in front of you. This Saturday, I’ll be set up at Mayfest in downtown Carrollton, and I’ve been spending the past few days getting everything ready. 🎨 The Behind-the-Scenes Preparing fo

There’s this idea that storytelling in art has to be complicated. That you need a full concept, a clear message, or some kind of grand meaning before you even begin. But in my experience, that’s not how it works at all. Most of the time, the story shows up while you’re painting. 🎨 Every Painting Is Already Telling a Story Even if you don’t mean for it to. It might be obvious—a place you’ve been, a memory, a subject you love.Or it might be quieter—a feeling, a color palette,

Learn how to paint a cozy watercolor cottage step-by-step in this relaxing, full-length tutorial. Perfect for beginners learning layering, texture, and light. How to Paint a Cozy Watercolor Cottage (Step-by-Step) There’s something about a little cottage scene that feels like a deep breath. This painting is quiet.Peaceful.A little bit nostalgic. And it’s a perfect subject for slowing down and really settling into the watercolor process. In this lesson, we’re not rushing.We’re

Learn how to paint a glowing watercolor sunset using wet-on-wet techniques and India ink for bold contrast. Step-by-step beginner-friendly tutorial. How to Paint a Glowing Watercolor Sunset (with a Little Extra Drama) There’s something about a sunset over water that just makes you pause. This painting was inspired by a photo one of my students took at Lake Lanier, and it felt like the perfect opportunity to practice something we all want to get better at in watercolor… That s

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a piece of art that feels truly yours , you’re in the right place. Commissioning custom artwork can seem a bit intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you want a nature-inspired watercolor to brighten your living room or a unique gift that tells a story, getting custom art made is easier than you think. I’m here to walk you through the process, share tips, and help you feel confident about bringing your vision to life. Why Cu

There’s something so peaceful about painting trees in watercolor. They don’t need to be perfect.They don’t need to be detailed.And honestly, the more we try to control them… the more we tend to lose that soft, natural feeling that makes watercolor so beautiful in the first place. In this tutorial, I want to show you a simple way to paint a loose watercolor tree using wet-on-wet techniques—so your trees feel organic, light, and full of life. This is a great exercise if your tr

How to Paint the Golden Gate Bridge in Watercolor In this watercolor tutorial, we paint one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world — the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco . This project was originally part of a lesson I taught in my in-person watercolor class at the Cumming Arts Center , and it combines several foundational watercolor techniques in one painting. It’s a great exercise for beginners because it allows you to practice both loose washes and more control

Painting Spring in Watercolor Spring is one of my favorite seasons to paint. The colors feel fresh and alive, and the subjects often invite a looser, more playful approach to watercolor. In this tutorial, we paint a park landscape lined with cherry blossom trees . The path leads us through the scene while the branches and blossoms frame the composition and create a sense of movement. Cherry blossoms are a perfect subject for watercolor because they allow us to explore both co

Some days the motivation just isn’t there. You sit down with your paints and nothing feels exciting. Everything feels like too much work. Maybe you’re tired, distracted, or just mentally worn out. It happens to all of us — beginners and experienced painters alike. One of the biggest myths about creativity is that we have to feel inspired before we begin. In reality, inspiration often shows up after we start, not before. But there are also days when we need a gentler approach

One of the most important skills in watercolor painting is learning how to see light and shadow. When we understand where the light is coming from and how shadows behave, we can turn flat shapes into believable three-dimensional objects. In this watercolor lesson, I demonstrate a simple still life featuring red flowers, a blue vase, and fruit . This kind of subject is perfect practice because it gives us the opportunity to observe how light hits different shapes and surfaces.

One of the very first things a student asks is what do I need to buy? 🎨 The Most Important Supply: Your Paper If you invest in one thing, let it be your paper. For this class, you will need: 100% Cotton Cold Press Watercolor Paper 140 lb / 300 gsm weight 9" x 12" size Cotton paper allows the paint to move, blend, and lift properly. It gives you time to work — which is essential when you’re learning water control. I also recommend having a less expensive student-grade waterco

NEW SESSION AVAILABLE! February 24 – March 31st Join watercolor artist DeElla Hoberg for a six-week hands-on course designed for absolute beginners. Each week features step-by-step demonstrations, easy exercises, and a small finished project you’ll be proud to take home. You’ll learn everything you need to get started — how to set up your palette, choose materials and paper, and understand water control techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and dry brush. We’ll also explore