As a complete beginner, I found this information quite helpful. As she points out, these 5 tips every watercolorist knows, but they are probably deemed so basic, no one is going to think to come out and say them. Many thanks!
you are a wonder send! i always feel like artists that are teaching on youtube for beginners, forget that they are in fact teaching beginners! We need these "dumb common sense" tips and tricks!! this is exactly what us newbies crave. well done :)
Using a harder pencil lead can help with keeping your sketches light and a kneaded eraser will help to not destroy your watercolor paper when you do erase.
I found this video amazingly helpful! 😄. I’m just learning how to paint with watercolors and found I need to learn some basics first. Thank you for creating it. I look forward to watching more of yours. 👏👏
I’m just starting out on my watercolour journey and I couldn’t find information about cleaning my brush while painting. I can’t believe how simply and obvious it is! Thanks so much
Very helpful tips! Thank you so much for sharing! The brush cleaning tip is great! I'm brand new to learning watercolor - I just received my brushes this weekend and can't wait to start playing!
I appreciated all of this information, especially about cleaning the brushes. About the paper, I've found it best to stick with Arches and I use my 40% off coupons. I won't buy it without the discount so I stock up as often as possible. At least the Strathmore you showed was a higher end. Thanks for caring for us beginners.
Thank you so much for making this! I've had my watercolors for about a month now but was super afraid to touch them because I wasn't sure about a lot of these. I broke it out for the first time tday and I love them. Thank you again!
Thank you for these tips ...I have been trying Watercolor for 50 years and still not good at it ...but even the basic tips are great to hear again and again !...some of this I had heard and some I hadn't ....but you are right about being so basic that many do not realize some may never have hard these tips ...
Love your tricks to the trade!!! We forget simple things that make new people feel comfortable about watercolor painting. Great video! Please do more simple techniques in watercolor painting!
Hello, Thank you so much for this video, I really appreciate it! I've already just subscribed and hit that magic bell. I am turning 50 in a week and my family has ordered watercolor supplies for me
staceybrister I did not have someone tell me something like that but find I am in essentially the same boat. My Amazon cart has over 120 items, I am working on both drawing and watercolor, and I am in my 50s. How wonderful it is to be old and bored to death, lol!
yeah! if you could include both brands and types that would be extra awesome! and maybe talk about pros and cons of synthetic vs natural hair? I've never really got the difference
I got a 60 sheet canson Huge (11x14) multimedia sketch book that's been holding up really well to watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil (Vaseline blended) and regular sketch. I'm yet to trty charcoal but I got it at Walmart for 6 bucks!
I gave you the 1,000th thumbs up, YAY!! Not only did I learn something during almost every tip, but the watercolor paper bit was exactly what I needed to be lectured on, lol. *such a newb painter...* Anyways- THANK YOU!
Thank you so much for this. I always learn so much whenever I watch your videos. You're one of the reasons I started getting into watercolors to begin with!
I wish I could post a picture of my watercolor I did on computer paper. It was all I had and it was just something I sat down with and did while my 5 year old was painting. Sooooo ripply! I knew it would be and I still love the painting, it was just sad to watch it warp, which led to colors mixing where I didn't want them to as the rippling happened. But it still hangs on my wall to remind me to keep practicing and learning!
Love this! Thank you! I am just a beginner and have never actually used water color...even though I bought all the supplies on clearance one day at Michaels! Thanks for the tips!
I just recently started getting into acrylic paints and I am now branching out into watercolors. That being said I bought a spiral Canson mixed-media book that I am still filling up. Part of me wants to buy a proper watercolor book but I also really love the warped paper look in my notebook. It just gives the book itself so much character and makes it seem so full. I dont know if its abnormal to actually not mind the warped paper look but do you have thoughts on if I should buy watercolor paper instead? I still want to finish filling up my first book however.
Great tips! I paid $5 for that Strathmore Vision on Blicks so get it there! :) but I recommend Canson XL over that Vision line from Strathmore. This Vision line is pretty bad at handling the addition of water and it'll start piling and colors just don't apply or blend as nicely as they do on the Canson XL, so I won't be repurchasing!
