I really like seeing videos like this because I don't think people realize how much work goes into art. You don't just sit down and whip out a masterpiece in a frenzy, heck, even the MASTERS spent actual YEARS on paintings. Art is actual work, not just slapping paint against a surface until you don't hate it.
The good paper can be very forgiving, and almost indestructible. I did a painting of four chickadees on a branch that I didn’t like how the background turned out, I actually rinsed it in the sink, dried it by smoothing it on a sliding glass door and reworked it. I now love how it looks.
Same here. I’ve washed my Arches paper at the sink, rubbed with a soft toothbrush, then repainted. You won’t get all the pigment off because some pigments will stain, but you definitely can rework a painting (or part of it) if you don’t like it.
Great video! Based on my limited experience, when I saw the title of this video my guess was “Make sure it’s not the first time you paint the painting.” That’s part of what you presented, but of course you said it much better than I could 😉
One of these days I’m going to get a full sheet of the REALLY expensive Arches (850gsm / 400lb) and do a crazy piece on it… but for now I’m loving working on smaller 300gsm pads (still not cheap but OK for how much I paint). 😺
Yes I love this! Thank you! Now I know what to do! The prep is insane but I am going to do this! I don’t care if it takes weeks to get it right. Still beats the years I’ve kept my expensive watercolour papers. Amazing video!
Absolutely, Emily! Supplies are meant to be used and we will never get better, or worthy, if they stay in our cabinet. This is a struggle I am going through now and I found that yes, planning is the way to go! Thank you for your video.
Thanks for reminding me of preparing for good works...I get impatient and don't have a plan or goal just start with pencil or ink before watercolour work... on sketchbook or blocks. ..then have to deal with mistakes or things that I want to change in direction...😮..! Hard to do with watercolour but easier with Arches or other good paper to rewet and lift out areas..without damaging the paper!! Thanks for sharing!! Love your work❤! 😊 from Canada 🍁.
Thank you Emily you are so amazing giving artist. I am a amatör beginner painter and a big hoarder. I thought I was the only one. I am so curious to know the result of preparation from your good video in 3 lines f.ex. or anyone.😍
Emily, thank you so so much for this video. Even though I have been painting for years I still hesitate to use my expensive watercolor paper. And I know how much better my paintings would be by using it but a part of me still goes like, “wait, are you sure you want to paint on this? Are you sure you are ready to paint on this?” This video is so helpful. Will help for sure! Thank you so much!! Can’t wait to see what next video is going to be about!!
This was so helpful and interesting! I feel terrified to use my really good paper and these steps are so helpful! Definitely going to use these tips for my next painting!! Thank you 😊
Another great informative video Emily! I personally have never been "precious" with my paper and materials! I do as you say though, put a lot of time in prepping, be it editing the reference image or creating a few comp mockups before I pick up a pencil/brush. I don't really do thumbnails or colour swathing before hand though! I like to be a little spontaneous with that aspect of the process! Thank god that in my 20 plus years of painting I've only had a handful of "FAILED" paintings!!!!! 😉🤞🏼
I would still love some instruction on using photoshop to create prints. I don’t have photoshop and I’ve been trying to decide if it’s a necessity. I have a MAC which allows some editing. TY!
These are great advices. I have a few Arches watercolor pads and other brand very good 100% cotton paper. Do they expire? I've been holding off using them until I've actually have some experience watercoloring on cheaper 100% cotton paper.
I like to paint large pieces, and stretch from a roll. While I worry about messing up a large expensive piece of paper, that is nothing compared to the fear of messing up a piece that has 50+ hours in it....
@@EmilyOlsonArt I'll have to remember that silver lining next time! Thanks for sharing. I've used an iron before and have had similar results. I saw a video where a botanical artist wet her paper from behind until it was soaked, then placed it on a large window so it adhered with just the moisture, then taped the edges with butchers tape and let dry. Haven't tried it but it looked promising. th-cam.com/video/B97t6L_Q3i8/w-d-xo.html (at the 12:00 mark)
Hi Emily, something recently that happened with one of my cotton blocks is that it appears the sizing was affected so that my dried watercolor is spotty and looks really weird. I know that if you erase too much that can affect sizing on the surface. I also did some research and apparently age / storage conditions of paper can affect the sizing too! This block was "new" though definitely a year old + since I was saving it for "nicer" pieces. Now I'm frustrated with how the paper is performing. I'm not sure if age did affect this paper or if it was messed up to begin with, but another reason to not hang on to cotton paper!
Watercolor ground is a substrate you can apply to any surface to prepare it for handling watercolor paint. I paint it onto wood boards and it’s similar to working on an Ampersand aquabord.
Everyone always says to work past the ugly phase, but that requires having ANY idea of what else to do. And I don't say that to be rude to anyone! I'm a horrid artist and only seem to do decently if I'm following a tutorial. Looking at the stuff in this video fills me with despair. :P But last night I'd split a piece of Arches into 3 so I could try 3 different smaller paintings (I think this is only the second sheet I've used, and I've had this paper since 2017). One of these paintings is on its 3rd iteration, it still sucks, and I still don't know how to fix it. The other is on its FOURTH, and is still awful. The worst part about that one is it's only supposed to be a blue gradient that will eventually turn into wave breaks. >< Anyway, I don't know why I'm writing this novel, other than that it's 3:30 in the morning and I desperately wish I had artistic skill. I realize every good artist has put thousands of hours of hard work into their craft but MAN I feel so disheartened sometimes! I don't even know how to practice properly...like how do you know how to fix things if all you know is "This looks wrong but I've got no clue how to change it" and all subsequent attempts have the same result? Okay, novel done! (Your stuff really is beautiful. ❤️)
Please, do not despair!! I too am a beginner at this watercolor journey. And I share your frustrations at times. But, every once in awhile, I have a painting that just turns out beautifully and vastly exceeds my expectations. Just yesterday, my dear friend showed me the framed and matted Christmas card that I had just recently sent to her. I must confess, I was truly taken aback at how beautiful my painting looked. Join me and keep at it. You too will begin to have those 'ah ha' moments! 👩🦳🖌️🤗
@@deborahgoodwin3426 ❤️! I really do need to force myself to do it more often than I do. I technically started in 2016, but because I don't practice much, I still feel I'm in the same boat I was all those years ago! But maybe this is the year! I've found several new (to me) channels, so there are all sorts of things to watch and learn!
