How to Paint Wet into Wet
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Most of the modern masters so admired today, Sargent, Sorolla, Zorn, for example, all paint wet into wet. Loose brushwork pushing paint into paint. This week I'll show you how I do that using one of the photos from last week.
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Have you tried to paint wet into wet before?
Yes somewhat. Your demonstration very helpful
Not like this ! I’m a relatively new painter and I’m looking forward to trying this!
I've tried some times, but I get to fixated still on the edges and have to learn to 'let the brush' talk in a more free way without 'controlling' it too much. I hope that negative tendency of mine will fade the more confidence I get in 'sketching' the painting instead of copying the reality. Not easy to let go of that nasty habit.
Yes, all the time….very impatient! But thanks to you my paintings are fresher and less muddy.
Yes, but it made mud. Your tip in the beginning of the video regarding edges was a lightbulb moment for me. I will definitely try this, paintbrush going in opposite directions to define the edge.
Ian,
I'm learning every video I watch, but, I will leave out the telephone poles and any sign of civilization. Can't help it. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in a way we understand it. You are a great teacher.
It’s also good to know that old master paintings used a lot of lead in their white, which helped paint dry extremely quick, so they could paint in glazes quickly.
I'm late to painting and want to improve my work. I like your approach!
I never get tired of replaying some of these what I call Classic Ian videos. Thank you so much for being an inspiration.
I just now watched a much earlier video "En Plein Air" from 2008. Your style & approach (as well has the advice) hasn't really changed. On this painting I like how much lighter the mountains in the background are painted compared to the photo reference. To me that just serves to sharpen the shapes of the trees; the mix of color for those background mountains is very pleasing. Thanks again; never watch a video where I don't learn something.
Always a pleasure to watch a craftsman doing something that he obviously loves. The passion is clearly evident
You are right about that. Thanks so much Noel
this painting and photo evokes so much emotion! it looks like my old home in Lompoc California
Oops sorry accidentally pressed the dislike button, I love these Tuesday morning sessions. You are very good at explaining. Some people are so long winded that it is painful to have to endure their lessons. But yours are a pleasure, short n sweet. You stress the most important point(s) and move on. Thank you for posting and sharing your hard earned knowledge with total strangers! I love watching . These segments are MY elixir! ☺
Delighted you found it helpful Quin. Thanks so much for your comment. All the best
Yes, I have tried painting wet into wet. It is not as easy as you make it look. Perhaps a tip would be to say how you have to use a light touch and clean off your brush after every stroke? Something I heard another artist say that stuck with me personally.
I appreciate your short videos as some days I get too antsy to watch longer than that. You manage to get a lot of great advice in such a short time! And, you graciously share them for free every Tuesday. Thank you, thank you!
You are most welcome Margo. That is a very good point about cleaning the brush. Sometimes one mark and you have to load the brush again. I'll have to mention that.
Mr. Roberts you are so helpful, my paintings have grown leaps and bounds by watching your videos.
Can you use wet-into-wet with Acrylics also?
I always hit your "like" button at the beginning of your presentation. That's how confident I am that your content and presentation will be of value. You never fail to give valuable info. You are an excellent teacher and artist. Thank you.
Ian, I want to thank you so much! You are truly my virtual painting teacher, I am learning lots with your videos!
Thanks again, a lot!
You are so welcome. Delighted that you found it helpful.
You are the best teacher I know . I wish you the best.
Delighted that you enjoyed the video
Loved this! Thank you for your generous gift to us, Ian!
You are very welcome Houston
Your channel has 55 videos and i am making my way through all content. Until now, my work has not been representational buy design and composition are universal. I enjoy your content and am taking more cafe with photos for paintings. Hopefully acrylics can be used similarily…
Lovely demonstration not just the edges become soft but the brushstrokes can be felt like subtle movements - such a fine feeling of everything becoming alive
Thanks so much Lis. I appreciate your telling me what you enjoyed.
Always a pleasure to watch you “pushing paint around.” Thanks for explaining the changes/finishes you made. It’s very helpful to understand why you made them and study those areas specifically.
Delighted you enjoyed it Linda. Thank you
Thanks for so much good advice.
You are so welcome Monica
I am often impressed on how you take a photo that I think is “so-so” and paint from it. Then I like the painting and find it interesting. Sounds like others are having the same reaction. I was struck by a comment in one of your videos along the lines that it’s not about the subject but the design. Such an important concept!
