Biggest mistake I see beginner watercolor artists make, and how to fix it
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- Опубликовано: 12 авг 2024
- In this video I talk about the biggest mistake I see beginner watercolor artists make and I show the steps to take to fix it.
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My first book, Modern Watercolor
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My second book, Your Year in Art: Watercolor
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Flower color guide
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Flower color theory
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Supplies list and links:
Paint
Lately I've been using handmade paint by letter sparrow and I'm loving it!
www.lettersparrow.com
winsor and newton tube paints
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(can select paint color and tube size)
Ceramic palette amzn.to/3jV41Gb
Paint colors in my Winsor and Newton palette
Hookers green light
emerald
viridian
cad yellow hue
lemon yellow hue
cad red deep
turquoise
Opera rose
winsor and newton cotman travel pans (student grade)
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Daler Rowny 48 watercolor pan set
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Paper
arches cold press watercolor paper
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Baohong watercolor paper
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Student grade paper
canson cold press amzn.to/3z6L9bP
“Just Journal It” watercolor notebook
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/JUSTJOURNAL...
Instagram: just_journa...
Brushes
princeton round 2
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Princeton round size 8
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Princeton flat brush
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Princeton angular
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Polina Bright Brushes
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code: Hellolovelypeople
for 10% off on her site
(My favorite is the round brush size 0)
Masking fluid w/ brush
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Masking fluid - fine detail
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Masking tape
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Travel watercolor kit
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Хобби
LOL..I'm still at the point that I would be happy if I could paint the pot on the left!!!!
I was thinking exactly the same thing!
Yep same 😂
Same, but I like having something to reach for in the moments when it feels doable!
@@user__214 I agree. I tried it and it actually worked. I was pleased!
@@sunnyscott4876 That's awesome
I love the side by side comparison painting. Do more of these😊
My paintings continue to look like the one on the left... I just don't "see" the light and shadows while painting, nor can I envision them. As I watch and learn, I am at least getting more than one value, usually two (and sometimes three) values while painting . Your video was very helpful and I will continue trying the technique. Thank you! Your instructional videos always teach me a little something when I watch them!
Hi,I think you should prep your painting, there are many artists that have use of grey scale picture or do a value study with pencil or shades of neutral tint , premixing colours is also helpful to speed up process and ease focus , if you paint a picture or screenshot use your phone to apply a filter grey scale and adjust contrast and luminosity to identify these values
Great!
So a couple of exercises that you can do to learn to see your values better are:
1) squinting your eyes, and
2) doing a contour drawing, and,
3) spend all of your free time just looking at everything around you as it is.
1) is pretty self explanatory.
2) a contour drawings is a line usually, but not always done in one continuous line, and sometimes without even looking at your paper. By following the contours of the lights and darks in VERY subtle changes, you learn to see everything in a new way from shadows to color variations. The more you practice doing this, the better you get at it.
3) also a bit self explanatory, but it also helps when you really stop to look at the world around you. When you slow down, you realize that a tree isn’t just a trunk with leaves on it, but a made up of thousands of different various shapes, colors and shades. The same goes for your coffee cup in the morning. Many times when we’re too busy, we don’t stop to see these things and our brain fills in the rest and we think we make a tree that looks like a tree instead of making what we actually see!
With practice of all of these things, it does get much easier, but the best part is, that once you have a trained eye like this, you won’t ever be able to see the world the same again! To add to that, if done the same way with colors and really stop to SEE the colors that can make up the colors we need or see, the easier that it will also be to mix your colors in your palette as well!
These are exercises I learned in college as a studio art major. The very last one for mixing colors was my favorite! Even if I didn’t really understand color theory at the time which was just something my brain never really processed until years later and ironically only clicked while watching the 30th YT on it 😖, one lesson taught DID help me to learn to paint any color that I needed from the colors I had. The assignment was to go to the paint isle in the store and find 10 random color swatches. Then we were to cut them out into 1” squares and then use the colors we had on our palettes to make that color. We weren’t allowed to cheat or use ‘convenience colors’ to mix what we needed to match our swatches. This was a bit easier since we used acrylic or oil paints that were more opaque, but the same can be done in watercolor as well. Without having any sort of background in color theory, this can still be done with a trained eye be you can still see if a color needs more blue or a tinge more red for example. I can now match any colors I need or see with 99% accuracy with only the colors o have on a basic palette! The last 1% left, being for colors like fluorescents and neons for obvious reasons. I got so good at it, I used to do these exercises just for fun!
