Basic Watercolor Techniques 2 - Graduated Washes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Here I cover the basic watercolor technique of applying a graduated wash. One of the most useful washes in bringing your paintings to life. As with flat washes, brush size and even moisture control are key and I demonstrate those aspects.
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A most grateful 56yr. old guy here, no artistic talent what so ever. Occasional buyer of beautiful watercolor art. Simply wanted several large color washes, for my ultra modern home, never finding my colors or style. Never picked up a brush until last month. Thanks to you, I'm starting to paint more and more complex art! (Btw, love rigger brushes for trees etc.) The most helpful advice is the importance of proper tools. You stated, 1. paper, 2. brushes, 3. paint. I chose good paper, with cheap brushes with no "spring", boy what a mistake. Now, I also have good pigments as well. Wanted to save money, because I knew I had no talent at painting, wrong again!The most surprising aspect of watercolor, is that you can "lift" some mistakes or change the object to some degree. I always thought the medium was like a dye. Once done, forever lost, not true! I felt oil was the only medium that could be remediated or painted over. For the absolute beginner, your best advice was to try something achievable. Master the techniques and learn the paint first, then worry about a masterpiece later! I just wanted some abstract color in the house. Geeez, now I'm having the time of my life,. Embrace the mistakes and failures, and let the magic begin! I am so shocked at what I can do in such a little time.I really appreciate your efforts, they are most helpful and rewarding. Your skill at teaching is second to none! Production values and personality is a joy to behold. Your a good man Charlie brown!A very grateful viewer,Joe
+Joe W. Wow! you would make a great evangelist for my channel and teaching approach. You get it completely. So glad you're enjoying the medium now. Thanks for the great feedback and above all for watching!
The Mind of Watercolor x
That is awesome! Is'nt painti ng wonderful?
Wow Joe that's the very best comment I've ever read on TH-cam where someone's giving feedback on a channel that teaches. For other total beginners (like myself) who have aspiration and desire but little to no skill, your words are super inspiring and lifting. Thank you!!!!
Thankyou for that ! I now have hope 🌞
I appreciate you going over the process several times and using different words each time. I found that helpful. I also liked the verse at the end.
Your videos are very instructive, but honestly, the concept for which your channel is named has probably helped me the most. I see the mind of the paint all the time, and it makes it so much more interesting than other art styles ( to me). I’m 56, old school graffiti writer, and the way you can kind of mimic spray paint effects with watercolor is my new style. Appreciate you homey
Hi there! I know you did this video several years ago, but I just discovered it now. Thank you for your great demonstrations and directions! I really appreciate it. I signed up for a watercolor class and the instructor just wrote out some brief wash directions, like "paint a dark area and get lighter as you go down". Not helpful and I dropped the course. I'm going to paint along with you and work on developing basic skills. THANK YOU!!
I had the same experience with an art class many years ago, and it discouraged me from drawing for a long time.
It really stinks when someone's not a great teacher, but you think it's your own fault for not understanding or just thinking that you have no talent.
I am very grateful to you and your videos. I am slowly working through the beginners playlist, and it has been most helpful! I am having fun with this new hobby.
Why was I never taught this basic - basic - technique in any of the classes I took?! It’s impossible to get a decent painting if you (me) don’t know this! And I have struggled with it trying to figure out the mystery. Thanks Mr. Mitchell!
My first paint-along. Epic fail with dry paper. Better at wetting paper first. Going to be practising this for the rest of my life.
"Sigh......"
🤥😏
what is done with the brush off camera in this and other of your similar vids is probably the most important of h2o control (which you seldom show) . some art teachers use two cameras with a smaller window in a window....IMHO you are not showing how water is used. which in your words is key...considering a paetron approach but only if the two views are included
Thanks for leaving in your mistake, it's good for newbies like myself to learn how to fix things. :)
Happened on this channel by accident and starting at the beginning. I am enjoying them, appreciate you making them.
My Paternal Grandparents and my Maternal Great Grandmother were watercolorists, both working wet on dry and the later mostly flat; I tend to prefer a looser mix, leaning more to favor wet on wet. I learned some from my Grandfather, some from a couple watercolor classes, and a lot of enjoying watercolor. Now that I live in a desert, finding washes to be a challenge as soon as the paper is just wet enough, by the time I have the first row of color, the paper is dry. If I go a little over too wet, the color becomes darkest in the wet, giving horrendous blotches and speckles in the divots of the texture. How does one prevent this and in addition rewet only a portion?
By the way, I am using Grandfather's expensive sable brushes, I soon quit using his synthetics and totally agree, great brushes are a must. I would add, great brush care is needed. Only a light touch to the paper is needed (it's not a ball point pen), NEVER set a brush on the tip (if must leave it wet, I use clothe pins and prop those on the edge of a glass (got called away for what I thought be a short time...)), gently rinse under running water handle up, when done, lightly tap out the water, and shape the bristles back. I bet a few brushes I have are over 50 plus years old because taken care of. Hope this helps someone.