Hi Deborah, the design of the photo is the jumping off point for the painting. I can see what it can, or might, become.
When you are learning painting (like me) there's so much to remember and when you're fighting to paint alla prima it's like a performance. It's immediate and you have to keep moving fwd and you forget everything you're meant to be thinking of as you go! Great to have this vid as a reminder of why you fight that wet on wet battle.
Wonderful lessons! Soothing to watch and listen to, also:)
Great demo, thank you.
You are so welcome Joyce
So clear and so simple....thankyou Ian, I ll try and see how can I get to this master technique, with love from Chile
Yes, really fresh looking. Enjoyed watching you working.
Delighted you enjoyed it Jane
Brilliant video, thanks! I've learned a huge amount about painting and improved massively from watching your videos.
So glad to help Jon. All the best
What a beautiful painting! Matched only by your clear and comprehensive discussion. Thank you!
Glad to hear it. Thanks so much Leslie
Awesome! I am always so impressed at how your contrast is so exaggerated when you paint, but it all looks so good in the final painting. In this one, the sky is not the lightest value. And, the mustard grass really pops because it is warm, not cool. I also love the way you make up details in the trees and bushes, because those details need to be there, even if you can't see them!
Delighted you enjoyed it Sarah. Thanks for watching!
I do not paint with oil, but find your videos very helpful. I chuckled to myself on this lesson because as a watercolor painter pushing wet paint into wet paint comes second nature to me. You did help me focus more on my composition and attention to edges. Thank you for the lesson and sharing your experience with me. Looking forward to future lessons.
Now I understand what you mean by "edges," will have to watch those "edge" videos from last year! Thanks Ian, 'hedges with edges' composition Master. Great teaching greatly appreciated👍👍
You are so welcome Daniel. Funny "hedges with edges"
I like the correction to the pathway. I know it is not as easy as it seems. It is a delight watching you paint so seamlessly. Thank you again for doing it.
You are most welcome Colette. Delighted you enjoyed the video.
Your video makes me encouraged and happy :) Thanks for great video and art works !!
Brilliant as always.❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks so much Cathy
I really loved that video Ian. Thank you.
You are so welcome Jill
I haven’t tried to paint wet into wet before but, I will give it a shot. Thank you for all of your classes and genuine valuable recommendations! You are an excellent artist and good human being.
Marko
Delighted you are enjoying the videos Marko. Thanks for the kind words. Best wishes
Watching you paint this, Ian, makes me REALLY miss your spectacular painting class!! This is one just makes my heart sing!
I love the subject of wet in wet and the and the nuances of edges - 😊💗
Glad you liked it Lis
Wet into wet paint has a soft look of depth to it, will be trying this technique soon.
Good luck Jan. And all the best.
Thank you
You're very welcome
thank you ian i learn so much from you so kind
This is very helpful. Thank you Ian for your kind generosity, it is very much appreciated.
Yes, I tried it before but because I didn't know how to use this technique properly all my colours got a bit soupy and therefore I abandoned this way of painting.
It's a relief to see and learn the correct way, thank you.
You are right, if you aren't careful wet into wet can get pretty soupy. Glad you found it helpful.
Lovely painting
Merci Monsieur Roberts.
so beautiful and fascinating seeing you as a magician making it so seemly easy pop out. iKNew wet on wet with watercolor anyway haven(t practice oil yet. Thanks so much/ Axelle Truong.
All of your videos are extremely helpful
Loved the painting and interpretation of the photo thank you
Thanks so much Will!
I learn so much from your instruction
Thanks so much Abbey.
Another great video Ian. I had stopped painting back in 2004 but thanks to you I started painting again this year. Your lessons and demonstration videos helped me gain my confidence back and I am really noticing a lot of improvement. I haven't started with oils yet but I hope one day soon!!! Keep posting!!!
Delighted you found it helpful Paresh. All the best, Ian
I like the softer edges you get with your brush technique even though the shapes are still clearly defined.
Thank you Summer!
I love the way you create interest with paint on canevas from a photograph where i see not much interest. It will force me to cast a different look at things. You're a great teacher and painter. Thanks.
Thanks so much Pierre
Thanks Ian for this demonstration.
