Use the size-8 brush to wet the entire surface of the watercolour paper with clean water until it looks evenly shiny but has no puddles. Work quickly.

While the paper is still wet, drop small amounts of pale pink and cream watercolour onto the upper two-thirds of the paper in a rough ghost outline: rounded at the top, slightly wider in the middle, tapering gently. Do not draw an outline; let the paint spread and bloom on its own. The wet paper will diffuse the paint naturally into soft edges.

Drop a tiny amount of soft mauve at the very edges of the pink area for depth, and a touch of white in the centre of the head for brightness. The paint will continue to move as it dries, so resist the urge to add more after the first 60 seconds.

Leave completely flat to dry for at least 45 minutes. Watercolour paper that dries on a tilt will warp and the paint will pool to one side.

Once dry, use the size-2 brush and black watercolour or a fine-tip marker to add two small oval eyes near the top of the ghost's head. A very light touch gives the eyes a softer finish than pressing the brush or marker hard.