World Watercolor Month: Day 3 — A Holiday Weekend with Chickens

Happy Day 3 of World Watercolor Month!

Today also happens to fall on the July 4th holiday weekend, which means something I always look forward to—extra time to paint. One of my favorite things about long weekends is not having to rush out the door early for work. Instead, I can spend a slower morning doing what I love most: making art.

Rather than starting something new today, I'm continuing work on a painting that's already in progress. It's a watercolor piece on Arches Hot Press paper featuring a key west chicken, and her two chicks.

If you've been following my artwork recently, you may have noticed that I've become a little fascinated with painting chickens and roosters. It might seem like an unexpected subject, but it all started after a trip to Key West.

While visiting the Florida Keys, I was amazed by the number of chickens and roosters wandering freely through the streets. They seemed to be everywhere, adding so much personality and charm to the island. I later learned that because the Keys are part of a bird sanctuary, the free-roaming chickens are protected. Whether you're a fan of them or not, they've certainly become part of what makes Key West so memorable.

Ever since that trip, I've found myself wanting to paint them. They've also become wonderful subjects for practicing watercolor techniques—especially painting feathers, which can be both challenging and rewarding.

Today's Thought

If you're learning watercolor, my biggest piece of advice is simple:

Paint what genuinely interests you.

There are endless subjects to choose from, but when you paint something you love or something that sparks your curiosity, you'll naturally spend more time with it. That's where growth happens. Every painting becomes an opportunity to experiment, solve problems, and enjoy the learning process.

Today I'm grateful for the extra time to continue working on this piece. It isn't finished yet, but that's part of the journey. I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops over the rest of the month, and hopefully by the end of World Watercolor Month I'll have a finished painting to share.

Thanks for spending a little part of your day with me. I'll see you tomorrow for Day 4.

If you enjoyed today's journal, I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Is there a subject you keep coming back to in your own creative work? Or is there something you've always wanted to paint but haven't tried yet? Let me know—I always enjoy hearing about what inspires other artists.

Key West Mama Chicken and Chicks