I highly recommend these exercises as they help TREMENDOUSLY in your art and are of the most useful things I ever got out of my whole entire studio art major education, which is kinda of sad to say, because it was a very expensive lesson especially since I already knew so much about art going into college, but it definitely helped to actually learn to really see the world we live in!
I know that was long, but I hope that helps! It definitely helped me along with a boat load of practicing which comes with the territory!!
@@Lacroix999 thank you ❤️ Yes, the whole color wheel thing is still hard to wrap my head around too! Mixing colors is still hard, but I find myself doing more as I paint more and learn my basic colors. Observation is key... I agree. I think my logical brain has a hard time being creative and artistic... but watercolor painting is sure helping!
@@oussamabenmebarek4804 thank you ❤️ I have actually watched a RUclips artist demonstrate grey scale and found it interesting. Guess I need to give it a try! My logical brain needs to see the actual shades instead of trying to create shadows.
This was really helpful - the side by side comparison really highlighted the differences. Thank you.
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You explained the beauty of watercolors so clearly--light source, layering, patience!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it!
I think if one is aiming for more realistic painting then yes, shadows,depth and form are important. I was taught still-life painting in school and I loved and excelled at the technique and I would absolutely paint my pot like the second one. However art is freedom. The first pot is beautiful in its simplicity. You paint your pot however you want to. There is not wrong or right way in art. As Bob Ross said ‘There are only happy mistakes.’.
THE best watercolor tutorial! Why have I never seen this explained clearly like this?
Please do more of the same with different subjects. Thank you.😀
Wow! This has finally made sense to me! I thought I was doing this, but now I see that I was making mine with not enough contrasts.
Thank you, Kristin! Incredible tutorial. Interesting how you don’t see the bad one as “bad” until the good one is painted right next to it!!! Love your channel so much😍😍😍
Please people do not buy anything from Domestika they are committing fraudulent charges for their annual subscription that people do not sign up for!
They also save your method of payment information without your knowledge/consent and it is impossible to remove it.
Hello. I'm the pot on the left. It's taken me 13 days to muster up enough self esteem to say something. I though we were friends. Damn.
This gotta be the betrayal of the year, damn
This was SOOO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL in more ways than I can describe!!
Adding yellow to the paints to make that area warmer and blue to make it cooler will be a game changer for me! Also, when you mentioned the word ‘golden’, it all of a sudden clicked with how light coming through the trees _glow_ in watercolour paintings!
Thank you sooo much!!
Great tutorial! I totally get what you are saying, but have to admit that I still think both the pots are beautiful and usable in different types of art. I loved watching you paint the leaves and am going to try to not be so intentional in painting each individual leaf as a leaf shape. Yours look so much better. Thank you so much! ❤
I just learned more in this vid than in a week of following beginner tutorials. Thanks!
That was an excellent short explanation and example. Too often, channels make these things are too long and wordy. Thanks!
This video arrived right when I needed it. Over the last month I've been struggling to understand why my paintings were looking so flat, and getting frustrated. Now here you are giving me the answer I needed. Thank you! ✨🖌️🖼️
That makes sense about the light coming in on the right and paint lighter colours to emphasise this on the pot and leaves. Definitely looks more natural and balanced too. Thank you Kristin for your time sharing 🌹
This makes me want to break out my watercolors right now and try it. Thanks for the great video and explanation
Go for it! 💕💕💕
I am an experienced water colourist. Your give very good instruction.
I think there are many beginners who still make this mistake. They don’t know where to learn this knowledge. Your channel should be seen by more people.
Please people do not buy anything from Domestika they are committing fraudulent charges for their annual subscription that people do not sign up for!
They also save your method of payment information without your knowledge/consent and it is impossible to remove it.
This has been the most helpful video I've come across describing and showing how to achieve good contrast and light/dark balance! Thank you so much.
I haven't done watercolor in decades and this was a very helpful reminder. I usually work in acrylic, but also oil, and watercolor pencils, but brushing with pan or tube color, it's been a long time and it doesn't work like any other medium.
