Are You Still Making These 3 Watercolor Control Mistakes?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- Learning water control in watercolor painting is a common hurdle for beginners. Here are 3 common mistakes that plague both the beginner and even the more seasoned watercolor painter in getting control of them watercolor medium.
0:00 Intro
0:48 You are Painting With Water
1:43 Mistake #1 Not Changing the Amount of Water
10:25 Mistake #2 Poor Brush Water Management
14:49 Mistake #3 No Bold Generous Paint Mixing
20:27 Conclusion
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I just recently got on my own case because I’ve been so afraid of “wasting” my precious supplies, that they’ve literally sat and gathered dust! But I had a sudden “NO MORE!” moment, as the only true way to waste art supplies is to never use them. Hell, even making mistakes is still making! So glory to all our messes, may our tubes run empty and our paper drip in a rainbow of colors!
Guilty as charged! I've been using cheap materials while the good stuff is locked up for when I get better.
Amen to all of this!! I got to that point 3 weeks ago and haven’t looked back since!!!!
this was a very informative video for me….painting with water makes a lot of sense, i never thought about it that way, thank you so much👍🏼
@@imjesssayin1706 good for you!! 🤗
I’m still struggling with this, with my success rate changing every day. But watching these videos is helping. Happy for you that you’ve reached that point!
“If you’re being precious with your paint and are afraid to waste it, you’re not painting.”
Thank you! 🎨 👍
Absolutely!
Haha I laughed out loud with this statement. I remember when I used to quiver before cleaning off the old paint on the palette… waste.. ha! After years of making messes I enjoy the beauty of clean white and LOVE to squeeze out more paint! Means I can go shopping for more. Nothing more satisfying than squeezing out that last bit of pigment from a tube! Means I have used pigment and have been painting! Thanks for that statement! Will share with my beginner students.
Finally a teacher who can teach. You really cover all your topics with such honesty and knowledge. Brings back the joy again.
Excellent. One other tip is when you have your brush loaded with paint but you’re aware there might be too much water in it, you can dab the part by the ferrule with a paper towel and that will remove excess water but keep the pigment in the tip and lower half of the brush. Then you don’t waste the paint or your time by redoing it all when in doubt.
2:00 Not making brush and paper moisture level changes when needed
10:51 Using your brush as a water manager, not just a paint applicator
15:12 Being too precious with palette mixtures
Thank you for being patient enough to explain in detail without being repetitive
Outstanding instruction. I can't get over how wonderful it is to watch a master like this -- I live in the sticks, yet I get to stand at his elbow! Thank you, Mr. Mitchell. You got me started in 2017.
Exactly how I feel. I could never afford instruction like this. What a great guy.
My biggest problem is letting the paint layers dry enough, I’m always to impatient and start the next level to soon. Have to listen to myself and walk away. Thanks Steve good video.
I have not even finished watching and can’t wait to say how much I LOVE your water control vids. A long time ago, In the beginning of my learning journey in a galaxy far far away I found YOU! And the light bulbs came on! No one explained more clearly and simply and made me laugh at the same time. Water and pigment control on GOOD paper are essential to less frustration and more success. You are just the best and so clear! I send everyone to your beginner series when they ask for more TH-cam help. Thanks for all the years of your sharing. 🙏🥰
I am a newbie and I follow several artists, but I totally enjoy (and chuckle) at your delivery! I so appreciate the in detail guidance you provide. So many artists just don’t go in to detail on HOW things are done. And, I love how you go over even the “duh” things because you are directly speaking to me! LOL Love it!
Thanks for the "news you can use" Steve! I dunno how you seem to get the RIGHT mixture of subject matter (spontaneous, abstract, realist, landscape, still life) - but you get the PERFECT balance! I absolutely need that "back to the basics" information over and over again ... so keep it up! Thanks again!
I’m learning to watercolor so I’m watching LOTS of videos. I don’t know why but something connected in my brain when you were talking about water as a medium like acrylic or oils. “Painting with water….” Lightbulb moment! Eureka! I found myself using too much pigment and wasn’t achieving the sheer beauty of this medium. Keep in mind, I am so so so new at this. I am learning so much from you. Granted, a lot of your videos are way over my head in execution. But man, they are beautiful! (I think I may be a touch older than you😜 but when I heard your music today, I thought Herb Albert!)
Oh my goodness, me too!!! This video is exactly what I needed.