I’m definitely one of those people who want the good stuff then get scared to use it 🤣🤣🤣 now if someone could tell me how to use the rice paper that someone sent me to watercolor on that would be great 🤣🤣
I just got my first arches pad yesterday! While I like it, its not what I expected. The paper feels rough and is more textured than I expected. I'm nervous to use/ waste it but also wondering how much better it will be than my medium quality paper (still all better than the artist loft book I got for Christmas 😬)
I felt that way initially about Arches, too! Fabriano Aristico is still my favorite paper--it's slightly more "pebbly" rather than "gritty" if that makes sense. My guess is the more you paint on it, the more you'll enjoy it! Have fun!
Watercolor paper comes in three grades, rough, which speaks for itself, cold press which has a medium pebble texture, and hot press, which is smooth. If you have the cold press, you may end up liking it more then you expected, as it's pretty forgiving with washes and you can get decent detail. Hot press is harder to control washes, but it's better for details.
@@EmilyOlsonArt I bought some Fab Acquirello (25% cotton) while in Europe over the summer and its been good but the lifting/ overworking is not good (and its not 100% cotton). So far my small "doodles" with the Arches are very good. Maybe I will switch to the Arches for some family paintings I'm doing. Thanks for the push!
This approach would help painters in any medium! Planning and preparation is always a good thing. If you're doing it right, advance planning actually helps creativity flow because you've eliminated some of the obstacles, and by the time the brush hits that nice piece of paper, you can just start responding to the paint and the surface. Great advice, as always!
I’m 63 and have learned that anything that brings as much joy as watercolor does to me is worth every dollar spent on quality supplies!! Seriously, I’m very amateur painter, but I just fell in love with it the first time I put paint on paper!!! I had splurged and bought a very nice brush which was heavenly. It was not until I bought good paper that I could get decent results.. I live in very rural area and started after my mother became sensitive to oils (she was living in my home) Since painting was “my escape” “a coping mechanism “ I decided to go with watercolor until l could return to oils. I never went back….lol Just found my favorite medium!! Again. I’m not good. I just love everything about it; I feel such joy from watercolor painting so I just keep practicing…. Thank you for such an inspirational video! Oh, honey! You are so VERY talented! I love your work… I really love your sweet, gentle and generous spirit! Thank you for sharing your time and talent. It’s really helping me. Nancy Rolfe
I like to buy a large sheet of Arches at Hobby Lobby for about $8.00, then cut it down to 5x7 size, which give 18 sheets, which are $.44 each. Now my expensive paper only costs me .44 a sheet, and if I mess up, turn it over! Now it’s just a $.22 cent piece of paper! So, I don’t really worry about “messing it up”! And I’m using really good paper! I also buy Daniel Smith in tubes, but squeeze it out in a palette, and it lasts a very long time! (Any good professional paint is less expensive in a tube form). Yes, all supplies are wasted that just sit on shelf never used!
Thanks so much for the pep talk! I pulled my half-sheet Arches block out of the cupboard after 10 years and absolutely destroyed a sheet with a lousy overworked painting this afternoon. But at least its going to get used before I die!
Thanks for the pep talk Emily - I don’t think I’ll be able to commit to large format paper any time soon. A smaller piece not only feels less risky, I’ll admit to losing interest along the way….I’m energized around new subjects and am guilty of giving up too soon. Keep these kinds of videos coming!
I can relate to the need to stay engaged! Big paintings tend to sit in my studio for weeks at a time and I'll work on them in spurts. :) Small paintings are definitely the most FUN!
The only way I deal with this is to have more expensive paper/material. It's very bad for the budget but if I have not 5 sheet of papers but 50 or more - I loosen up.
I love my modest quantity of professional grade art supplies. I’m an intermediate amateur and I think using them is a mind set: I don’t look at my art supplies as ‘expensive’ supplies, or treat them as precious, and neither are they unique. My art supplies are tools so I don’t have a problem using them. Also if I don’t use them I’m not going to improve and once used I can buy another! 😊
Oh this made me laugh...and get ready to use my arches paper that has been sitting in a drawer! I do have a question for anyone here - I just paint for fun, although I want to learn and improve. But - what do you all do with all the paintings you've made?? I've started working smaller in a water color journal bcz I have a bunch of paintings sitting around in my studio.
Along with the wasted paint that stays in the tube, I’d like to add: - There’s nothing more expensive than unused watercolor paper! I have quite a few sheets of expensive paper that I was given which the previous owner had not wanted to “waste” and now a lot of it is useless as the sizing has degraded. Duh!
What is the difference between ‘degraded’ sizing and soaking paper? Thanks... I’m one of your subbies, too 😁 You guys are great and sooo appreciated. 💖
@What If think of it as "rotting away". Over time the sizing disintegrates. When you soak the paper nothing happens to the sizing, it is still in/on the paper as ot is embedded in the fibers. You can use gelatin and size it again if it has been too long, but it's not the same.
I’m sorry, but if I had to take so many steps before ever putting paint on the paper, it would never happen. Aren’t you worried you will kill the joy of expression?
I certainly don't put this much prep into every painting! I do plenty of small and spontaneous paintings, too. It's mostly for the ones you REALLY really care about (i.e. commissions, gifts, competition pieces). The prep always pays off.
@@EmilyOlsonArt I agree!!! Time and place for everything and the time planning and prepping for an important piece (even if only important to me) doesn’t have ANY negative affects in my humble opinion…. Much better than trying to “solve “ an issue during the painting…. Pleinair and sketchbooks are great for the spontaneous paintings…
Oh, wow! I’m a professional artist and did everything imaginable throughout my professional life but abandoned watercolour in high-school actually, in favour of painting in oils, acrylics, pastels, illustration, posters, drawings, printmaking (litho, etching, silk screeners etc ) sculpture in sandstone and clay and wood, ceramics, slumped glass design, computer graphics, photography … you name it. Then few years ago suddenly , I started sort of getting nostalgic and bought some watercolour paints and brushes and paper and made about 10 very bad and ugly watercolours- realising how one could lose certain abilities due to lack of practice 😂 But I wouldn’t be able for my life to do the amount of studies I’ve seen you making in this video because by the time I’m supposed to do the actual work, I would be so bored with the subject that I would go somewhere and do something else instead… For me spontaneity is key, so if I do sketching before the work it’s usually one or two sketches using a pencil and that’s about it. 😊 If I don’t stop there I’m bored out of my mind when I’m starting the final work and I will abandon it halfway through rather , it wouldn’t have spontaneity and freshness anymore. I envy people who can do a lot of studies before the actual painting - because I can’t. 😃
I've always used 100% cotton paper, even as a beginner. I got over my fear of "wasting" it years ago when I started adopting a realistic attitude by realizing that not all paintings are going to be a smashing success. I like to experiment a lot, and many of my experiments are abject failures. When a painting fails I use the back to test colour mixes and practice new techniques. So in reality, I never really waste paper.
