It seems the file wasnt uploaded fully. I apologize for the video being cut off at the end :( HERE IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY: In the beginning of this video i told you that my watercolors didnt improve much after a whole year following that course, and that is true MY paintings didnt really improve, but my skills with watercolor did. It wasnt until the methods that i was taught started feeling restrictive and akward to use that I realized the MY style, my way of painting wasnt coming through. And that is the point where we all should stop follwing these courses. Because at the end of the day, we dont want to be the copy of someone else, you want your friends, and family to be themselves. So why not start with you?
I found the same thing. I did several step by steps that turned out great. Then I tried out my own reference photos. I quickly saw that my skills haven't really improved. I was good at following instructions, not at problem solving my own paintings. LOL It only took me a couple of step by steps to figure this out, thank goodness. I like to fly by the seat of my pants when I paint. Developing problem solving skills is the key to watercolor painting for me.
I watch the step by step tutorials to get ideas. I don’t follow those videos exactly, but for the general concept. I always do something different. I’m starting to paint more and more on my own. Little by little.
Had to laugh, after your video ended (it is cut off by the way) UA-cam suggested a "Step by Step Watercolour painting" 🤣 This is why I am adopting your approach, albeit 30 days to begin with
This is very true. My experience of following along to demos and tutorials or following step-by-step projects from watercolour books has been helpful to learn and develop basic skills and get a bit more consistency in results. However, when I try to paint from my own reference photos, the results are rarely that consistent. I guess it does require more practice, the right kind of practice, to develop any skill. The creative spark for me is taking these skills to paint from my imagination, which is where I am beginning to notice my preferred methods and types of painting styles. It's all very much experimental at times, but I like that. It helps me break out of doing repetitive looking paintings. I have more videos saved than I have time left to live to watch them 😅, but every now and again I'll dip into my saved watercolour videos folder and pick one to watch to give me a boost or a change of approach. I do the same with watercolour books. I suppose this is a consequence of not having the funds or time to go to regular art classes. I did do 3 months of weekly classes, which helped identify where I need to improve, but the time actually spent with the teacher was quite limited due to the number of students in the class. Recently I joined a Patreon group, which is helping me develop at my own pace and in a convenient way online at a very affordable price. In the past, I'd tried a couple of online courses on Domestika, but the lack of interaction with the teacher and other students put me off continuing.
Great insight Mark! That definitely sounds like something I should try “painting from imagination” You might have just inspired me to make a video about that. Yeah I understand, it was also an issue for me the limited amount of time I had with Andy (he just commented on my posts) it is key to find a highly engaged community where you can really be criticized constructively to progress faster.
@@antoniocabrero Yeah, constructive criticism is hard to come by. Some people are often too diplomatic or just say they like a painting, but now and again we come across someone who may suggest something constructive or even advise against something. For me, what inspires me most is hearing or see fresh approaches to something I may have got stuck in a rut. For example, I paint a lot of small, simple landscape; primarily to practise and also I can do it while sitting in a cafe watching the people go about their day. There have two been two suggestions in the last couple of months that have helped me test new areas. One is to explore more abstract approaches. So as a bridge to this, I've been getting into semi-abstract landscapes. Another suggestion was to paint bigger, something I don't do very often. This often feels like too much of an undertaking, so I've been learning about how to view a painting in sections and work progressively from one to another - this has helped me to start to develop a more reliable process. It's a work in progress, but it's fun to explore these new approaches. I still do the small, simple landscapes - but now they have a different feel to them. I know paint with more rich use of colours and simplifying shapes, developing a more interesting composition.
