For me, when I am regularly painting I start seeing the world differently. I notice light and colour around me and appreciate it so much more. In the actual painting process, there's just always that thrill of capturing something by your own hand and the anticipation of seeing it all come together as you reach the end of your work!
So true...and tricky while driving and attracted to the values and colours of the clouds or sunsets. There is never a good spot to pull over to take a photo. 😊
For me, I never liked art until I got a brain tumor and had five brain surgeries to deal with it and the associated infection. It destroyed my career as a nurse. Just before my elderly Mom died, I started painting watercolors and she loved it. I spent a small fortune on paints and supplies. It has become my passion and I promised my Mom in heaven I would become a watercolor painter. I think the change in my brain helped me become somewhat artistic and the fact that I have all these beautiful paints and brushes keeps me painting. A girl always wants to make their Mom proud so I try to keep learning more every day. It's difficult when you have a terrible memory issue.
I began in oils almost 6 decades ago. I had a brief, successfully transition in acrylic painting but, having 3 little boys running around prohibited painting any further with this medium. That’s when I picked up an old set of artist’s quality watercolors gifted by my dad from many years prior. I fell instantly in love with watercolors and I have not looked back! I was always expected to paint large paintings by my husband and all around me. Every painting I had done over the next 30 years was on a full sheet. They were very successful paintings but, the demands of painting on a full sheet was not very conducive to my growth as a watercolor artist. I am very fortunate to I have a large, bright studio to work in but, now I don’t paint anymore. I need to rediscover what I had found so rewarding painting in this medium many years ago. I enjoy viewing the many watercolor posts from artists around the world that are out there, hoping one will turn on the switch that’s inside of me. My husband had passed away years ago, my sons are now grown with teenage children of their own. This post reassures me that it’s okay to paint on quarter sheets or smaller. I need to cut some the many stacks of watercolor sheets I have into manageable artwork. It may sound foolish not to have thought about painting on on a smaller scale before but, it’s funny how we are affected by those around us. Now I can feel less intimidated by not facing such a large sheet and be free to learn to express myself in different ways. Thank you for your post. It’s never too late and you’re never too old to discover and learn new. Spring, after all is a great time for renewal and to feel recharged at any age you may be!
Thanks for sharing that, Jaqueline. I started painting watercolor after I has my first child. It was a lot quieter than playing my drums. Best of luck in your painting!
Excellent testimony! I began with acrylics in the ‘80s when the wearable art craze was in full swing. I had a lot of fun, but allergies made me sensitive to the smell of the paint. I gave it up and transitioned to creating on the computer working as a graphic designer and tech writer for 22 years. When I retired, I had a desire to paint with brush in hand and without the intrusion of an algorithm. I knew acrylics were out of the question and through trial and error, discovered watercolor. I fell instantly in love. The journey hasn’t been easy, but so worth it. I fell into a recent slump due to health issues, but prayed about it. No matter how I asked the questions about this depressing slump, the Holy Spirit answered “you must try.” So I did and am happily painting again. I always paint small. I’ve only painted one or two large pieces. It’s so much more manageable than large paintings. Thank you for sharing your art journey. Blessings to you and to the whole world!
@@rmuller366 Yes, it’s all about where the Spirit leads you. It’s been very difficult to find my way back into my studio the past few years but, I still have the hope that the joy I had for watercolor painting will return. Bless you for your comments . You have put a smile on my face with the remark on wearable art. I had painted many commissioned landscapes and portraits in acrylics but, had totally forgotten the “masterpieces” I had created on apparel in the 80’s. I still have small bright red sweatshirt that I had painted a T-Rex surrounded by flora and fauna of the Late Cretaceous epoch. This was done for my youngest so who was in kindergarten. I had plans on framing this shirt and give it back to him for one of his his birthdays but, had forgotten about it. I must frame that little red sweatshirt!
@@learntopaintwatercolor Matthew we all have to make such changes in order to express our creativity and promote growth. Aren’t you glad you did? The key is to do best you can and never look back!
Hi Jaqueline - I can relate to your post. I too used to paint in oil and acrylics (and was a printmaker), and life interfered and I did no art for decades. Finally, I returned and I'm learning watercolor, which is challenging for me because, unlike you, I have no history of painting with this medium and feel like I'm back to square one. When I was in art school in the 70's, you had to paint big to be appreciated (and women artists were generally not appreciated anyway)--they drummed that into our heads. I'm learning in new ways now and using smaller paper. I also have difficulty with "inspiration" but I am doing the best I can and I'm trying to paint something everyday (this video really nails excellent points about doing skies or figures or something--not having to do a whole painting). I went through all the images on my camera and put the most interesting ones in an album called "Painting Ideas" and now I'm printing them out one by one and making some kind of painting from them. This way I don't have to wait for inspiration (which is how I previously painted and hope to paint again, but in the meantime. . . ). I find this takes the pressure off me to come up with something good--I'm just trying to learn the craft.
Ever since I was a young girl, I would gaze at watercolor paintings and marvel at the translucent quality, layering and clear fresh color. At 58, I began, all self-taught, through UA-cam. I’m now 65 and just retired… what a luxury to have time to paint daily! Matthew, this IS THE KEY to improving! I’m still in love with how a few clean brush strokes can evoke an entire flood of emotion! Thank you for your wonderful teaching ❣️
That was an inspiring comment... I'm 40 now and 9 months pregnant waiting for my first delivery next month.... I too wanted to pursue my childhood dream to became a painter... Hope i'm not late...Your comment made me confident that i too can start after delivery. Thanks...
What keeps me coming back. to painting is the calming effect it has on me plus the fact that the results are totally dependent on my abilities alone. What keeps me coming back to your videos is the tone and tempo of your voice and very clear advice, thank you. You're a great teacher.
I knit because I love the feel of yarn. I garden for the love of the earth. I play the piano for the beautiful sound and I paint for the love of color. All of these activities put my mind at rest and give me peace.