As a newbie I’m excited to learn all this about watercolor. I’m an acrylic artist. However I was a bit put off to know about the sizing used in Arches paper.
Guilty. Mine is Canson Héritage 200 gsm cold pressed 100% cotton watercolour paper. And it's not in my closet, it's right in front of me. I even wrote "No Art Fear" on the cover... The thing is I messed the first sheet up really bad, but then I used the back of it and made a picture I was pretty pleased with. It's now wrapped as a gift to a family member. So of course I'm nervous I'm going to mess the next one up too, no? :)
I am a lover of creative but I do not know how to sketch and paint things. I just know how to lay down color 😂 after painting on regular watercolor paper. I bought some of the expensive paper and now I hate the cheap paper!!! Even just practicing or doodling, my preference is the expensive paper.😂😊 I need to stop with my crazy expensive hobbies 🙄❤❤❤❤
I have a block of Saunders Waterford 600 grams paper but haven’t dared to use it so far. I know I should! It can be “washed ” if needed. Maybe I haven’t found a right subject to paint on it yet.
Your daughter is beautiful 😍 and you are so good at portraits!! And I agree about the paper, I actually got arches paper for Christmas and I am afraid of wasting it...
I haven’t used much ‘high dollar’ water color paper over the years. Just could not afford it. I have started looking for less expensive 100% cotton papers in hopes of getting better results. Hasn’t always worked out that way. I am finding some of the 100% cotton papers, especially the Hot Press ones, do not handle tape very well. I’ve tried several tapes from good old fashioned masking tape, to architect’s tape, to blue painter’s tape, to so-called ‘artist’s tape’ and found no matter how gentle I remove the tape a lot of cotton comes with tape. I now wet both sides of my paper, along with the surface of the board I use to hold the paper and gently lay the paper onto the board. I try to finish the work before everything dries out. Once completed, I let everything dry. The paper lifts off the board easily. If there is a warp or a buckle, I lay the paper painted side down onto a flat board with a layer of paper kitchen towels, mist the entire backside of the work, lay another layer of kitchen towels over the work, then place another flat board on top of that followed by several books for weight. I allow it to dry overnight. The next day all buckles and warps are gone.-OkieSketcher1949😊
Lots of great tips for using your expensive paper & boards. I have never heard or tried watercolor ground before. Definitely need to check out all about that. I have just started using expensive watercolor paper & 100% cotton paper for about 6 months now, although I have been painting for almost 4 years come October 2023. I have been using Canson XL Watercolor paper & Mixed Media paper. I am definitely enjoying & learning quite a bit from you & your channel. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information with us.
My breakthrough was realizing that if I don’t use my good paper and I’m not happy with the painting, I can’t know if the paper was the problem, or something else. If I use the good stuff, then, at least I can rule that out.
since i am on a no buy art supply buy for this year, and prob next lol i have to use up the good supplies, so out comes the luminance pencils and the expensive pastels lol digital is def very handy when you need to change something about your reference photo for use on expensive mediums, takes away a bit of the nervousness of possibly wrecking expensive supplies lol
This gave me anxiety just watching you change your picture using a computer! I barely know how to use my phone.... and that's fine for me. I'll just make do with my art without all the techie stuff! I never realized how much the computer can change the original! Happy painting!!! Thanks for sharing!
I've used Arches... which I am storing up as I find it on sale... there's a real learning curve... it uses more water. Then, when I use other cotton paper, each one is different! I haven't painted in a year & before that I painted about a year. I am starting over with swatching... then we'll see... thank you, Emily! God bless you! ❤
I find myself wanting to practice using the same quality paper that i'll be doing finished paintings on, since pulp papers behave so differently than cotton but then i dont want to waste the cotton paper just doing simple exercises 😭
Work passed the ugly phase - aye I need work on this…and really as a complete beginner, every step is hard. I can, however, lay down a nice transitioning wash, so that’s something.
I really like these type of videos, Emily! But I would also aprecciate if you do more beginners-friendly videos, like tutorials, exercises and what materials to use! Love your channel!
What a wonderful video! You really have thought out everything and presented so many great ideas! I would love to hear ideas of how to fix your mistakes. I always have mistakes. Thank you for all of these great tips!
I think this is probably the most comprehensive video on the preparation stages of a painting I've ever seen. I'm trying to use my expensive paper more often and these tips will help a lot!
I completely agree with not giving up on failed paintings, it’s important to try not to fall into that habit, plus you can end up liking something that you initially hated quite easily 😊
Exactly - a couple of years ago I found an amazing gorilla photo online and started painting it on my largest Arches block. Many hours of painting later I decided I couldn’t capture his eyes, so detached it from the block and stored it. Found it recently and thought it was beautiful and can now see how I could rescue it. But I deleted the photo reference 😫
@@EmilyOlsonArt *no painting is actually ever totally wasted...there's always the option of dividing the painting into smaller sections and then painting on the reverse side...this has the double advantage of adding both provenance and an additional layer of authentication to the piece later if it becomes well known and more valuable...at the very least it adds a neat back story to the piece*
With me, if someone or something interrupts me, it throws the entire process off, I have such a hard time coming back to a painting after I’ve been forced to stop. It’s like the interruption changes my workflow and I can’t usually finish one that got interrupted
Hi Emily, Thank you for another great video. This is really a good topic. I suffer so much phobia about using my best wc paper that my husband keeps buying more for me and tells me to “just light the first page on fire already!” Sacrelige! But slowly I’m coming around. And I have discovered the same truth as clemlank9069 (one of your commenters): the best paper is really very forgiving. They all have their own distinct personalities, but we will never learn what those are if we don’t use their paper. Then, once we figure out their pros and cons, we can better do preparatory work like that you described in this video. For example, I now know that anything I plan to paint that I’m on unsure ground and may have a tendency to overwork, I’ll stick with the 300 lb version of NYC cold pressed, Arches, and Saunders Waterford, but I will save my Khadi paper for things that I know I’ll have less of a tendency to overwork. I’ll use my hot press, all brands, for botanical studies and portraits, but for the most important of these, I’ll use Arches and Saunders Waterford, and so forth.
Thanks for this video. I've tried using expensive paper after using less expensive paper, and the size (area) and sizing often feels off. Working bigger and faster feels a lot different than working at sketchbook size. I know I have to take risks though, as unused supplies just go to waste.
Thank you for the mental support 😄 This is my exact problem and makes me avoid painting... I am always waiting for a perfect day when I would be full of inspiration and energy and everything would go smoothly to use this precious paper. Nevertheless, I still think cotton paper is worth every penny. I just have to get rid of this mental block of mine. I like your motto that paper is only wasted when it stays blank.