Hi Meredith! Thanks so much for the awesome info in this clip! It's always so worth repeating the basics, and somewhat secret, yet common tips, because there's always someone new to the medium! I was wondering if you have created any content on recovering from mistakes. It's my most common issue. I try to think I'm super clever, and can come up with a way to fix or hide a goof, but no. More often than not, it's a scrubbed mission. If you already have video along these lines, can you link me to it? If not, perhaps this is something you would consider in the future. Thanks for sharing your time, talent and tips!
This is an excellent video I really appreciate you're very clear tips. I was also glad to see someone finally mentioned that there is sizing in watercolor paper. When I first started I had Bristol! I had heavy paper but that's not all there is to it the sizing is the most important of all and yes cotton papers are the best of all. but it's more about the sizing. So often this is not even mentioned in the informational tutorials on TH-cam.
Judit Thoma you can absolutely use watercolor pencil for your sketch. Just use colors relative to what you'll be painting with. :) i.e. A red rose should be sketched in with a red watercolor pencil.
Hi! I want to start doing some watercolor....specifically little simple water color Christmas cards for next year. I'm not a paper crafter so would buy ready made blank cards/envelopes. Is here a special type of paper card I would need or will regular card stock do. Just discovered & started marathoning you this afternoon! Thanx :)
Thanks for all the tips! I am just getting started with watercolor, and there are a lot of videos online that assume the viewers know these basic things. I figured out the pencil thing because an online artist recently painted something where they forgot to erase the pencil lines first. This artist found a work-around to hide the line, but that probably isn't always possible. I hope your tip about using any watercolor paper is good because I just purchased some very inexpensive watercolor paper that I want to use for practice...I'm afraid to use the really good stuff until I know more. If I ruin the cheap stuff it will still bother me, but not as much. (I got the paper from Oriental Trading, BTW. Probably not the place for high end purchases, but I'm thinking it's okay to start with them.) One request: once I move to the "good" paper, what's the best way to cut it? Do I simply use my paper trimmer, or should I gently tear it? Some of the good stuff has a deckled edge, so I would't want even edges on part of the paper and deckled edges on part of it. Thanks!
Hi there! Sorry for the delay in my response! So glad you found the video useful! As to your question; you can certainly use your paper trimmer! The only time you're going to find deckled edges on the good paper is when you're purchasing it in individual sheets. Some handmade sketchbooks will also have paper with deckled edges inside but since the sheets are all bound together & all the same, there's no need for trimming. On the larger individual sheets, usually the two short edges are deckled and the two long ones are cut. If you'd like them all to match, you can of course trim the deckled edges off or, depending on the thickness of the watercolor paper in question, you can take a ruler & press down hard on it with your non-dominant hand and tear your sheet towards yourself with your dominant hand to get a straight deckled edge. This will work better if your watercolor paper is 90 or 140lb. 300lb paper will not tear by hand. It will also work better if the sheet you're tearing is small enough for you to get good leverage and maintain control while you tear. Folding the paper where you want the deckled edge before ripping it will also help. The first few times you do this, it might not pull consistently, but you'll definitely get the hang of it! :) Hope this helps and thank you so much for watching! Have a lovely day! :) Best, Meredith
What's the best primary colors that you should start with? I'm starting to collect artist grade watercolors and I want to buy the 3 primaries but there's just so much variety that its confusing and overwhelming. Thanks! 😊
Hi there! Sorry for the delay in my response! I actually have a video about color mixing that discusses using a split primary system, here is a link to it, in case that might be helpful: th-cam.com/video/cV4NpyhPSt0/w-d-xo.html If you do just want to go for 3 though, I would recommend trying to get the purest primaries you can find, something along the lines of Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, and French Ultramarine. As for specific brands, I would recommend Winsor & Newton, M. Graham, & Daniel Smith. Daniel Smith actually sells a special set with just the primaries in different temperatures. Here is a link to that: www.dickblick.com/items/01767-1009/ Hope this helps a bit, and thank you so much for watching! Have a lovely day! :) Best, Meredith
I have heard that many artists use fixative spray on their watercolors. I live in a semi-arid zone, so I don't need that, but if you live a humid climate, I would recommend it.
these are some great tips!! I really appreciate you sharing your time and talent with us!! I have a question. I am trying desperately to rebuild my craft supplies after I lost everything in a house fire last year and on a very limited income as I was diagnosed with cancer a month after the fire, which watercolors can you recommend that will low cost buy descent quality? also is there a brush you can recommend as well? thanks in advance!! hugs
This was very helpful - thank you so much! I'll be watching more of your videos. Can you tell me about the water cups/pots you are using? They look like pottery with smaller mouths than bases. I'm trying to find something similar. Any suggestions? Thanks!