I have tried painting off and on for decades but have only recentlyt begun to practice regularly. Your encouragement and the few tutorials I have watched are really enabling me to relax, practice regularly, and have fun. I really appreciate your specific tips and your slow, kind method of teaching.
I also tried to do larger paintings and discovered on my own about doing smaller paintings. I think it's a great help because like you said you can do more and do them often. I also feel that doing the smaller size helps you focus more on the shapes and seeing them as they are and not to get caught up in the details. It teaches you how to suggest more and let the viewer use their imagination to fill in the specifics.
Your suggestions are precise and sensible! I practice every day and have improved. After my failures I have the deepest humility, feel like quitting for five minutes, and get back to it. I can’t imagine life without it. Time and Space stand still. Thank You for your wonderful, inspiring videos.
I keep showing up because I love what the paint tells me about myself....you, Matthew, are an incredible guide--very wise, soft spoken, humble, talented....thank you.
For me, Watercolour is something new every day. I love change and Watercolour changes every time. I wholly agree with the painting small - WC doodles! I also have a small set up away from my art room, on the breakfast bar, and if the mood takes me, it is there ready! There aren’t many days I don’t paint!
Watercolor is magic - I get lost in it no matter what else is going on in my life - sometimes I pain something & when it dries it excites me & I want to pain more & more! Love it!
I have been painting portraits in oil for several years, sketching with pencil and ink, and have always struggled with water paints. I love your sessions as they help me understand this medium better...
Watercolor came to me late in life. The translucent colors and sense of light keep me painting daily. I feel I’m part of what I paint. I make small gifts that I can give to people and they’re happy to receive. In this digital age receiving a hand painted card means so much. All of this helps me stay motivated and moving forward in my art. Thank you for your thoughtful lessons.
Thank you for everything! What appeals me to painting is color. The first time I took a brush last year I was fascinated by color and overwhelmed by joy. How could I have ignored this so long ? Real mystery. It has definitely changed the world for me.
I keep coming back for the feeling of serenity that ALWAYS comes when I paint. I've had many hobbies in my life, and I've loved all of them, but this is one is the only one I can feel changing my body for the better. I'm still a beginner, and I've created very little up to this point that is any good at all, but I love all of my terrible paintings. I try to do all the tips in this video, and I know I will improve over time. Great channel btw.
Matt, I am very encouraged by watching this video. Thank you for the clear instructions on the 3 ways to speed up my learning of Water Color Painting. After all my trials & errors I am so glad that I am learning from you in the Water color Essentials and Joined your watercolor community. What keeps me coming back to watercolor painting is really the atmosphere and the magic result of using brushes filled with water and paint. Your teaching has provided me with a road map that I can follow. I appreciate how you provided me with the specific and timely feedbacks on my watercolor paintings. Having Joined the Water color Painting community has added even more inspiration and challenges to me as I see art works of others, receiving feedbacks from you and other students. I like what you shared at the end of this video by Elizabeth Gilbert: You can measure your worth by your dedication to your path not by your success or failure. I am definitely being more consistent and more focused in my water color painting. Thank you so much, Matt.
I went to my first art class with a friend because she thought I needed some activity, since I had just recently retired. The class medium was watercolor. I was so uninformed that I didn't know that watercolor was "hard" so I just dove into the class. I loved it so much that I just kept trying and trying to learn and improve my skills, but most of all I thoroughly enjoyed the process of putting paint and water to paper and watching what happens. Making a painting is not my only goal even though I do accomplish this "goal" from time to time. I just enjoy the process of watching the water and paint dance together and create the most beautiful things that I could never paint all by myself. Thank you for your guidance that I am on the right path. Just paint, paint, paint and enjoy every minute of it and as a bonus some beautiful art may come out of it too. I also paint small and find that it works great for my process. Less pressure to fill all of that space with something, anything etc. Plus the practice pieces make great cards that my friends and relatives just love. Designs that work out well on a small scale can be made larger (but not too large) for some great paintings. People have smaller homes with less wall space today and appreciate a well done smaller watercolor painting to brighten up their spaces. I just love the medium of watercolor.
Right on. Watching pigments disperse in magical directions gives me the same frisson of excitement as watching the Northern Lights dance across the skies, or clouds before a thunderstorm. And painting small is perfect as l also gift people my better efforts, and no one has ever complained.
This tutorial absolutely sang to me. I’ve been in a block and your message will help me I’m sure to get back in the game. Especially the part about going back to small. As a more intermediate artist, I started pushing myself to do larger pieces, but then went into that fear state and couldn’t get the brush on to the paper. Thanks millions for this message!!
All the three of your suggestions are very important. Thanks for sharing these valuable thoughts that can certainly help anybody to learn watercolor faster. I like to paint as it gives me lot of joy.
Dear Mathew, I am retired and learning the watercolor painting for last 2 years myself by going thru many videos on internet. So far I drawn around 200 paintings as a roughwork. Unfortunately I did not come across your video at that time. Else I would have learn faster. I believe in your techniques as I faced the same problems and I adopted the same things as you explained. That proves your truthfulness towards teaching techniques. Great. I will follow you in future. Thank you so much.
I started painting after surviving leukemia, and no longer being able to hike, ski, etc. I am surrounded by beauty and started to paint what I see. Your suggestions in this video will be very helpful. Thanks
The reason I keep coming back to painting, over the last 50+ years, is the sense of place and peace it brings me. In such a complex world, with so much bad news, I can escape, if even only in my minds eye, and it helps to ground me, emotionally and mentally.
Matthew, you are a great instructor. I am getting back into my art practice after 20 years and am doing all of these steps to refresh and build skills. I paint in oil but am using watercolor and acrylics for this part of my growth as an artist. I find there is no better feeling than the timelessness I often experience when painting. I agree, show up, do the work, the magic will happen.
Truly superb. Extra bonus: these ideas frequently translate well to other disciplines so success at applying them here may spill over into other endeavors! Your teaching is both exceptionally practical and delightfully motivating. I'm very grateful to you for the time you've invested in making these videos available. Oh, and also for the calm way you instruct.
