3 Tips for Better Nature Journal Paintings with Juliene Sinclair

Watercolor painting by Juliene Sinclair

Hi there, beautiful internet friend! I’m Juliene, an artist and color educator who helps people pick up

their paintbrush and rediscover the joy and healing of painting. Like many, I was an artistic child—always drawing, painting, and creating. But as I “grew up,” I stopped making art, and after earning my very un-artsy engineering degree, I found myself lost and depressed. I spent years in a creative drought until I finally listened to the voice inside me whispering: “Pick your paintbrush back up.”  For a long time, I ignored it, believing the adult-y myth that painting didn’t have much value—that art was just an “end goal,” something to do after all my responsibilities were in order. Ha! Eventually, that voice became impossible to ignore, like a leader desperately guiding the group to safety. So I picked up my brush again—and I’m so grateful I did! I learned firsthand that Brené Brown’s words are true: “Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgment, sorrow, shame.” 

Watercolor painting by Juliene Sinclair

At first, I tried going the “typical” artist route—selling my work in galleries, putting my art on products,

and painting murals. But something wasn’t clicking. One day, while driving through a beautiful valley, another thought hit me loud and clear: “I want to be a watercolor educator.” That moment changed everything. I started sharing watercolor tutorials about color theory, watercolor materials, landscape painting, and beginner-friendly exercises. Instead of trying to create perfect work to sell, I started sharing the wellness and mindset benefits that come from embracing the imperfect process. Now, I’ve built an amazing online community of fellow watercolorists where we learn and paint together! While I primarily paint watercolor landscapes, my passion is helping people finally learn to mix colors with ease—because color is the foundation of painting. In fact, I created an entire course, The Color Mixing Lab, to help artists gain confidence in color mixing so painting feels joyful, not frustrating. Since you’re here on the amazing Laura Watson’s nature journaling site, I wanted to share one simple painting hack and two color tips to help enhance your nature journal paintings.

Watercolor painting by Juliene Sinclair

1. Test your Colors then Trust Your Brush Strokes!

Many beginners struggle to find freedom in painting because they feel like every brush stroke has to be

“fixed”. Instead, if you tested your colors and strokes before applying it to your painting you’d reduce

the need or urge to fix it! I always use the opposing paper as scrap paper where I test colors, brush strokes, and paint consistency before I ever apply it to my painting. Even if you are doing a two-page spread, then just have a scrap paper to test on and you’ll be surprised at how much more you’ll be able to trust your colors and strokes on the “real” painting. Constantly correcting your strokes slows you down, makes the process frustrating, and stops you from developing your own unique style. Of course, a rare few strokes might need adjusting—but that’s the exception, not the rule. The joy of painting comes from letting your brush dance on the paper, so set yourself up for success by testing and then trusting!

Watercolor painting by Juliene Sinclair

2. Use Complementary Colors for Backgrounds

You may already know that complementary colors sit across from each other on the color wheel and

look great together—but did you know they can also make your nature journal entries pop? For example - if you’re painting a purple flower, try using a yellow background. Painting an American Robin? Make its red breast stand out with a green background! Not only does this create a striking effect, but it also eliminates the guesswork of choosing background colors.

Watercolor painting by Juliene Sinclair

3. Mix Your Own Greens Instead of Using Pre-Mixed Tubes

Nature has a lot of green in it (surprise!) so it’s a favorite color of nature journalists. Many artists rely on pre-mixed green tubes because mixing greens can feel tricky—but pre-mixed greens often limit your

color range and they tend to reduce the harmony of your paintings. If you learn to mix your own, you’ll

have far more control and variety in your palette. Here’s a quick guide to getting the greens you want:

• Bright, vivid greens (spring grass, vibrant moss) → Mix a cool yellow (like cadmium or hansa) with a cool blue (like phthalo or cerulean).

• Muted, natural greens (shadowed pine trees) → Mix a warm yellow (like gamboge or ochre) with a warm blue (like ultramarine).

• Want to tone it down? Add a touch of red (its complementary color) to mute the green and make it look more natural.

By understanding these simple mixing rules, you can create the exact greens you need instead of settling

for whatever’s in a tube. Happy nature-ing!

- Juliene

Juliene Sinclair is a watercolor artist, color educator, and nature enthusiast who finds joy in being

outside—hiking, trail running, and basking in the short summer sun like a content lizard. She lives in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with her husband, son, and black cat in a self-built cabin in the woods. Her love for the outdoors deeply influences her work, with landscape painting serving as a way to connect more meaningfully with the beauty of the natural world. Like many, she was an artistic child, but as life’s responsibilities grew, she put her paintbrush down. After years of feeling lost, she rediscovered painting and never looked back. Now, she shares her passion with a thriving creative community of 40k+, helping others find confidence in their artistry—especially through mastering color

mixing in her course, The Color Mixing Lab. 

Find Juliene online:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@julienesinclair 

Website: https://www.julienesinclair.com

Free Color Mixing Workshop: https://www.julienesinclair.com/Free-Workshop-Registration 

Instagram: @juliene.sinclair  https://www.instagram.com/juliene.sinclair/

Interested in FREE botanical painting tips? 

 Download my FREE 5-Step Botanical Painting Guide here.

Happy painting,

Laura 

Laura Watson
Botanical Artist & Instructor
Founder of The Watercolour Garden
www.thewatercolourgarden.com