This week, we’re painting this stack of books — originally titled LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE—but you’re the author now. Use any colors you want. Rename the books if you want. Rename them to reflect your mood, your dreams, or your favorite colors… or the energy you want to carry into 2026. Be creative. You are the author and artist of these 3 books!
Watercolor challenge: Paint this reference photo
Here are the details:sta
- Share a painting of this reference photo of stacked books
- Sponsored by Matt White, https://www.learntopaintwatercolor.com/
- Prize for 1 random participant: Matt’s Watercolor Essentials Course, https://www.learntopaintwatercolor.com/watercolor-essentials
- Entries must be posted in the Facebook group: Watercolor – Beginners and Beyond
- Include topic hashtag in your Facebook post: #stackedbooks
- You may enter as often as you want
- Open to all countries
- Winner is chosen randomly
- Deadline January 16, 2026, 11:59 pm ET (New York time)
- Winner announced January 18, 2026
- Mediums accepted: watercolor, watercolor pencils, gouache, water soluble graphite, water soluble inks, and mixed media as long as it includes watercolor
Reference photo:
You may draw it yourself, or use this outline if you’d like:

What is the prize?
- Values Simplified: Demystifying the Most Powerful Tool In Painting
- Timing and Paint Consistency: Formulas for Hard Edges, Soft Edges, and Everything in Between
- Creating Life-like Colors: Mixing to Reflect the Natural World
- Mastering Depth: Creating the Illusion of Distance on a Thin Piece of Paper
- Learning What to Leave Out: Finding Strength and Clarity through Simplification
29 core Watercolor Essentials videos with hours of in-depth step-by-step training, also includes, Painting Figures, Simple Sky Practice, Painting Negative Shapes, “Still Lake” – A step by step demonstration
Sign up to receive FREE 5 Steps to Successful Painting: https://www.
When shopping online, please consider using our affiliate links. This helps to pay for prizes and postage to mail the prizes. We mail prizes all over the world. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. #ad
Amazon: (I will get credit for anything you purchase after using my link to land on the Amazon site)
- Amazon Storefront (lists of brushes, paint, paper, pens, pencils, mats, budget-friendly supplies, misc items I recommend)
- Amazon – USA
- Amazon – Canada
- Amazon – UK
Art supplies:
- Jackson’s Art Supplies
- DaVinci Paints
- Rosemary and Co. brushes
- Fuumuui (10% discount code: WBB)
- Jackman’s Art Materials (10% discount code:WBB10)
- SketchBox (10% discount code: DiannSketchBox)
Online watercolor courses:
Thank you for your support!
If you have ideas to share for future challenges, please add your comment to the post –>add challenge recommendation
Where else can you find Diann/Watercolor Beginners and Beyond on social media:
- Facebook – personal page
- Instagram – my art account
- Instagram – WBB
- Patreon
- YouTube
- Facebook groups:
For a free 7-day trial on my Patreon: Diann Zimmerman – Patreon.
This painting challenge is not endorsed, sponsored, or administered by Facebook or Instagram.
#paintingchallenge #internationalgiveaway #weeklypainting #watercolorchallenge #weeklychallenge #watercolourchallenge #watercolorbeginnersandbeyond #paintingchallenge #artdimazi #stackedbooks #matthewwhite