So insightful and uplifting! Thank you for reminding us why we pick up a brush! Onward to intentional painting! I keep it up because I put all noise out of my mind and just concentrate on colors and shapes.When I’m done I get a real sense of the subject and it’s surroundings
Just subscribed Matthew, after watching a number of videos. You’ve touched on some of the things that bother me although I started again 5 years ago and have improved through tutorials. You seem to have mastered Watercolour painting in a short time. I keep coming back to it because of the sheer pleasure it gives me when the paint surprises me , when it does what I hoped it would do, when the magic appears. Thanks.
I love to share things I'm seeing and thinking with friends and family, and watercolor lets me take it a step farther than just sending them a photo. I love the process, and at the end I have a tiny piece of my world that I can send to a friend. I'm painting mostly at 4"x6" so they make good cards and postcards. I signed up for the courses and it's totally worth it. Thanks, Matt!
Terrific suggestions Matthew! You've inspired me to keep painting small (I paint mostly in sketchbooks, 5x7, 5x8, 7x7) and to focus on practicing skills. I decided I want practice painting food, so online I found a simple, close-up photo of a stack of cookies and painted that yesterday. It made me realize that I need to work on wet-in-wet backgrounds and shadows. I've written down your three steps and posted them on my desk.
Matt, I watched this video before, but after my recent practices in painting water color following your demonstrations, I can now understand these three things are what I need to do consistently. What has kept me going in painting water color is the joy of seeing the transparent water color painting on the paper. Seeing I can paint some thing I like, and there are so many beautiful and meaningful subjects around to paint brings me great joy. Consequently, doing water color painting has filled my daily life with good learning, this then led me to be enthusiastic about what I would like to paint next. Time flies when I do water color painting!
Thank you for sharing this video and suggestions of painting smaller sizes. Painting for me is like a meditation, helping to "turn off" the mind and the thoughts. It helps to achieve sensation of being 'here and now".
Reasons why I keep coming back to watercolor: 1) creating brings me joy 2) creating is therapeutic for me 3) I love color 4) creating gives me a sense of capturing an image and holding onto it, making it my own 5) my dream is to define myself in part by my creative works. Thank you for this very helpful tutorial. While my painting brings me personal joy, I hope to improve as an artist.
Thank you Matthew. Three great pieces of advice which I shall start to put into practice right away. As to why I want to paint and paint in watercolour, I really have no idea. I’ve just got to do it!
Awesome video, thank you Matthew. I keep coming back to watercolors because it just allows me to create anything I want with some simple, cheap tools, and I don't need to bother with hyper realism of acrylics and other mediums ^_^
I too gain a sense of peace when painting. I only began 8 months ago at aged 66 and have learned so much by painting every day. And the fact that I have so much more to learn is wonderful. It is never ending, like gardening and I just love it.
Thank you so much for this lesson and for all your lessons! I have learned some valuable tips on watercolor. I’ve been teaching myself for quite a while and your lessons of have helped me overcome mistakes I continued to make. And I keep coming back to watercolor because I absolutely love it. I picked up a brush late in life but it’s been a great adventure !!! So, thank you for helping me along my way!
Great advice Mathew! I love the adventure and the journey in learning new art skills. Your advice really applies to learning all mediums. But currently I'm focused on watercolor and I'm enjoying your videos. Thank you!
Thank you for this! What you say really resonates and I agree. It’s important to look at each piece as learning, not as a potential success or failure. Once I started doing this alone, I started painting more a lot more. Your videos are great! You have such an honest and encouraging approach.
For me, it's the potential to get into a state of flow. I don't always achieve this, but occasionally (more often as I improve), I just lose track of the passage of time, and I become absorbed in what I'm doing. There's nothing more magical than losing yourself in the work and being content as you do so. I'm at my best when I don't expect anything from my self or materials; I'm just present, with the intention of painting. It's something that I have found in watercolor painting that I have rarely experienced with any other activity.
I used to think like you when I started my art studies. Now I look back and I think I would have been much happier if I would start painting with less preasure over myself. And definitely I would painted much more. I really loved to hear this. It makes me feel understood. Thank you!
I am new to drawing and water color, though I have always enjoyed working on crafts and art projects casually. Once I decided to be more serious, what I like the most about painting is how much you learn from each little step in the process. To see those pieces build upon one another and to see improvement in just small steps, is awesome. What I like most though is the feeling of painting. I like the physical feel of the way my body moves as I put color to paper. I like the way water color flows. I connect stress release to body movements and helps with that. I am often limited in other ways due to disabilities. Art is another tool in my tool box I can turn to.
As soon as you asked why one paints, I immediately blurted inwardly, "For peace, of course." Then, you continued on to say in the video that you also paint for that sense of peace. Wow, that surely is a connection, isn't it! My retirement has brought me back to my age of thirteen when I stopped visiting the art studio. At the time my mother could no longer afford my art lessons since my father (the sole bread-winner)'s sudden passing. But I never left the dream of painting some day. After over 35 years later, now I paint in a room where my daughter used to play the piano and sing. Yes, it is an empty room but certainly is filled with peace once I sit down and pick up my brush. Thanks for the three tips for a beginner level wan-na-be artist.
Thanks for all your advice. I agree about the benefit of using smaller canvases. I cut out a 6 inch square from heavy card and use that to pencil in a frame onto larger watercolour paper. Sketch the scene, then work as you suggest from light tones to darkest shadows in stages. I've improved a lot recently by doing this. The final, darkest tone detail stage is very satisfying.
Brilliant advice! Going to share this video with my team beginner class! Perfect timing as we had our last class last night. They are full of information and some skills and some practice. Now time to sit and play. I am on your page or “ just show up”. I go to my studio often with no intention except “ just paint”. If I have no subject or idea or inspiration I play with colours or different papers or effects. Or I troll through my references until I get inspiration and then play with it. No more of “ I have to paint a MASTERPIECE each time I sit down. “ I think this feeling comes with time and practice, experience and increasing confidence which only comes from time and practice and practice and NOT being hard on yourself or your results. ( still work in progress there…) paint simple subjects is the best. Don’t scare yourself away. Paint the crow NOT the peacock… thanks again for great advice!