Such a great video for a bunch of reasons! I had no idea those watercolor panels existed 🙄. I’ve been gluing my own which is just another level of fear! Great content! Thanks👩🎨🐴
Alright. Could you leave some talent for the rest of us? Sheesh! How much can one person be allowed? Just kidding, seriously though, you are an amazing artist! I hope I can be at least half as good as you some day!
I'm somewhat new to painting especially in the style of landscape portraits as I've been an illustrator for much longer but I find that I'm less hesitant to use my pricer water color paper when I purchase smaller sizes vs a large canvas or paper. smaller canvas are still a nice quality but cost a bit less due to the size which helps reduce the fear concern of using it, and mistakes I plan to experiment a bit more with larger sizes as I built my confidence and develop my skillset. these tips are great some I'm familiar with others I didn't know, thanks for sharing! ☮️
what's the difference between watercolour blocks and pads? like arches one i don't know what is the difference, also what is the board you stick the watercolour paper to? I don't know what it is called, and I want to find a cheap board to stick the paper to? Can you paint on the 300gsm blocks without removing it? Won't the water go through and ruin the layer of paper below? please help.. thanks Is it better to draw on paper then move to the watercolour paper, or drawing directing is ok? will the erasing, and pencil smudging damage the paper?
I honestly thought it was just me who was hesitant about using my more expensive paper. Recently, I've been using 40% off coupons to buy Arches from Michael's and somehow that has made it easier for me to take the risk of using it. I can confirm that better quality paper does make a big difference in the experience and final results of painting, even for a beginner like me. Thanks, Emily, for the encouragement
Thank you, i struggle with that feeling often. I have to make a portrait for a competition and don't have photoshop or a printer so it took me several nights to make the sketch on my bao hong cotton paper, and i did practise some more nights before i dared diving in painting the sketch. Very helpfull video, thank you.
After almost giving up on watercolours, I watched a video that spoke about the importance of using high quality paper. So I bit the silver bullet and it was my “aha” moment. Now I know why the paint stayed on the surface over the “cheap” paper. Sure, the line drawing is key: if the line drawing is bad, it won’t get better when you apply the watercolour. I love your take on the importance of preparation and the studies of your subject. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with everyone 😊
I do have expensive paper fear! I like this approach. I'm not a pro and sometimes, I just want to play. I don't use expensive paper for that. But I'm going to try harder to do more of this. Thanks!
WOW, wow, WOW!!! Yes!!! These are perfect tips! Because when you watch tutorials, all of this is usually left behind and you start to think that all other artists just whip out masterpieces freehand and you’re just not on that level. But this actually shows real (!!) approach to any serious painting that you want to do. I would also love to paint my daughter’s portrait and I need to prepare exactly like you did. Thank you again!!!
I DEFINITELY approach using high quality paper as fearful, because I am not capable of getting my own supplies (health issues won’t let me work, nowhere will hire someone who has these kind of health problems) I try to conserve it and I make sure not to use it if I feel it would be a waste
I've got the paper, 20 sheets of Winsor Newton professional and 3 sheets left of Arches, both 140lb cold press. What I don't have is anything to stretch it on beyond 9x11. I really want to start painting bigger but can't afford three Gator Board at this season in my life. Any cheap alternatives? Anyone?
A gator board is a good investment--you can use it over and over for many years! I'm not sure of a cheaper alternative, but any board that's waterproof would work. :)
I really like seeing videos like this because I don't think people realize how much work goes into art. You don't just sit down and whip out a masterpiece in a frenzy, heck, even the MASTERS spent actual YEARS on paintings. Art is actual work, not just slapping paint against a surface until you don't hate it.
I agree! And there must be planning (especially with watercolor!) because it’s almost impossible to change once the sketch is on! 🙌
Haha! Ain't that the truth
The good paper can be very forgiving, and almost indestructible. I did a painting of four chickadees on a branch that I didn’t like how the background turned out, I actually rinsed it in the sink, dried it by smoothing it on a sliding glass door and reworked it. I now love how it looks.
That's so awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you for the great tip! I’d feel much less fearful knowing I can wash it!
@@christinemcclester2695 depending on the paper you will lose some of the sizing but the Arches paper I was using still worked well after the rinse.
Same here. I’ve washed my Arches paper at the sink, rubbed with a soft toothbrush, then repainted. You won’t get all the pigment off because some pigments will stain, but you definitely can rework a painting (or part of it) if you don’t like it.
Wow, great to know!!
This is brilliant. I’m so guilty of hoarding quality art materials.
Great video! Based on my limited experience, when I saw the title of this video my guess was “Make sure it’s not the first time you paint the painting.” That’s part of what you presented, but of course you said it much better than I could 😉
Yes! That's a big part of preparation! 😉
One of these days I’m going to get a full sheet of the REALLY expensive Arches (850gsm / 400lb) and do a crazy piece on it… but for now I’m loving working on smaller 300gsm pads (still not cheap but OK for how much I paint). 😺
I like the idea of working your way up to something larger! :)
I love the vibe of these videos, their tone and how they go to the point.
Thank you very much for that!
Yes I love this! Thank you!
Now I know what to do! The prep is insane but I am going to do this! I don’t care if it takes weeks to get it right. Still beats the years I’ve kept my expensive watercolour papers.
Amazing video!
You are so welcome!
Absolutely, Emily! Supplies are meant to be used and we will never get better, or worthy, if they stay in our cabinet. This is a struggle I am going through now and I found that yes, planning is the way to go! Thank you for your video.
You are most welcome!
Thanks for reminding me of preparing for good works...I get impatient and don't have a plan or goal just start with pencil or ink before watercolour work... on sketchbook or blocks. ..then have to deal with mistakes or things that I want to change in direction...😮..! Hard to do with watercolour but easier with Arches or other good paper to rewet and lift out areas..without damaging the paper!! Thanks for sharing!! Love your work❤! 😊 from Canada 🍁.
I had no idea all the effort that goes into one gorgeous portrait Emily. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure 😊
Thank you Emily you are so amazing giving artist. I am a amatör beginner painter and a big hoarder. I thought I was the only one. I am so curious to know the result of preparation from your good video in 3 lines f.ex. or anyone.😍
Emily, thank you so so much for this video. Even though I have been painting for years I still hesitate to use my expensive watercolor paper. And I know how much better my paintings would be by using it but a part of me still goes like, “wait, are you sure you want to paint on this? Are you sure you are ready to paint on this?”
This video is so helpful. Will help for sure! Thank you so much!! Can’t wait to see what next video is going to be about!!
You are so kind! And I am so happy this was a helpful message!
I didn't even know about the Artefex Chartapanel Arches paper panel, but I'll have to wait until my ship comes in!
