Great techniques! Bob used his fan brush by pressing up on the handle and therefore the bristles bend down. That’s how he made such realistic pine trees!
This was actually very helpful. I loved the little scene you did with the grass and the water. I just got a set of hog bristle fan brushes and I love the way they work. Thanks.
Great techniques for the fan brush that I didn't think could be used successfully in watercolour. That's given me a whole lot of inspiration. Thankyou so much.
I like the area you did first. If you fill in the gaps with another color like light sienna, it would give the impression of a field with varying colors and types of vegetation.
A Murphy Thank you, and I so appreciate you watching. Some videos will go longer on occasion but in general this was designed as a quick tips and techniques show. Some day I hope to do this full time then maybe... :-)
A great book by Ray Hendershot called "Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors" shows his use of fan brushes. He cuts into the edges to make them jagged and irregular. (He uses razor blades but I use hair cutting scissors.) He calls them "scary brushes." They work great for foliage, grasses and distant background shapes. I have made lots of scary brushes & would not be without them. He also uses them for dry brushed grain in old wood. Loved your video with other uses of fan brushes.
I’d love to see you cut a fan brush using the ideas in the Hendershot’s book for making a ‘scary brush’. You are a wonderful teacher. And I love your book recommendations. as well. That book, , was in one of your book recommendations from several years ago. Lovely. 🌹
If you’re not happy with what your watercolour fan brush does, try using an acrylic one. It’s thicker and gives greater control and much better results. Most watercolour fan brushes are very thin and sometimes difficult to use. Great video . Thank you for some cool tips - Dawn 🌅
+The Mind of Watercolor live in Tasmania and am limited for workshops, in fact none at all! Please get a book out... you have a fantastic way of explaining
I kinda feel they would be great for a little blending - you know, when you're painting wet on wet, and everything starts drying and the colors starts to settle and don't move and blend as nicely as you needed it to, but rather just sit one next to the other? A tiny little nudge (sweep ever so slightly with the tip toe of brush's hairs) with a damp fan brush, can move and blend it slightly, without lifting anything. But you would need a softer brush for that I think. It may also be great for delicate dry brushing :)
The brush that you " BOUNCED " with , is that one the same as the first one you showed.... it looks different... like it's having a bad hair day. I love that you showed them in use and the tidbits you gave about them. Thanks so much.
Very helpful! I feel like my landscape painting lack texture. That's what I struggle with the most! Fan brush is now on my néed list. Thanks Steve for the video
I was creating a painting around a picture of a tower (folly) I had seen which was kinda gloomy and menacing. I decided to do it in monochrome and Paynes Grey would provide the right kind of menace I thought. So I had one tower in the foreground and two more going into the background on hills. The sky was done not too wet onto dry so you could see the brushstroke's which I liked. But I ended up stuck, the immediate foreground was too plain, it had no interest. So, after watching your vid on fan brushes I decided to experiment, if I nawsed it up then chalk it down to experience! I messed about with the hills a bit first and was pleased as it created some texture there. I then decided to use your "sideways" technique in the foreground and at first I thought I had nawsed up big time but after a while a watery, boggy immediate foreground emerged and it just suited the picture. Thanks for that
Thank you so much for helping me fix my landscape mistakes. This fan brush tutorial is awesome and filled with great ideas on how to use the brush for varied textures.
Very interesting, thank you! I only use my fan brushes à la Bob Ross, but I really should experiment more. It's funny that what you learn you just keep doing...sometimes without the thought of experimentation.
I love all of your intros! Such genuinely clever watercolour humour :) Needless to say, I also love your videos. I've just started painting a few weeks ago, and I've learned so so much from your videos!
Thanks for the input..I have tons of brushes but the fan brushes haven't had much use but will I'm sure not..I paint in watercolor and acrylic..first love is, of course wc
"Beginner" never heard of a fan brush ! Bought one not really knowing how to use it. But NOW wow what a brush !!! Thanks great vid Thank you happy days
I get and retain so much from each of your videos! I hope you will do several watercolor pencil technique videos. Derwent inktense would be nice too. You
Now I know what to do with them, thank you. Practicing from your videos has taught me so much! But what is the trick to cleaning these brushes so they dry nice and even, like yours were at the start? Mine dry looking like yours did when you were stippling with them.