I haven't started painting yet, but my interest in watercolour started by watching anime cells and backgrounds in watercolour and the touch that the technique gives just captivated me. I've been watching videos from different artists and I want to create something as beautiful that I can show and gift. I hope I can start within a few weeks so I can make paintings of different scenes and of the many thing I like
You are absolutely 💯 right. A sense of peace and bringing you into the present moment helps us deal with the hardness in life ....the hatred....the violence....all the things humanity can overcome , well , painting, just the simple act in itself brings peace . Thankyou
Loose landscape paintings with vague hazy figures for me were the reason, they are quite evocative & leave a positive joyous (sort of nostalgic) impression, especially the good ones by good artists.
Thank you Matthew to provide this video. This is my first time seen your video and it is so helpful. For me, I just love painting by nature since when I was a child, and also feel excited when I see good paintings from other artists. I just love, love and love....anything about painting, it is hard to explain why.😄
Thank you, Matthew. Great suggestions. Good reminders. I keep coming back to watercolour painting because I enjoy that "inner conversation" between me, the subject, the paper and paint... sometimes robust, sometimes tentative, but always peaceful (as you've said) at the end of each journey.
thank you for your tips. Watercolor DOES give me a sense of peace but I am also an impatient perfectionist so I want to paint a masterpiece every time I sit down, even if I'm just a beginner. so this is helpful.
This was a very helpful video not just for the practical tips but for the way to approach painting as a way to be more of who you are as an artist. Thank you for thoughtfully sharing your skills and from your heart.
So love your paintings Matthew..and your teaching ability....painting for me is joy and complete relaxation..hope I can keep following you..Thank you..Ann
I find your videos very inspiring and I learn a lot every time I watch one watercolour painting for me takes me to my right side of the brain where it's peaceful time just passes colours I love
Really great advice. I haven't painted in years, but videos like this give me the hunger to do it again. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.
Thank you for this video. I need to be reminded why i have started to paint witch is that its calming and the closest i come to meditation. But lately i get frustrated that its not perfect and that is because i see all the awesome things people post on Instagram. I often forget i just have started and often think others make perfect paintings every time they paint something. Im greatful for this video and the reminder to why i started doing this🙏
GREAT suggestions. Thanks. Just split my 11x15! Time for a couple of skies. Why I come back? It can be so exciting to see something appear on that white page and create beauty, and that compensates for the frustration .
Thank you so much. I'm an absolute beginner and you have given me some of the best advice so far! I have taken classes and have been frustrated and wasted money. But I want to enjoy myself. I think with your tips I will!
yes, enjoying it is everything, really. I think we humans have an incredible way of living under so much pressure of unrealistic expectations that we never find the joy of simple things. Feeling the brush touch the paper and seeing the color blend and melt into the page with the water is such a gift! happy painting. from another beginner. 🌅 ( I’m inspired that you have kept going after frustrations…that’s awesome! )
@@creativezebra5757 I’d much rather forget mine. Both classroom experiences were AWFUL! Not just a waste of money, but horrible people that had no business teaching art to anyone. Both were discouraging to others and full of themselves. I’ll never take another class again because of those two and this happened to me decades ago.
With the benefit of the wonderful, helpful, and humble artists here on UA-cam, I’ll never have to enter a classroom again. Thank God! I had two horrible experiences in classroom settings decades ago and have never forgotten them. Both of these people should never have taught art or anything. Both were discouraging to others and full of themselves. It was a nightmare. I’ll never attend another class because of it. Thank you Matthew for all your help and advice. So grateful I found your channel.
Thank you for this beautiful tips, I keep on practice because I want to paint my family member especially my children and I won't pay any amount to others to do that but most of all I'm happy when I painting any thing created by our Almighty. His creation is soo wonderful.
Hey thanks for creating these, your videos are filled with a lot of essence in comparison to the other videos wherein i really have a hard time grasping their infos
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For me, when I am regularly painting I start seeing the world differently. I notice light and colour around me and appreciate it so much more. In the actual painting process, there's just always that thrill of capturing something by your own hand and the anticipation of seeing it all come together as you reach the end of your work!
So true, Jess. It's changed how I see the world for sure.
Amen!
Really appreciate your tips. Watercolor painting takes me into a different world.
Yes, you’re right. I notice shapes and colours so much more now. It’s wonderful 😊
So true...and tricky while driving and attracted to the values and colours of the clouds or sunsets. There is never a good spot to pull over to take a photo. 😊
For me, I never liked art until I got a brain tumor and had five brain surgeries to deal with it and the associated infection. It destroyed my career as a nurse. Just before my elderly Mom died, I started painting watercolors and she loved it. I spent a small fortune on paints and supplies. It has become my passion and I promised my Mom in heaven I would become a watercolor painter. I think the change in my brain helped me become somewhat artistic and the fact that I have all these beautiful paints and brushes keeps me painting. A girl always wants to make their Mom proud so I try to keep learning more every day. It's difficult when you have a terrible memory issue.
Wow, thank you for sharing that! Best of luck to you in your painting.
I began in oils almost 6 decades ago. I had a brief, successfully transition in acrylic painting but, having 3 little boys running around prohibited painting any further with this medium. That’s when I picked up an old set of artist’s quality watercolors gifted by my dad from many years prior. I fell instantly in love with watercolors and I have not looked back! I was always expected to paint large paintings by my husband and all around me. Every painting I had done over the next 30 years was on a full sheet. They were very successful paintings but, the demands of painting on a full sheet was not very conducive to my growth as a watercolor artist. I am very fortunate to I have a large, bright studio to work in but, now I don’t paint anymore. I need to rediscover what I had found so rewarding painting in this medium many years ago. I enjoy viewing the many watercolor posts from artists around the world that are out there, hoping one will turn on the switch that’s inside of me. My husband had passed away years ago, my sons are now grown with teenage children of their own. This post reassures me that it’s okay to paint on quarter sheets or smaller. I need to cut some the many stacks of watercolor sheets I have into manageable artwork. It may sound foolish not to have thought about painting on on a smaller scale before but, it’s funny how we are affected by those around us. Now I can feel less intimidated by not facing such a large sheet and be free to learn to express myself in different ways. Thank you for your post. It’s never too late and you’re never too old to discover and learn new. Spring, after all is a great time for renewal and to feel recharged at any age you may be!
