Pushing Through Frustrations & Challenges in Watercolor Painting
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Painting is not always a smooth relaxing experience. Sometimes its fraught with frustrations and hard to solve challenges. Being patient and keeping a positive attitude towards learning from those challenges will help you get through it.
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I'm sure many people have already said this but I really like this very colorful painting. A new idea to 'Don't throw it away. It's still watercolor paper.' will not go unheeded. Thanks.
It’s SO EASY to overwork and get muddy. And I’m realizing that some of my favorite colors in oil are my worst enemies in watercolor. Yellow ochre, I’m talking about you!
It's so important that you did this. Most beginners are clueless how to fix our mistakes, and at the beginning there are a lot of mistakes.To hear problems from a professional has such an impact. Thank you.
Love the distant trees and trunks that add believable detail.
I really appreciate you sharing how you were challenged and how you fixed things. The finished painting is very pretty!
Thank you for sharing frustrations, sense of getting it wrong, and pushing through anyway. Great lesson. And when watercolor is totally dry, if I don’t want to throw away the work, I can gesso over the whole thing and create a new painting. Which amazes me frankly. Yay for gesso.
Of my hundreds of UA-cam subscriptions you are my ABSOLUTE favorite. I enjoy your intros and humor (like Reece looking outside at the snow). You brighten my day but even more I learn so very much from your videos!!!! Thank you so much!
After a 20 absence from doing any form of art I thankfully started drawing again last year. Well now I've started to attempt watercolor. Its only been about 3 weeks. And I didn't now about cotton verses pulp paper. Needless to say I'm binging all of your material. You are a great artist and a wonderful teacher. I got my arches and am ready to go. Thanks for this episode!
I know you said you didn't like the bright colour on the wall facing us, but I loved it. That bright orangey colour was nicely off-set by the dark foliage around. And if it wasn't as bright the bright green tree would have stolen the show. So true what you said about not over-detailing brick, it's all about suggestion.
Overall this came out very well! I learned so much from seeing your process and seeing how you fixed things. What I love about your style is that you add extreme detail in some areas, while leaving others loose.
Your failures would be my greatest success, love your art and UA-cam channel
This was awesome! Knowing that an artist of your high calibre shares similar frustrations was so reassuring. But seeing how you were able to persevere with the painting and demonstrating some tips on how you saved it was great. Thank you! Not often do artists share their "errors" and I really appreciate that you do.
What a joy to watch and LEARN! I'm a beginner...i have not painted a painting yet, still just getting to know color theory, color, mixing colors, ....all the baby beginner stuff. I want to try to paint this. TY STEVE!!!!
Showing problem solving is so valuable. It frees us from the perfection that is debilitating.
Hm, myself, I think the ability to salvage a crashed painting is an aspect of professionalism, and demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship. Sticking with it through the rough patches til you get it just right is like the artists version of endurance. Keeping your head and trusting your training, experience, and your work process when you can't see your way out -- finding a way to find your way when the choices are not clear; tbat makes you the guy that can handle the really hard stuff.
This is one of my favorite vids! Its like "Bob Ross goes dark..." it was very useful to hear how you cope with a painting gone bad...which, looks beautiful to me. The use of white gouache at the end was a great tip.
Those trees are just beautiful.
This was really timely for me to run across as I am working on an old silo barn with trees at the moment and was about ready to give up. So tomorrow I will go back and see what if anything I can salvage. Thanks Steve for the words of encouragement!
Best of luck!
Wow, you really did save it. Thanks for the lesson/example/reminder. I find sketching on location, for example at a burger joint etc, helps you learn to deal with things that aren't turning out exactly perfect. Just go with it, adapt to what direction it's going, see what it might end up being.
Ahh I can't focus on work. LOL. I start one video and it leads to another.. and then another. I keep learning. You rock Steve!
I great way to show how to turn things around from something that wasn't looking so great to a wonderful picture good enough for framing. Cheers.
Thank you for this,I finished a piece that I thought was ruined but I found that using this as a learning oprutunity and relaxed and was able to salvage it ,although not the best or something I'd share to my friends ,I learned to utilize my white ,which I've hardly used ,thanks for your channel I've progressed beyond my expectations
Fear, and pushing through, has been such a topic of my life this past few months.
It was a hard, but freeing when I learned the lesson that the only way to get past fear is to move through it.
Thank you for this one. Pushing through is important. Love the finished piece.
Those tree trunks up front are great. I gotta practice that.