They are dreamy!
Great tips! Thank you.
This was so helpful and interesting! I feel terrified to use my really good paper and these steps are so helpful! Definitely going to use these tips for my next painting!! Thank you 😊
So glad you enjoyed!
Another great informative video Emily! I personally have never been "precious" with my paper and materials! I do as you say though, put a lot of time in prepping, be it editing the reference image or creating a few comp mockups before I pick up a pencil/brush. I don't really do thumbnails or colour swathing before hand though! I like to be a little spontaneous with that aspect of the process! Thank god that in my 20 plus years of painting I've only had a handful of "FAILED" paintings!!!!! 😉🤞🏼
Awesome! Sounds like you are living your best artist's life!
Just downloaded the pet guide thanks so much can’t wait to get started!
Welcome!!
You REALLT GET IT! Thank you!
🙌🙌🙌
What a wonderful, informative video!! Thank you for sharing this with us!!
My pleasure!
Very helpful, thank you! 😍
Glad it was helpful!
Such helpful information, thank you.
You are so welcome!
So beautiful, thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise!
I would still love some instruction on using photoshop to create prints. I don’t have photoshop and I’ve been trying to decide if it’s a necessity. I have a MAC which allows some editing. TY!
These are great advices. I have a few Arches watercolor pads and other brand very good 100% cotton paper. Do they expire? I've been holding off using them until I've actually have some experience watercoloring on cheaper 100% cotton paper.
I like to paint large pieces, and stretch from a roll. While I worry about messing up a large expensive piece of paper, that is nothing compared to the fear of messing up a piece that has 50+ hours in it....
Oh my goodness, so true! Still--50+ hours in you've been gaining valuable practice time! 😉
@@EmilyOlsonArt I'll have to remember that silver lining next time! Thanks for sharing. I've used an iron before and have had similar results. I saw a video where a botanical artist wet her paper from behind until it was soaked, then placed it on a large window so it adhered with just the moisture, then taped the edges with butchers tape and let dry. Haven't tried it but it looked promising. th-cam.com/video/B97t6L_Q3i8/w-d-xo.html (at the 12:00 mark)
Hi Emily, something recently that happened with one of my cotton blocks is that it appears the sizing was affected so that my dried watercolor is spotty and looks really weird. I know that if you erase too much that can affect sizing on the surface. I also did some research and apparently age / storage conditions of paper can affect the sizing too! This block was "new" though definitely a year old + since I was saving it for "nicer" pieces. Now I'm frustrated with how the paper is performing. I'm not sure if age did affect this paper or if it was messed up to begin with, but another reason to not hang on to cotton paper!
Oh that’s interesting! I wonder if the paper underneath is better?
At about 10:21, what is “white color ground”?
Watercolor ground is a substrate you can apply to any surface to prepare it for handling watercolor paint. I paint it onto wood boards and it’s similar to working on an Ampersand aquabord.
Everyone always says to work past the ugly phase, but that requires having ANY idea of what else to do. And I don't say that to be rude to anyone! I'm a horrid artist and only seem to do decently if I'm following a tutorial. Looking at the stuff in this video fills me with despair. :P But last night I'd split a piece of Arches into 3 so I could try 3 different smaller paintings (I think this is only the second sheet I've used, and I've had this paper since 2017).
One of these paintings is on its 3rd iteration, it still sucks, and I still don't know how to fix it. The other is on its FOURTH, and is still awful. The worst part about that one is it's only supposed to be a blue gradient that will eventually turn into wave breaks. ><
Anyway, I don't know why I'm writing this novel, other than that it's 3:30 in the morning and I desperately wish I had artistic skill. I realize every good artist has put thousands of hours of hard work into their craft but MAN I feel so disheartened sometimes! I don't even know how to practice properly...like how do you know how to fix things if all you know is "This looks wrong but I've got no clue how to change it" and all subsequent attempts have the same result?
Okay, novel done! (Your stuff really is beautiful. ❤️)
Aw don't give up! You are doing the right things--consistent practice and continual learning are the most important! Keep at it! ❤
Please, do not despair!! I too am a beginner at this watercolor journey. And I share your frustrations at times. But, every once in awhile, I have a painting that just turns out beautifully and vastly exceeds my expectations. Just yesterday, my dear friend showed me the framed and matted Christmas card that I had just recently sent to her. I must confess, I was truly taken aback at how beautiful my painting looked. Join me and keep at it. You too will begin to have those 'ah ha' moments! 👩🦳🖌️🤗
@@deborahgoodwin3426 ❤️! I really do need to force myself to do it more often than I do. I technically started in 2016, but because I don't practice much, I still feel I'm in the same boat I was all those years ago! But maybe this is the year! I've found several new (to me) channels, so there are all sorts of things to watch and learn!
I’m definitely one of those people who want the good stuff then get scared to use it 🤣🤣🤣 now if someone could tell me how to use the rice paper that someone sent me to watercolor on that would be great 🤣🤣
I just got my first arches pad yesterday! While I like it, its not what I expected. The paper feels rough and is more textured than I expected. I'm nervous to use/ waste it but also wondering how much better it will be than my medium quality paper (still all better than the artist loft book I got for Christmas 😬)
I felt that way initially about Arches, too! Fabriano Aristico is still my favorite paper--it's slightly more "pebbly" rather than "gritty" if that makes sense. My guess is the more you paint on it, the more you'll enjoy it! Have fun!
Watercolor paper comes in three grades, rough, which speaks for itself, cold press which has a medium pebble texture, and hot press, which is smooth. If you have the cold press, you may end up liking it more then you expected, as it's pretty forgiving with washes and you can get decent detail. Hot press is harder to control washes, but it's better for details.
@@EmilyOlsonArt I bought some Fab Acquirello (25% cotton) while in Europe over the summer and its been good but the lifting/ overworking is not good (and its not 100% cotton). So far my small "doodles" with the Arches are very good. Maybe I will switch to the Arches for some family paintings I'm doing. Thanks for the push!
Yes it is safely in the closet
Take it out! 😉
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong but when I stretch paper, it always buckles and the tape lifts
I struggled with this too--I know there are many watercolor artists who successfully use tape. Staples tend to work best for me.
@@EmilyOlsonArt I’ll try that! Thank you.
I always told to my watercolor paper to get out of the closet.....
😂
Every paper I didn't buy at the dollar store.
This approach would help painters in any medium! Planning and preparation is always a good thing. If you're doing it right, advance planning actually helps creativity flow because you've eliminated some of the obstacles, and by the time the brush hits that nice piece of paper, you can just start responding to the paint and the surface. Great advice, as always!
