I painted a watercolour of my own house a couple of days ago. I used a photo for reference. I didn’t paint in any of the ‘ugly bits,’ like the TV antenna, trailer, off the bins. I added some little splashes of red for poppies, because everyone knows I love them and for a few weeks of the year, they are there!
Thank you Emily. I really don’t see this information, laid out in steps and tips. When I started out WC painting 2 years ago, I searched for beginner tutorials. Using so-so paper, I copied the instructors examples. For a few weeks, I did this. I was not happy! So, I made the bold move to paint a photo of my Grandparent’s fallen in house. I used a basting brush for grass texture and let my imagination take over. Finally, I was satisfied. I found my way through the steps you’ve mentioned. I do tear colors but still can’t bring myself to incorporate the practice of doing a small sketch. I am a photographer, so the camera and editing decisions are familiar to me. My challenge is to recognize how less is more as I’m a detail guy. Thank you for your advice - I’m sure many will benefit and I appreciate it!
Recently, I realized that my iPhone pics have too large a depth of field. I’ll be taking my SLR with me to narrow the depth of field so’s to bring my key subject into sharp focus while blurring either or both the foreground and background. I know that photo editing can help with this but I’m more proficient with the camera than the computer in that regard. Also, taking several photos with different framing and depth-of-field decisions allows for more creative choices later. For beginners like me, … trying to draw the vision of the scene for art work is still challenging, especially when it comes to removing elements that don’t serve a composition. Having success in the end has often been aided by starting with a photograph that has already addressed composition simplification by cropping out non-essential or distracting elements and by using perspective and composition tools to hold attention. A fast zoom lens can be handy, or, at least, a fast fixed lens of your choice (wide 24mm, “normal”35mm or 50mm, (tele-photo) 80mm-90mm). A zoom covering wide to tele is just super versatile if you understand perspective changes at different focal lengths. Zooms aren’t as sharp as primes but I find that this can actually help me to not obsess on the really find details, …exceptions being macro photography to use for reference for botanical art or some bird-animal art work, where the idea is to make a photo-like pieces of artwork. 😊 Sorry for the long post.
Thanks!!! I've noticed those choices on my phone when viewing a photo... I haven't painted in 2 years... I'm looking forward to start again... A California Gramma ❤
Thanks for the information. I downloaded your Watercolor jump start. I started watercoloring 5 years ago, but got away from it about 2 years ago. I got back into it recently to watercolor a Christmas card. Your tutorial has really helped me get back into watercoloring. THANKS!
I so wish had a Time Machine & could learn at a younger age & body that cooperated how to use these color apps! Even the one on my smart phone just can’t do it unless real person sat next to me as really helps final painting. Plain practice on techniques & thumbnails do help. Ty.
Thanks for posting this. I have started doing some painting on my own, and I’m just enjoying trying things out, exploring, and seeing what I can do. I also highly recommend your courses. Lots of helpful explanations, demonstrations, and tutorials.
Hullo Emily, I found this video so well done and I am hopeful it will generate more interest in your watercolor Mastery classes! I love seeing quality videos here on TH-cam, yet seeing content like this is truly encouraging too! Knowing that a beginner can start here and expand their focus over on a Patreon feed is nice too.
I so wish had a Time Machine & could learn at a younger age & body that cooperated how to use these color apps! Even the one on my smart phone just can’t do it unless real person sat next to me as really helps final painting. Plain practice on techniques & thumbnails do help. Ty.
Thank you Emily ! One other tip may be to turn your photo to black and white. It helps to see values and shadows .....
Yep! Great tip!
I painted a watercolour of my own house a couple of days ago. I used a photo for reference. I didn’t paint in any of the ‘ugly bits,’ like the TV antenna, trailer, off the bins. I added some little splashes of red for poppies, because everyone knows I love them and for a few weeks of the year, they are there!
I studied with Emily for a full year and made so much progress! I highly recommend her tutorials.
That’s so wonderful to hear! I’m so glad you enjoyed the tutorials!
Thank you!!
You're welcome!