Same, I was mentally forehead slapping myself, like geez! But thinking on it, I’ve only really done acrylic and a little oil, but mostly stuck with dry mediums like charcoal and graphite. This is literally the exact opposite but I was treating it the same, now my brain has done a somersault and I’m excited to get playing with my paints again 😃
I do that too, that’s why I let my paints dry instead of using fresh paint.😭
Me..too..! Super saturation…
Wow! Essential information, not “just basics!” There’s something valuable in this video for every watercolor enthusiast, beginner to professional. Thanks for improving the lives of art geeks everywhere! :)
This is really helpful! Water control is definitely a problem for me and it's not typically discussed in beginner tutorials. Thank you Steve
Using the black paper was sheer genius! Again I have learnt a lot from this video.
My favorite method of water control is what I call the W.O.S.S method. Wipe On Sweat Shirt. :)
😂
Good video. I use a doggy diaper pad next to palette as a towel, and also paper towels
As a new painter, this kind of instruction is invaluable. Knowing things like this will save time, aggravation and money
Among the huge numbers of watercolourists on TH-cam you are one of the very few I follow religiously Steve. Every one of your videos teaches me a little something in an area I thought I had covered already. I thanked you many times and I’ll do it again: thank you for the time you spend on us.
As for being "precious" with your paint, being afraid to waste it. I almost always find use for a colour I mix, even if it's using it for an under painting or adding more pigment to make a "black". So... don't be afraid of wasting paint just enjoy the process and playing with the paint that's half the fun! 😉
Exactly! Well said.
This video hits right where my frustrations have been lately. Thank you for all the great tips! I have been telling my non painter husband that if I don't learn how to control the water the water controls me!! Waiting for the paint to dry is the hardest part but taking a break to move a bit or do a small chore seems to help with that.
I really appreciate the way you share your expertise. I know I’ve been making some of these mistakes and this instruction will help me paint with a more accurate purpose and result. Managing the water in my palette and on the paper is HUGE! Thank you so much!
I found that shop towel paper towel was good to aid me and it’s more absorbent than regular paper towel. Tip: you can remove water by touching the back of the brush with paper towel
Thanks. Here’s another problem. Being too precious with your paper!
Being precious with paint is truly ridiculous with watercolor. By nature, watercolor stretches very, very far. It’s nice to watch these basics to see how far I’ve come along. Once I discovered moving the paint to another well if I wanted a tea consistency it was a true Eureka moment. Thanks for all your wise words Steve. Blessings to you and everyone!
That car washing sponge is brilliant. Off to buy one now.
thank you *so much* for making this video. i've been dancing around watercolour for a few years because every time i paint it goes badly and i haven't dived in because i don't know what i'm doing. every person i've seen approach the subject of water control exclusively deals with wash strength, which hasn't helped at all because wash strength is only one small part of the role of water in watercolor! just the opening of the video alone, when you said that watercolourists are painting with water - my mind was blown! it makes sense, of course it does, but that's not how i've been thinking about water - i've been thinking about it as a temporary pain in the butt that i can overcome if i can get pigment-to-water ratios correct in my mixes on the palette - as if the palette itself is the only water management tool. your tips on blotting materials and not being shy about changing up water while painting, showing your setup and how to use the stuff - all of this was so, so useful.
Finally, after years of other mediums--oil, acrylic, pastels, I realize I'm painting with WATER as my medium and adding pigment to it as needed---NOT starting with pigment!! The world has opened its wonders!! cant wait to apply the knowledge to reality!!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart !!!!
After 20 years of doing watercolors I still need these reminders. Thank you! I normally steal the worn towels from the kitchen when they seem too stained "Hey Honey, I think we need to get you some new kitchen towels...these are pretty ratty."...and then my daughter steals them to wipe the acrylic paint off her brushes making them less useful for me. Ah, the cycle of towels...The carwash sponge is a new one. I'll have to pick one of those up...
Thanks a great video . For me having scrap of same paper to test on is a big help.
This really helped to change to thinking of it managing water not just putting down paint! Also helping to not be afraid to mox larger amounts to start with! Thanks Steve.
Despite painting with watercolors for a while now, I'm always excited when you post a video like this, with the fundamentals of the media. Thank you for doing this.
Thanks for another great tutorial! Controlling the amount of water is one of my biggest problems, but I didn't understand how to fix it. This is also a MARVELOUS reason for using up paints!
