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 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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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 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...
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.
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.
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.
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 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
12:45: You should be a therapist! Painting is therapy for me (mindfulness). All points you make are very relevant. I really enjoyed painting Christmas cards this past December. They are small, quick to paint, give me practice and are rewarding making me want to paint more. Thank you!
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!!
Hello 🙂 I started out as a watercolorist over 27 years ago. I am now a silk artist. I am not a good watercolor artist, but being a bad watercolor artist has made me a good silk artist. It sounds weird, but it works for me. I am constantly learning from these watercolor videos and what I learn I use for my silk art. I can't find videos that show what I'd like to see in silk painting. I'm seriously thinking about just making the videos I seek from others. I honestly don't know if there are people who'd be interested in any of that?🤷🏼♀️ Meanwhile, I'm still learning from other great watercolor artists like you 🙂 I'm planning on recreating your watercolor painting with the 3 lamps and 2 people walking - but without the people. I love watercolor though I'm awful at it. I just found your channel a few days ago and I love what you teach! Thank you so very much for sharing your techniques and your knowledge. You are a very good teacher! I am going to take your advice given in this video to paint smaller, more often and make simpler subjects, though I'm painting people portraits, pet portraits, wildlife, etc. Thank you, again! God Bless 😃
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thank you Matthew for your advice, it helps me a lot. I am already an old man (63) and I put off my hobby of drawing and painting all my life. I paint to relax and not think about things that stress me. I live in Argentina, so you can imagine that there are no shortage of reasons to be stressed. I feel healthy envy when I see your ability and work on it. May God take care of you and thank you again. (I don't speak English, so I wrote and translated with Google Translator) 😬😬😬
Well, let me add my little "bit"...I have a woodland photo with a stream running through it and loved the way the light hit the ruffles in the shallow part of the water, I wanted to paint it from the moment I saw it. Burt, I took your advice and stopped to plan my work...how I would attack each step in the process. That lead me to making a small pencil drawing and then it became clear to me, this was way to fussy and busy for my skill level now. I will come back to it because it's just a lovely place!!! But thanks for saving me the trouble and heartache of not being able to do this great spot justice, it might have made me put a stop to my painting because of being frustrated with myself! When I do come back to this great spot, I will let you know how it goes! Your doing me a huge favour and I am so grateful...thank you a ton, Matthew!!! ❤❤❤
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 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.
I always paint small for 2 reasons. Arthritis keeps me from sitting too long at my painting desk for one, and two, I have the attention span of a gnat. 😂 I have way more painting projects in mind than I’ve been able to do. I’ve recently emerged out of a painting slump due to health reasons. For me, I prayed my way out of it. No matter how I prayed, the answer was always “you must try.” So I’m happily painting again. It is the most peaceful experience I’ve ever had in my whole life. When I enter that place of creativity, it is always a sacred experience and often feels as though I’m not doing the work, it is He who is doing it through me. I have a friend who is a sculptor and she says the same thing. Creativity is a sacred experience and deserves all the honor and attention we can give it. Blessings to you Matt, and to the whole world!
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.
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🙏
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!
"Projecting yourself as an artist vs your love for the joy of creating" -- very aptly put the 'social media' dilemma that applies to all types of creative work -- in science, literature, sports, ... as well.
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've just discovered your channel and it's simple, common sense when you think about it. I didn't though... I shall now, and practice my people. I took up watercolours last year having not painted since I was at school some 40 years ago. My partner was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I find that time with the pad, brushes and paints just takes me away for an hour or so in a way that other things just can't. Each picture, no matter how bad it is from a time, and helping to create more memories. I hope I have the strength to continue painting when the inevitable happens. She thinks my latter paintings are really good and framed them, but hey, our children did art that we put on the fridge too. I love learning, getting better and having more confidence as I go along. A huge thank you to all those who share their knowledge and skills and make me better a little bit at a time.
