The 5 Essential Watercolor Skills (that completely changed my paintings)
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- Опубліковано 10 чер 2024
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There are no short cuts in reaching your full potential as a watercolor painter. But knowing what areas to focus on can make all the difference.
Today I'm talking about the 5 watercolor skills that helped my paintings the most. At the end I talk about an exciting opportunity for your watercolor learning. - Навчання та стиль
You can learn more about Watercolor Essentials here: www.learntopaintwatercolor.com/watercolor-essentials
Hi, Matthew, I need assistance with the Watercolor Essentials - Bronze Level. Where can I write to you?
Why not just post here in UA-cam? I don't wanna go to another site than UA-cam.
Watercolor is like golf, looks easy but really hard to master without a lot of time, practice, and patience. I didn’t understand why many started from acrylic when I decided to try watercolor. Quickly I found out how hard watercolor could be (just like after I took golf lessons).
Yes, there can be good days and really challenging as well.
watercolor teaches you focus.
Golf looks easy??? To who???
I do watercolors now, but I started with acrylic paints.
I think that's how many people start in painting.
Lol that’s so true
5. 01:17 simplification. simplify the edges of the painting, save the most contrast and saturation to the focal area;
4. 03:07 creating depth. the further away the object the less visible the contrast;
3. 04:25 color mixing. grey is more present than we assume, don't use paint directly from the tube;
2. 06:20 watercolor timing. two variables are how wet the paper is and how much paint is there on the brush
1 . 08:17 values. consider turning your scene or photo in black and white during the planning process
Thanks!
thnx
I can understand what you're saying but my brain and hands are enemies at the moment. I will admit that ive been afraid to paint for the majority of my life. I only started a few months ago and ive learned so many neat things about watercolors.
Everyone, especially the overthinkers, and perfectionists (nyself included)... Don't give up. Actively remind yourselves that art isnt perfect. You'll slowly (or quickly) pick up things here and there, as you continue to practice. Give yourself time, compassion, grace and patience throughout your watercolor journey 💖
Funny thing about the colors: for me it was the other way around. I had to learn not to be afraid of adding some more saturated colors. I was afraid of ruining the painting with strong color but the end result can be unintentionally drab that way.
His first painting looking better than anything I've ever done. 👁️👄👁️
Agreed! 😆
Matt, I just discovered your channel. Your #1 tip is by far the most important tip in creating “all” visual art. It really is important whether the work is realistic, abstract, carefully designed shapes on surfaces, or fun exaggerated expressions taken from realistic composed scenes….
It’s so nice to see someone else who gets it and can explain it nice and simply. Terrific gift to students! When I first learned the word “values,” in my art classes in high school and later in art classes, no one could explain to me how to really see values in real life. After taking years to figure it out, I too share the simplest examples with beginners so they don’t have to waste so much time before they really understand what value means in drawing and painting while observing real life subjects… You made me smile today🥰
To each their own. For me the most important step is depth. We've all seen it. The painting that looks like it was just started, or the one that looks like the painter fell in love with drawing everything in. You can have your values correct, but unless you can selectively place areas of contrast the scene will still come off as lifeless.
Things I especially appreciate about this video - topics covered (true essentials), pace and clarity of instruction (not rushed, illustration/examples) and the fact that you were so prepared and wasted no time with irrelevant talk. Thank you.
Such great information! Thanks!
Outstanding video, a condensed 15-minute master lesson in watercolor.
So glad you liked it!
I've been doing acrylic painting for a while, but recently came into some very generously donated watercolour supplies. Tried to figure it out by myself for a bit but watercolour is such a different skillset! This is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for, and it was explained very clearly complete with visuals - I feel much more confident to have a go at it now, thank you!
You are such a good teacher! Thank you for your generosity and the time and effort that you put into your video lessons.
I am so happy you put this on YT...showing the first painting in your life...People need to know skills aren't born with. They are built off of experience. All this stuff I came to the conclusion over two years also while watching YT videos like your own to push me in the right direction. I recently found out moving from portrait painting to landscapes and cityscapes, I negletcted the hell out of the concept of perspective and composition. In portrait paintings, we usually just get the face and the depth doesn't matter. I thought I was so good at painting. I was painting cityscapes from refrences, and landscapes from references and life just like the portraits. They looked bad at first but started to become decent.
Then I decided "hey let my set up my own scene and use these references to put in grass, buildings, houses, etc." When I did this, the painting looked flat...like no depth whatsoever. The composition was boring and bland. There was no sense of me peering into the world of the painting. Then for some reason I used grid lines from what I learned way back in middle school when I was sick with a virus and had my homework sent to me. Then ...although it still looked like trash...became more believable. So I looked around and found out the fundamentals of art.
