Thanks so much for sharing how to do the flat wash with a regular light amount of pigment & how to do it with the darker pigment on the first go. I noticed exactly what I was doing wrong with trying to get my washes with darker pigment colors. This makes a huge difference for me now. I haven’t been using the tilting of my paper either, so I could get the necessary bead of paint for the smooth transition. Enjoy your day!!🥰
How do you handle going around things (like the steeple of a church) It always slows the process down and thus causes problems. Also if I complete one side, then going back to come down other side causes issues at the top.
Hullo Emily, thank you for sharing this wonderful tip from your watercolor closet! We see so many artists tape down their paper to a desk because of filming the videos. I have always used a board or stretcher bars to get my wet paper down and ready for painting! I cannot remember the last time I saw someone use gum tape to stretch their paper down to a board before they started painting. Now I know the new tapes do wonders but having that pre-stretched panel of paper is so important when painting. Thanks again and good luck on your next video.
@@leetau8429 Hi! Blocks are stretched, so you are paying more for the paper! I buy sheets and blocks and I have to soak the sheets after cutting if I am not going to use the entire sheet, 22x30 inches! I do enjoy working on half sheets and when I get a great stretch I can tape a smaller area to size and not have to try and tape a small piece of paper down to my board. I have seen people use the new Gatorboard and tape down a couple of sheets at once! Good luck 🍀
Beautiful! But now what to do with it? Something else has to go on that sheet, and whatever it is it will now have blue as its first layer. I do more background flat washes around objects than flat washes, and struggle getting it even while avoiding other things in the painting.
If there is a darker object in the foreground, you can paint over the blue. But if you have something lighter in the foreground, it's helpful to mask those shapes with tape or masking fluid before doing your flat wash.
This color reminds me of a color I once bought. Manganese blue hue by W&N professional range, I saw it in some videos and it looked beautiful but it has the weirdest consistency that I haven't ever seen in any of my other watercolors. Even if it's well diluted, it feels dense and thick. It doesn't spread without leaving streaks. It's like milky. For the price it's quite disappointing
great demo! If you want a really dark background, do you recommend allowing the paper to dry completely and then repeating the process? I tried to get a really dark background and I think my water to pigment ratio was too low and I started getting a shine effect Any suggestions on getting it super dark would be appreciated!
I have trouble with background washes when I am trying to paint around a subject and are areas are not straight shapes such as above. Ex; Around a bird or flower. Much harder to keep it smooth. Any suggestions?
![[Eng Sub] Flat wash Technique: Do's & Don'ts | Watercolor for Beginners](/img/n.gif)
Bristles pointing down, I hadn’t thought of that!
Just wanted to thank you for all your videos
these are some really great tips, I love that it's straight to the point too without any fluffiness ❤
Such a wonderful color and flawless wash😍😍😍
I didn't know to tilt the painting. Really helpful video.
Good video. Maybe sometime you could talk about tube watercolors. Why are they so special. I just use half pans at this point. I'm a beginner.
Thanks so much for sharing how to do the flat wash with a regular light amount of pigment & how to do it with the darker pigment on the first go. I noticed exactly what I was doing wrong with trying to get my washes with darker pigment colors. This makes a huge difference for me now. I haven’t been using the tilting of my paper either, so I could get the necessary bead of paint for the smooth transition. Enjoy your day!!🥰
Glad it was helpful!
😊great reminder
Thanks Emily! This really clears up a lot for me! 🤗
I'm so glad!
How do you handle going around things (like the steeple of a church) It always slows the process down and thus causes problems. Also if I complete one side, then going back to come down other side causes issues at the top.
I would use masking fluid over the top of the steeple. This will allow you to paint your flat wash freely and easily.
Hullo Emily, thank you for sharing this wonderful tip from your watercolor closet! We see so many artists tape down their paper to a desk because of filming the videos. I have always used a board or stretcher bars to get my wet paper down and ready for painting! I cannot remember the last time I saw someone use gum tape to stretch their paper down to a board before they started painting. Now I know the new tapes do wonders but having that pre-stretched panel of paper is so important when painting. Thanks again and good luck on your next video.
im a beginner and have never stretched my paper. why is it so important please...i use 100% cotton acadamy blocks
@@leetau8429 Hi! Blocks are stretched, so you are paying more for the paper! I buy sheets and blocks and I have to soak the sheets after cutting if I am not going to use the entire sheet, 22x30 inches! I do enjoy working on half sheets and when I get a great stretch I can tape a smaller area to size and not have to try and tape a small piece of paper down to my board. I have seen people use the new Gatorboard and tape down a couple of sheets at once! Good luck 🍀
it’s soooo useful! Thank you❤
You're welcome! ❤️
Thanks so much for your continued artistic wisdom so generously and effectively shared. Also Happy Holidays to you from the bottom of my heart.
Same to you! 💕
So useful. Thank you very much.
Great tip Emily! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Love this concise tutorial! Amazing tips 🤩🤩
Awesome thank you!! 😊 JK FLORIDA USA 🇺🇸
Beautiful! But now what to do with it? Something else has to go on that sheet, and whatever it is it will now have blue as its first layer. I do more background flat washes around objects than flat washes, and struggle getting it even while avoiding other things in the painting.
If there is a darker object in the foreground, you can paint over the blue. But if you have something lighter in the foreground, it's helpful to mask those shapes with tape or masking fluid before doing your flat wash.
This color reminds me of a color I once bought. Manganese blue hue by W&N professional range, I saw it in some videos and it looked beautiful but it has the weirdest consistency that I haven't ever seen in any of my other watercolors. Even if it's well diluted, it feels dense and thick. It doesn't spread without leaving streaks. It's like milky. For the price it's quite disappointing
great demo! If you want a really dark background, do you recommend allowing the paper to dry completely and then repeating the process? I tried to get a really dark background and I think my water to pigment ratio was too low and I started getting a shine effect Any suggestions on getting it super dark would be appreciated!
I don’t know if Emily would agree but I like using gouache I’m doing a dark background:)
I have trouble with background washes when I am trying to paint around a subject and are areas are not straight shapes such as above. Ex; Around a bird or flower. Much harder to keep it smooth. Any suggestions?
Masking fluid! Paint that on the object first, and then you can paint a flat wash freely!
Hi Emily, was this wet on wet one wet on dry?? 😊
These flat washes were done wet on dry. :)
Do you find it necessary to stretch or pre soak your paper so it dries flat? If not how do you get it to stay flat?
I usually use blocks so that I don't have to stretch it ('cause I'm lazy, lol!)
@@EmilyOlsonArt good to know!
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