Glad you liked it Kamlesh
Great sense of depth ..wet/n wet technique!
Glad you liked it!
This wet on wet is wonderful, so fresh and inviting, you are a real master. Thanks for introducing me to the other two painters and leading to the 10 American Painters.
You're welcome Albertina
10 American Painters. Do you have that list?
@@dpatgmail You can find them at www.wikiart.org/en/artists-by-painting-school/ten-ten-american-painters#!#resultType:masonry
Thanks so much for sharing! I love your videos and your work. It's inspiring!! : )))
Again this was really helpful. All too often my edges were too flat or were crisp but unnaturally straight. This helps a lot! Thank you.
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge again this week, Ian. I think "tension" and "contrast" are the keys absolutely to creating great paintings that people want to linger in. And your explanation of your process is quite fantastic. I recommend you to everyone who will listen. Looking forward to edges. Have a great week.
Delighted you are enjoying the videos Emma. Thanks for the kind words. Best wishes
This was soooo good! I’ve wanted to use the wet into wet but now I see how planning the painting is so important or you can get quite lost. Can’t wait to do a drawing of a photo to get started. Thank you Ian!
Delighted you enjoyed it Meredith!
Excellent!!! What a lot of help this gives me. This can stand alone, but because it also is backed up by your many other videos, it broadens my understanding. Thank you so very much for your time doing these for us.
You are so welcome. Glad I could help
Great demo, Ian. Your brushwork is amazing.
This is fantastic! I loved the pace of this video and all those greens!
Glad you liked it Leslie. All the best.
Hi Ian, I’m new to your channel and usually paint in watercolour. I have really enjoyed your teaching and style of painting. I intend to hunt out my oil paints and have a go at a painting incorporating your suggestions and tips. Thanks
Thank you Sir for this tip....stay blessed
Beautiful ! ! I can almost feel the air, the grass, the dirt road. Love every part of the scene. Thank you for explaining the concept of edges so clearly. It helps a lot. Your videos are real gems with so much intelligence and sensibility and a chance for all of us to improve.
You are so welcome Joanne
lov watching your brushwork
Thanks Greg.
I REALLY enjoyed Wet into Wet - thank you from Truth or Consequences, NM
Glad you liked it Susan. Thanks so much
Excellent demonstration today. Having discovered your channel during the last month, I have been viewing each of the previous months as a daily unit of viewing and learning. I am enjoying the implementation of these principles in my art. Thanks for your generous sharing.
You are most welcome David. Glad you are finding them helpful.
Always helpful videos Ian well done
Thanks so much John
Great thoughts on edges. Only surprise in your painting was that I thought the highlights in the road would be a lighter value. I always feel like sunny scenes want a lot of contrast. That's the photographer in me wanting the black blacks to the white whites and all in between.
This was really good. More inspiration for my wet into wet odyssey. It seems the only way I really like to paint. Sargent and Sorolla are a far off dream to me. I just admire their amazing talent. I think I probably admire it more because I try to paint wet into wet and know how amazing it is to achieve what they did.Thanks for this video, I always want to run and paint after watching you.......and it turned into a really nice painting! love that road!
Makes me really happy to hear it. I hope you enjoy painting after my videos. Thank you
Great video Ian!!! I always learn a lot & am very inspired by them!!! Thanks so much!!
My pleasure Margaret!
Fantastic explanation and lovely painting. I paint a lot of wet on wet and have had issues especially when light and dark intersect. Like a blue sky behind a rooftop. I hope to practise this aspect more while outdoors. Thanks for the video
Glad I could help Sriram
Ian, I do watch all your videos now and try to use them for my acrylic painting - as for now ;-). Your teaching gives me a whole new perspective on how to create a painting. Until today I have painted more spontaneously, without thinking too much about planning and structuring, that is, I just left that to my 'feeling'. And plain acrylics are not for wet in wet, they dry to quickly. But there are certain possibilities, with retarders, etc.
By the way: your two books have now arrived at my place, in Switzerland, and I'm getting down to work.
Rudolf, at least with acrylic they do dry so you can rethink and repaint. But still to my mind a structure first sure helps in the long run. Delighted you got both the books. Thank you. Best wishes.
Beautiful work 🎨
Thanks so much Angshuman
Thank you Ian for this lesson. Wet into wet has always delivered the results I prefer and your demonstration helps tremendously. Thank you for producing this series. I learn something every week.