That all sounds great Mark! I have thought about trying to paint more abstract to see how it feels, but I also want to paint more tightly to see what sort of precision I can muster. But Its good that you have found a reliable process for yourself, and more importantly waht you enjoy doing the most. I also love just small simpe landscapes. This project has been full of that haha
@@rrrrhae I have some in English and some in Spanish, most of them are aimed at beginners. Here are the one's I've used the most: The Watercolour Enigma, by Stephen Coates. The eaay guide to Painting Skies in Watercolour, also by Stephen Coates. Pocket Book for Wtercolour Artists, by Charles Evans. Pocket Book for Watercolour Artists, by Terry Harrison Mountain Scenes in Watercolour, by Lesley Linley Spanish books: Relajación con Acuarela, by Pablo Comesaña Cómo pintar La Luz a La Acuarela, by Jackir Barrass Como pintar a la acuarela, by José M. Parramón and Guillermo Fresquet More advanced books, mainly used to study as I'm not at the level to really get the best out of such book. Nonetheless, they are inspiring and provide many ideas. Acuarela a traves del Paisaje, by Pablo Rubén López Sanz Painting Light and Shadow in Watercolour, by William B. Lawrence Unleashing Watercolour Magic - Mastering the Art through reverse technique, by Javid Tabatabaei & Mehdi Gol
When I started learning watercolour painting I only had one of those big drawing and painting learning books, I was at least lucky that mine didn't go into so many different materials but went into the ones that were presented in a little more detail. There were many more general explanations that helped me to paint my own pictures. Since the beginning, I've had an aversion to painting step-by-step instructions exactly as they are, and I've always changed a little bit, be it the colours or the arrangement of objects. I would still like to have books that have detailed step-by-step instructions to use from it. I have already seen some who have skipped essential steps.
That’s great 😃 I don’t mean to say that you can’t or shouldn’t watch step by step videos, just that you shouldn’t fall into the trap of not thinking for yourself:)
Well, I'm at the beginning of my journey, so I'll be happy to learn technics and methods from real artists. And I see how different approach they have towards the same issues - how many colors you need, whether or not to use white gouache, things like that. I hope I'll find my way afterwards, now my watercolors rather look like any other paints, without that lightness and transparency.
It seems the file wasnt uploaded fully. I apologize for the video being cut off at the end :(
HERE IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY:
In the beginning of this video i told you that my watercolors didnt improve much after a whole year following that course, and that is true MY paintings didnt really improve, but my skills with watercolor did.
It wasnt until the methods that i was taught started feeling restrictive and akward to use that I realized the MY style, my way of painting wasnt coming through. And that is the point where we all should stop follwing these courses. Because at the end of the day, we dont want to be the copy of someone else, you want your friends, and family to be themselves. So why not start with you?
You are welcome 🙏
I found the same thing. I did several step by steps that turned out great. Then I tried out my own reference photos. I quickly saw that my skills haven't really improved. I was good at following instructions, not at problem solving my own paintings. LOL It only took me a couple of step by steps to figure this out, thank goodness. I like to fly by the seat of my pants when I paint. Developing problem solving skills is the key to watercolor painting for me.
Very true! It took me a while to figure it out xD Im glad im not the only one haha
I watch the step by step tutorials to get ideas. I don’t follow those videos exactly, but for the general concept. I always do something different. I’m starting to paint more and more on my own. Little by little.
Yeah that’s a great way to use them for sure! I just did exactly what I described in the video 😅 it almost is more a reminder to myself
Had to laugh, after your video ended (it is cut off by the way) UA-cam suggested a "Step by Step Watercolour painting" 🤣
This is why I am adopting your approach, albeit 30 days to begin with
Oh no! I have no idea what happened there :( Thanks for letting me know Marc!
Read the pin comment to know what i was going to say :D
Thanks agian!
This is very true. My experience of following along to demos and tutorials or following step-by-step projects from watercolour books has been helpful to learn and develop basic skills and get a bit more consistency in results.
However, when I try to paint from my own reference photos, the results are rarely that consistent. I guess it does require more practice, the right kind of practice, to develop any skill.
The creative spark for me is taking these skills to paint from my imagination, which is where I am beginning to notice my preferred methods and types of painting styles. It's all very much experimental at times, but I like that. It helps me break out of doing repetitive looking paintings.
I have more videos saved than I have time left to live to watch them 😅, but every now and again I'll dip into my saved watercolour videos folder and pick one to watch to give me a boost or a change of approach. I do the same with watercolour books. I suppose this is a consequence of not having the funds or time to go to regular art classes. I did do 3 months of weekly classes, which helped identify where I need to improve, but the time actually spent with the teacher was quite limited due to the number of students in the class.