TIA
Thank you! That was very helpful - especially seeing how you worked with unintended outcomes (not mistakes!) It’s helpful to see how you handle the less than perfect flow, and turn it into the desired outcome. That gives me encouragement to be more relaxed about trying it. Thanks again!
Why in the world do you cut the movie in places right when I need to see what you are doing? Thanks for the effort though
@ Prabha - Use as large a brush as you can and still control detail. That way it will hold plenty of water so you can keep the area wet.
How do you do graduated washes in very tight small sections where you do not have room for a lot of clear water?
First time was horrible, 2nd time was much better...
These 'basic' videos are great!! I'm just starting but I started with things that are too complex. I needed to learn the basics.
Thanks for the concept of not starving the brush! I was definitely doing that and not even realizing it. Definitely a holdover from acrylic.
What paper do you use for practice? I know you recommend Arches but it is expensive so I don’t want to waste it but then maybe I’m not getting the best results and then I’m disappointed and don’t want to try again? Just found your channel after it was recommended by Jenna Rainey.
I use Bee 100% cotton a lot for practice. I also use some 100% cotton watercolor sketchbooks like Kilimanjaro from Cheap Joes. Otherwise I just use the same paper I paint with for any occasion.
well my graduated wash looks like complete shit
+Teresa Cassidy Yes, that was a smooth or hot press block.
This is an interesting way to create graduated washes. I was taught to put the the pigment at top then add water next to it to let it flow down to bottom adding more water only to pull the color down to bottom.
I’m going to try it your way too. It makes sense.
What you were taught is also a valid way but not successful in all painting situations since you can't always go down with your wash. Either way, water control is usually the key. To much as you blend out will ruin it. Reduce water as you go.
The first two are all I have watched and you have shown me more than all the other books and video's combined. WOW.
Thank you. I know this seems like it should be so simple, but it’s not for me. I’m watching a second time and working through the technique. You are a good teacher.
Thanks for showing me how to reclaim the wash. That’s been a hard thing to do in graduation, especially for bigger areas. I have been thinking 🤔 that I was never going to be able to get it to do or fix. I love learning so much from your examples, and your fun videos. Thanks for sharing this & keeping me inspired to keep trying watercolor painting.
I can do the graduated wash with all the paper being wet the pigment goes down smooth for me. The prob is buckling. I have 140 already don't wish to go to 300. I thought the hot press would be better for me but not. The hot press doesn't buckle like the cold press. I love the way you drop the pigment into the water and it takes on it's own direction or you can make follow the water. Cool. Thanks for the demonstration.
Wow, wow, wow. Steve, thank you so very much for all the DETAILS you taught for doing graduated washes. I’m still a newbie, and never understood how washes worked. I can hardly wait to go practice what you showed....from consistency of pigment (showing us your palette), brush size, paper, wetness (sheen). You are simply the best!
This is so concretely helpful! THANK YOU!
Great video, I'm going to watch these all again and again and paint along with you next. Are you using fine grain paper or hot press? I don't see much grain in that block your using. ( I'll try not to ask so many questions.) Thank you Steve.
Teresa Cassidy probably Arches Cold Pressed block of paper.
Hi Steve, I got my paint brushes yesterday and with the cheapy, yukky Canson Multi-Media pad I used for drawing I did the exercises here and from the part 1 of this vid. I did the painting inside the zig zaggy shape so wonderfully. Then when it dried it was exactly the wrong way. LOL I had gone back and tried to wet the tiniest place that was completely missed. That seems to be what made it have the hard edges in the middle.
Also, I have a graduated wash that's real nice but it doesn't end in white. I see what practice will do and other things that I shouldn't do, like try to get every speck even when it's too late.
Thanks for these tips.
Thank you so much for this material, I'm starting with watercolors and this is great. Greertings from Chile
I am new at watercolor and really enjoying your sessions. Appreciate your style and ease of explanation. I especially love your Scriptures at the end of each tutorial. Thank you.
Hi, thank you for your explanation, but I cannot get it right. I use hot pressed paper Satinee by Arches. I would like to watercolor and use ink (acryl) and that is why I bought that paper. On the internet I read that a good wash is more difficult on hot pressed paper. Can you perhaps give a tip on the correct use? Or can you recommend a different kind of paper? I hope that you can help me out.
Arches is probably the best paper I know for doing nice washes. Sorry. Hot Press is a little different but not that much. Just keep practicing. The most common problem with getting a nice graduated wash is improper water control. Too much or too little and not changing it when needed. You usually decrease water as you graduate don't add water.
