Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
Verdict: Even when plans change, having a reliable plein air kit ensures creativity never stops.
- Essential Gear: A complete studio range in a pocket-sized pouch.
- Technique Focus: Mastering wet-into-wet requires slowing down. Eliminate distractions (flight mode!) and keep a clean brush ready to lift excess water and prevent hard edges.
- Brush Care Pro Tip: To preserve your delicate fine-tipped brushes, never use them to mix dry pan paints. Always use an old flat brush for mixing to extend the lifespan of your tools.
- The Artist's Mindset: Whether adapting to "Plan B" due to rain or modifying a reference photo, the only rule in watercolor painting is to "Have Fun".
The Inspiration: Llanberis and the "Lonely Tree"
A window of opportunity had opened, with no work for several days. I started planning a day trip to the Snowdonia National Park to visit Llanberis. This little town is visited by nearly everyone who sets out to climb, or take the train to the summit of Mount Snowdon, whose Welsh name is Yr Wyddfa.
North Wales has some of the best narrow-gauge railways in the world. The train journey to the Summit of Mt. Snowdon is my favourite; it feels like you are travelling through Middle-earth itself, then up into the heavens.
The reason for my visit was to take a short walk along the edge of the lake 'Llyn Padarn' to probably the most famous and photographed tree in Snowdonia, known locally as the 'Lonely Tree'. My sister asked me to paint it for her as a Christmas present, as a monochrome study.
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The Gear: Sorting the Plein Air Kit
All I needed to do was sort out a small 'Plein air watercolour kit' for my trip. I wanted to keep everything as light as possible, as it all had to fit into a shoulder bag. I packed my trusty kit, and I was ready for tomorrow.
A few moments later, there was a knock at the door. The Postman had a package for me; my Fuumuui order had arrived earlier than expected, and the timing was perfect. I had two new Fuumuui products to test:
- The 24 Colour Watercolour set (Wooden Box Edition) with a dual-tip brush.
- The new 3-piece Synthetic Dual-tip Watercolour Travel Brush set, which I have been looking forward to trying since they were announced.
All I had to do was unwrap them, add a pencil, sharpener, eraser, paper, water, a collapsible water pot, and kitchen roll. My revised kit was ready.
Plan B: Bringing the Outdoors Inside
I woke up and was all ready to go on my mini painting adventure. Sadly, the heavy, persistent rain throughout the night meant my trip was cancelled. Painting Plein Air was no longer an option as the ground was sodden, and the rain had decided it was not going to stop!
Pouring myself another cup of coffee, it was time for Plan B to swing into action. I was not going to let the day go to waste. I went through my old photos looking for images of the Lonely Tree and also searched online. After half an hour, I had enough visual references to start.
To keep the Plein Air spirit alive, I was only going to use the Art supplies I had packed in my Art bag for my day out, even though I was sitting in my studio. I started by doing a tonal sketch on my Fuumuui 7x10" 100% cotton, watercolour Cold Press paper block; its surface was perfect, and it was so much fun, letting the paint and water do their magic together.
(Note: Whilst painting, my big fluffy cat, Prince, was sound asleep, snoring contentedly in his little bed, made just for him in the bottom tray of my Art trolley.)
Watercolor Techniques: Mastering Wet-into-Wet
I often try to paint the whole painting too quickly, as I get carried away in the moment. My 2026 New Year's resolution is to slow down when painting. I love working wet into wet, watching the colours mix and blend, creating all kinds of patterns and granulating effects.
However, when working wet in wet, you need to keep your eyes on the whole painting.
Back runs, cauliflower blooms, and areas drying out too quickly can leave hard edges—all of these can happen within moments!
My advice for the wet-into-wet technique:
- Avoid Distractions: I switch my phone to silent or flight mode, as you can guarantee friends or spam calls always ring when you are in the flow zone.
- Control the Water: I recommend always having a clean brush handy that is used only to lift out back runs, excess water, or to soften edges at all times.
Quick tip for brush care: If you are using sable or fine-tipped, delicate brushes, never use them to mix dry pan paints. A simple solution is to use an old flat brush for paint mixing. This practice helps preserve your favourite brush tip and extends the life of your premium tools.
When things don't go to plan, make a new one. Stop, calm down, assess, prepare yourself, put on a smile, and start again.
Final Thoughts on the Fuumuui Kit
I really enjoyed using my new Watercolour paint set. The 24 colours are perfect. They come in a beautifully crafted wooden box, with magnets securely holding the two halves together. I love the three mixing areas in the lid; the sponge is a nice addition, and the dual-tipped travel brush included with it is excellent. If you want to learn more, you can check out my detailed review of it.
The original dual-tipped brush set is my favourite travel brush set.
I had to try the second set, and believe me, I was not disappointed in any of the six tips:
- 10 Round
- 10 Extended Point
- 7 Flat
- 7 Feather Flat
- 3/8 Cat's Tongue
- 3/8 Dagger
These are presented in a beautiful leather pouch. Like the original set, when they are loaded with paint, these dance across the paper in harmony—such a delightful experience. Whether you are in the studio or out in the wild, these tools are designed to let your creativity flow.
There is nothing more enjoyable than finding and using art materials that bring harmony to your painting experience. Although my Sister asked for a mono study, I did use a little artistic license. Remember, there are no rules to creativity except one: 'Have fun'.
I hope my Sister, Toni, likes her painting as much as I did painting it for her.
My 2026 resolution is to slow down and enjoy the flow. What is your creative goal this year? Feel free to leave a comment below!