Recently I joined a Patreon group, which is helping me develop at my own pace and in a convenient way online at a very affordable price.
In the past, I'd tried a couple of online courses on Domestika, but the lack of interaction with the teacher and other students put me off continuing.
Great insight Mark! That definitely sounds like something I should try “painting from imagination”
You might have just inspired me to make a video about that.
Yeah I understand, it was also an issue for me the limited amount of time I had with Andy (he just commented on my posts) it is key to find a highly engaged community where you can really be criticized constructively to progress faster.
@@antoniocabrero Yeah, constructive criticism is hard to come by. Some people are often too diplomatic or just say they like a painting, but now and again we come across someone who may suggest something constructive or even advise against something. For me, what inspires me most is hearing or see fresh approaches to something I may have got stuck in a rut. For example, I paint a lot of small, simple landscape; primarily to practise and also I can do it while sitting in a cafe watching the people go about their day.
There have two been two suggestions in the last couple of months that have helped me test new areas. One is to explore more abstract approaches. So as a bridge to this, I've been getting into semi-abstract landscapes. Another suggestion was to paint bigger, something I don't do very often. This often feels like too much of an undertaking, so I've been learning about how to view a painting in sections and work progressively from one to another - this has helped me to start to develop a more reliable process.
It's a work in progress, but it's fun to explore these new approaches. I still do the small, simple landscapes - but now they have a different feel to them. I know paint with more rich use of colours and simplifying shapes, developing a more interesting composition.
That all sounds great Mark! I have thought about trying to paint more abstract to see how it feels, but I also want to paint more tightly to see what sort of precision I can muster. But Its good that you have found a reliable process for yourself, and more importantly waht you enjoy doing the most. I also love just small simpe landscapes. This project has been full of that haha
which books do you use?
@@rrrrhae I have some in English and some in Spanish, most of them are aimed at beginners. Here are the one's I've used the most:
The Watercolour Enigma, by Stephen Coates.
The eaay guide to Painting Skies in Watercolour, also by Stephen Coates.
Pocket Book for Wtercolour Artists, by Charles Evans.
Pocket Book for Watercolour Artists, by Terry Harrison
Mountain Scenes in Watercolour, by Lesley Linley
Spanish books:
Relajación con Acuarela, by Pablo Comesaña
Cómo pintar La Luz a La Acuarela, by Jackir Barrass
Como pintar a la acuarela, by José M. Parramón and Guillermo Fresquet
More advanced books, mainly used to study as I'm not at the level to really get the best out of such book. Nonetheless, they are inspiring and provide many ideas.
Acuarela a traves del Paisaje, by Pablo Rubén López Sanz
Painting Light and Shadow in Watercolour, by William B. Lawrence
Unleashing Watercolour Magic - Mastering the Art through reverse technique, by Javid Tabatabaei & Mehdi Gol
When I started learning watercolour painting I only had one of those big drawing and painting learning books, I was at least lucky that mine didn't go into so many different materials but went into the ones that were presented in a little more detail.
There were many more general explanations that helped me to paint my own pictures.
Since the beginning, I've had an aversion to painting step-by-step instructions exactly as they are, and I've always changed a little bit,
be it the colours or the arrangement of objects.
I would still like to have books that have detailed step-by-step instructions to use from it.
I have already seen some who have skipped essential steps.
That’s great 😃 I don’t mean to say that you can’t or shouldn’t watch step by step videos, just that you shouldn’t fall into the trap of not thinking for yourself:)
My greatest advance came when I realized that I was trying to paint a photograph.
Good one 😅
Well, I'm at the beginning of my journey, so I'll be happy to learn technics and methods from real artists. And I see how different approach they have towards the same issues - how many colors you need, whether or not to use white gouache, things like that. I hope I'll find my way afterwards, now my watercolors rather look like any other paints, without that lightness and transparency.
Yeah just keep experimenting:)
Incrível 👍😍👍😍👍
Thanks :)