So based on what you have said in the video, you would not recommend mixed media paper that has water color listed as an acceptable medium for that paper?
I don't have watercolor specific paper but I have mixed media paper that lists watercolors as a medium on it. Could I use that because I don't want to waste a sheet of the paper if it won't work for water colors because it was an expensive sketchbook and I don't want to risk losing a sheet of the paper
I'm very new to water colors ...confused with gauche paints it's an odd word lol and I'm more familiar with acrylic paints perhaps a video on the transition or main differences would be helpful
For my experience if I don't have darker color I will put a little amount of the darker 1 in it and it's look better...ex: dark blue (light blue+black), darker yellow (light yellow +brown) ....
Hi Meredith! Can you please tell me where you bought your bracelets? LOVE them! (I also asked in another video, but in this one, you're wearing them). Thanks so much for giving to us "newbies" on youtube. I really appreciate your generosity and expertise. :) Fanna Turano Denver, CO
Great video! Thanks, actually your videos inspired me to start painting with watercolors. Currently I'm struggling with hard edges en my paintings, mostly when mixing colors. I thought it was because of the cheap quality of my paints but then I purchased a Cotman set and I still have the same problem. Do you have any advice for that?
Hi there! So sorry for the delay in my response! This is a great question and a common stumbling block. Hard edges are mostly to do with the amount of water you're using in your paint mixes. The drier your brush is when you put paint to paper the more likely it is that you'll end up with a hard edge. Contrary to what would seem logical, the brush you're using will affect hard edges more than the paint you're using. This is because the different materials that brush bristles are made out of are designed to retain different amounts of water. I actually have a video all about water control, here is a link to it just in case it might be useful to you: th-cam.com/video/5VpyfWJqpGA/w-d-xo.html The easiest fixes are working wetter and watching your edges like a hawk to get them situated before they dry on you too quickly. Hope this helps somewhat and thank you so much for watching! I hope you have a lovely day! Best, Meredith
Hi!! I was wondering if you could talk about why watercolors crack sometimes in the palette after they've dried, and maybe how to avoid that? The ones I use I can reactivate still, but I can't really take my palette many places now because the pigment cakes have cracked, and I don't want to throw them away cause I can still use them. Do you have any tips or advice for avoiding this or fixing it?
I've seen artists here add a tiny dab of honey or glycerine to combat paint cracking. I thinking it has to do with their binders. Honey will make it sticky and easier to rewet too. 😊
Very good tip. I always clean my brushes, palette, and painting knives at the sink, as I do with acrylics; I mainly paint, mostly with acrylic colours, and mediums. With watercolours the brushes it is easier to clean brushes. However, great tip; thank you.
I am confused between Cotman colors and some of the more expensive ones like Schminke. I am not sure if it is worth investing in a much more expensive set or just start with Cotman and play it by ear from there. What would you suggest @TheWittyGrittyPaperCo.?
I cannot speak for WittyGrtitty, but In Liquid Color suggested in the USA, M. Graham as a less expensive yet high quality brand. I use American Journey. The 37 ml tubes are a good deal. They don't flow as well, so I add Ox gall, and then they work as well as expensive paint. If you live in Europe, I cannot make any recommendations. Good Luck.
Is gouache a watercolor? Can it be reactivated? If you use tube paints, tube watercolors, can you just 'squirt' a bit in the small area of palette and let it dry to be like a pot paint? thanks for help.....
Gouache is opaque watercolor. I have used it both dried on a watercolor palette and freshly squirted out on a butcher's palette or dining plate, and I would rather use it fresh. It does reactivate but it takes a lot longer than watercolor.
I love doing watercolors but I am unable to afford the expensive watercolors. I have PRANG, CRAYOLA and house brand watercolor Pencils (Hobby Lobby & Michaels) what is your opinion on these brands? I know they are meant for young kids. Is there a big difference in quality from the higher end and lower end watercolors??
