So the last three years I have drawn my own Christmas cards, had them photocopied, and then (eventually) mailed them out. This year I actually finished the sketch and had copies made in time to mail them out -before- Christmas. ...and then someone had to go and give me the idea to color them first. (The first two were just shaded pencil sketches.)

I figured I would just throw on a splash of color here and there to liven up the pictures a bit. Turns out I cannot do that! It takes me loads of time whether I'm using colored pencils or watercolors. (I had -no- experience with watercolors.) This example is done with watercolors. (I'll upload a colored pencil example and the original sketch later.)

The original was sketched out on a small pad, just slightly larger than an art-card, between tips at a square dance. I later refined this sketch after a couple of failed attempts to draw larger and better versions. After that I had it copied onto card-stock at 'Staples' office supply.

Turns out card-stock is -not- watercolor friendly... The paper wrinkles due to the "water" part of "watercolor" paints.