My least favourite thing about a tutorial is if it is boring. Show me something new, give me a new technique I haven’t seen, something a bit sneaky, or a new perspective on something hard, or just help me tackle something I’ve not dared attempt before.

The next five tutorials are some of my Badibidu favourites because they’ve got a little something different going on.

1. Birds! Loads of people are scared to try them but this tutorial breaks it right down to a flock of potato birds at the beginning to start having fun and loosening up because none of it matters. Then as you’re ready you’ll get tips on how to approach a more detailed bird, feather techniques, antiperfection perspective, and hopefully you’ve broken the ice with your first bird paintings ready to take on the repetition and gentle obsession required for perfecting your favourite birds.

2. Pebbles - not only is the noise of big round pebbled clacking together on a beach one of my absolute favourite things, this tutorial will show you how to create greys and neutrals which will up your colour game. Also it will get you looking at values, how light and dark things are, which is a KEY skill for making your creations better and better to look at. Also textures, salt, and how to paint areas so they don’t bleed into each other.

Blackberries and repeat patterns - Not only is it fun making juicy rich colours but this tutorial also talks you through creating repeat patterns. Once you’ve figured that out you can make wallpaper, cushion covers, clothes and bedding from your own fabric! what’s not to love about that!

Reflections 1 vase of anything - This covers a ceramic and a shiny brass teapot and is one of my tutorials which leans slightly more realistic. Do not be scared! It’s still broken into simple steps and if nothing else I believe I can help you be less scared of painting reflections in shiny surfaces. I never would have tried it in the past and once you start simply looking, and painting what you see, it comes together weirdly well. Simple skill, but so under used.

Feathers - a classic and more well trodden watercolour topic. If you’re in an ‘I’m no good at this’ funk, feathers will give you the rare combination of a skill thats simple and relaxing but also gives a lovely surprise in terms of the beautiful effect it gives at the end.

You can buy these individually or some of them are part of the ‘let’s try something new’ bundle for a great price. Alternatively join my membership for £20 per month and get access to every single tutorial (any time), plus live sessions with me and email chat with me to help you decide what to try next!

I’d love to hear if you’ve tried any of these and what you thought :)

Happy painting!