As a complete beginner, I found this information quite helpful. As she points out, these 5 tips every watercolorist knows, but they are probably deemed so basic, no one is going to think to come out and say them. Many thanks!
you are a wonder send! i always feel like artists that are teaching on youtube for beginners, forget that they are in fact teaching beginners! We need these "dumb common sense" tips and tricks!! this is exactly what us newbies crave. well done :)
Using a harder pencil lead can help with keeping your sketches light and a kneaded eraser will help to not destroy your watercolor paper when you do erase.
Waauw, seen so many youtubes that say they have beginners tips, but this
was the only one that had REALLY good tips, thank you so much !!!!
You make it look so easy. I believe it will be because of the fun and forgiveness you express. Can''t wait to get supplies. THANK YOU!
Excellent tips for us starters. Glad I found you in time!
I found this video amazingly helpful! 😄. I’m just learning how to paint with watercolors and found I need to learn some basics first. Thank you for creating it. I look forward to watching more of yours. 👏👏
I’m just starting out on my watercolour journey and I couldn’t find information about cleaning my brush while painting. I can’t believe how simply and obvious it is! Thanks so much
Very helpful tips! Thank you so much for sharing! The brush cleaning tip is great! I'm brand new to learning watercolor - I just received my brushes this weekend and can't wait to start playing!
I appreciated all of this information, especially about cleaning the brushes. About the paper, I've found it best to stick with Arches and I use my 40% off coupons. I won't buy it without the discount so I stock up as often as possible. At least the Strathmore you showed was a higher end. Thanks for caring for us beginners.
Thank you so much for making this! I've had my watercolors for about a month now but was super afraid to touch them because I wasn't sure about a lot of these. I broke it out for the first time tday and I love them. Thank you again!
Thank you for the help. Thought I had to clean my palate every time.
Thank you for these tips ...I have been trying Watercolor for 50 years and still not good at it ...but even the basic tips are great to hear again and again !...some of this I had heard and some I hadn't ....but you are right about being so basic that many do not realize some may never have hard these tips ...
Love your tricks to the trade!!! We forget simple things that make new people feel comfortable about watercolor painting. Great video! Please do more simple techniques in watercolor painting!
Hello, Thank you so much for this video, I really appreciate it! I've already just subscribed and hit that magic bell. I am turning 50 in a week and my family has ordered watercolor supplies for me
Thank you for sharing your artist-story, Stacey. When it comes to making art, do what you enjoy doing and you can never go wrong.
staceybrister I did not have someone tell me something like that but find I am in essentially the same boat. My Amazon cart has over 120 items, I am working on both drawing and watercolor, and I am in my 50s. How wonderful it is to be old and bored to death, lol!
Hey, can you make a video about watercolor brushes, please? :) Especially for beginners. That would be awesome!
yeah! if you could include both brands and types that would be extra awesome! and maybe talk about pros and cons of synthetic vs natural hair? I've never really got the difference
that would be great.. Im seeing a lot of artists use a (quil mop+round) combo.. Thoughts on that.. From a beginner standpoint
Count me in! I'd like to learn more about brushes, too! Thanks!
Count me in for brush info
I love the how to clean your brush tip!!!!! Thank you
I agree! I really needed that tip!
This was really helpful. Loved the brush cleaning tip. Thank you
just getting into water coloring and your suggestions were the things that no one tells you. I appreciate it so much thank you
Thank you for watercolor tips I didn't know, especially sketching "lightly" in pencil.
I got a 60 sheet canson Huge (11x14) multimedia sketch book that's been holding up really well to watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil (Vaseline blended) and regular sketch. I'm yet to trty charcoal but I got it at Walmart for 6 bucks!
Fantastic tips TheWittyGrittyPaperCo. Keep up the good work.
I gave you the 1,000th thumbs up, YAY!! Not only did I learn something during almost every tip, but the watercolor paper bit was exactly what I needed to be lectured on, lol. *such a newb painter...* Anyways- THANK YOU!
Thank you for the tips! I'm just starting out on watercolor. :)
Thank you so much for this. I always learn so much whenever I watch your videos. You're one of the reasons I started getting into watercolors to begin with!
