December 2025 Guest Designer of the Month

Hello everyone! My name is Jennifer (@armieritagli on Instagram), and I’m very excited to be here today as a guest designer for Altenew!

I’ve always been passionate about music, art, and creativity. I’m a harpist, illustrator, and coloring teacher.

I worked for years in a wide range of hobbies (painting, sewing, embroidery, jewelry making, wood carving, polymer clay, etc.) before moving on to the world of cardmaking, coloring, and illustration, where I found my ideal niche.

I love sharing what I’ve learned through years of work and passion, and I also enjoy exchanging ideas, techniques, and points of view, because I firmly believe that art, in all its forms, can only be created together.

For this post, I realized an illustration using the following Altenew products:

• Watercolor Compact - Deep Muse
• Watercolor Compact - Moody Brights
• Fine Watercolor Brushes
• Watercolor Paper Set (Cold Pressed)
• Monochrome Shading Pencils

I started by gently drawing the dachshund on watercolor paper. Once I had finished the drawing, I secured the paper to a wooden panel using masking tape. I recommend securing the paper to a movable support rather than your desk. This will allow you to move your work around freely.

I created the background using the wet-on-wet technique. I thoroughly wet the paper and then added the colors, mixing Still Waters with Mermaid Green. Then, I added a few drops of water to create a delicate snow effect. I also lightly colored the bottom of the illustration to give it a blue reflection.

I colored the dachshund using the wet-on-dry technique to achieve a more defined effect. I recommend studying the light and shadows before you start coloring a subject. That way, you'll already know where the shadows and highlights are. For this step, I used Origin Umber with a little Peachy Glow and Raspberry Rose for the tongue.

After that, I accentuated the shadows using colored pencils and pastel pencils. Don't be afraid to darken the shadows, as this gives your work more contrast, allowing you to achieve a more three-dimensional effect.

At last, I created the snow using an acrylic marker and added some highlights with a white gel pen.

Thanks for reading! I hope my projects will inspire you and wish you all a colorful day!

-Jennifer