Color, Value, Form, Brushwork, Perspective and Composition
I was able to build the first 4 from just portrait painting. But the last 2, I had no sense of it. In fact I had to start again with the simple 3D cube and put it in 1 point. 2 point and 3 point. I am still doing it right now it's been a month and all ive been doing is moving around cubes spheres, trianges around the 3D space I crate on a piece of paper. Until I get that FEEL of 3D and perspective. I can now see a bit more about the space and camera/eye looking in that space. For some reason it helped me understand composition as well.
this is excellent - the way that you designed and organized this video is so educational in a short amount of time, especially with all of the visual examples. your effort is clear & appreciated, thank you!
This is all wonderful. Your tips are very useful. Thank you
This list is sooooooo true. Thanks! And then there is practice, practice, practice because understanding is just the beginning. It's so frustrating when you know what is wrong and you keep doing it anyway! But, also great to see improvement over time.
Such a valuable video!! Also, the value painting with the snow was stunning! The snow was genuinely so beautiful that I'm in awe you achieved that with watercolors. Thank you!
I just came across your channel and want to thank you for showing us your first attempts. Gives me hope!
I like your first painting. It's stylistically one-of-a-kind expressive and conveys a particular landscape of your psyche.
This video is AWESOME. This information is essential
I am not new to watercolor, but I still enjoyed your video. It went a bit further than most in explaining each of the tips in nice detail. I know this is going to help a great many new and intermediate watercolorists out there. Thanks!
Awesome, thank you!
Fantastic video. Simple explanation. Thank you.
Value studies have completely changed everything for me ❤️
Mathew, I thank you for all you tips, I am improving, slowly!
It is easy to listen to you, I never feel rushed or panicked when I listen to you!
Thank you so much for your calm demeanor!
I love these short bursts. I love painting but sometimes feel my concentration can wain…. I’m definitely a candidate for your course. Thank you Matthew ❤
Thank you, great tips! ☀️
Love the insight about values. My photography reached a new level when I started shooting in black and white.
This video is way, way underrated!
This succinct explaination simply enhanced my understanding of water colours by leaps and bounds!
The information shared is unmatched by any other video that I have watched thus far! And I mean endless hours of videos!
Thank you, Michael!
was tempted to like this video 5 times... thanks a lot!
Great lesson! You are a natural teacher- your delivery clear & concise. Too many teachers i loose interest in becausecthey just keep talking unnesarily without giving the information you need in a succinct manner.
You are a great artist with a special teaching ability. Thank you very much for your videos, inspiring and practical. I look forward to them.
Thank you very much! That's so kind of you.
I love the wetting of the back of the paper! I never thought of that. Thanks!
This is insanely helpful! You have a terrific way of pointing out what may not be immediately obvious. I watch so many watercolor videos and have certainly picked things up, but not specifics with reasons! 👏 👏 👏 I am definitely a need to know why type of learner, so this was perfect for me.
Really didactic! You are the only water colour male artist I have subscribed to.Graciad
You Sir are a Master Teacher. You know the art of teaching.
You are gifted in teaching. I will be visiting your teaching site more for sure. Thank you very much for sharing your gift and experiences.
your videos are amazing, Matthew! And so is your inspiring artwork!
good tips for almost any medium
Thanks Mathew.
This video is awesome. Reduces the most important aspects in watercolor into simple, practical and doable steps.
Excellent for beginners.
Yes,when you see some one who has mastered anything you gotta realize all the work they have put in to get there.
Thank you Matthew! Learning these slowly and growing.
The pro tio regarding values, is the best advice I ever got, tq
Thank you for putting this vid up. Very helpful. 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Very useful info! Thank you.
I can see, in the comparison of your old and new, that your drawing got a lot better too. Drawing for me is a real challenge. Good lesson, thanks
There are tons of “top 5 tips” videos out there, but I found this one to be truly valuable. Thanks for the great explanations and examples.
This was very informative. Thanks for saving me weeks of frustration.
I'm doing some painting tomorrow so I'm glad this video before today
Great summary of things which are obvious but only when we hear about them in videos like yours. In fact, this bunch of advice can be apply to any type of painting/drawing, not only watercolors and that's cool!
This video is invaluable!!!!! Your explanations coupled with the examples are so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing :)
Fantastic video! Thanks for making this Matthew.
Lot of learning ❤ thanks
This is really good advice. I wish I had listened to this before I embarked on learning to master water colour years ago. Now I understand how important all these points are.
Just wanted to say, thank you for being here and sharing your knowledge. I never took watercolor seriously in the past because I was too focused on the result. Your videos have helped me so much and I am now painting with more confidence and clarity. Working on my third painting now and I'm excited to finally have started my watercolor journey ❤️ Keep doing what you do best!
That's very kind of you to share. So glad you are getting something positive from my video!