I completely agree! This is similar prep work to what many oil and acrylic painters do, too. Thanks for another great comment--always good insight!
I’m 63 and have learned that anything that brings as much joy as watercolor does to me is worth every dollar spent on quality supplies!!
Seriously, I’m very amateur painter, but I just fell in love with it the first time I put paint on paper!!!
I had splurged and bought a very nice brush which was heavenly. It was not until I bought good paper that I could get decent results..
I live in very rural area and started after my mother became sensitive to oils (she was living in my home)
Since painting was “my escape” “a coping mechanism “ I decided to go with watercolor until l could return to oils.
I never went back….lol
Just found my favorite medium!!
Again. I’m not good. I just love everything about it; I feel such joy from watercolor painting so I just keep practicing….
Thank you for such an inspirational video! Oh, honey! You are so VERY talented! I love your work…
I really love your sweet, gentle and generous spirit!
Thank you for sharing your time and talent. It’s really helping me.
Nancy Rolfe
I LOVE this. The joy is worth it--so true. Thank you so much for this incredibly kind comment--made my day!
I like to buy a large sheet of Arches at Hobby Lobby for about $8.00, then cut it down to 5x7 size, which give 18 sheets, which are $.44 each. Now my expensive paper only costs me .44 a sheet, and if I mess up, turn it over! Now it’s just a $.22 cent piece of paper! So, I don’t really worry about “messing it up”! And I’m using really good paper! I also buy Daniel Smith in tubes, but squeeze it out in a palette, and it lasts a very long time! (Any good professional paint is less expensive in a tube form). Yes, all supplies are wasted that just sit on shelf never used!
Great advice!
I paint small as well. I like to paint small, and it’s a good size for me. I love 5 x 7 as well.
Thanks so much for the pep talk! I pulled my half-sheet Arches block out of the cupboard after 10 years and absolutely destroyed a sheet with a lousy overworked painting this afternoon. But at least its going to get used before I die!
Thanks for the pep talk Emily - I don’t think I’ll be able to commit to large format paper any time soon. A smaller piece not only feels less risky, I’ll admit to losing interest along the way….I’m energized around new subjects and am guilty of giving up too soon. Keep these kinds of videos coming!
I can relate to the need to stay engaged! Big paintings tend to sit in my studio for weeks at a time and I'll work on them in spurts. :) Small paintings are definitely the most FUN!
I'm so glad to find I'm not the only one that gets bored halfway, or even after just starting a piece that's taken so long to prep for.
I dont party, don't buy clothes unless necessary these days, so I use my expensive paper, the difference is amazing. Great tips ❤👍🏾🤗
Money well spent! 😉
Me too.
The only way I deal with this is to have more expensive paper/material. It's very bad for the budget but if I have not 5 sheet of papers but 50 or more - I loosen up.
So true--when we feel like there is a surplus of supplies, we're less precious with them!
I love my modest quantity of professional grade art supplies. I’m an intermediate amateur and I think using them is a mind set: I don’t look at my art supplies as ‘expensive’ supplies, or treat them as precious, and neither are they unique. My art supplies are tools so I don’t have a problem using them. Also if I don’t use them I’m not going to improve and once used I can buy another! 😊
That's a great mindset to have!
@@EmilyOlsonArt thank you! 🤩
Oh this made me laugh...and get ready to use my arches paper that has been sitting in a drawer! I do have a question for anyone here - I just paint for fun, although I want to learn and improve. But - what do you all do with all the paintings you've made?? I've started working smaller in a water color journal bcz I have a bunch of paintings sitting around in my studio.
Along with the wasted paint that stays in the tube, I’d like to add: - There’s nothing more expensive than unused watercolor paper! I have quite a few sheets of expensive paper that I was given which the previous owner had not wanted to “waste” and now a lot of it is useless as the sizing has degraded. Duh!
Love your channel ❤
What is the difference between ‘degraded’ sizing and soaking paper? Thanks... I’m one of your subbies, too 😁 You guys are great and sooo appreciated. 💖
@What If think of it as "rotting away". Over time the sizing disintegrates. When you soak the paper nothing happens to the sizing, it is still in/on the paper as ot is embedded in the fibers. You can use gelatin and size it again if it has been too long, but it's not the same.
@@amypanddirtytoo1926 great explanation, thanks!
Oh such a great point! Thanks for sharing that!
I’m sorry, but if I had to take so many steps before ever putting paint on the paper, it would never happen. Aren’t you worried you will kill the joy of expression?
I certainly don't put this much prep into every painting! I do plenty of small and spontaneous paintings, too. It's mostly for the ones you REALLY really care about (i.e. commissions, gifts, competition pieces). The prep always pays off.
@@EmilyOlsonArt I agree!!! Time and place for everything and the time planning and prepping for an important piece (even if only important to me) doesn’t have ANY negative affects in my humble opinion….
Much better than trying to “solve “ an issue during the painting….
Pleinair and sketchbooks are great for the spontaneous paintings…
Oh, wow!
I’m a professional artist and did everything imaginable throughout my professional life but abandoned watercolour in high-school actually, in favour of painting in oils, acrylics, pastels, illustration, posters, drawings, printmaking (litho, etching, silk screeners etc ) sculpture in sandstone and clay and wood, ceramics, slumped glass design, computer graphics, photography … you name it.
Then few years ago suddenly , I started sort of getting nostalgic and bought some watercolour paints and brushes and paper and made about 10 very bad and ugly watercolours- realising how one could lose certain abilities due to lack of practice 😂
But I wouldn’t be able for my life to do the amount of studies I’ve seen you making in this video because by the time I’m supposed to do the actual work, I would be so bored with the subject that I would go somewhere and do something else instead…
For me spontaneity is key, so if I do sketching before the work it’s usually one or two sketches using a pencil and that’s about it. 😊
If I don’t stop there I’m bored out of my mind when I’m starting the final work and I will abandon it halfway through rather , it wouldn’t have spontaneity and freshness anymore.
I envy people who can do a lot of studies before the actual painting - because I can’t. 😃
I've always used 100% cotton paper, even as a beginner. I got over my fear of "wasting" it years ago when I started adopting a realistic attitude by realizing that not all paintings are going to be a smashing success. I like to experiment a lot, and many of my experiments are abject failures. When a painting fails I use the back to test colour mixes and practice new techniques. So in reality, I never really waste paper.
Such a healthy perspective!
As a newbie I’m excited to learn all this about watercolor. I’m an acrylic artist. However I was a bit put off to know about the sizing used in Arches paper.
I am afraid of using my more expensive art supplies. This was a very nice video.Thank you=) Your paintings are fabulous=)
Thanks so much, and I'm glad the video was enjoyable!