Just found you and have subscribed. You have taught me a lot in just one, short video. You explain everything so well and in such a way that I will remember it which is quite an achievement as I have ME with “ brain fog”. I love watercolour but I never seem to get it right - it really looks like the first pot! I shall try this out and look forward to your next video. Thank you😊🎉
Thanks that really helps. I like to do architectural urban sketches and my trees always look awful. So yellow green at light source blending to blue green in shadow.
Thank you for explaining this so clearly! You have a rare talent for both painting AND explaining the steps.
Thanks for the tips. I somehow like both paintings equally. The right is more realistic and beautiful. But I actually like to look at the left more because it makes me feel happy inside. I don't know why..there's just something about it. (maybe because it's more childlike...?)
Great explanation of basics to practice. Learning to paint is just that…learning! None of us are born knowing how to do this. If you consider yourself a newcomer…be patient and practice always!
what i have learned in the difference between acrylic and watercolor is, the application of it is in reverse. I am having a problem with watercolor because i cant get where the light parts go before the dark. This is what one of my problems.
Maybe you could paint all the leaves (entirely) in the lightest tone (so you know where they are) then paint medium and darker tones on top. The medium and dark tones will be on the opposite side of the light source (here, they're on the left side). So the leaves go 'light, medium, dark' from right to left.
@@JelilaJelila-ov2jy That's essentially what she does in the video, right? And she does it mostly while it's still wet so that she can just "tap" in the mid and dark tones and let the paint work its magic on its own. Can't wait to try this out tomorrow.
This is one of the most helpful videos I’ve seen! Love the side by side comparison! It makes a huge difference to see it this way. ❤ PS- congrats on over 100k views!!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insight, and techniques. i just painted a house and fence with a tree and i realized it wasn’t quite right and now i know why. Thank you!!
thank you for sharing! i love watercolor but i still tend to be a bit heavy handed. this was very helpful.
Great explanation. I love the visual of what we as beginners do compare to the more advanced artist does. Extremely useful. Thank you.
Love your style! You are an excellent teacher - very clear explanations for someone like me, a beginner with a bit of painting exp. wanting to go to next level. Can’t wait to practice creating more effective highlights & shadows. I will definitely be checking out the rest of your channel/resources. Thank you!
It is true, I approach it like crayons and then try to lighten it up. Starting with it lighter is amazing! Thank you!!
You are so welcome! I see the desire to paint it like crayons all the time, so you’re among friends haha
So very well explained ! Excellent tutorial ,clear and precise. Thank you soo much! You have a gift teaching and painting combined. ❤
Thanx for very useful application tips, most of us know the contest provides the best definition of any subject in a graphic manner. The key as you explained is in how wet or dry the surface verses how wet or dry the brush. Thanks once again.
This made a lot of sense... although I used to use gouache so I could cheat and get away with whiting out areas that I wanted to emphasize... watercolor definitely has a different vibe where you need to think it out before you go straight in. I like tge look, but I find it difficult to work with tbh 😢
Such a fantastic demo Kristin!🌟 love the side by side comparison, so helpful !thank you so much😀✨
Beautiful, love watching you using your gift xx I can’t draw or paint to save my life!😂.🙏
New to your channel! Love love love love love! Ty!! ❤ I am making paper and playing with all of this. The paper has a great texture but acts a but different. Anyway, I have added marigold seeds to the paper and has the words, "plant love". I then watercolor a marigold ...this helps SO much!
Well I'm biting the bullet and bought my first watercolor beginning set!! Thank you for the lessons in this cute but amazing rendering of the two drawings.
Vielen Dank für das sehr ausführliche Video mit der Schritt-für-Schritt-Anleitung. Es ist mir eine sehr große Hilfe. Ich male noch nicht so lange mit Aquarellfarben. Es macht auch Spaß Dir beim malen zuzuschauen. Bei Dir sieht alles so leicht aus. Viele Grüße aus München in Deutschland, Angela
So glad I found you tonight...just what I needed to see, to learn. Thank you.
A minute and 33 seconds in and you’re already calling me out!😭😂 instant like!!
Haha sorry! Hope it helps 💕
Thank you so much for these instructions. I now understand the light and darkness how to put them in. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Such a wonderful teacher, thank you!