Thanks for sharing that, Jaqueline. I started painting watercolor after I has my first child. It was a lot quieter than playing my drums. Best of luck in your painting!
Excellent testimony! I began with acrylics in the ‘80s when the wearable art craze was in full swing. I had a lot of fun, but allergies made me sensitive to the smell of the paint. I gave it up and transitioned to creating on the computer working as a graphic designer and tech writer for 22 years. When I retired, I had a desire to paint with brush in hand and without the intrusion of an algorithm. I knew acrylics were out of the question and through trial and error, discovered watercolor. I fell instantly in love. The journey hasn’t been easy, but so worth it. I fell into a recent slump due to health issues, but prayed about it. No matter how I asked the questions about this depressing slump, the Holy Spirit answered “you must try.” So I did and am happily painting again. I always paint small. I’ve only painted one or two large pieces. It’s so much more manageable than large paintings. Thank you for sharing your art journey. Blessings to you and to the whole world!
@@rmuller366 Yes, it’s all about where the Spirit leads you. It’s been very difficult to find my way back into my studio the past few years but, I still have the hope that the joy I had for watercolor painting will return. Bless you for your comments . You have put a smile on my face with the remark on wearable art. I had painted many commissioned landscapes and portraits in acrylics but, had totally forgotten the “masterpieces” I had created on apparel in the 80’s. I still have small bright red sweatshirt that I had painted a T-Rex surrounded by flora and fauna of the Late Cretaceous epoch. This was done for my youngest so who was in kindergarten. I had plans on framing this shirt and give it back to him for one of his his birthdays but, had forgotten about it. I must frame that little red sweatshirt!
@@learntopaintwatercolor Matthew we all have to make such changes in order to express our creativity and promote growth. Aren’t you glad you did? The key is to do best you can and never look back!
Hi Jaqueline - I can relate to your post. I too used to paint in oil and acrylics (and was a printmaker), and life interfered and I did no art for decades. Finally, I returned and I'm learning watercolor, which is challenging for me because, unlike you, I have no history of painting with this medium and feel like I'm back to square one. When I was in art school in the 70's, you had to paint big to be appreciated (and women artists were generally not appreciated anyway)--they drummed that into our heads. I'm learning in new ways now and using smaller paper. I also have difficulty with "inspiration" but I am doing the best I can and I'm trying to paint something everyday (this video really nails excellent points about doing skies or figures or something--not having to do a whole painting). I went through all the images on my camera and put the most interesting ones in an album called "Painting Ideas" and now I'm printing them out one by one and making some kind of painting from them. This way I don't have to wait for inspiration (which is how I previously painted and hope to paint again, but in the meantime. . . ). I find this takes the pressure off me to come up with something good--I'm just trying to learn the craft.
Ever since I was a young girl, I would gaze at watercolor paintings and marvel at the translucent quality, layering and clear fresh color. At 58, I began, all self-taught, through UA-cam. I’m now 65 and just retired… what a luxury to have time to paint daily! Matthew, this IS THE KEY to improving! I’m still in love with how a few clean brush strokes can evoke an entire flood of emotion!
Thank you for your wonderful teaching ❣️
That's great, Becky! Yes, painting daily is so helpful. I'm happy that you are getting time to dedicate to your art! Best of luck in your painting.
That was an inspiring comment... I'm 40 now and 9 months pregnant waiting for my first delivery next month.... I too wanted to pursue my childhood dream to became a painter... Hope i'm not late...Your comment made me confident that i too can start after delivery. Thanks...
Awww… so glad to hear this! You go, girl!😍
What keeps me coming back. to painting is the calming effect it has on me plus the fact that the results are totally dependent on my abilities alone.
What keeps me coming back to your videos is the tone and tempo of your voice and very clear advice, thank you. You're a great teacher.
Thank you! Very kind of you.
I knit because I love the feel of yarn. I garden for the love of the earth. I play the piano for the beautiful sound and I paint for the love of color. All of these activities put my mind at rest and give me peace.
The reason to keep coming back…it’s a fun challenge!
I have tried painting off and on for decades but have only recentlyt begun to practice regularly. Your encouragement and the few tutorials I have watched are really enabling me to relax, practice regularly, and have fun. I really appreciate your specific tips and your slow, kind method of teaching.
I also tried to do larger paintings and discovered on my own about doing smaller paintings. I think it's a great help because like you said you can do more and do them often. I also feel that doing the smaller size helps you focus more on the shapes and seeing them as they are and not to get caught up in the details. It teaches you how to suggest more and let the viewer use their imagination to fill in the specifics.
Great points!
Your suggestions are precise and sensible! I practice every day and have improved. After my failures I have the deepest humility, feel like quitting for five minutes, and get back to it. I can’t imagine life without it. Time and Space stand still. Thank You for your wonderful, inspiring videos.
Well said!
I keep showing up because I love what the paint tells me about myself....you, Matthew, are an incredible guide--very wise, soft spoken, humble, talented....thank you.
For me, Watercolour is something new every day. I love change and Watercolour changes every time. I wholly agree with the painting small - WC doodles! I also have a small set up away from my art room, on the breakfast bar, and if the mood takes me, it is there ready! There aren’t many days I don’t paint!
Watercolor is magic - I get lost in it no matter what else is going on in my life - sometimes I pain something & when it dries it excites me & I want to pain more & more! Love it!
I have been painting portraits in oil for several years, sketching with pencil and ink, and have always struggled with water paints. I love your sessions as they help me understand this medium better...
Watercolor came to me late in life. The translucent colors and sense of light keep me painting daily. I feel I’m part of what I paint. I make small gifts that I can give to people and they’re happy to receive. In this digital age receiving a hand painted card means so much. All of this helps me stay motivated and moving forward in my art. Thank you for your thoughtful lessons.