Guilty. Mine is Canson Héritage 200 gsm cold pressed 100% cotton watercolour paper. And it's not in my closet, it's right in front of me. I even wrote "No Art Fear" on the cover... The thing is I messed the first sheet up really bad, but then I used the back of it and made a picture I was pretty pleased with. It's now wrapped as a gift to a family member. So of course I'm nervous I'm going to mess the next one up too, no? :)
To me that sounds like it was a success! 😉
I am a lover of creative but I do not know how to sketch and paint things. I just know how to lay down color 😂 after painting on regular watercolor paper. I bought some of the expensive paper and now I hate the cheap paper!!! Even just practicing or doodling, my preference is the expensive paper.😂😊 I need to stop with my crazy expensive hobbies 🙄❤❤❤❤
Once you've tried the good stuff you can never go back! 😂
I have a block of Saunders Waterford 600 grams paper but haven’t dared to use it so far. I know I should! It can be “washed ” if needed. Maybe I haven’t found a right subject to paint on it yet.
You can do it!
Yup, still trying to 'improve' before using my archers paper 😂
Your daughter is beautiful 😍 and you are so good at portraits!! And I agree about the paper, I actually got arches paper for Christmas and I am afraid of wasting it...
Thank you! You're going to love the paper!
I haven’t used much ‘high dollar’ water color paper over the years. Just could not afford it. I have started looking for less expensive 100% cotton papers in hopes of getting better results. Hasn’t always worked out that way. I am finding some of the 100% cotton papers, especially the Hot Press ones, do not handle tape very well. I’ve tried several tapes from good old fashioned masking tape, to architect’s tape, to blue painter’s tape, to so-called ‘artist’s tape’ and found no matter how gentle I remove the tape a lot of cotton comes with tape. I now wet both sides of my paper, along with the surface of the board I use to hold the paper and gently lay the paper onto the board. I try to finish the work before everything dries out. Once completed, I let everything dry. The paper lifts off the board easily. If there is a warp or a buckle, I lay the paper painted side down onto a flat board with a layer of paper kitchen towels, mist the entire backside of the work, lay another layer of kitchen towels over the work, then place another flat board on top of that followed by several books for weight. I allow it to dry overnight. The next day all buckles and warps are gone.-OkieSketcher1949😊
Try using a hair dryer on the tape before removal. That’s what I do and it comes off perfectly and easily.
Lots of great tips for using your expensive paper & boards. I have never heard or tried watercolor ground before. Definitely need to check out all about that. I have just started using expensive watercolor paper & 100% cotton paper for about 6 months now, although I have been painting for almost 4 years come October 2023. I have been using Canson XL Watercolor paper & Mixed Media paper. I am definitely enjoying & learning quite a bit from you & your channel. Thanks for sharing this wonderful information with us.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
What…you must have 👀ed in my closet…that in the corner…..ok journals too.☺️
My breakthrough was realizing that if I don’t use my good paper and I’m not happy with the painting, I can’t know if the paper was the problem, or something else. If I use the good stuff, then, at least I can rule that out.
Yes, so true! If you can rule out one issue, you can focus on other things!
Good tips all around, but I think maybe you spent too much time on photoshopping and not enough on watercolors.
since i am on a no buy art supply buy for this year, and prob next lol i have to use up the good supplies, so out comes the luminance pencils and the expensive pastels lol
digital is def very handy when you need to change something about your reference photo for use on expensive mediums, takes away a bit of the nervousness of possibly wrecking expensive supplies lol
Ooh that would be hard to NOT buy supplies for a year! But yes--good excuse to use the ones you have!
prob will turn into 2 years with the amount of stuff shoved in corners here lol
This gave me anxiety just watching you change your picture using a computer! I barely know how to use my phone.... and that's fine for me. I'll just make do with my art without all the techie stuff! I never realized how much the computer can change the original! Happy painting!!! Thanks for sharing!
I've used Arches... which I am storing up as I find it on sale... there's a real learning curve... it uses more water. Then, when I use other cotton paper, each one is different! I haven't painted in a year & before that I painted about a year. I am starting over with swatching... then we'll see... thank you, Emily! God bless you! ❤
I find myself wanting to practice using the same quality paper that i'll be doing finished paintings on, since pulp papers behave so differently than cotton but then i dont want to waste the cotton paper just doing simple exercises 😭
I feel the same way! It's hard to go back to cheap paper!
Hi Emily Bytheway
Work passed the ugly phase - aye I need work on this…and really as a complete beginner, every step is hard. I can, however, lay down a nice transitioning wash, so that’s something.
Yes! That "ugly phase" can be difficult to work through, but so worth it!
I really like these type of videos, Emily! But I would also aprecciate if you do more beginners-friendly videos, like tutorials, exercises and what materials to use! Love your channel!
Thanks for the feedback, Sofia! 👍
What a wonderful video! You really have thought out everything and presented so many great ideas! I would love to hear ideas of how to fix your mistakes. I always have mistakes. Thank you for all of these great tips!
Thanks! I'll start brainstorming the next video! :)
I think this is probably the most comprehensive video on the preparation stages of a painting I've ever seen. I'm trying to use my expensive paper more often and these tips will help a lot!
Wow, thank you! Glad to help!
I completely agree with not giving up on failed paintings, it’s important to try not to fall into that habit, plus you can end up liking something that you initially hated quite easily 😊
Exactly - a couple of years ago I found an amazing gorilla photo online and started painting it on my largest Arches block. Many hours of painting later I decided I couldn’t capture his eyes, so detached it from the block and stored it. Found it recently and thought it was beautiful and can now see how I could rescue it. But I deleted the photo reference 😫
@@mrsdee47 oh no that's so sad! removed from it's block as well 😢😢
YES! Totally agree with stepping back and giving it time before deciding to toss it!
@@EmilyOlsonArt *no painting is actually ever totally wasted...there's always the option of dividing the painting into smaller sections and then painting on the reverse side...this has the double advantage of adding both provenance and an additional layer of authentication to the piece later if it becomes well known and more valuable...at the very least it adds a neat back story to the piece*
With me, if someone or something interrupts me, it throws the entire process off, I have such a hard time coming back to a painting after I’ve been forced to stop. It’s like the interruption changes my workflow and I can’t usually finish one that got interrupted
When I was working a 9 to 5 I stocked up on quality supplies. Now in retirement I am glad I did.