I really like how it turned out.
Acceptable? That painting is absolutely beautiful! I'll take any mistake paintings you feel you make. You should see "my" frustration paintings. But I'm learning through your videos and I appreciate your instructions. And I love your humor. And I just love trees and leaves and apples!
I do understand. I've been there believe me. My frustrations now come with unmet expectations and putting pressure on myself to achieve certain results.
I like it!! I agree that watercolor can be frustrating and unforgiving! I don’t have a whole lot of access to art materials (specifically masking fluid or gouache) so watercolor has been a particular pain in the butt for me. I learned to paint starting from digital, then charcoal, pastels and acrylics. Strange order, but I picked up habits that are disastrous and opposite in watercolor painting. For some reason though, I’m a sucker for challenges and I haven’t given up on watercolors. I’d like to see more videos on how you save paintings! Thank you for the vid!
My landscapes looked hideous and I shy away from them ( don’t even attempt them ) now I know I don’t know how to fix those mistakes. Will go back and try and rectify them. Thank you as always.
I am grateful also. I find trees my biggest hangup. I hate my trees. I just got a lot out of that painting process as I have created paintings that I loved until I added or finished the trees. Anyway I found this a big help.
Oh my gosh, I love your picture. It's wonderful.
I will always appreciate an artist's video of them thoughtfully critiquing what they are doing as they work. Thank you for sharing all the valuable little thought-nuggets
WOW!!! Lovely 👍😊 real enjoyed hearing the internal monologue. Excellent tips.
Not only are you an amazing and talented artist, but you are a very gifted teacher as well. Love your work and your teaching process. Thank you and God bless you.
I appreciate your encouragement to just "push through", and to hear that even professionals like yourself get frustrated.
hi from Ireland . Just started painting . Thanks for being authentic. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skill in an authentic manner. Felt really connected with you.Learnt a lot as l observed you paint . Thank you.
I am very thankful that you took the time to show your failures as well as how to overcome them and learn from them. Very informative and I think you came out with a good piece!
Nice. I did enjoy it. Pressing through is an important lesson, indeed!
Great video! Thank you! Especially for the tips about focusing on one area and practicing techniques even if the rest of the picture may be a loss. Every brush stroke is a learning experience.
This turned out beautiful!
I do believe that most if not all paintings can go through an "ugly duckling" phase until more contrasts, layers etc. are added. Thanks for encouraging everyone to stick with it and appreciate the process not just the end result.
This is beautiful. You’re way too critical of your work. I learned so much. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! Just understand, critical analysis is important for me as a professional. It's how I improve!
Thank you. This had helped with overcoming a big slump.
I like to hear your thoughts as you paint. It helps to understand the process
Wonderful advice. Thank you for sharing this, allowing me to learn the value of the sometimes very frustrating process of learning through practice!
I enjoyed this vid. Then I scrolled through your others. I’ve watched most of them at least once. After this one I looked at the one where you tell us that in order to maintain color luminosity/brilliance, one can create contour by using the base color or analogous colors. I have been struggling with the use of complementary colors or Payne’s gray/neutral tint with “disappointing” results. Today the lightbulb went on! I got it! Thank you!
Excellent! Always glad to hear that!
Steve, my Arches papers and Mr. Graham paint, also brushes you suggested purchasing just arrived !
Now it's time to return to my favorite watercolor painter on youtube !!!
Cheers from Brazil !!! :)
I think it turned out great. Thanks for being so frank.
I have to agree with Amal Bensaleh- you're failures would also be my greatest successes. I think this one is stunning. Love all your painting- you make it look so darn easy! You've been a great help to me( as a beginner) Thank you Steve.
Thanks! Appreciate the kind comment.
Your techniques are helping me improve so much. I never throw out something that goes wrong and I always find a way to revamp it into something else. Sometimes a landscape gone wrong is changed into an abstract design.
Sometimes, when all else fails, I find, cut up, it can make nice bookmarks. I've done that to a few. For some reason, people tend to think they are great, hand painted gifts. Go figure.
Great video! Thank you very much! I straggle with watercolors but it is always inspiring to watch your videos!
The acrylic guache trick is genious! Thanks for the video.
Honestly I'm grateful for all the challenges you worked through, for all of the insight you've shared on this video. I think your intuition was spot on for an educational video that is definitely a HUGE help for me and countless others. Thank you!!
So glad to hear that. I was hoping it would be!