Thank you Emily. I really don’t see this information, laid out in steps and tips. When I started out WC painting 2 years ago, I searched for beginner tutorials. Using so-so paper, I copied the instructors examples. For a few weeks, I did this. I was not happy! So, I made the bold move to paint a photo of my Grandparent’s fallen in house. I used a basting brush for grass texture and let my imagination take over. Finally, I was satisfied. I found my way through the steps you’ve mentioned. I do tear colors but still can’t bring myself to incorporate the practice of doing a small sketch. I am a photographer, so the camera and editing decisions are familiar to me. My challenge is to recognize how less is more as I’m a detail guy.
Thank you for your advice - I’m sure many will benefit and I appreciate it!
It sounds like you’ve found your own way to learn which is wonderful!
Always so supportive and focused on problem resolution. Good teaching skills.
Recently, I realized that my iPhone pics have too large a depth of field. I’ll be taking my SLR with me to narrow the depth of field so’s to bring my key subject into sharp focus while blurring either or both the foreground and background. I know that photo editing can help with this but I’m more proficient with the camera than the computer in that regard. Also, taking several photos with different framing and depth-of-field decisions allows for more creative choices later. For beginners like me, … trying to draw the vision of the scene for art work is still challenging, especially when it comes to removing elements that don’t serve a composition. Having success in the end has often been aided by starting with a photograph that has already addressed composition simplification by cropping out non-essential or distracting elements and by using perspective and composition tools to hold attention. A fast zoom lens can be handy, or, at least, a fast fixed lens of your choice (wide 24mm, “normal”35mm or 50mm, (tele-photo) 80mm-90mm). A zoom covering wide to tele is just super versatile if you understand perspective changes at different focal lengths. Zooms aren’t as sharp as primes but I find that this can actually help me to not obsess on the really find details, …exceptions being macro photography to use for reference for botanical art or some bird-animal art work, where the idea is to make a photo-like pieces of artwork. 😊
Sorry for the long post.
Thank you, Emily! 🌹
Thanks!!! I've noticed those choices on my phone when viewing a photo... I haven't painted in 2 years... I'm looking forward to start again... A California Gramma ❤
You got this, California Gramma!
Thanks for the information. I downloaded your Watercolor jump start. I started watercoloring 5 years ago, but got away from it about 2 years ago. I got back into it recently to watercolor a Christmas card. Your tutorial has really helped me get back into watercoloring. THANKS!
Awesome, I'm so happy to hear it's helping you with your watercoloring!
I've taken 2 years off also. I only painted 2 years, so it will probably be like starting over 😅!!! Thank you for sharing! A California Gramma ❤
Awesome breakdown. These steps feel do-able. Thanks!
Great to hear!
Great advice- thanks, Emily!
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Great plan Emily. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Your videos are very inspirational.
You are so welcome!
I so wish had a Time Machine & could learn at a younger age & body that cooperated how to use these color apps! Even the one on my smart phone just can’t do it unless real person sat next to me as really helps final painting.
Plain practice on techniques & thumbnails do help. Ty.
I understand! It's always a learning process.
I love watercolor mastery! It really has transformed my painting, thank you Emily for this video and all the work that goes into your program.
I'm so glad to hear it's helped you! Thanks for sharing that!
Thanks for posting this. I have started doing some painting on my own, and I’m just enjoying trying things out, exploring, and seeing what I can do. I also highly recommend your courses. Lots of helpful explanations, demonstrations, and tutorials.
That’s wonderful to hear! I’m so glad you’re having fun exploring and trying things out.
Hullo Emily, I found this video so well done and I am hopeful it will generate more interest in your watercolor Mastery classes! I love seeing quality videos here on TH-cam, yet seeing content like this is truly encouraging too! Knowing that a beginner can start here and expand their focus over on a Patreon feed is nice too.
Thanks for watching! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video.
Great video, thank you
You're very welcome!
How to take care of your brushes and using the plastic toobs to protect your brushes do you actually need them😊
For ppl who can’t draw due to neck & back disability that affects my hand are any prints can trace then make my own? Tyvm.
I can't find a link to your merch store. All I can find is your Amazon store that has art supplies...
It’s a tab on my channel-you’ll see “Home”, “Videos”, “Shorts” etc and Store on the right.
This is not a tutorial.
I so wish had a Time Machine & could learn at a younger age & body that cooperated how to use these color apps! Even the one on my smart phone just can’t do it unless real person sat next to me as really helps final painting.
Plain practice on techniques & thumbnails do help. Ty.