Hi Emily, Thank you for another great video. This is really a good topic. I suffer so much phobia about using my best wc paper that my husband keeps buying more for me and tells me to “just light the first page on fire already!” Sacrelige! But slowly I’m coming around. And I have discovered the same truth as clemlank9069 (one of your commenters): the best paper is really very forgiving. They all have their own distinct personalities, but we will never learn what those are if we don’t use their paper. Then, once we figure out their pros and cons, we can better do preparatory work like that you described in this video. For example, I now know that anything I plan to paint that I’m on unsure ground and may have a tendency to overwork, I’ll stick with the 300 lb version of NYC cold pressed, Arches, and Saunders Waterford, but I will save my Khadi paper for things that I know I’ll have less of a tendency to overwork. I’ll use my hot press, all brands, for botanical studies and portraits, but for the most important of these, I’ll use Arches and Saunders Waterford, and so forth.
Thanks for this video. I've tried using expensive paper after using less expensive paper, and the size (area) and sizing often feels off. Working bigger and faster feels a lot different than working at sketchbook size. I know I have to take risks though, as unused supplies just go to waste.
Yes, working larger is SO much different! Quite the adrenaline rush!
Thank you for the mental support 😄 This is my exact problem and makes me avoid painting... I am always waiting for a perfect day when I would be full of inspiration and energy and everything would go smoothly to use this precious paper. Nevertheless, I still think cotton paper is worth every penny. I just have to get rid of this mental block of mine. I like your motto that paper is only wasted when it stays blank.
Such a great video for a bunch of reasons! I had no idea those watercolor panels existed 🙄. I’ve been gluing my own which is just another level of fear! Great content! Thanks👩🎨🐴
You are so welcome!
Alright. Could you leave some talent for the rest of us? Sheesh! How much can one person be allowed? Just kidding, seriously though, you are an amazing artist! I hope I can be at least half as good as you some day!
Hah hah! Thank you so much!
I'm somewhat new to painting especially in the style of landscape portraits as I've been an illustrator for much longer but I find that I'm less hesitant to use my pricer water color paper when I purchase smaller sizes vs a large canvas or paper. smaller canvas are still a nice quality but cost a bit less due to the size which helps reduce the fear concern of using it, and mistakes I plan to experiment a bit more with larger sizes as I built my confidence and develop my skillset. these tips are great some I'm familiar with others I didn't know, thanks for sharing! ☮️
Thanks for the nice comment! Yes, using smaller pads can offer great opportunities to practice before working up to larger sizes.
what's the difference between watercolour blocks and pads? like arches one i don't know what is the difference, also what is the board you stick the watercolour paper to? I don't know what it is called, and I want to find a cheap board to stick the paper to? Can you paint on the 300gsm blocks without removing it? Won't the water go through and ruin the layer of paper below?
please help.. thanks
Is it better to draw on paper then move to the watercolour paper, or drawing directing is ok? will the erasing, and pencil smudging damage the paper?
With arches, I paint on both sides, as I practice alot.
Yes, I love that about Arches!
I've been trying to find your video on oil paint you can use water with???!!!Wow I'd like to see it again
Daughter is a cutie
I honestly thought it was just me who was hesitant about using my more expensive paper. Recently, I've been using 40% off coupons to buy Arches from Michael's and somehow that has made it easier for me to take the risk of using it. I can confirm that better quality paper does make a big difference in the experience and final results of painting, even for a beginner like me. Thanks, Emily, for the encouragement
I STILL hesitate sometimes! 😂 Yes, getting a good deal definitely helps!
Yay TH-cam! Thank you for putting this video in my loop! She’s fantastic! Subscribed💚🌵👍
Thanks so much!
In the blue watercolor did you sketch it out first
Yes! I almost always sketch first. 🙂
me watching this knowing full well I won't ever be able to watercolor anything good on any surface 💀
Hallo, do the watercolor pannels need a glas to protect and to avoid discoloration of the paints? Thank you!
Generally, yes--watercolors are framed behind glass. You CAN use a watercolor varnish if you wish to hang them unframed. I use a Krylon varnish.
@@EmilyOlsonArt brilliant idea!Thank you very much.
How DID you know?🤣
For me the easiest thing is to just dive in. Art supplies sitting in the closet are no less wasted than ones that might end up in the garbage.
Totally agree!
Thank you, i struggle with that feeling often. I have to make a portrait for a competition and don't have photoshop or a printer so it took me several nights to make the sketch on my bao hong cotton paper, and i did practise some more nights before i dared diving in painting the sketch. Very helpfull video, thank you.
I'm too afraid to spend that much money! LOL
It’s worth it!
After almost giving up on watercolours, I watched a video that spoke about the importance of using high quality paper. So I bit the silver bullet and it was my “aha” moment. Now I know why the paint stayed on the surface over the “cheap” paper. Sure, the line drawing is key: if the line drawing is bad, it won’t get better when you apply the watercolour. I love your take on the importance of preparation and the studies of your subject. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise with everyone 😊
Thanks so much for your lovely comment!
I do have expensive paper fear! I like this approach. I'm not a pro and sometimes, I just want to play. I don't use expensive paper for that. But I'm going to try harder to do more of this. Thanks!
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much Emily. Love your video. Very helpful.
My pleasure!
Emily, you are a great encourager and a very talented teacher of all things watercolor.
Your paintings are fabulous.
Thank you, so much!
You are so welcome!
Yikes you really complicate things!
😂
@@EmilyOlsonArt 😂😂😏
WOW, wow, WOW!!! Yes!!! These are perfect tips! Because when you watch tutorials, all of this is usually left behind and you start to think that all other artists just whip out masterpieces freehand and you’re just not on that level. But this actually shows real (!!) approach to any serious painting that you want to do. I would also love to paint my daughter’s portrait and I need to prepare exactly like you did. Thank you again!!!
This is a great video. I really like the advice to plan and practice before diving in with the final painting.
Thanks, Jennifer! Glad it was helpful!
How about do four tiny pictures instead of one big one - and now you aren't losing much money
Oh I do plenty of those, too! 🙂
I DEFINITELY approach using high quality paper as fearful, because I am not capable of getting my own supplies (health issues won’t let me work, nowhere will hire someone who has these kind of health problems) I try to conserve it and I make sure not to use it if I feel it would be a waste
That's so hard! I'm glad you're able to paint--such a positive thing when we're experiencing health issues.
I definitely do not have the level of expertise you do! 😳
I've got the paper, 20 sheets of Winsor Newton professional and 3 sheets left of Arches, both 140lb cold press. What I don't have is anything to stretch it on beyond 9x11. I really want to start painting bigger but can't afford three Gator Board at this season in my life. Any cheap alternatives? Anyone?
A gator board is a good investment--you can use it over and over for many years! I'm not sure of a cheaper alternative, but any board that's waterproof would work. :)
@@EmilyOlsonArt
Thanks Emily
Very encouraging. Beautiful examples of techniques. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!