I wish I could post a picture of my watercolor I did on computer paper. It was all I had and it was just something I sat down with and did while my 5 year old was painting. Sooooo ripply! I knew it would be and I still love the painting, it was just sad to watch it warp, which led to colors mixing where I didn't want them to as the rippling happened. But it still hangs on my wall to remind me to keep practicing and learning!
U are so AMAZING, I LOVE HOW U explain 🙏🏽😘
That was amazing. Thank you!! I'm sure you earned yourself so many subscribers with just this video, me included! Awesome job
Your instructions are always so informative and easy to understand. Thank you.
This video is so helpful for beginners! I wish this video was there when I needed it. I pretty much found out everything by myself.
Love this! Thank you! I am just a beginner and have never actually used water color...even though I bought all the supplies on clearance one day at Michaels! Thanks for the tips!
Thanks for sharing these tips. It is a wealth of good information since I am a beginner.
I just recently started getting into acrylic paints and I am now branching out into watercolors. That being said I bought a spiral Canson mixed-media book that I am still filling up. Part of me wants to buy a proper watercolor book but I also really love the warped paper look in my notebook. It just gives the book itself so much character and makes it seem so full. I dont know if its abnormal to actually not mind the warped paper look but do you have thoughts on if I should buy watercolor paper instead? I still want to finish filling up my first book however.
Thank you for these tips. And yes I did card stock too. I'm just starting out
Great tips! I paid $5 for that Strathmore Vision on Blicks so get it there! :) but I recommend Canson XL over that Vision line from Strathmore. This Vision line is pretty bad at handling the addition of water and it'll start piling and colors just don't apply or blend as nicely as they do on the Canson XL, so I won't be repurchasing!
Wow. Thank you so much! Beginner here ☺
Really enjoyed this video; thank you for sharing your knowledge :)
Hi Meredith! Thanks so much for the awesome info in this clip! It's always so worth repeating the basics, and somewhat secret, yet common tips, because there's always someone new to the medium!
I was wondering if you have created any content on recovering from mistakes. It's my most common issue. I try to think I'm super clever, and can come up with a way to fix or hide a goof, but no. More often than not, it's a scrubbed mission. If you already have video along these lines, can you link me to it? If not, perhaps this is something you would consider in the future. Thanks for sharing your time, talent and tips!
More than helpful. Thank you and continue your good works.
yes thank you so much i did not know that about the washing the brush i used a soap to clean mine . much easyer
Thanks for sharing I have just starter painting again after about 15years of a brake . I had painters block and children
Thank you for taking the time to share your helpful tips.
This is an excellent video I really appreciate you're very clear tips. I was also glad to see someone finally mentioned that there is sizing in watercolor paper. When I first started I had Bristol! I had heavy paper but that's not all there is to it the sizing is the most important of all and yes cotton papers are the best of all. but it's more about the sizing. So often this is not even mentioned in the informational tutorials on TH-cam.
On the topic of tip nr 4. Do you think it's a good idea to sketch with watercolor pencil? Or do I just mess up my colors that way?
Judit Thoma you can absolutely use watercolor pencil for your sketch. Just use colors relative to what you'll be painting with. :) i.e. A red rose should be sketched in with a red watercolor pencil.
These tips are so helpful; thank you!
Hi! I want to start doing some watercolor....specifically little simple water color Christmas cards for next year. I'm not a paper crafter so would buy ready made blank cards/envelopes. Is here a special type of paper card I would need or will regular card stock do. Just discovered & started marathoning you this afternoon! Thanx :)
Thanks for all the tips! I am just getting started with watercolor, and there are a lot of videos online that assume the viewers know these basic things. I figured out the pencil thing because an online artist recently painted something where they forgot to erase the pencil lines first. This artist found a work-around to hide the line, but that probably isn't always possible. I hope your tip about using any watercolor paper is good because I just purchased some very inexpensive watercolor paper that I want to use for practice...I'm afraid to use the really good stuff until I know more. If I ruin the cheap stuff it will still bother me, but not as much. (I got the paper from Oriental Trading, BTW. Probably not the place for high end purchases, but I'm thinking it's okay to start with them.)
