About

Hi, I’m Danny (Dandelow)

I am an aspiring watercolour illustrator, using a combination of permanent ink line work and watercolour washes for landscapes or fantasy scenes. I am from the North West UK and have spent time across Asia — in the Philippines, Japan, and Thailand — which helps inspire my work.

I’ll be honest — this isn’t my first attempt at learning to draw or paint. I’ve picked it up and put it down more times than I can count, never managing to stick with it for more than a few days before life got in the way. This blog is my way of changing that. Putting it out there keeps me accountable, and if someone else finds it useful along the way, even better.

When I first started I wanted to see someone go from beginner to making a decent painting, but really struggled to find that, so I started this blog to document my learning journey honestly. Not to pretend I’ve got it all figured out, but to share what I’m discovering as I discover it — the techniques that clicked, the supplies worth buying, the ones that weren’t, and the paintings I’m proud of alongside the ones that didn’t quite work. This is the starting point of that journey.

Why ink and wash?

I love the flexibility of this art style — you can be as detailed or as simple as you like and still have a pleasing result. I feel like each artwork has its own story, and adding all the little details is telling the viewer more about it — the little rabbit in a woodland landscape, the texture on the walls. I love the little details that tell you something without words.

It’s also a very portable medium. A couple of brushes, a small palette, a pen, and a sketchbook fits in a bag. That means I can sketch anywhere — on location, while travelling, or just sitting in the garden.

What you’ll find here

  • Techniques — things I’m learning and experimenting with, written up as I go
  • Reviews — honest takes on the inks, papers, brushes, and sketchbooks I actually use
  • My Work — finished pieces I’m proud of: portfolio work, and the paintings I’d one day love to sell or use in workshops
  • Getting Started — posts aimed at people just starting out, sharing what I wish I’d known earlier
  • Sketching Diary — the honest day-to-day of improving: practice routines, sketching trips, and events as I go