While watching I thought, "Is there any reason I can't do this kind of practice with my cheap, "junkier" paint? I have very little quality paint. It's on my wish list from several sites, but I can't justify buying any more since I have quite a bit of my crafting paints & student stuff I inherited from my kids' college supplies. As you say, I've been really precious with my "GOOD" paint. I am treating my supplies so VERY precious that I haven't been painting at all, especially after seeing the blends you get with DS paints & knowing why I should be using the "good stuff."
Sincerely, Thanks for the inspiration and instruction,
God Bless You, Teresa
This is so simple but I never heard it explained so well. sSeeing the pictures of varied drying cloths and surfaces etc. really helpedI
Pled
Great advice . Nothing worse than trying to colour match when you run out of the mix. Good tips. Thanks
Thank you so much! I started watercolor (and drawing) a week ago and your videos, as the way you explain things in general, have been among the most instructive and useful in helping me understand why I was not getting anything close to what I expected, what I should try to do otherwise and how. It almost feels like you're standing next to me while I paint and explain what I did wrong ;)
Thank you for the reminder. I am often way too stingy with my paint!
Brick wall is now dismantled. Thank you , excellent watercolour information.
This or the most helpful tips i have every had i have been painting for 55 years.An you have helped me so much. You or the best artist at explaining your artwork ❤
Now that I finished the whole thing I will add that if I do the LAZY and forget to blot or dry the brush etc I go back to the frustrating place. I sit and ponder and remind self that blot , blot, control that water is the key. I bought a pack of facecloths at Costco and use them instead of paper towels as much as I can to control the water. It is now a habit and all thanks to you. Love that squirt bottle idea for wetting paint too. Thanks .
Great advice! Several tips in there I hadn't really thought about. The 'painting with water' concept struck a cord with me. It explains (to me) why I have so much trouble with other types of paint. lol
I definitely fall into the 'paint is precious' club. In the past I could never get myself to remove any of the watery paint from my brush because I didn't want to waste any. The trick that got me past that was to remove the excess water from only the belly of the brush on the edge of a folded towel, leaving the tip untouched. The excess water is removed and all/most of the lovely pigment is left in the tip of the brush. I also have a few mixing surfaces (mainly small white plates) that I use for each color 'family'. One for blues, one for reds and so forth. It got me over the fear of wasting paint, because I rarely have a need to completely clean my mixing surfaces. ... And the inevitable neutral mud is great for shadowy areas or backgrounds.
Thanks, as always, for all you do!
That's really smart! I'll have to try that. Thanks!
Great video, Steve! I’ve been playing with watercolor for a few years and have taken classes from 3 different instructors. Keep asking for help with the paint/water ratio, but none of the instructors talks about that. I feel like that’s where I’ve been stuck…basically painting with pigment instead of water with some pigment as you mentioned. Really appreciate this “back to the basics” video!
This was very informative. I hadn't even thought about water management. Adding more water washes out the brilliance of color I use in a painting. Now I see how I'm making this mistake. Gonna start thinking my paint is so precious that I become afraid to use more paint and less water. DUH...learned something so obvious from this lesson. Thanks Steve Mitchell!
Great video and thanks for using my watercolor bowl in this video!
Did you make that great bowl? 💛🧡❤️
You're quite welcome which reminds me I meant to put your website link in the description.
YES she did and they are fabulous! goldenbergdesigns.com
Lightbulb moment…..duh! Water+color…..not Color +water. Brilliant instruction!🙏
Excellent - never thought of “painting with water” new mindset & extremely important - thank you 🙏
Brilliant insight. Bottom line....USE the paints and paper, Use the good stuff!!! When you do, your results will be a catalyst to keep you going.
When you get great results from using quality products, it gives you the motivation to keep painting and creating. Too, always remember to PLAY along the way.✨🧡
As a beginner, I continue to gravitate to your tutorials because they are so useful as well as inspiring. I have been using water and brush with little-to-no control because i hadn't been instructed what to do. THANK YOU! This tutorial has completely changed how i approach my pallette and paper!
Oooh, I’ve never seen anyone use a sponge before, but it makes so much sense! Especially all those tiny sponges I see in cheaper watercolor sets sometimes. So that is what they are used for! 😆
Thanks!
Thank so much Patricia!
Thank you for an excellent presentation! I am a retired oldster new to watercolor, and I have a tendency to use too much pigment, resulting in "coloring book" looking pictures. I love the transparency and variations I see in good watercolor pictures, but still am having a hard time creating just that. I now realize I need to spend more time in with light and middle tones using the water more effectively as you demonstrated. This lesson really resonated with me. Thank you again!