One request: once I move to the "good" paper, what's the best way to cut it? Do I simply use my paper trimmer, or should I gently tear it? Some of the good stuff has a deckled edge, so I would't want even edges on part of the paper and deckled edges on part of it. Thanks!
Hi there! Sorry for the delay in my response! So glad you found the video useful! As to your question; you can certainly use your paper trimmer! The only time you're going to find deckled edges on the good paper is when you're purchasing it in individual sheets. Some handmade sketchbooks will also have paper with deckled edges inside but since the sheets are all bound together & all the same, there's no need for trimming.
On the larger individual sheets, usually the two short edges are deckled and the two long ones are cut. If you'd like them all to match, you can of course trim the deckled edges off or, depending on the thickness of the watercolor paper in question, you can take a ruler & press down hard on it with your non-dominant hand and tear your sheet towards yourself with your dominant hand to get a straight deckled edge. This will work better if your watercolor paper is 90 or 140lb. 300lb paper will not tear by hand.
It will also work better if the sheet you're tearing is small enough for you to get good leverage and maintain control while you tear. Folding the paper where you want the deckled edge before ripping it will also help. The first few times you do this, it might not pull consistently, but you'll definitely get the hang of it! :) Hope this helps and thank you so much for watching! Have a lovely day! :) Best, Meredith
Loved this video! Will try a painting and post it for advice! Thank you
Great tips! :D
Though, gouache does reactive completely (regular gouache that is, not acrylic gouache)... Unless I'm missing something?
What's the best primary colors that you should start with? I'm starting to collect artist grade watercolors and I want to buy the 3 primaries but there's just so much variety that its confusing and overwhelming. Thanks! 😊
Hi there! Sorry for the delay in my response! I actually have a video about color mixing that discusses using a split primary system, here is a link to it, in case that might be helpful: th-cam.com/video/cV4NpyhPSt0/w-d-xo.html If you do just want to go for 3 though, I would recommend trying to get the purest primaries you can find, something along the lines of Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, and French Ultramarine. As for specific brands, I would recommend Winsor & Newton, M. Graham, & Daniel Smith. Daniel Smith actually sells a special set with just the primaries in different temperatures. Here is a link to that: www.dickblick.com/items/01767-1009/ Hope this helps a bit, and thank you so much for watching! Have a lovely day! :) Best, Meredith
Saw video of the reactivating paint in pallet so I'm wondering does a finished water color pairing need protected with a fixative spray
I have heard that many artists use fixative spray on their watercolors. I live in a semi-arid zone, so I don't need that, but if you live a humid climate, I would recommend it.
Thanks you so much, keep up the good work!
Legion paper is pretty fair priced and works great!!!
They also have sweet sample packs.
these are some great tips!! I really appreciate you sharing your time and talent with us!! I have a question. I am trying desperately to rebuild my craft supplies after I lost everything in a house fire last year and on a very limited income as I was diagnosed with cancer a month after the fire, which watercolors can you recommend that will low cost buy descent quality? also is there a brush you can recommend as well? thanks in advance!! hugs
Add more painting tutorials dear 👍😍 your videos are awesome 👏
THANK GOD FOR YOUR TIPS !!! YOU ARE STRAIGHT TO THE POINT CAPS BECAUSE I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT YOUR VIDEOS ARE GREAT!!! :)
This was very helpful - thank you so much! I'll be watching more of your videos. Can you tell me about the water cups/pots you are using? They look like pottery with smaller mouths than bases. I'm trying to find something similar. Any suggestions? Thanks!
So based on what you have said in the video, you would not recommend mixed media paper that has water color listed as an acceptable medium for that paper?
I don't have watercolor specific paper but I have mixed media paper that lists watercolors as a medium on it. Could I use that because I don't want to waste a sheet of the paper if it won't work for water colors because it was an expensive sketchbook and I don't want to risk losing a sheet of the paper
I'm very new to water colors ...confused with gauche paints it's an odd word lol and I'm more familiar with acrylic paints perhaps a video on the transition or main differences would be helpful
Does it matter what kind of container you use for your water?
Thank you so much this video helped me a lot❤
What’s the brush you use? I’d really like to invest into a brush like yours for lettering
thank you, straight forward guidance!