This video comes at a very propitious time as I have been struggling recently. I have not been well and have been discouraged with my recent attempts. Seeing a professional work through difficulties has motivated me to persevere.
Excellent Diana. Glad to hear it!
The gouache trick! Yes! I’m ordinary today! Thank you! Great save!
Thank you for uploading this and doing an explanation of the thought process of working through the rough patches and solving the issues that come up. It's so important for non-artists to know and artists to remember that a piece of art doesn't come fully formed from start to finish. It isn't without struggle, but it isn't impossible to push through and get to a result.
Well said, thanks!
Love your tips n how you make it friendly n doable
Thank you Steve!
Just getting back into watercolor painting after years of raising my children. You have a wonderful, easy way of teaching that is non-pressured and reassuring at the same time. Really appreciate the tips and the refreshing honesty at what you, an artist of 30 years, view as mistakes and then how you go about fixing them. It definitely gives me the feeling that I will be able to fix my mistakes...certainly not to your level, but increasingly so over lots of practice. Your videos make me even more excited that I have decided to get my old Rembrandt Watercolour Paints and Brushes out again. Watercolor really is a fantastic art form and I feel like a kid again with excitement. Thank you Steve!!
Yay! Thanks for that encouragement for me also!
Well deserved!! :D
Interesting video. And, I do so appreciate your raw honesty.
Thanks, Steve. Since you taught me so much about using gouache, that Japanese white ink, and the other Bleed-proof white that I use, plus now I have Daniel Smith's watercolor ground, I rarely have to throw away a painting. Oh, I forgot to mention your video on scrubbing and erasing and lifting with water. I have learned so much about correcting mistakes, I try to push through the frustrations and use each mistake as a learning experience. That is thanks to you!
Glad to hear it Maryan!
Steve I only wish my allures look as good as this. Great explanation for a few issues I seem to have. Enjoy this beautiful day.
Oops. “failures”
Loved all the demonstration, thank you.
What a great painting. Dana
Amazing & inspiring! I learn many things from each video - thank you
13:58 Hi glasses!
I love how you problem solve, and how you chose when to fix things and when to hide them. it speaks volumes about your maturity and experience in painting.
Steve, I would love to have your ‘failures’! A beautiful painting. Thanks for the tips.
Great video and so informative. Love the Bible verses at the end of the videos - inspiring.
I'm going through the same frustrations at the moment but not with a painting as complexd as yours, just the shading of leaves. But its good to know confirmed artists like you go through the same challenges! Thanks so much for this, its very encouraging.
This was very useful! As a beginner I often feel like I'm just pushing through my paintings. Only once have I given up and not completed it. So it's nice to hear your insights on this, and sort of comforting that it still happens to more experienced artists. I think you did a great job salvaging it, and I took some great tips out of it.
I love when you tell how, even as a professional artist, you have had to do a lot of rescues, so I don't feel bad when I have to do them. Also, I love how you don't cover up do-overs, but let us watch and learn from them.
Your style is always so evident in your work...”even if it does not measure up to your high standards”. Thank you so much for sharing your struggles with this wonderful art form. You truly are an inspiration and a wonderful teacher and communicator. Merry Christmas Steve!
Very encouraging to hear, thanks Kevin!
Great lesson! One of the things I really like about painting is the constant problem solving. It helped me a long time ago when one of my profs told me that painting is always a journey without a destination. In other words you don't paint 20 paintings and from then on do perfect paintings the rest of your life. Enjoy the journey!
Very interesting and most practical.Thank you for your demo.
Sometimes i find references especially fields and what not very flat and dull
And not sure how to make it lively and interesting i even fond this with high quality reference photos
Thanks Steve, I learn so much from hearing your thoughts and seeing how you fix a painting. You are to harsh on yourself, great painting.
This was very helpful, knowing that it is possible to find a way around is or look like a mistake, does help a lot.
That was awesome how you painted the stones in and what is mine blowing is the job you did on the woods in the background and foreground wow.
Thank you for this video, it's a great inspiration for me. Especially when you encourage us to "press through" with a painting we think is rubbish, if only for the practice. Usually I just get fed up. Your comments on your process are really helpful too.
thanks - learned a lot from this. I liked the way you rescued to foliage overlapping the house. Good tip!
I so needed this today I have been struggling with a painting for several months. Just wanted to give up. Tomorrow I will get right back at it!
Thanks for posting this! You are such a great artist that I figured every painting was easy for you and you never face any struggles. It's good to know that you too face frustrations sometimes and just keep plugging away even if just for the learning experience. I am encouraged that you don't view all of your efforts as perfect.