Thanks so much for responding! I will keep practicing! And not buy different paper 😅
Yes, got it! Perhaps a bit strange, but I painted the graded box from below. Suddenly I noticed that your arm is above it and. I tried that and that’s when it worked for me. Thank you and please say hi to Reese for me!
So helpful, thank you! The kind of videos we need more of on TH-cam, just good, helpful, clear instruction.
I enjoy your video style. The cute old man thing you've got going on keeps me entertained (:
Syasya Qaisara Thanks! ... I think. :-)
He is not old, honey!
Crystal clear demonstration of graduated washes. What a treat to understand how that works. Thanks, Steve! And Hi to Reese....I don't usually have a frozen Reesey cup till the sun is over the yardarm, but I was successful in a graduated wash by following your instruction #1, so I'll sneak off to the fridge and celebrate early in the day.
I live in a very dry climate, and the only way I can do a graduated wash is to wet the paper first. Otherwise the paint dries too fast and I can’t manipulate it to drag it down the page.
I’m definitely going through the basics. So helpful!
What is the #8 brush you’re using here ? Brand ? I know it’s not the silver, black you normally use.
Excellent video. Very easy to follow. I am a beginner and the way you explained it was easy to understand. I appreciate you showing the two techniques. Thank you!
When you are doing the graduated wash is your paper flat or raised at a slight pitch. Thank you Deb
Raised very slightly. Mostly because I need it that way for the camera angle. Should work flat also.
@@mindofwatercolor Thank you, Den
Great video. Your technique breaks some “rules” that I think I’ve been taught in another course. I’m greatfull that you showed how you can rework and move around the colour that’s already been put down or add more while it’s still wet. Also how you added clear water a few strokes below the coloured edge and worked it back into the wet edge. I am going to practice this.
you just got yourself a brand new video!! thanks for helping me with my Art Contest Piece!! (from this very informative video, I learned to do a watercolor wash background for my Copic Marker drawing!!
Picking watercolor back up after 3 years. I miss your videos!
Very effective lesson, especially showing how to work around when it's not going exactly smoothly. How to get back on track is a valuable demonstration. Thank you.
For small areas, I sometimes use my water brush as it's great for graduated washes due to the consistent flow rate of the water feed. I know it's cheating a bit, but as a relative novice, its a method that I found works fairly reliably for me. I do need to practice those traditional techniques. Loving your tutorials, many thanks.
Sure why not. No such thing as cheating when using tools. Whatever works.
Wash...an application of paint and water on paper?
yes.
Omg Steve your a magician for my brain lol. I've been trying watercolour out for ages now and just couldn't get it right until watched videos 1, 2, & 3 finally I've got it finally I understand and now I can see what I was doing wrong. Thankyou so much
Thanks steve
The video is very helpful for me! Thanks a lot!
I've found that water color paper works much better than mix media paper.
thank you Steve, for such a clear demonstration and lesson. I feel confident now to do washes. In India, the paper dries up very quickly, as we have hot and dry weather. How to keep the paper wet, for the third technique? Thanks.
Prabha Panth add glycerin to your water is one way I’ve read- keep in the shade too
I enjoy you lessons and i have learnt a lot. But i wonder why you keep a skull next to you and talk to it... It is somewhat scary
Thank You 👍
Every time I see your friend and constant companion I think of Jim Butcher’s book series Dresden Files!😂😂😂
Interesting! Nothing so sinister thankfully. Just my artist's anatomy reference model. Very useful too.
Terrific tutorial! Thanks!
Thank you for your instruction videos, you are much more clear and specific on actual details of technique that other trainers don't. Very helpful to beginners like me!
Helloooooooo
This is awesome. I'm hoping to love watercolor too!!!
2 questions:
1. Do you have the paper on tilt while you are doing the wash?
2. Your hand is positioned on the side of the paper. Are you working that way, only for the camera, or is that how you'd normally be painting the graduated wash?
+LettieNugent.com 1. Yes, slight tilt. 2. Yes, mostly thats how I paint. I am favoring the camera just a bit.
Ok. Thanks.
My new kitty cat, Balue the Bear was mesmerized watching this video!
What happens after 03:31? How did you spread the colors there?
I needed these videos soooooooo bad. Thank you again.
It is really great for new users like me it has solve my problem
Steve, can you do the same idea of a graduated wash with two colors? Like if I want the background to go from dark blue at the top to light/white and dark green at the bottom to light/white where the blue and green meet. Or would it be best to do two graduated washes?
This is one way to do it. This is smaller scale but can be scaled up with large brushes. th-cam.com/video/7MrL-UWViBU/w-d-xo.html
The Mind of Watercolor Thank you so much! I hadn't got to that video yet :) got ahead of myself. Thanks for responding so fast!