Thank you for everything! What appeals me to painting is color. The first time I took a brush last year I was fascinated by color and overwhelmed by joy. How could I have ignored this so long ? Real mystery. It has definitely changed the world for me.
Very much! Thank you!
what I love of watercolor is the colors, and the light, how the light goes through the colors
I keep coming back for the feeling of serenity that ALWAYS comes when I paint. I've had many hobbies in my life, and I've loved all of them, but this is one is the only one I can feel changing my body for the better. I'm still a beginner, and I've created very little up to this point that is any good at all, but I love all of my terrible paintings. I try to do all the tips in this video, and I know I will improve over time. Great channel btw.
It’s the joy ❤️
Matt,
I am very encouraged by watching this video. Thank you for the clear instructions on the 3 ways to speed up my learning of Water Color Painting. After all my trials & errors I am so glad that I am learning from you in the Water color Essentials and Joined your watercolor community. What keeps me coming back to watercolor painting is really the atmosphere and the magic result of using brushes filled with water and paint. Your teaching has provided me with a road map that I can follow. I appreciate how you provided me with the specific and timely feedbacks on my watercolor paintings. Having Joined the Water color Painting community has added even more inspiration and challenges to me as I see art works of others, receiving feedbacks from you and other students. I like what you shared at the end of this video by Elizabeth Gilbert: You can measure your worth by your dedication to your path not by your success or failure. I am definitely being more consistent and more focused in my water color painting. Thank you so much, Matt.
I went to my first art class with a friend because she thought I needed some activity, since I had just recently retired. The class medium was watercolor. I was so uninformed that I didn't know that watercolor was "hard" so I just dove into the class. I loved it so much that I just kept trying and trying to learn and improve my skills, but most of all I thoroughly enjoyed the process of putting paint and water to paper and watching what happens. Making a painting is not my only goal even though I do accomplish this "goal" from time to time. I just enjoy the process of watching the water and paint dance together and create the most beautiful things that I could never paint all by myself. Thank you for your guidance that I am on the right path. Just paint, paint, paint and enjoy every minute of it and as a bonus some beautiful art may come out of it too.
I also paint small and find that it works great for my process. Less pressure to fill all of that space with something, anything etc. Plus the practice pieces make great cards that my friends and relatives just love. Designs that work out well on a small scale can be made larger (but not too large) for some great paintings. People have smaller homes with less wall space today and appreciate a well done smaller watercolor painting to brighten up their spaces.
I just love the medium of watercolor.
Right on. Watching pigments disperse in magical directions gives me the same frisson of excitement as watching the Northern Lights dance across the skies, or clouds before a thunderstorm. And painting small is perfect as l also gift people my better efforts, and no one has ever complained.
This tutorial absolutely sang to me. I’ve been in a block and your message will help me I’m sure to get back in the game. Especially the part about going back to small. As a more intermediate artist, I started pushing myself to do larger pieces, but then went into that fear state and couldn’t get the brush on to the paper. Thanks millions for this message!!
All the three of your suggestions are very important. Thanks for sharing these valuable thoughts that can certainly help anybody to learn watercolor faster. I like to paint as it gives me lot of joy.
Dear Mathew, I am retired and learning the watercolor painting for last 2 years myself by going thru many videos on internet. So far I drawn around 200 paintings as a roughwork. Unfortunately I did not come across your video at that time. Else I would have learn faster. I believe in your techniques as I faced the same problems and I adopted the same things as you explained. That proves your truthfulness towards teaching techniques. Great. I will follow you in future. Thank you so much.
I started painting after surviving leukemia, and no longer being able to hike, ski, etc. I am surrounded by beauty and started to paint what I see. Your suggestions in this video will be very helpful. Thanks
The reason I keep coming back to painting, over the last 50+ years, is the sense of place and peace it brings me. In such a complex world, with so much bad news, I can escape, if even only in my minds eye, and it helps to ground me, emotionally and mentally.
Those are great reasons.
Matthew, you are a great instructor. I am getting back into my art practice after 20 years and am doing all of these steps to refresh and build skills. I paint in oil but am using watercolor and acrylics for this part of my growth as an artist. I find there is no better feeling than the timelessness I often experience when painting. I agree, show up, do the work, the magic will happen.
Truly superb. Extra bonus: these ideas frequently translate well to other disciplines so success at applying them here may spill over into other endeavors! Your teaching is both exceptionally practical and delightfully motivating. I'm very grateful to you for the time you've invested in making these videos available. Oh, and also for the calm way you instruct.
Very kind of you! Thanks!
Yes, I love the meditative aspect of watercolor, just like journaling. Great tips. Thank you.
You're welcome! Glad you liked it.
So insightful and uplifting! Thank you for reminding us why we pick up a brush! Onward to intentional painting! I keep it up because I put all noise out of my mind and just concentrate on colors and shapes.When I’m done I get a real sense of the subject and it’s surroundings
Just subscribed Matthew, after watching a number of videos. You’ve touched on some of the things that bother me although I started again 5 years ago and have improved through tutorials. You seem to have mastered Watercolour painting in a short time.
I keep coming back to it because of the sheer pleasure it gives me when the paint surprises me , when it does what I hoped it would do, when the magic appears. Thanks.
I love to share things I'm seeing and thinking with friends and family, and watercolor lets me take it a step farther than just sending them a photo. I love the process, and at the end I have a tiny piece of my world that I can send to a friend. I'm painting mostly at 4"x6" so they make good cards and postcards. I signed up for the courses and it's totally worth it. Thanks, Matt!
Terrific suggestions Matthew! You've inspired me to keep painting small (I paint mostly in sketchbooks, 5x7, 5x8, 7x7) and to focus on practicing skills. I decided I want practice painting food, so online I found a simple, close-up photo of a stack of cookies and painted that yesterday. It made me realize that I need to work on wet-in-wet backgrounds and shadows. I've written down your three steps and posted them on my desk.