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 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
Thanks for the great videos! I have spent the last few hours watching and taking it all in. I have been working on landscapes and seascapes for almost two years and have so much to learn. Keep up the inspiration!
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 ^_^
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.
I keep koming back because of in my teens i worked at the Zorn museum in Mora, Sweden. looking at Zorns Aquarells i was blown away of the water, sky, atmosphere. I struggled hours everyday on my sky and water, and i became good. Then i added things i needed to train at. At 5 paintings maybe 1 was good. but i've kept the mistakes,figures, animals, etc. And the fact im colourblind make it to a new level. KNOW WHAT OTHERS SEE. Took time, to make realistic paintings. like maths, upon a heavy match. but now im enjoying being creative, peace.....
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!
Watercolor painting is relaxing and fun. I am enjoying the process of learning, experiencing discovery and taking time away from life's stresses. I spend a lot of time at work using other skills so it is refreshing to do something completely different from work.
I am an art teacher by trade and I am always working on so many different things with the students that I rarely take time to work on "my" art. But, since dabbling in watercolor for a couple of years after taking a class from a local professional I have come back to it time and time again. I feel that dedicating time creates quick quality improvements in the work; but then I get distracted by something else I am doing and have to almost start all over again. I hope when I retire I can stay focused and make some serious strides to become dedicated to the craft of watercolor.
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".
I consider myself as a painting pathologist. The very first reason I go on with painting - I love doing it. It also makes me a better doctor apparently - to create a successful painting you need to simplify a scene, to discover what are the key elements, what we can omit, what are the right colours. Same steps I do daily under the scope while diagnosing cancers. Painting watercolour helps me to look and see the world.
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.
Thank you Matthew for your very helpful videos. I've painted in oils for most of my life (aged 60 now) but started using Watercolours 9 months ago (studio and Plein-air)and really like them for their speediness and immediacy. Like a lot of painters, if the subject moves and inspires me, then I can't Wait to paint it - tends to be Landscapes and nature.
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.
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!
Your suggestions or your messages are not only for water painting but far more than that. You inspires, encourages and deepens my view to my life. Why do I come back? Because I know I want to enjoy my life through water painting.
I love to paint every day. I paint portraits in watercolor. I do not paint for the end results, but for the sense of adventure I get in every study that I do. I learn from my mistakes every day that I show myself to these daily practices. To me, what counts is the journey, not the destination and my journey is full of study, lessons, discoveries and a whole lot of fun. Even if my work is not as good as I would like it to be, I am learning so much that I forget that my results are not that great because I have so much fun creating that the end result is really not important for me at this point. Thanks for doing this video, it was quite informative,
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.
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!
Thank you for freeing me to see that I don’t have to paint a complete painting each time I sit down to paint! The thought of just working on one aspect of my development hadn’t occurred to me…but I’m excited at how fun and appealing that idea is. ❤
I'm very new to painting and visual art in general, but the reason why I come back is because it helps me go let go. I am an engineering student and wanted something to help my work/life balance that could help me let go of it all and watercolor is that for me.
Thanks for sharing that. That was my story too. I worked in front a computer all day and creating something on paper, with my hands was so refreshing. Best of luck to you!
I love drawing and painting because it's a way for me to clear my head and immerse myself in the creative universe. Also, I love your content. I find it very helpful! thank u!
I keep coming back to painting, especially watercolour painting, because I find sense of being in it. I actually find that in any thing that demands me to be creative. It's just in watercolour painting, I find more in it. I also get to practice patience in this. I'm a very impatient person and watercolour painting is an avenue for me to exercise it. It is important for me to find fun in any thing I do, plus I'm a visual learner so painting is a very fitting activity for me. Like you, it also gives me peace. Watercolour painting also helps me to be more appreciative of "process". By watching the colours move and watching my process videos (yes, I record myself sometimes haha), it reminds me of the importance of taking time, trusting the process; that things go through processes, in any aspect of life.