Not sure I did anything special. After they're dry I just flick them on my fingers a few times. Once they get wet again it really doesn't matter anyway.
Duh me, you're right, of course, once they get wet it doesn't matter. I got hung up on having them look good sitting in my brush cup, between uses. Thank you again.
im 14 and ive bought cakes to start with and lkads of synthetic brusged except one whick it sable size 0 its a stipleling brush and detail brush i hooe to get good at water colour and i got hot press as i didnt know a thing at the time but ill get cold pressed paper soon and some more tube paints
Thanks for this video. I really enjoy using the fan brush, especially on evergreens and other foliage. I bought a package of fan brushes and the smallest is #1. I’d like a size smaller, which I assume is a zero. But when I looked online, I saw things like 20/0 and 12/0. Can you explain so I can get a tiny fan brush. Thank you! Karen
Fantastic. Thank you - i could never get the hang of using a fan. When using the brush on its side, did you deliberately clump the bristles together, (or cut them) or did they just stick together by accident? I've just discovered your videos, and though i've painted wc for some time, i'm learning lots and really enjoying your demos. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Hi Steve! Do yoy have any tutorial where we can differentiate old and bad brushes from the good ones? In my particular case, I have many watercolor brushes but I dont know how to prove if the are "in good shape". Thanks. God bless you.
Just about any would work. Seriously! Holding and dispensing water and pigment is not a concern since these are used more for effects and even dry when you do those techniques. I use the Master's Touch brushes from Hobby Lobby that are made for watercolor but even a oil or acrylic bristle brush works for these type techniques. Here are a couple that work well.amzn.to/2AQaFZR amzn.to/2M7zBAs
Hi, I've been looking for the "support this channel" button to donate, but I've followed your link to your channel page and I can't find it. Have you taken this feature away? Thanks for sharing all your expertise so clearly.
Oh you know, I think UA-cam discontinued that channel feature. I ask for all my support to come through Patreon now, however thats a monthly support. (patreon.com/mindofwatercolor) Thanks so much for asking.
Thanks Melanie! Yes, two other viewers donate that way. Just log into your paypal and pay to srmitch@stevemitchelldesign.com if you like. Thanks for considering supporting me whatever you decide.
Hi Steve, Thanks so much for your channel. So thoughtful and detailed. What is the brand of the fan brush you are using? Most of the ones I see are fuller. Thanks!
I don't know of another 6 minute video that gave me more ideas than this one! Thanks for sharing the techniques.
Glad to hear it!
Great techniques! Bob used his fan brush by pressing up on the handle and therefore the bristles bend down. That’s how he made such realistic pine trees!
This was actually very helpful. I loved the little scene you did with the grass and the water. I just got a set of hog bristle fan brushes and I love the way they work. Thanks.
It can also be used to make a beautiful waterfall
Great techniques for the fan brush that I didn't think could be used successfully in watercolour. That's given me a whole lot of inspiration. Thankyou so much.
Thanks for the brevity. I bought a fan brush tried to use and decided to check you out. It fit by attention span.
I liked the video because it shows how easy it is to be creative and loose at the same time.
Jim Morrison Thanks, glad you like it.
Very helpful, Steve. Thank you! I will buy one and use it for painting grasses, tops of trees, and adding some textures to landscapes.
Hello. I love how organic your brush strokes. the water looks so real.
The side crunch technique is really cool, I will plan to use that to make fur trees.
I like the area you did first. If you fill in the gaps with another color like light sienna, it would give the impression of a field with varying colors and types of vegetation.
That was a fun "watch"! Thanks for exploring the many possibilities of a fan brush!
Wow!!!! My heart was racing with delight!!
You are a great instructor. Longer videos would be wonderful. Thank you so much.
A Murphy Thank you, and I so appreciate you watching. Some videos will go longer on occasion but in general this was designed as a quick tips and techniques show. Some day I hope to do this full time then maybe... :-)
Thank you for getting back to me.
A great instuctor naturally gave us the two best ways to employ the fan-really awesome surf there dude!