This is a great explanation and is very useful. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for sharing this!
5: simplification.
4: creating depth.
3: color mixing.
2: watercolor timing..
1: values.
Great information here Matt and WOW look how far you've come in your efforts! So inspiring.
Thank you, Morgen. I appreciate that.
Such a pleasant person and your tips are very useful. Thanks
I could do a whole bible study off of these principles. that’s one reason i love watercolor so much. the opportunity to grow in life skill is endless. thank you! 📖🎨
Amen!
Loved how you did the clouds. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing. This was an excellent lesson. As a real beginner, I will keep all these rules in mind! Your paintings are very beautiful.
Truely a gold video for us.
Thank you so much Mathew.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for such a lot of valuable advice and for your clear presentation. A very valuable video !
Very good advises! Completely applicable to oil painting as well, these topics change the way we see things vs our work.
MERCI POUR VOS CONSEILS PRECIEUX
The concept of values was well explained. Thank you
Wow. I have begun to paint in watercolors and after a few paintings I was realizing that I was missing out on some essentials, and you hit them all in this lesson. Especially the remark on the importance of values was something I noticed in my paintings but wasn't able to articulate. In addition to looking at images in black and white, another thing that helps is to shrink the image into a thumbnail, then the values are much more apparent. Great video and thanks for posting!
Very well done. It's taken me about a year of starting from the beginning with watercolor to reach the point where I can understand the value (no pun intended) of what you are saying. To your five I would add drawing practice as a sixth. But I definitely agree with your five as indispensable.
Glad it was helpful! Yes, drawing is key as well.
Your clip is amazing, easy understanding and useful skills!
Great explanation - THANK YOU!
Wonderful. Thank you!
This video is awesomr. Thanks!
Crazy. Values was the game changer for me too. My mind was BLOWN at the power of values
Love this it’s so informative and makes so much sense. Your paintings are absolutely beautiful. 👏🏼👏🏼Thanks for sharing Matthew 🤗
So glad to hear that!
Excellent advice. Thank you so much!
good teacher! I do not watercoulour, but even then I can learn from this. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, these are great tips. The one I like the most is the “time”.
Mathew, thank you for making this video. I have watched A LOT of watercolor, beginner, tutorials and in my opinion you did an awesome job conveying the message! I am very impressed! I loved how you broke each skill down, gave an example and a helpful tip. If you haven't already (since I just found you by accident and I don't believe in accidents...lol) Can you do a video on VALUES? I thought your paintings were amazing and that last one looked so real it took me a moment to notice it was watercolor. Great Job Teacher....I also want to say thank you so much for being direct and straight to the point, every word mattered. I can't say that about most. I'm going to watch the video again, just so I can take notes. Great Job and thank you again for your presence! :)
Ah, so glad I found you; this lesson is just what I needed.So often we have an intuition but can't get at it until someone puts it into words and truth resonates. This all resonated with me - now I can keep my pictures from looking too Kinkade-esque - saturated all over, etc.
Thanks so much; I'll see you again Matthew White.
So glad this was helpful!
Awesome video. Really glad I found this channel.
This is great advice. Thank you
I’m not a beginner, but your video popped out, and I was curious! Every person starting out with watercolour should start here. Well done!
Thank you, I appreciate that.
Nice growth!! The lights really came on
I've found this very beneficial. Thank you
Thank you sir for these amazing tips.
Thanks for the tips. I ll need to watch this video. And rewatch it 😁😁
This is a great video. Thanks so much.
Values were the missing theoretical piece! I was squinting my eyes, though! Haha!!! Well done!
This watercolor course looks amazing. Especially since you can interact with other members and ask questions that Matt will answer.
Hi Matthew, I stumbled about your YT channel today, this video particular.
I learned more, than in Xxxxhundreds other turorials and books.
Of course, I subscribed will have to follow so more of your tutorials first to get used to you and your way and will check out watercolor essentials later.
🙏 THANK YOU
So glad you are enjoying the content!
This is an amazing video! So much valuable information for beginners like me. I tried to watercolor about three years ago and after a little while I got discouraged because I just wanted to paint professional looking paintings even though I know that it takes time.
Thank you so much. Everything you shared was immediately useful and there was no fluff 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Glad it was helpful!
This is so helpful, thank you so much :)
Inspiring. Many thanks :)
Hello. Very helpful are your classes and tips. You're an excellent teacher who knows how to encourage your students. And so beautiful your artwork. Thank you very much.
This is incredibly helpful, thankyou
I love your paintings. Not sure how I never watched any of your videos before.
All excellent comments. It's like learning a new language or an instrument: practice, practice, practice!
Finally! I found what I was looking for.
Hi, thanks for the video it was really helpful. All I wanted to say was your paintings are so beautiful and I love that atmosphere you've created within them.