Oh my goodness no! I don't have any perfect pieces actually.
You could have fooled me! They all look great!
I love this guy!
Thanks for this very good video. I often get disgruntled with a painting and end up throwing it out. I'm going to try harder next time that happens.
What a great lesson! If I have one downfall (for which there are MANY contenders! ) it is just THAT ... getting frustrated with a painting early and abandoning it. Also - your use of the gouache to mask with the intention of adding color ... GREAT use! Thanks for it all ... and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for your clear, detailed exlanations. I found this very helpful for advancing my understanding of my own frustrations and how to achieve better results.
I LOVE your work and ideas!!! INSPIRED
ROLLLLLL TIDE STEVE!! Thank you for the vid!! ❤️
You are the boss, Steve ! Everything you impart is a jewel of art knowledge. Thank-you for sharing!
Such a valuable lesson for watercolor beginners like myself. Thanks Steve!
I loved this video a lot, it's really great to have a peek into your process, both the manual side of things and also all that's going in on in your head while working. Being disgruntled about a painting and plowing through is a great part of the job, yet often goes unmentioned :)
N. So Eve Bolt - Bolt's Vault
Thanks Steve, I appreciate your encouragement on not giving up and continuing to push through. I think the painting turned out really lovely. 💞💫
Talk about frustration,I'm learning perspectives painting city scapes,I have always done organic landscapes so quite a learning curve to work thru.😀
I so enjoy learning from you your lesson on trees is very helpful thank you from Austrlia
Hi Steve, Great video! I find it very helpful when you describe what you are planning then watch how you go about achieving that - even if things don't go according to plan :-) Like how you use different picture exposures to "see" the subject in a different light. I have been studying highlights, form shadows and cast shadows on objects to be able to see them more easily. Found that taking a picture and looking at the image in the paint.net program while playing with the various controls (contrast, brightness etc.) to be enlightening (pun intended). Please keep the videos coming!! Cheers! Hank
Thank you so much for this channel. I so enjoy the videos, and always find them very useful. Greetings to you from Denmark 😘
thank you so much for the tips im just learning to work with watercolors
Dear Mr. Mitchell,
A big Thumbs Up for you and for this "learning/teaching video".
You are so humble and yet courageous to admit that you still face some frustrating moments given your long history in drawing and illustrating and your profound expertise in the watercolor medium. This is a boost for all beginners - or the ones who fear doing mistakes and stumble with ways for fixing them. I left behind many ruined pieces and neglected to finish or to correct some many others. It was something both depressing and baffling.
Your finished piece is marvelous. You might not be so happy with the result if you were expecting something different, but nevertheless, I loved it. Sometimes a few mistakes can lead to an unexpected thing.
It was very useful to know how you envision painting the house. I have never heard or read this important tip before - about picking up the details that a naked-eye might capture and not detailing everything. I will try this method as the result of your procedure is strictly amazing. Another important tip was using White Acrylic Wash. I would have thought of mixing up some white acrylic and watercolor pigments, but of course, it would have messed the whole idea. I will try your way, as well.
Thank you for sharing this experience.
Thank you for your instructional tips.
All the good luck with whatever you endeavor.
J.
Very inspiring as always. Reminds me of a story. An famous artist was asked to give advice to a beginning class of w/c students. Without looking at their finished paintings he/she said,
"add more value to your paintings". I almost always wind up doing that at the end of my paintings. Add to the contrast, range of values and the intensity. There is an idea, you could do a lesson on value and intensity and show the difference and importance of the two.
Value is the most important factor, thats for sure. Its always so different given the case you're in, but its something I hope to get into.
Thank you for sharing this! I'm currently fight a cat portrait - my reference photo is not as good as I originally thought, rendering black and white fur is a challenge - it feels like everything is against me. This video really lifted my spirits!
The more challenging something is in life the more joy we have from overcoming it. Thats why i try different medias in art. Improvement only comes from failures. I may not be able to draw figures or objects that are realistic but i try anyways. The challenge of it makes doing other types of art that much easier. Without challenges we cannot develop our skills,thus we become complacent In our comfort and lack of challenge. You dont have to be better than anyone else. So dont compared yourself to others,just be the best you can be.
Well said!
Nice save, Steve. I find myself giving up on a painting due to trying to "fix" a particular element which leads to overworking. Thanks for the reminder to keep going on the painting as a whole to use as a learning experience.