In this post, we introduce and welcome Journey Art Stuff Artist Ambassador Ward Jene Stroud. Join us as Ward shares about his life as an artist, how he got started, some of his favorite tools and techniques, and his journey to being a Cheap Joe's Ambassador and workshop leader and now a Journey Art Stuff Artist Ambassador.

Artist Ambassador Ward Stroud

My professional journey and lifelong dedication to the arts has been shaped by a broad spectrum of creative and leadership experiences from an early age. I credit the influence of my mother, herself a talented artist, for helping me to recognize the transformative power of art. This early foundation solidified my commitment to making art an integral part of my life and work.

One of the things I love most about watercolor is you can make it very basic and very simple or complex and varied. All you really need are tubes of red, blue, and yellow paint, a simple brush and a piece of paper, and you're good to go! But it sure is nice to have lots of art stuff goodies at your disposal.

Here’s my wish list and how I roll!

" I recognized the transformative power of art, thanks to the influence of my mother, herself a talented artist."

My Supplies

Paper: I primarily use 140lb cold press watercolor paper, but I highly encourage experimentation with all papers including super-textured 300 lb rough or even crazy fun slippery Yupo. It's really great to try different surfaces to see what kind of results you can achieve.

Note: If you use tape to secure your paper, masking or artist tape works great. Some artists pre-soak and stretch their paper and secure with staples. Do what works best for you.

My Palette: American Journey Artist Watercolors, of course!

• Yellow Ochre
• Quinacridone Gold
• Burnt Sienna
• Ultramarine Blue
• Burnt umber
• Naples yellow
• Cerulean blue
• Andrew's Turquoise 
• Cobalt Blue
• Phthalo Blue
• Janet's Violet Rose
• Permanent Alizarin Crimson
• Rose Madder Genuine
• Cadmium Red
• Aureolin Yellow
• Periwinkle
• Neutral Tint (for extra darks)
• Ward Jene's Dusty Green - That's right, I've got my own color!*

*Note: We're currently working with Ward to release additional custom-curated palette colors, so look for these Summer 2026!

Brushes: I love a small, medium, and large mop or round brushes for the bulk of my painting. It's a good idea to have a small fine detail brush (for detail, of course) and a 1/8-inch small flat brush (for cleaning up edges) because they are treasures. I also highly recommend brushes from American Journey (medium size) for calligraphic work add a couple of "scrubbers" (stiff bristle brushes that can lift even the toughest staining colors; use with care) in small and medium sizes, and you're good to go!

Masking Fluid: Masking fluid can be very useful for special effects, but can also add an unrealistic and clumsy lines. However, I use it from time to time. There are many ways to apply masking fluid or liquid frisket, and more still being developed every day. I love the "Fine-line" applicator bottle because it has a resealable non-clogging tip so you can get spiderweb fine lines and also cover large areas with no fuss.

Pencils: Softer lead lifts and disappears more easily, I recommend experimenting with different grades* (HB, 2B, etc) of lead to learn the pros and cons of each.

*We recommend that you give these pencils a try!

Erasers:

I love the kneaded erasers but keep several kinds for different effects. Small round and cube erasers with sharp corners can do amazing things. Erasers are pretty inexpensive and I encourage you to have a collection at your ready. Always take care not to bruise or smudge your paper.

Sturdy Board / Painting Surface: I use Gatorboard (coming back soon to JAS!) to tape my paper onto. It's a stiff yet lightweight, nonporous foamboard that works great, but any non-flexible board that's easy to clean and move around should do the trick. Most paper sizes range from small to 30x22-inches,  so size your surface to fit the paintings. Of course, you can paint right on a table, just be careful of staining! I like to put something under my board, a rolled up towel or its equivalent, to tilt it up. A table easel or similar is great also!

Drinking Straw & Spray bottles: For dripping and spraying water or paint* which is useful for creating various effects. I have a small and a large spray bottle that I use.

*Note: Use only non-toxic pigments in any bottle that sprays a fine mist.

That's pretty much all you need (and even more) to get your painting adventure started!

Extra Extra!

Here’s a little tip…

Try to an avoid using a “right out of the tube” black paint as it can dry lifeless and flat. Instead, make exciting shadow colors by mixing your own.

How to make lively darks:

Try mixing Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna. This base mixture will give you fabulous shadows and dark hidden places, and then if you want you can make your darks and shadows warmer (use with cool light) by adding touches of red or more Burnt Sienna or cooler (use with warmer light) by adding more blue.

Another little tip...

Adding a dab of Neutral Tint will really do the trick if you want deep, abyss-type darks!

Ward's Video Tutorial of Creating Darks & Shadows with LIFE:

ABOUT WARD:

Over the years, my career has traversed a unique and eclectic path. I have held roles as a Professional Figure Skater, Choreographer, Athletic Coach, Graphic and Animation Artist, Singer/Songwriter, Musician, Wood Sculptor, Flute Carver, Published Photographer, Dancer, Teacher and Workshop Instructor, and Film Personality both on and off camera. Alongside these pursuits, I have maintained a four-decade tenure as a Hairstylist and successful salon owner, underscoring both my entrepreneurial spirit and my ability to balance diverse fields of expertise.

My professional credentials include juried memberships in the Watercolor Society of Oregon (WSO) and the Oregon Society of Artists (OSA). My artwork has been exhibited in solo and group shows, and featured in fine art publications on both national and international levels. I have produced three instructive, widely-praised watercolor painting videos, and have had the honor of presenting as an expert at national conventions. I have also served as a demonstration artist and Brand Ambassador for one of the world’s largest online art companies. My YouTube channel provides a further platform for sharing my vlogs, instructional videos, and films with a global audience.

Some recent highlights from my career include:

  •    Earning the 2023 “Studio Best of Show” and Second Place in “Plein Air”

  •    Receiving the “People’s Choice” award in 2019 and winning “Quick Draw” in 2020, 2021, and 2023 at the Escalante Plein Air Canyon Arts Festival

  •    Serving as an internationally featured online Watercolor Workshop Instructor in 2020

Above all, I value the privilege of contributing to, and being embraced by, such a vibrant and welcoming artistic community. The relationships, collaborations, and shared creativity with fellow artists have been among my most cherished experiences.

Thank you for your time and consideration in learning about my body of work and professional contributions. I am always eager to connect with like-minded individuals and discuss opportunities for collaboration or instruction. For further information on my art or teaching, please visit artofward.com or contact me at ward@artofward.com.

To learn more about Ward and view recent works, visit Ward's website at artofward.com.