Thanks, Jill! Glad you liked the video. Best of luck in your painting!
Matt, I watched this video before, but after my recent practices in painting water color following your demonstrations, I can now understand these three things are what I need to do consistently. What has kept me going in painting water color is the joy of seeing the transparent water color painting on the paper. Seeing I can paint some thing I like, and there are so many beautiful and meaningful subjects around to paint brings me great joy. Consequently, doing water color painting has filled my daily life with good learning, this then led me to be enthusiastic about what I would like to paint next. Time flies when I do water color painting!
Thank you for sharing this video and suggestions of painting smaller sizes. Painting for me is like a meditation, helping to "turn off" the mind and the thoughts. It helps to achieve sensation of being 'here and now".
Reasons why I keep coming back to watercolor: 1) creating brings me joy 2) creating is therapeutic for me 3) I love color 4) creating gives me a sense of capturing an image and holding onto it, making it my own 5) my dream is to define myself in part by my creative works. Thank you for this very helpful tutorial. While my painting brings me personal joy, I hope to improve as an artist.
Great reasons!
Muchas gracias por los consejos, Dios te bendiga.
Thank you Matthew. Three great pieces of advice which I shall start to put into practice right away. As to why I want to paint and paint in watercolour, I really have no idea. I’ve just got to do it!
I get lost and find peace and it is rewarding. Love this lesson
Awesome video, thank you Matthew. I keep coming back to watercolors because it just allows me to create anything I want with some simple, cheap tools, and I don't need to bother with hyper realism of acrylics and other mediums ^_^
I love the peace and losing myself in painting. I’m working to improve always. I really like your advice.
I too gain a sense of peace when painting. I only began 8 months ago at aged 66 and have learned so much by painting every day. And the fact that I have so much more to learn is wonderful. It is never ending, like gardening and I just love it.
what keeps me coming back to painting is that I can find in it a little time for inner peace and relaxation. Thank you Matthew!
Thank you for highlighting the importance of timing in the watercolor process!
Thank you so much for this lesson and for all your lessons! I have learned some valuable tips on watercolor. I’ve been teaching myself for quite a while and your lessons of have helped me overcome mistakes I continued to make. And I keep coming back to watercolor because I absolutely love it. I picked up a brush late in life but it’s been a great adventure !!! So, thank you for helping me along my way!
Great advice Mathew! I love the adventure and the journey in learning new art skills. Your advice really applies to learning all mediums. But currently I'm focused on watercolor and I'm enjoying your videos. Thank you!
Great to hear!
I think I love creating something that is good in some small way. Same with sewing, writing, etc. Thank you for these great tips.
Thanks for your suggestions
You are knocking it out of the park for me this morning. Especially to practice all the time. It’s really the only way to improve.
Thank you for this! What you say really resonates and I agree. It’s important to look at each piece as learning, not as a potential success or failure. Once I started doing this alone, I started painting more a lot more. Your videos are great! You have such an honest and encouraging approach.
For me, it's the potential to get into a state of flow. I don't always achieve this, but occasionally (more often as I improve), I just lose track of the passage of time, and I become absorbed in what I'm doing. There's nothing more magical than losing yourself in the work and being content as you do so. I'm at my best when I don't expect anything from my self or materials; I'm just present, with the intention of painting. It's something that I have found in watercolor painting that I have rarely experienced with any other activity.
Relaxing and observing
What great suggestions. Thank you! I love the challenge of painting and the fun of trying new techniques.
I used to think like you when I started my art studies. Now I look back and I think I would have been much happier if I would start painting with less preasure over myself. And definitely I would painted much more. I really loved to hear this. It makes me feel understood. Thank you!
So glad to hear that. Best of luck in your painting!
I am new to drawing and water color, though I have always enjoyed working on crafts and art projects casually. Once I decided to be more serious, what I like the most about painting is how much you learn from each little step in the process. To see those pieces build upon one another and to see improvement in just small steps, is awesome. What I like most though is the feeling of painting. I like the physical feel of the way my body moves as I put color to paper. I like the way water color flows. I connect stress release to body movements and helps with that. I am often limited in other ways due to disabilities. Art is another tool in my tool box I can turn to.
I love this guy clearly spelling out intituitive understanding of my own mistakes and "bite more than one can chew" mindset. Lucky that I found you
Love this... when a paInting works i feel a lot of joy... thank you...
That is a great feeling.
As soon as you asked why one paints, I immediately blurted inwardly, "For peace, of course." Then, you continued on to say in the video that you also paint for that sense of peace. Wow, that surely is a connection, isn't it! My retirement has brought me back to my age of thirteen when I stopped visiting the art studio. At the time my mother could no longer afford my art lessons since my father (the sole bread-winner)'s sudden passing. But I never left the dream of painting some day. After over 35 years later, now I paint in a room where my daughter used to play the piano and sing. Yes, it is an empty room but certainly is filled with peace once I sit down and pick up my brush. Thanks for the three tips for a beginner level wan-na-be artist.
That’s wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Best of luck in your painting and much peace.
Joy, focus, involvement!
Thank you for these tips. I devote 40 minutes a day to my watercolor practice. I enjoy your advice. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
That's great! Best of luck!
One of the best videos on the subject I've seen.
Thank you. I appreciate that!
Matthew - thankyou! I was doing this too! stressing about painting large and ... well you said it best ... start small and often...
Thanks for all your advice. I agree about the benefit of using smaller canvases. I cut out a 6 inch square from heavy card and use that to pencil in a frame onto larger watercolour paper. Sketch the scene, then work as you suggest from light tones to darkest shadows in stages. I've improved a lot recently by doing this. The final, darkest tone detail stage is very satisfying.
