step 1:
In this case the painting was a comission
with very specific elements that the person
wanted included. That's why the drawing is
this detailed. Just a light sketch with a regular
#2 pencil. The paper is 140 lb. cold pressed.
step 2:
Since I'm putting lots of flowers in the
scene I'll do them first so they'll stand
out better.
step 3:
Now comes the laborious chore of 'negative'
painting the background in and sparing out
the flowers, although you don't need to be
super careful. Don't use a small brush!
step 4:
I also block in basic colors for the
foreground, the palm tree and the background
hills.
step 5:
Now I've added the hill in the middle distance
and the vineyard. It's the Napa Valley...you've
got to have a vineyard!
step 6:
beginning to add darker values and you
can see the child emerging and I've also
finished the palm tree and blocked in the
basic color for the tree on the left.
step 7:
added the darker value to tree on the left
as well as some branch detail and just
some refining of some of the plants. Don't
feel like you have to make every square inch
detailed though. I know some of you are
saying, "Too late for you to take your own
advice Dave?"
step 8:
Just fill in the child and the hot air baloons
and we're finished. I even topped this one off
with a few opaque spatters in the garden to
suggest more flowers.
This is my first in what will be an on-going series of demonstration paintings, some in watercolor and some in acrylic. Hope you find them entertaining and, if you're an artist, I hope you'll find them educational as well. 
I use a John Pike pallette and just about 8 basic colors which I'm not going to bother listing because they won't look the same in your painting anyway. ( If you'd really like to know e-mail me )!
These are just a very basic assortment of brushes I use. Only 3 of them were used in this painting. The brush handle you see is an old aquarelle brush that died but I keep the handle for scraping!
Start with a very light, rough sketch in pencil. Keep it loose. If you do a tight, detailed sketch your painting style will follow. If that's what you want then go ahead. Or take a photograph!!!
Start laying in basic color washes with your 1 inch brush...somewhat sloppy with plenty of water. Let the paint drip or splatter and soften some edges. Also, keep the values light to begin with. The white of the paper is the only white we use in watercolor so plan to avoid putting much color on those places you want to remain very light or white.
After establishing some basic color washes the sky will be dry enough to begin putting the hills in. Remember to start with a fairly light color even though the hills will get darker as we go. Mix a bit of warmth into the greens, ( like yellow ochre ), to avoid boring, flat colors.
Start the stand of Eucalyptus trees with a 1 inch brush slightly angled and with a fairly dry mixture of a light warm green. ( If it's too wet you won't get the texture you want ).
After the first light application of color on the trees let them dry and begin putting base colors on the house. You, of course, must have established where your light source is so you know which side of the house is in sunlight and which is in shadow. In this case the light is coming from right to left.
Now begin adding more color on the house as well as some detail. Note I have switched to my quarter inch flat brush instead of the 1 inch.
Surround the house with a few trees and shrubs to 'plant it' nicely and add shadows from the trees onto the house and the ground.
Here I'm adding subtle tire ruts in the dirt road.
Now let's finish up the Eucalyptus trees. Add some nice darker colors. Eucalyptus have lots of color in the foliage, including reds and oranges.
Here's where that brush handle comes in to scrape suggestions of trunk and branches. The paint has to still be wet but not too wet. Practice! It's a matter of timing. If they don't look wonderful don't worry...
...you can touch them up a bit later.
Now we're ready to add some darks to the foreground grasses.
You can add a few scrapes for texture with the brush handle again. If you can't find this type of brush you could look for wooden clay modeling tools in a craft store.
Also add some spatters for texture if you'd like. Just don't get too carried away with this. Like any other little 'gimick' just a little is the best policy.
Finally, I've decided the background hills got a little too dark so a little light scrubbing with clean water will add light and more shape.
Blot the area with a clean cloth after you've scrubbed a small patch. Then add a little light yellow to make it look sunlit.
Then sign it...you're done! 