For my experience if I don't have darker color I will put a little amount of the darker 1 in it and it's look better...ex: dark blue (light blue+black), darker yellow (light yellow +brown) ....
Thank you so very much!! 😊
Hi Meredith! Can you please tell me where you bought your bracelets? LOVE them! (I also asked in another video, but in this one, you're wearing them). Thanks so much for giving to us "newbies" on youtube. I really appreciate your generosity and expertise. :)
Fanna Turano
Denver, CO
Great video ✨💙💕💕✨ I really enjoyed it
lovely tips! it's also a waste of pigments/paints when you clean the palette every single time. >
Woo great really really helpful thanks
Is it ok to use mixed media paper for watercolors?
Great tips !
Always good to save the water and paint from the dirty tray!
Thank you! Youre wonderful!
Great video! Thanks, actually your videos inspired me to start painting with watercolors. Currently I'm struggling with hard edges en my paintings, mostly when mixing colors. I thought it was because of the cheap quality of my paints but then I purchased a Cotman set and I still have the same problem. Do you have any advice for that?
Hi there! So sorry for the delay in my response! This is a great question and a common stumbling block. Hard edges are mostly to do with the amount of water you're using in your paint mixes. The drier your brush is when you put paint to paper the more likely it is that you'll end up with a hard edge. Contrary to what would seem logical, the brush you're using will affect hard edges more than the paint you're using. This is because the different materials that brush bristles are made out of are designed to retain different amounts of water. I actually have a video all about water control, here is a link to it just in case it might be useful to you: th-cam.com/video/5VpyfWJqpGA/w-d-xo.html
The easiest fixes are working wetter and watching your edges like a hawk to get them situated before they dry on you too quickly. Hope this helps somewhat and thank you so much for watching! I hope you have a lovely day! Best, Meredith
Very good information, thank you very much.
So helpful! Thank you.
Thnxxx I learned a lot🌷🙋🏼♀️
Great info. TY
Great tutorial. It was very helpful, keep up the good work! Thank you soooooo much. I couldn't resist to subscribe, LOL!
Excellent tips...Thank you.
very helpful!
How would a 95 lb paper be for water colors?
Hi!! I was wondering if you could talk about why watercolors crack sometimes in the palette after they've dried, and maybe how to avoid that? The ones I use I can reactivate still, but I can't really take my palette many places now because the pigment cakes have cracked, and I don't want to throw them away cause I can still use them. Do you have any tips or advice for avoiding this or fixing it?
I've seen artists here add a tiny dab of honey or glycerine to combat paint cracking. I thinking it has to do with their binders. Honey will make it sticky and easier to rewet too. 😊
Great tips! thanks so much :)
Excellent! Thank you.
Thank you. Very helpful.
Very good tip. I always clean my brushes, palette, and painting knives at the sink, as I do with acrylics; I mainly paint, mostly with acrylic colours, and mediums. With watercolours the brushes it is easier to clean brushes. However, great tip; thank you.
I am confused between Cotman colors and some of the more expensive ones like Schminke. I am not sure if it is worth investing in a much more expensive set or just start with Cotman and play it by ear from there. What would you suggest @TheWittyGrittyPaperCo.?
I cannot speak for WittyGrtitty, but In Liquid Color suggested in the USA, M. Graham as a less expensive yet high quality brand. I use American Journey. The 37 ml tubes are a good deal. They don't flow as well, so I add Ox gall, and then they work as well as expensive paint. If you live in Europe, I cannot make any recommendations. Good Luck.
great tips
great job
Is gouache a watercolor? Can it be reactivated? If you use tube paints, tube watercolors, can you just 'squirt' a bit in the small area of palette and let it dry to be like a pot paint? thanks for help.....
Gouache is opaque watercolor. I have used it both dried on a watercolor palette and freshly squirted out on a butcher's palette or dining plate, and I would rather use it fresh. It does reactivate but it takes a lot longer than watercolor.
I love doing watercolors but I am unable to afford the expensive watercolors. I have PRANG, CRAYOLA and house brand watercolor Pencils (Hobby Lobby & Michaels) what is your opinion on these brands? I know they are meant for young kids. Is there a big difference in quality from the higher end and lower end watercolors??
thank you =D
good video:]
Very useful, thank you :)