Brilliant advice! Going to share this video with my team beginner class! Perfect timing as we had our last class last night. They are full of information and some skills and some practice. Now time to sit and play. I am on your page or “ just show up”. I go to my studio often with no intention except “ just paint”. If I have no subject or idea or inspiration I play with colours or different papers or effects. Or I troll through my references until I get inspiration and then play with it. No more of “ I have to paint a MASTERPIECE each time I sit down. “ I think this feeling comes with time and practice, experience and increasing confidence which only comes from time and practice and practice and NOT being hard on yourself or your results. ( still work in progress there…) paint simple subjects is the best. Don’t scare yourself away. Paint the crow NOT the peacock… thanks again for great advice!
Love your tip , paint the crow, not the peacock 😀
Painting allows me to slow down. After a long stressful day, I get to calm down and it feels good to see the outcome.
Yes, I love that.
Excellent. Thank you for teaching this.
really interesting , its helping out tremendously
I needed your bonus point. Thank you for what you’re doing and sharing.
I haven't started painting yet, but my interest in watercolour started by watching anime cells and backgrounds in watercolour and the touch that the technique gives just captivated me. I've been watching videos from different artists and I want to create something as beautiful that I can show and gift. I hope I can start within a few weeks so I can make paintings of different scenes and of the many thing I like
Those tips are so valuable! I love the quote as well.
Glad you liked it!!
You are absolutely 💯 right.
A sense of peace and bringing you into the present moment helps us deal with the hardness in life ....the hatred....the violence....all the things humanity can overcome , well , painting, just the simple act in itself brings peace .
Thankyou
You’re welcome. Yes, painting is a great mental break.
Thankyou ! I’m going back to painting small and practicing techniques.
Best of luck!
Loose landscape paintings with vague hazy figures for me were the reason, they are quite evocative & leave a positive joyous (sort of nostalgic) impression, especially the good ones by good artists.
You nailed….the sense of presence that you feel makes keep coming back! That goes music practice too.
Thank you Matthew to provide this video. This is my first time seen your video and it is so helpful. For me, I just love painting by nature since when I was a child, and also feel excited when I see good paintings from other artists. I just love, love and love....anything about painting, it is hard to explain why.😄
Glad it was helpful! Welcome!
Very good advice. Thank you. Motivation = sheer happiness that painting brings.
Thank you, Matthew. Great suggestions. Good reminders.
I keep coming back to watercolour painting because I enjoy that "inner conversation" between me, the subject, the paper and paint... sometimes robust, sometimes tentative, but always peaceful (as you've said) at the end of each journey.
Thanks for sharing that, Benson.
I am very glad to have found your channel. Thank you for teaching. I know I will fail and I know I will keep on trying because it’s fun and relaxing.
Welcome!
Like a book, painting takes me to a wonderful, serene, immersed place of ME.
Thank you. I need to go back to basics.
thank you for your tips. Watercolor DOES give me a sense of peace but I am also an impatient perfectionist so I want to paint a masterpiece every time I sit down, even if I'm just a beginner. so this is helpful.
I hear you. I can be that way at times too.
I agree.i love to paint - anything. Just mixing colors together.
This was a very helpful video not just for the practical tips but for the way to approach painting as a way to be more of who you are as an artist. Thank you for thoughtfully sharing your skills and from your heart.
So love your paintings Matthew..and your teaching ability....painting for me is joy and complete relaxation..hope I can keep following you..Thank you..Ann
I find your videos very inspiring and I learn a lot every time I watch one watercolour painting for me takes me to my right side of the brain where it's peaceful time just passes colours I love
Really great advice. I haven't painted in years, but videos like this give me the hunger to do it again. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.
Thank you for this video. I need to be reminded why i have started to paint witch is that its calming and the closest i come to meditation. But lately i get frustrated that its not perfect and that is because i see all the awesome things people post on Instagram. I often forget i just have started and often think others make perfect paintings every time they paint something. Im greatful for this video and the reminder to why i started doing this🙏
Excellent advice! Thank you! Peace is wonderful!
GREAT suggestions. Thanks. Just split my 11x15! Time for a couple of skies. Why I come back? It can be so exciting to see something appear on that white page and create beauty, and that compensates for the frustration .
Thank you so much. I'm an absolute beginner and you have given me some of the best advice so far! I have taken classes and have been frustrated and wasted money. But I want to enjoy myself. I think with your tips I will!
So glad to hear that! Best of luck in your painting.
yes, enjoying it is everything, really. I think we humans have an incredible way of living under so much pressure of unrealistic expectations that we never find the joy of simple things. Feeling the brush touch the paper and seeing the color blend and melt into the page with the water is such a gift! happy painting. from another beginner. 🌅 ( I’m inspired that you have kept going after frustrations…that’s awesome! )
You havnt wasted money. Those memories of being in class will stay with you for ever. 😀
@@creativezebra5757 I’d much rather forget mine. Both classroom experiences were AWFUL! Not just a waste of money, but horrible people that had no business teaching art to anyone. Both were discouraging to others and full of themselves. I’ll never take another class again because of those two and this happened to me decades ago.
With the benefit of the wonderful, helpful, and humble artists here on UA-cam, I’ll never have to enter a classroom again. Thank God! I had two horrible experiences in classroom settings decades ago and have never forgotten them. Both of these people should never have taught art or anything. Both were discouraging to others and full of themselves. It was a nightmare. I’ll never attend another class because of it. Thank you Matthew for all your help and advice. So grateful I found your channel.
So very helpful. Thanks.
Watercolor brings me a feeling of peace and accomplishment.
Thank you for helping me understand this medium A LOT more
Very good advice and so encouraging to someone new to watercolors.
Thank you for this beautiful tips, I keep on practice because I want to paint my family member especially my children and I won't pay any amount to others to do that but most of all I'm happy when I painting any thing created by our Almighty. His creation is soo wonderful.
Hey thanks for creating these, your videos are filled with a lot of essence in comparison to the other videos wherein i really have a hard time grasping their infos
So glad to hear that!
I'm very glad I stumbled on your site. Everything you say makes sense. Thank you.
Glad to have you. Welcome!
Thank you, I always wanted a finished piece that i could be proud of, it didn't happen often, now I will try to chill out a bit....
Painting for me is therapeutic. I get lost in the joy and challenge of the process. Great videos. Thank you
You are so welcome!