One thousand likes for this video!! Thank you! There's no one who doesn't need reminding.😊
Steve, once again.....you are absolutely the best teacher! You have a special gift for explaining things in a way that makes it easy to understand and learn the details from all your videos. Thank you VERY MUCH!
Very thorough, comprehensive and clear instruction on these essential skills.
OMG I LOVE YOUR SHIRT
Loved the music between tips. Made think of Matt Helm movies from the 60s. I saw the repeats. Good to refresh the key aspects every now and again.
Learning water control is so difficult, I have struggled with it for sure. Thank you for breaking the information down and explaining in easy to understand terms! So helpful.
Thank you for reminding us about these. I not consciously been thinking about these as they are automatic of how I’m employing these brush and water management.
Thank you so much! This is the lesson I needed. I have been feeling discouraged and disappointed that I am not seeing improvement in my painting. This inspired me to practice with a new perspective. You are gold! Thank you 🙏
As a total beginner, I was just using a flat wash thing to apply water, and two sizes of rounds. Yesterday I got a flat, oval wash, filbert-y type, and wow, suddenly I could make all sorts of cool strokes and shapes and leave interesting white shapes behind..so much to learn, so many variables..
Thank you so much! I’m trying so hard to figure this out. Years! I give up and drop watercolor just to go back in a few years to try again. I think this video is going to really help me. ❤
Thank you! This is so very helpful as I still struggle with using too much water.
Boy did I ever need that. Thanks so much.
When you teach it makes sense. I like your back to basic videos. Thanks
Car wash sponge!!! You just changed my life!!!
😆 if only it were that easy to change lives. 🤣
@@mindofwatercolor Okay, that's fair. So AFTER Jesus, that car wash sponge idea for not immediately soaking through my rags? THAT'S life-altering!
This is really good, sound advice. So happy to have seen this and half way through I went and set up my watercolour station now with plenty of cloths, paper towels etc. Feeling really empowered with this knowledge.
So simple, so basic, so enLIGHTening. The light bulb really turned on with this video. Thank you so much!
These are vital things to know about watercolor! Something I've noticed while teaching it to others is their frustrations. Now I can see what caused it, or how they could fix it. Fighting the medium and not understanding the importance of WATER is the biggest issue! It sounds so simple, but it's very complex. When I was a beginner, I wish I would have understood this concept much better!
Boy this is a great segment. I don’t use enough water or paint and I hardly ever pick up water. I will have fun with this. Thank you so much!
I really appreciate these basics - not a lot of other instructional videos do this, and I guess they just assume you already know.
Eureka! Love the idea of so many blotting options and water management. Really helpful.
Thanks for the reminder of a concept so basic it’s often overlooked! Genius
I have been doing watercolor for 10 years with no prior art experience at all. I do appreciate seeing everything. This was quite valuable! I always change brushes, but if I manage the water with a quality brush, that solves a LOT of my problems! Thank you!
Although I've been painting for decades, I still found this video informative and inspiring. Thanks Steve.
Great lesson Steve! Thanks!
What sincere encouragement! Tidbits nobody ever really shows or tells so frankly made such a helpful video here. Thanks ever so much. Great one.
I just have to tell you Thank You! This video has actually turned on a light bulb for me! Learning water color online has been fun but I haven't improved as much as I think I should have. This video has really made a difference for me in my creations! I don't want to put the paint brush down now!!! Thanks Steve! I Have always enjoyed your videos.
Thank you Steve, much needed 🙏
Great suggestions Steve! Love it!
Perfect! Thank you so much.
Thank you so much.
You were my first online mentor when I first started 4 years back. For a full one year I just stuck to your videos. I still watch you and keep learning. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much. You were so clear.
Thank you. Very helpful.
I needed this…THANK YOU!!!!!
Thank you!
Thanks so much!!!
Really helpful. Thank you Steve.
Outstanding demo. Thank you
Such a well-presented resource, Steve!
Well hey there! Thanks Denise. I appreciate you stopping by.
Thanks for the great tips!
Great video, thank you!
Thank-You!
great tips! thanks a lot!!!
Thank you so much for this video!
Thank you so very much!
Thank you, great video 🥰
Very thank you 😊
A great back-to-basics reminder for all.
Thanks Mind..
That was a precious one. So basic and yet so important to really get awareness of the media you're working with. WATER-color that's what it's all about. Simple as that but so often disregarded. Thx for that tutorial 👍🙏