A great book by Ray Hendershot called "Texture Techniques for Winning Watercolors" shows his use of fan brushes. He cuts into the edges to make them jagged and irregular. (He uses razor blades but I use hair cutting scissors.) He calls them "scary brushes." They work great for foliage, grasses and distant background shapes. I have made lots of scary brushes & would not be without them. He also uses them for dry brushed grain in old wood. Loved your video with other uses of fan brushes.
Yes, good book. I have that book too. amzn.to/2eCDYSH
I’d love to see you cut a fan brush using the ideas in the Hendershot’s book for making a ‘scary brush’. You are a wonderful teacher. And I love your book recommendations. as well. That book, , was in one of your book recommendations from several years ago. Lovely. 🌹
Thank you for both your recommendation on the fan brush and Ray Hendershot book in your other video. I just got the book.
It seems like you can paint all landscape elements with this brush. Nice. Thank you so much for your videos!
It is very versatile for landscape.
Appreciate the tips on how to paint grass and get other textures. Awesome video.
+Video Reviews 👍
I'm very impressed by this tutorial, it's straight to the point and super informative as well, thank you
+Oceanlinx Glad you liked it!
@ Clare - Glad to hear it. Thanks for the sub and welcome!
Food for thought for sure.i'll have to play with it.
That tapping in yellow would make a great dandelion i think
If you’re not happy with what your watercolour fan brush does, try using an acrylic one. It’s thicker and gives greater control and much better results. Most watercolour fan brushes are very thin and sometimes difficult to use. Great video . Thank you for some cool tips - Dawn 🌅
Good tip. I have a variety from WC to acrylic and multipurpose to oil hog bristle. Each has pros and cons.
Thanks
Great tutorial, I love the interesting and helpful tips you share. Thanks!
Melodie Fairburn Thank you, glad you find them so!
Love your ideas of using the fan brush... having fun experimenting with all your techniques
+Jan May 👍
+The Mind of Watercolor live in Tasmania and am limited for workshops, in fact none at all! Please get a book out... you have a fantastic way of explaining
I really enjoyed this video, as I am new to watercolor. I had used this with oils, but decades ago.
Totally gave me an idea I want to try with this brush. It came in a set and I had no idea what to do with it. Thanks!!!!
I kinda feel they would be great for a little blending - you know, when you're painting wet on wet, and everything starts drying and the colors starts to settle and don't move and blend as nicely as you needed it to, but rather just sit one next to the other? A tiny little nudge (sweep ever so slightly with the tip toe of brush's hairs) with a damp fan brush, can move and blend it slightly, without lifting anything. But you would need a softer brush for that I think. It may also be great for delicate dry brushing :)
Love them for evergreens! Takes practice as all techniques
I never quite knew what to do with this kind of brush, but now I do. Great tips I'll be trying tomorrow.
Karen Segboer Its one of the most fun brushes to experiment with. Great uses for landscape in particular. Thanks!
I'm an absolute beginner with watercolour and am finding your videos incredibly helpful, Thank-you!
Now subscribed :)
@ Prabha - Palm trees probably. Not the best brush for flower petals though.
I love my fan brushes and use them in the many ways you've shown. Thanks for sharing.
Fan brush has Amazing Techniques......Thanx,
steve
The brush that you " BOUNCED " with , is that one the same as the first one you showed.... it looks different... like it's having a bad hair day. I love that you showed them in use and the tidbits you gave about them. Thanks so much.
Very, VERY helpful to this beginner. Keep videos coming, please.
Very helpful and clever as are all your videos!
Thanks 😊
That was so very helpful i have just ordered a new set of these brushes so I am looking forward to using them now with confidence. Thanks!!
👍
Awesome, learned so much in such a small amount of time... thank you!
Very helpful! I feel like my landscape painting lack texture. That's what I struggle with the most! Fan brush is now on my néed list. Thanks Steve for the video
Antonea Payan Thanks, glad they've been a help!