Your bonus at the end was uplifting. Why do I come back? That made me ponder. Why is it? I feel painting gives me confidence in my life. A sense of yeah, that didn't come out right but I can try again. The joy of doing it again. :)
The reasons I return to my painting are, the intense focus on a subject gives me a timeless feeling in this very busy world. All other worries and stresses melt away into the background. Also I love the creative process before starting a piece. I rehearse projects in my mind weeks before I actually do anything. So I decide what, how and why I’m doing it. It’s a feeling of freedom, I suppose from doing all the daily grind of routines. This way, I can carry projects around in my head. Thirdly, I love the medium. The way colours mix and surprise me. The texture of the papers and ways which paint behaves, is a journey of discovery. Drawing and painting makes me observe the world around and subsequently learn about it. Thank you!
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.
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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 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.
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!
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 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!
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!
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.
what I love of watercolor is the colors, and the light, how the light goes through the colors
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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 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...
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 get lost and find peace and it is rewarding. Love this lesson
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.
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.
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.
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.
That’s wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Best of luck in your painting and much peace.
Like a book, painting takes me to a wonderful, serene, immersed place of ME.
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 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
12:45: You should be a therapist! Painting is therapy for me (mindfulness). All points you make are very relevant. I really enjoyed painting Christmas cards this past December. They are small, quick to paint, give me practice and are rewarding making me want to paint more. Thank you!
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!
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!!
Painting for me is therapeutic. I get lost in the joy and challenge of the process. Great videos. Thank you
You are so welcome!
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
Hello 🙂
I started out as a watercolorist over 27 years ago. I am now a silk artist. I am not a good watercolor artist, but being a bad watercolor artist has made me a good silk artist. It sounds weird, but it works for me.
I am constantly learning from these watercolor videos and what I learn I use for my silk art. I can't find videos that show what I'd like to see in silk painting. I'm seriously thinking about just making the videos I seek from others. I honestly don't know if there are people who'd be interested in any of that?🤷🏼♀️ Meanwhile, I'm still learning from other great watercolor artists like you 🙂
I'm planning on recreating your watercolor painting with the 3 lamps and 2 people walking - but without the people.
I love watercolor though I'm awful at it. I just found your channel a few days ago and I love what you teach! Thank you so very much for sharing your techniques and your knowledge. You are a very good teacher! I am going to take your advice given in this video to paint smaller, more often and make simpler subjects, though I'm painting people portraits, pet portraits, wildlife, etc.
Thank you, again! God Bless 😃
That's so interesting. Best of luck in your art and thanks for watching!
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.
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!
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!
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.
Thank you Matthew for your advice, it helps me a lot. I am already an old man (63) and I put off my hobby of drawing and painting all my life. I paint to relax and not think about things that stress me. I live in Argentina, so you can imagine that there are no shortage of reasons to be stressed.
I feel healthy envy when I see your ability and work on it.
May God take care of you and thank you again. (I don't speak English, so I wrote and translated with Google Translator) 😬😬😬
Well, let me add my little "bit"...I have a woodland photo with a stream running through it and loved the way the light hit the ruffles in the shallow part of the water, I wanted to paint it from the moment I saw it. Burt, I took your advice and stopped to plan my work...how I would attack each step in the process. That lead me to making a small pencil drawing and then it became clear to me, this was way to fussy and busy for my skill level now. I will come back to it because it's just a lovely place!!! But thanks for saving me the trouble and heartache of not being able to do this great spot justice, it might have made me put a stop to my painting because of being frustrated with myself! When I do come back to this great spot, I will let you know how it goes! Your doing me a huge favour and I am so grateful...thank you a ton, Matthew!!! ❤❤❤
I think I love creating something that is good in some small way. Same with sewing, writing, etc. Thank you for these great tips.
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 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.