Thank you so much for this video, it's so helpful! I do have a question.. Is your paper slanted in this technique or flat? Thanks!
Slightly, maybe 10 degrees
Great set of videos for the newbie like me!!!
Thank you for these super coherent demonstrations!
Is it better to tilt your board?
A little helps yes. It keeps the bead of water/paint towards the bottom.
These videos are immensely helpful to me but my problem comes when I try to apply the water. I always seem to use too much and my washes dry very light. What am I doing wrong?
You said it. Too much water. Its a common problem. Paint to water ratio has to be managed and it take practice. Have you watched this video? Practice this kind of control until you don't have to think about it anymore. th-cam.com/video/IFenH6TdSuw/w-d-xo.html
Im just watching the as for skl 😂
im trying to get a good green by using blues and yellows, is it a blue pigment thing? greens are grainy. im just studying primary washes and gradients, getting blue to run to yellow or vice verse. any tips? not getting solid green in the middle. trying 4 different blues and 2 different yellows. stumped. advice?
Ultramarine and Azo Yellow make a nice green range. Probably my favorite is Prussian Blue and Indian Yellow. Have you seen this video yet? th-cam.com/video/-0uFVw3B-us/w-d-xo.html
Just started to learn watercolor. Love your channel.
My favorite youtube channel!
How do you paint graduated washes in very tight and controlled small sections? where you don't necessarily have room to put down a lot of clear water?
These techniques usually work for tight areas. th-cam.com/video/Qy_8px43Esc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CRL5fJtyZ0nbSyv5
Also scale your brush way down to a small brush appropriate for the area.
What can I say? Great videos one after another! Even after painting for so many years I am learning new things from you. Thank you. I have a simple question to ask as I couldn't figure it out for so long; perhaps you can shed some light to it. I have noticed after you have done your wash on the biggest rectangle, you had some random dense particles (small dark blue dots) in the transition area from darker blue to lighter blue. Where do these dense particles come from? You didn't have those in the smaller rectangles as they were all very smooth. I thought they might be bits of pigment which wasn't crushed enough. But, also they may be due to the properties of the paper. I have the same things on the paper when I do wet-on-wet. I tried to avoid them with no success. Perhaps, you can let me (us) know. You are a great teacher. Thanks a bunch again :-))
Granulation. Ultramarine Blue is what's known as a granulating pigment. There are a handful of others. When a lot of water is used as in the larger rectangle the heavier pigment settles out first and creates a grainy look. Here is a video I did about it. th-cam.com/video/VjtmhyVXMT0/w-d-xo.html
@@mindofwatercolor Thank you, Steve ;-))
That was very useful, thank you!
When “manipulating” that larger wash using a drier brush towards the end when sheen was gone, you were smoothing and moving some of the colors around- seems like there wasn’t much pigment but if there was , say you wanted to darken the top, would that be ill advised? Better to wait then till it’s dry and glaze?
Yes wait.
@@mindofwatercolor thanks for the great instruction and quick reply!
Why not another princeton neptune #14 round?
I wanna try this several times, to learn to get better control
Great instruction!
Hey Mr minder? Do you have any videos on layers and shading in watercolor?
Yes, but don't have the links in front of me. Try searching on my channel page.
Great refresher too !
Love your lessons, thanks so much
Hi Steve, I am completely absorbed in your videos, but am afraid I missed something. Please refer again to the playlist for beginners. I can't seem to find it. Your teaching is outstanding. I am entertained and I am learning so much with each video.
Just click on my channel name in any video and it will take you to my main channel page. You will find it there.
That was easy! Thank you so much!
This is a great class........thanks.
Grateful for this lesson, it makes me want to try again. Love the Scripture, one of my favorites! You have a new subscriber here🙂
Steve! You're a lifesaver! I keep ruining my attempts at graduated washes because my initial wash isn't juicy enough, so when I go back in my brush is wetter than the pigment. I couldn't figure out why, but you explained it perfectly! Thanks so much for these videos!
👍
Great video! 😀 How about if I want a smooth gradient to another color, how do I do that?
th-cam.com/video/M6WpCDnwu6k/w-d-xo.html
Most excellent , thank you
I needed this. Thanks for the info
Great video - so informative
Do you do the washes underneath the painting or over it?
I don't understand the question. As you state it, it could be either.
Excellent video!
I think I'm correct that there are no really flat continuous panels or walls in real life or nature. Correct?
Hahahaha the laundry
!! :)
is it all about the paper quality that the paint leaves a dark line on the top?
No, there could be other reasons.
Please tell me what size of brush you was using?
#8 round I think.
Thank you
I can't tell you what your videos mean to me.....thank you fo your continuing patience and enthusiasm for us beginners
Thank you from Australia!!
This explains everything I was wondering about!