You are a fantastic teacher. I wish you would be in Australia 🇦🇺 doing workshops 😊
I was creating a painting around a picture of a tower (folly) I had seen which was kinda gloomy and menacing. I decided to do it in monochrome and Paynes Grey would provide the right kind of menace I thought. So I had one tower in the foreground and two more going into the background on hills. The sky was done not too wet onto dry so you could see the brushstroke's which I liked. But I ended up stuck, the immediate foreground was too plain, it had no interest. So, after watching your vid on fan brushes I decided to experiment, if I nawsed it up then chalk it down to experience! I messed about with the hills a bit first and was pleased as it created some texture there. I then decided to use your "sideways" technique in the foreground and at first I thought I had nawsed up big time but after a while a watery, boggy immediate foreground emerged and it just suited the picture. Thanks for that
+Bill McCormack great that you experimented and related those results. Thanks for the input!
Really enjoying your series of vids, cheers.
Great effects and some I haven't seen. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing the technique
I'm getting all kinds of wonderful water and beach/ride ideas
Binging your videos tonight- thank you for the content
Thanks man, these tips helped me finish my art project, much appreciated
I guest it is all about trying which technique you like best. Just have fun and see what you like best.Thanks.
I would think this would be a neat effect for fur as well
@ Nancy - Thanks! More WC pencil to come for sure.
Thank you so much for helping me fix my landscape mistakes. This fan brush tutorial is awesome and filled with great ideas on how to use the brush for varied textures.
Elizabeth Kilbride Glad it was a help! Thanks for watching!
Very interesting, thank you! I only use my fan brushes à la Bob Ross, but I really should experiment more. It's funny that what you learn you just keep doing...sometimes without the thought of experimentation.
I love all of your intros! Such genuinely clever watercolour humour :)
Needless to say, I also love your videos. I've just started painting a few weeks ago, and I've learned so so much from your videos!
I'm just learning and this tutorial was very helpful! Thank You.
Thanks for the input..I have tons of brushes but the fan brushes haven't had much use but will I'm sure not..I paint in watercolor and acrylic..first love is, of course wc
Jere Condon Thanks Jere, definitely give em a try.
That's my plan😉
now i know a little how to use a little of this kind of brush. Thanks for the tips and greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!! :)
+Cris Costa you bet!
thanks for this tutorial, I have just purchased one fan brush but no many ideas how to use !!
"Beginner" never heard of a fan brush ! Bought one not really knowing how to use it. But NOW wow what a brush !!! Thanks great vid Thank you
happy days
richard culverhouse Glad it was a help, thanks for watching!
Great ideas, thanks!
Good brush and good painter from new friend thanks
Thanks for the lesson.
It would be nice to have you indicate what affects you can use your various brushes with
Thank you all for these great tips👍👍👍👍
Fantastic !😍
hah - I laughed some hard at "it's a great brush for brush" ;)
Very interesting and helpful
Those were pretty cool.
I get and retain so much from each of your videos! I hope you will do several watercolor pencil technique videos. Derwent inktense would be nice too. You
Wow it has so many uses it makes me want to buy one 😄
Now I know what to do with them, thank you. Practicing from your videos has taught me so much! But what is the trick to cleaning these brushes so they dry nice and even, like yours were at the start? Mine dry looking like yours did when you were stippling with them.
Not sure I did anything special. After they're dry I just flick them on my fingers a few times. Once they get wet again it really doesn't matter anyway.
Duh me, you're right, of course, once they get wet it doesn't matter. I got hung up on having them look good sitting in my brush cup, between uses.
Thank you again.
im 14 and ive bought cakes to start with and lkads of synthetic brusged except one whick it sable size 0 its a stipleling brush and detail brush i hooe to get good at water colour and i got hot press as i didnt know a thing at the time but ill get cold pressed paper soon and some more tube paints
Best of luck to you on your watercolor Journey Rebecca!
I didn’t know that I needed a fan brush. Now, I must have one.
Fantastic! I give in, - am subscribing & then getting the paints out lol
Loz Arbonne Haha! All part of my evil plan!
Thank you! I'm inspired to use my fan brush now!
+Sherree “sherreefotos” Faries 👍
Cool tutorial
Thanks for this video. I really enjoy using the fan brush, especially on evergreens and other foliage. I bought a package of fan brushes and the smallest is #1. I’d like a size smaller, which I assume is a zero. But when I looked online, I saw things like 20/0 and 12/0. Can you explain so I can get a tiny fan brush. Thank you! Karen
Unfortunately naming and sizing is all over the place and they don't match up from brand to brand.