I always paint small for 2 reasons. Arthritis keeps me from sitting too long at my painting desk for one, and two, I have the attention span of a gnat. 😂 I have way more painting projects in mind than I’ve been able to do. I’ve recently emerged out of a painting slump due to health reasons. For me, I prayed my way out of it. No matter how I prayed, the answer was always “you must try.” So I’m happily painting again. It is the most peaceful experience I’ve ever had in my whole life. When I enter that place of creativity, it is always a sacred experience and often feels as though I’m not doing the work, it is He who is doing it through me. I have a friend who is a sculptor and she says the same thing. Creativity is a sacred experience and deserves all the honor and attention we can give it. Blessings to you Matt, and to the whole world!
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!
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🙏
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!
"Projecting yourself as an artist vs your love for the joy of creating" -- very aptly put the 'social media' dilemma that applies to all types of creative work -- in science, literature, sports, ... as well.
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.
Yes, I love the meditative aspect of watercolor, just like journaling. Great tips. Thank you.
You're welcome! Glad you liked it.
I've just discovered your channel and it's simple, common sense when you think about it. I didn't though... I shall now, and practice my people.
I took up watercolours last year having not painted since I was at school some 40 years ago. My partner was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I find that time with the pad, brushes and paints just takes me away for an hour or so in a way that other things just can't. Each picture, no matter how bad it is from a time, and helping to create more memories. I hope I have the strength to continue painting when the inevitable happens. She thinks my latter paintings are really good and framed them, but hey, our children did art that we put on the fridge too. I love learning, getting better and having more confidence as I go along. A huge thank you to all those who share their knowledge and skills and make me better a little bit at a time.
Thank you for sharing that. I wish you and your partner all the best. I hope that painting can continue to bring you some peaceful moments.
Can you email me at mattwhiteis@gmail.com so I have your contact? I have something I'd like to give you.
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 love the peace and losing myself in painting. I’m working to improve always. I really like your advice.
I agree.i love to paint - anything. Just mixing colors together.
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!
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
Thanks for the great videos! I have spent the last few hours watching and taking it all in. I have been working on landscapes and seascapes for almost two years and have so much to learn. Keep up the inspiration!
Family needs keep me close to home. I was looking for something that brought daily joy into my life little knowing it would be watercolor.
That's great. Thanks for sharing, MaryLee.
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.
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 ^_^
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.
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.
I keep koming back because of in my teens i worked at the Zorn museum in Mora, Sweden. looking at Zorns Aquarells i was blown away of the water, sky, atmosphere. I struggled hours everyday on my sky and water, and i became good. Then i added things i needed to train at. At 5 paintings maybe 1 was good. but i've kept the mistakes,figures, animals, etc. And the fact im colourblind make it to a new level. KNOW WHAT OTHERS SEE. Took time, to make realistic paintings. like maths, upon a heavy match. but now im enjoying being creative, peace.....
Amazing. Thanks for sharing that.
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!
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 😀
Thank you for highlighting the importance of timing in the watercolor process!
Watercolor painting is relaxing and fun. I am enjoying the process of learning, experiencing discovery and taking time away from life's stresses. I spend a lot of time at work using other skills so it is refreshing to do something completely different from work.
Intentional practice was the one bit of advice that I needed and intend to try out on my own. thank you!
Love this... when a paInting works i feel a lot of joy... thank you...
That is a great feeling.
I am an art teacher by trade and I am always working on so many different things with the students that I rarely take time to work on "my" art. But, since dabbling in watercolor for a couple of years after taking a class from a local professional I have come back to it time and time again. I feel that dedicating time creates quick quality improvements in the work; but then I get distracted by something else I am doing and have to almost start all over again. I hope when I retire I can stay focused and make some serious strides to become dedicated to the craft of watercolor.
One of the best videos on the subject I've seen.
Thank you. I appreciate that!
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".
I keep coming back to painting. There are so many things I must do, but painting is the beautiful one.
I consider myself as a painting pathologist.
The very first reason I go on with painting - I love doing it. It also makes me a better doctor apparently - to create a successful painting you need to simplify a scene, to discover what are the key elements, what we can omit, what are the right colours. Same steps I do daily under the scope while diagnosing cancers.