This is exactly what I needed to see, painted a blue bird card today for a friend and I can see it looks too “flat” now. Thanks for the great tips!
This was just outstanding! You were very clear with this and although I have done WC a bit, never has the issue of light source and contrast and how to leave white areas explained so very well. And yur color mixing! Just oustanding and thank you! Agree with another's comment - do more like this please!
Excellent explanation. Thank you so much. I have been painting for quite a while, but I always enjoy hearing and seeing such a clear demonstration. Well done!
I took my first collegiate art class after I retired from the military. It was an introduction to watercolor at midwestern state university in Wichita Falls Texas and Liz Ash was not only a jewel at watercolor but printing and composition as well. Being retired military I never finished the degree but what I gained from the time is immeasurable
I'm great with oils and acrylic but terrible with watercolour! Now I know why!
Incredibly helpful video. Very clear tutorial full of important tips and guidelines. I can't wait to practice!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked it
This was very helpful! Thank you. This is what I need to work on is shading and layering.
What a fabulous tutorial! Thank you for packing so much in to every minute. Excellent teaching style, easy to understand and follow.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the feedback
Thank you, great tutorial lesson today!
I love this teaching on contrast and shadow. I use a different medium and it absolutely applies. Thank you!!!
The best tutorial I’ve seen in awhile. I’ve now subscribed and look forward to learning more and taking my work up a notch!
Enjoyed your pots. Mine would look like on the left but I'm keeping your example cause it applies to many things with light and dark. Thank you,,from a semi beginner.
Ahhh, just the instruction and explanation that I was needing, thank you so much 🎉❤
Thank you Kristin! Very instructive!
So glad I found you! You explained in a way that I understood! Thank you!
Man this was so beautiful!! Thank you for the help and guidance.
Such a great video! Thank you.❤
This is great. I haven’t been doing watercolor for long but I’ve always thought that mine looked “paint by numbers” esque. This is very helpful, thanks!
Thank you for such great tips! I've been trying to figure out how to paint like the flower pot on the right side with the sun highlights. I appreciate your help in taking time to share this with us. Very much appreciated. I'm looking forward to more helpful tips on watercoloring painting.
Excellent tutorial Step by Step visuals. You explain tips verbally and visually so all is easy to comprehend!
Such a nice reminder! Thanks!
Thank you so much for these helpful tips! I’ve only just begun to learn watercolor now that my sons are older and need me less. My youngest son is turning four and absolutely adores all sorts of color playing. At least some of my interest is to stay ahead of him in art and figure out how to teach these things to him later.
Thank you! ❤ This is so helpful. Your explanations and examples are easy to understand.
Very helpful explanation!!
Great demonstration, thank you.
This was super helpful and easy to understand. Thanks a lot! ❤
I like to use a tissue for dabbing color, and papertowel for dabbing excess water on my brush
Fantastic, good explanations, beautifully painted!
What a great tutorial!! Thanks so much for sharing your talent!
Excellent video! Thank you!
A very smart and informative demonstration.
Thank you.
Wonderful and very informative tutorial.
Thank you for this video! You are a great teacher…your explanations as you paint are amazing ✌🏼👌🏼
Excellent lesson thank you
Thank, very useful for mě.🍀❤️🍀
AWESOME lesson! Thank you!🎉
Lovely & such a good lesson! ❤
So nicely explained ! Thank you ! 👩🎨
Thank you for this illustration
Brilliant! So helpful--thank you!
Great video, great explanation! Thank you!
Great tutorial!
Thank you sooo much for your guidance!!!!
Hello Kristin, Thank you for this very helpful explanation :) Much appreciated!
This was very helpful to me, a beginner! Thank you.
One of the BEST watercolor tutorials I’ve EVER watched! So glad I found you!
I wish I had seen a tutorial like this 3 years ago 😂 Thanks!
This was VERY valuable for a beginner watercolour artist. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Amazing tutorial! Can you list good colors to use for greens for Windsor newton. I am struggling with this. If I used sap green for light value and added the indigo would that give a good darker value and be realistic
This is so helpful! Thank you
Really well explained and demonstrated
This is so helpful. Thank you!
The most helpful tutorial ive watched. Thank you
I love to hear that! Thank you 💕
Very thoughtful video. I learned a lot.
Brilliant! Great explanation and technique 🖌️ 💦