Delighted you are enjoying the videos John. Best wishes
I love this painting! The effects you've got are really inspiring. It is not easy for me to loosen up my paintings, but the more I watch your videos, the more I learn. Thank you for this demo! Awesome.
Delighted you found it helpful Selma. All the best
I am learning. A lot! Thank you!
Thank you for this demonstration of wet into wet - so generous with your teaching - I found it so helpful and can't wait to have a go!
Glad to hear it. Thanks Nicky
After your lesson of last week, I chose one of the photos that you presented in the video and painted from it a watercolor painting. And it is interesting that this week you chose this same photo that I chose to illustrate painting wet into wet. I learned a lot from your demo and I intend to make another watercolor painting from the same photo and applying what you said today !
So delighted you are finding the videos helpful Hannah.
Hi! I paint in watercolor and find your lessons in composition, etc. very applicable! I love your breakdowns of all the bits and pieces of making a good painting. Thank you 😊
Delighted you are enjoying the videos Maureen. Best wishes
Loved this video. What a wonderful rich composition and your greens are luscious.
Delighted you enjoyed it Kathy. Thank you
Another great lesson...and what about the hair? Many men wish they had any hair at all. Your tips on wet into wet were superb.
Delighted you enjoyed it Cyndy. Best wishes
Thanks so much this was very helpful. I actually tried painting this same photo last week and struggled with the composition because the center of interest was in the center of the painting. Your simple solution to extend it worked so much better. I really like seeing the photos trying to paint from them on my own and then seeing how you tackled it afterwards. That works well. Thanks again. Love your channel.
Makes me really happy to hear it Mary. Thank you so much
Thank you. That was really enjoyable.
You are so welcome Deborah
Can’t believe I’ve been painting so long and didn’t get this before now. It’s makes sense. I was letting layers dry and struggled with my edges. Thank you!
Very helpful 👍
Time is the most important factor in wet painting in my opinion. An there is also a big deal of form a colour sketching which altogether make is really fun and challenging
You are right Yora about time. You can't start and come back the next day. Sort of an all or nothing approach. And it is fun when it's going well.
Nice. Simple and well done. Green is your colour, huh? Even the paintings in your book tend to green.
Thanks. I had a color teacher in college who said my colors are green and gold. I guess ochre. So you are probably right.
I’ve subscribed recently and love your videos. Somehow they speak to me and help me overcome my limitations. Thank you!! Is it fair to say this is done without any paint medium? I’ve tried this with liquin added to speed up drying however it is easy for me to make the paint dirty rather than creating these nice layers.
Ian, I love the painting : your videos are really helfull for me . Your brush becomes a storyteller ! Thank you again
I love that Christine - the brush a storyteller.
Thank you! Like
You are so welcome
Great... I enjoyed that very much...
Wonderful. Glad I could help Ana
Interesante explicación de los bocetos
Another brilliant lesson thank you again Ian. I'm very good at painting mud so it's lucky I live in England.Cheers Paul.
Delighted you enjoyed it Paul
As always, this was really helpful. Thanks so much!
Great to hear from you Nancy. All the best.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Thank you for your generous sharing of your skills and insights into painting. It has helped me a great deal. I so appreciate it.
thankyou for your reply margaret
You are welcome Margaret!
Great insights and take-aways as always:
1. The reference image is a "jumping off place" - the painting should use it less and less as it progresses
2. Creating tension between contrasting elements of a composition
3. Wet-into-wet to create edges. (This seems very different to my limited experience with watercolours - I haven't even tried acrylics or oils yet).
4. Changing values to push observer towards the focal point - this seems so subtle, yet effective
5. Edge work to bring out the contrast and create more feeling of depth.
Just with these 5 tips, I think I've got enough to work on for about 3 years!
Well summarized Mark! Yes, there's a bit of material to work with there. Good luck!
Always look forward to your Tuesday painting lessons!! Pre-planning is key to more successful paintings. I’ve started sketching prior to starting a new painting to get a lay of the land and what a big difference and better composition. Thank You!
Glad to help. Delighted you are enjoying the videos. Best wishes
Very interesting and informative. Always love watching you paint. I am amazed how much you can load your brush! Be well. g
Very best wishes to you to Gayle.