【Watercolor Illustration】Mushrooms and Little Mice

The Story Behind the Artwork

The inspiration for this watercolor illustration of mushrooms and mice came from a scene I stumbled upon one serendipitous afternoon.😎

Previously, I had painted about fifty small landscape pieces, so I wanted to try a different theme. This idea also ties into some recent life experiences of mine.

One time, I was having lunch by the river with a friend.

Sitting with my knees hugged close, I felt like taking a quick nap. Suddenly, I noticed the ground about 50 centimeters to my left seemed to be moving slightly. I stayed perfectly still for ten seconds, and then I saw the cutest little mouse poke its head out and sniff around.

I thought the noise of my movement would scare it away forever, so I carefully kept my distance. Yet, every half a minute, it would peek out again.

There must be an intricate network of underground tunnels, and we just happened to meet at one of the openings 😀

October and November are the prime seasons for mushrooms. This year, I tagged along on several foraging trips to different spots. Honestly, I didn’t care much about whether the mushrooms were edible. Observing their strange and fascinating shapes was much more fun. 🍄

This one caught my eye after seeing so many classic red-and-white-spotted mushrooms like the ones in Mario!

Stropharia aeruginosa

It’s absolutely stunning. Though not immediately noticeable in the forest, its color has a way of standing out without straining your eyes. The white speckles on the cap pop against its gradient green hue. Its slender stem with a dark ring adds an elegant touch.

That afternoon, I thought about combining these elements into a watercolor illustration of a small corner of the forest!

Painting Supplies

Watercolor Paper: Arches Cold-Pressed Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Brushes: Escoda Perla #8 / Escoda Versatil #10
Watercolor Paints: For the mushrooms in this piece, I mainly used Cobalt Green (Holbein) with a bit of sepia.

Step-by-Step Process: Mushrooms and Little Mice

1. Start with the small mushroom:

Apply clean water to the area first. Although the mushroom is a cool blue-green, I began with a touch of orange as a base to create warm and cool color variations.

2. Blend colors:

Use light orange with Cobalt Green or turquoise to achieve a smooth transition.

3. Add depth:

Darken along the curve at the base of the mushroom to give it a three-dimensional look.

4. Prepare the large mushroom:

Before coloring, I applied masking fluid with the back of my brush to reserve irregularly sized spots for the scales.

5. Paint the large mushroom:

Follow the same approach as the small mushroom but explore more vibrant color variations.

6. Paint the gills and stem base:

Work on both simultaneously using a mix of blue, green, and gray for a more muted tone.

7. Add shadows to the scales:

Use the base color for the mushrooms and mix in a bit of deep blue to add shadows beneath the white scales.

8. Add details with fine lines:

The lines don’t need to run continuously from one end to the other—partial strokes are enough.

9. Add the background:

At this stage, I decided to include a background. After determining the size, I taped off the edges, then drew rounded corners with a pencil. Someone on Instagram once asked if I used tape for the rounded corners—I didn’t; I just worked carefully to avoid crossing the lines.

10. Background coloring:

Use diluted orange and brown tones with low saturation. Be precise when shaping the rounded corners, using the tip of your brush.

11. Texture effects:

I added splatting effect (though it’s not very noticeable once dried).

12. Grass details:

Paint the grassy areas with a soft gray-green (Ultramarine + Cobalt Green + Sepia) and add fine grass strokes.

13. Paint the mouse:

Use light brown to depict the adorable mouse. Add details like fine fur and whiskers with a small brush.

14. Autumn atmosphere:

To enhance the fall mood, I painted a few leaves drifting in the background.

I’m really fond of this piece! Not only does it connect to my autumn memories, but it’s also the first time in a long while I’ve painted an animal. The experience felt quite different from painting landscapes—it brought a sense of vitality and life to the artwork.

I hope you enjoyed this share! 😊