Painting watercolour helps me to look and see the world.
That's fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
WC is so therapeutic for me. I lave all my worries behind!
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.
Thank you Matthew for your very helpful videos. I've painted in oils for most of my life (aged 60 now) but started using Watercolours 9 months ago (studio and Plein-air)and really like them for their speediness and immediacy. Like a lot of painters, if the subject moves and inspires me, then I can't Wait to paint it - tends to be Landscapes and nature.
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.
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!
Your suggestions or your messages are not only for water painting but far more than that. You inspires, encourages and deepens my view to my life. Why do I come back? Because I know I want to enjoy my life through water painting.
Thanks for that!
I love to paint every day. I paint portraits in watercolor. I do not paint for the end results, but for the sense of adventure I get in every study that I do. I learn from my mistakes every day that I show myself to these daily practices. To me, what counts is the journey, not the destination and my journey is full of study, lessons, discoveries and a whole lot of fun. Even if my work is not as good as I would like it to be, I am learning so much that I forget that my results are not that great because I have so much fun creating that the end result is really not important for me at this point. Thanks for doing this video, it was quite informative,
Thank you for this essential guidance. Particularly your last suggestion of enjoying the process. Brilliant👌🏽🌹🌹🌹
I picked up the paintbrush just before Covid came and it saved me. It brought focus and peace at a difficult time for everyone.
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.
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!
Thank you for freeing me to see that I don’t have to paint a complete painting each time I sit down to paint! The thought of just working on one aspect of my development hadn’t occurred to me…but I’m excited at how fun and appealing that idea is. ❤
I'm very new to painting and visual art in general, but the reason why I come back is because it helps me go let go. I am an engineering student and wanted something to help my work/life balance that could help me let go of it all and watercolor is that for me.
Thanks for sharing that. That was my story too. I worked in front a computer all day and creating something on paper, with my hands was so refreshing. Best of luck to you!
Matthew - thankyou! I was doing this too! stressing about painting large and ... well you said it best ... start small and often...
I love drawing and painting because it's a way for me to clear my head and immerse myself in the creative universe. Also, I love your content. I find it very helpful! thank u!
I keep coming back to painting, especially watercolour painting, because I find sense of being in it. I actually find that in any thing that demands me to be creative. It's just in watercolour painting, I find more in it. I also get to practice patience in this. I'm a very impatient person and watercolour painting is an avenue for me to exercise it. It is important for me to find fun in any thing I do, plus I'm a visual learner so painting is a very fitting activity for me. Like you, it also gives me peace.
Watercolour painting also helps me to be more appreciative of "process". By watching the colours move and watching my process videos (yes, I record myself sometimes haha), it reminds me of the importance of taking time, trusting the process; that things go through processes, in any aspect of life.
Your bonus at the end was uplifting. Why do I come back? That made me ponder. Why is it? I feel painting gives me confidence in my life. A sense of yeah, that didn't come out right but I can try again. The joy of doing it again. :)
Thanks for sharing, Kelly!
The reasons I return to my painting are, the intense focus on a subject gives me a timeless feeling in this very busy world. All other worries and stresses melt away into the background. Also I love the creative process before starting a piece. I rehearse projects in my mind weeks before I actually do anything. So I decide what, how and why I’m doing it. It’s a feeling of freedom, I suppose from doing all the daily grind of routines. This way, I can carry projects around in my head. Thirdly, I love the medium. The way colours mix and surprise me. The texture of the papers and ways which paint behaves, is a journey of discovery. Drawing and painting makes me observe the world around and subsequently learn about it. Thank you!
Very well said. Thanks for sharing, Pauline.
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....
You nailed….the sense of presence that you feel makes keep coming back! That goes music practice too.
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.
I to paint for the peace and mindfulness it brings me. Also I really want to get better so I am more proud of what I can do.
Great reasons!