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

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

This is a 6 week course. Watercolor Next Steps is a skill-building class designed for students who have completed a beginner watercolor course or have a basic understanding of watercolor materials and color mixing. This class focuses on moving beyond exercises and into more intentional, confident painting . Students will deepen their understanding of water control, value, color temperature, layering, and composition , while learning how to create paintings that feel cohesive

In Wild & Loose , we’ll loosen up, quiet the inner critic, and learn how to work with watercolor instead of fighting it. This playful, low-pressure workshop is all about wet techniques, happy accidents, and embracing the beautiful unpredictability of the medium. We’ll explore expressive methods like wet-on-wet painting, granulation, salt, alcohol effects, and unconventional tools—yes, including straws and household items—to create texture, movement, and atmosphere. You’ll le

Mixed media art invites us to let go of rules and begin telling stories through layers, texture, and mark-making. In Layered Stories: Mixed Media Without Fear , we’ll explore how different materials can work together in one cohesive piece—without overwhelm, hesitation, or second-guessing. I n this workshop, students will learn how to thoughtfully layer watercolor, acrylic, ink, markers, colored pencil, and other materials to create depth, interest, and meaning. We’ll talk abo

In our fourth beginner watercolor class, we spent time learning how to plan a painting through composition and how to make a variety of natural brush marks. This bonus video takes those ideas one step further by giving students a playful, low-pressure way to practice  while actually making a finished little painting. Rather than working from a strict reference or aiming for realism, this exercise is about exploration and repetition  — two things that are essential to growing

When we first start painting with watercolor, it’s easy to focus all our attention on technique — how to control water, how to mix colors, how to make a “pretty” wash. But in today’s class, we slowed down and stepped back to look at something just as important: how we see  before we paint. In our fourth beginner watercolor class, we focused on composition , which is simply a fancy word for how we arrange the elements in our painting. A strong composition helps guide the viewe

Come see Penny Lane at the Nostalgic Exhibit at the Cumming Arts Center this Saturday! Join me this Saturday, 12–3pm, at the Cumming Arts Center for the reception of the “Nostalgic”  exhibit. Many of the artists (including me!) will be there to talk about our work, share stories, and meet art lovers in the community. 🗓️ Saturday 2/7/26 🕛 12–3pm 📍 Cumming Arts Center : 111 Pilgrim Mill Rd. Cumming, GA 30040 (678) 936-6422 ☕ Refreshments served 🎟️ Free to attend I’d lov

I’m thrilled to be teaching a new round of watercolor classes at the Cumming Arts Center! Whether you’re brand new to watercolor or ready to take your skills further, there’s a class for you. 🎨 Beginner Watercolor (6 weeks)  — Learn the fundamentals in a calm, supportive environment. 🎨 Watercolor Next Steps (6 weeks)  — Build control, confidence, and composition skills. 🎨 Wild & Loose Watercolor (1 day workshop)  — Play with wet techniques, texture, and happy accidents. 🎨

When the Gulf Holds Its Breath For our New Year’s vacation this year, my family and I traveled to Orange Beach, Alabama. I love  going to the beach in the winter. No bugs. No sweating. No pressure to have a tan. And far less risk of my pale self ending up sunburned. Winter also brings fewer crowds, which allows me to fully enjoy the calm and solitude of the shoreline. My husband and I can take long walks in the sand. I can stand still for long stretches of time, watching the

Art is a wild, wonderful playground where rules bend and boundaries blur. When I first dipped my brush into watercolor, I quickly realized that creativity isn’t about following a strict formula. It’s about exploring, experimenting, and sometimes, pushing limits. The phrase *art is anything you can get away with* perfectly captures this spirit. It’s a reminder that art thrives on freedom and personal expression, not on rigid expectations. Whether you’re a beginner painter, a