Thank you for this great video. Is it possible to paint coconut leaves or palm tree leaves with a fan brush? Or even flower petals?
useful video. thanks
This is really helpful. Thank you for te great tips! I'm glad I found your channel.
Can you please help me out ?
My brush always splits into 4 sections when i wet it or paint with it
Thanks Steve, I enjoyed watching that 👍
Keith Payne Thanks for watching!
Very helpful.
Fantastic. Thank you - i could never get the hang of using a fan.
When using the brush on its side, did you deliberately clump the bristles together, (or cut them) or did they just stick together by accident?
I've just discovered your videos, and though i've painted wc for some time, i'm learning lots and really enjoying your demos. Thanks for sharing them with us.
***** You're quite welcome. Thanks for watching!
Hi Steve! Do yoy have any tutorial where we can differentiate old and bad brushes from the good ones? In my particular case, I have many watercolor brushes but I dont know how to prove if the are "in good shape". Thanks. God bless you.
No video. Just use it. If it holds its shape and point and does what it's supposed to it should be fine.
What brand is the small fan brush?
Can you do a tutorial for how to paint a landscape (easy)
wow I've never known how to use these brushes thanks! 👍👌
+Harmony Ivins 👍
Would it be good for doing fur? When you did the stippling technique it reminded me of fur.
+Teresa Arsenault Yes, I think so. A small one. They can cover a lot of area and be a bit unwieldy if too large.
Good for fine bird feathers also.
Many thanks for this tutorial..A big help to me!
+glass house Glad to hear it.
Watching more than once 😊.
How did you make the bristles clump together ? Which fan was that?
They clump together naturally when wet. They are both Master's Touch brushes from Hobby Lobby.
The Mind of Watercolor Thanks! My Princeton brush doesn’t . It’s very stiff.
Yeah some stiffer bristles won’t sometimes. But I don’t do anything special to make them clump. I actually prefer they don’t with most techniques.
The Mind of Watercolor they were half off at Hobby Lobby. I got 2 sizes.
Would you please tell me what brands of fan brushes you recommend? or at least what are the ones in the video? Thanks.
Just about any would work. Seriously! Holding and dispensing water and pigment is not a concern since these are used more for effects and even dry when you do those techniques. I use the Master's Touch brushes from Hobby Lobby that are made for watercolor but even a oil or acrylic bristle brush works for these type techniques. Here are a couple that work well.amzn.to/2AQaFZR amzn.to/2M7zBAs
Thank you. I have learned more from your videos than the classes I take.
If I want just one fanbrush , should I get one in natural or synthetic hair?
It almost doesn't matter since they're usually used for technique and not for holding a lot of water and paint. All mine are synthetic.
thx :)
Hi, I've been looking for the "support this channel" button to donate, but I've followed your link to your channel page and I can't find it. Have you taken this feature away? Thanks for sharing all your expertise so clearly.
Oh you know, I think UA-cam discontinued that channel feature. I ask for all my support to come through Patreon now, however thats a monthly support. (patreon.com/mindofwatercolor) Thanks so much for asking.
That's a shame. I don't tend to sign up for monthly subscriptions. Perhaps you could put a link somewhere to your paypal for one-off donations...?
Thanks Melanie! Yes, two other viewers donate that way. Just log into your paypal and pay to srmitch@stevemitchelldesign.com if you like. Thanks for considering supporting me whatever you decide.
Great demo thank you
👍
i will try that thanks for the tips steve
Andy Coakes You bet!
fan brushes work great with acrylics as well
I was re-watching this video and noticed the bristles looked uneven. Did you do that or did they come that way?
Me gustó la explicación...gracias...
Hi Steve, Thanks so much for your channel. So thoughtful and detailed. What is the brand of the fan brush you are using? Most of the ones I see are fuller. Thanks!
Made that video a while ago so not sure. Maybe Master'sTouch, a Hobby Lobby brand. It might be in the video descriptions.
Very interesting thank you
Very helpful! Thank you.
Thank you