Over four years after this tip video was posted it remains invaluable. Being new to watercolor for just a couple months I’d not heard or seen on artist mention doing washes in layers not working on one edge at a time instead of doing the two as demoed in the first layer. One of the best watercolor instructors I’ve found on UA-cam and am excited to try out the classes online.
I find it easier to wet my paper 1st beyond the demarcation line and allow it to settle in a few minutes and then start dropping in paint. Its fun and interesting to see the different methods that work great. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy Allnock referred me to see how you do your background washes. I've already signed up for watercolor classes and am eager to start one soon. Thank you for a wonderful video! Your amazing is exquisite!
I realize the rules botanical painters work with are different, than e.g. painting landscapes, but the obvious question is why not use a larger flat or Hake brush for the wash? Thanks for posting the video.
I use hot pressed with back ground washes all the time and they are always smooth. Susan Harrison-Tustain uses exclusively hot pressed Arches for all her watercolor paintings and she always has soft smooth beautiful backgrounds. You work wet into wet with back grounds and you must always wet way beyond your demarcation .
he comprado tu libro The Modern Flower painter, en inglés, me cuesta mucho traducirlo, me pregunto, si me animo a comprar alguna de tus clases, hay posibilidad de conseguirla en español?
Beautiful. My only question is why you painted the first wash so that you had to tackle two edges? Was it to just show your viewers something you would normally not do? Or was there a reason you changed direction on the second through 4th wash? And thank you, lovely lesson,gorgeous flowers.
Thanks Linda! I did that in the first layer by mistake, but I think it was a good lesson to demonstrate what happens and how to remedy the hard line edges that can happen as a result!
Hi Debra, why don't you sign up for a month and see how you get on? We currently have an offer on for 50% off your first month and you'll have access to over 65 full-length tutorials. You can email carrie@annamasonart.com for a coupon code and more info on the School. :)
I wonder why you did not use a flat brush, work horizontally and at an angle, grasping the bead at the lower edge of the stroke to continue the next stroke? IF the color you use is consistently the same color and value, you might not even have to do four layers. Just curious. Your final product is lovely, just seems a bit like more work, but I am going to try it out!
This may sound like a silly question, but why not just go to the darkest application for the sky at the outset? Why 4 layers? This is very curious to me. Thank you.
this is not necessarily true, if you use a large flat brush and wet your papers first, and work wet in wet you'll come away with a very nice flat wash. And it's not necessarily true that you need to use cold press to get a nice even flat wash, I almost exclusively on Hot Press.
I guess there are multiple ways of achieving the same effect. I saw a video where the artist emphasized that you need to work at a 45 degree angle and let gravity work for you. This video said the opposite. But the bottom line is both artists showed their method and achieved beautifully smooth watercolor washes! Thanks for sharing your technique! Will definitely try it. I hope it works for me.
Connie Faye I agree. A flat wash can be achieved on either hot press or cold press - the trick is in controlling the bead, not the paper. I agree that hot press is a little more difficult to work on but it’s not too hard to get a flat wash on it.
Way too much masking-you only need it around the edges of the flowers. If I put on that much masking, I could never get it off without damaging the surface of the paper!
Had fun learning from the video? Keep the ball rolling with four free, full-length watercolor classes at www.naturestudio.com/become-a-better-artist/
Over four years after this tip video was posted it remains invaluable. Being new to watercolor for just a couple months I’d not heard or seen on artist mention doing washes in layers not working on one edge at a time instead of doing the two as demoed in the first layer. One of the best watercolor instructors I’ve found on UA-cam and am excited to try out the classes online.
Thanks Kim! Glad that you found it useful! :)
Such a professional, your videos, demonstrations and step by step explanations are a joy and extremely helpful. Thank you!
Great tutorial ! Your art is stunning...and these magnolias are beautiful!!
I find it easier to wet my paper 1st beyond the demarcation line and allow it to settle in a few minutes and then start dropping in paint. Its fun and interesting to see the different methods that work great. Thanks for sharing.
I have been struggling with that drying edge for a while now, thanks for the vid!
Sandy Allnock referred me to see how you do your background washes. I've already signed up for watercolor classes and am eager to start one soon. Thank you for a wonderful video! Your amazing is exquisite!
I realize the rules botanical painters work with are different, than e.g. painting landscapes, but the obvious question is why not use a larger flat or Hake brush for the wash?
Thanks for posting the video.
It does make sense to use larger and wider flat brush..much easier..
I use hot pressed with back ground washes all the time and they are always smooth. Susan Harrison-Tustain uses exclusively hot pressed Arches for all her watercolor paintings and she always has soft smooth beautiful backgrounds. You work wet into wet with back grounds and you must always wet way beyond your demarcation .
I'm definitely going to try this. Thank you for sharing!
he comprado tu libro The Modern Flower painter, en inglés, me cuesta mucho traducirlo, me pregunto, si me animo a comprar alguna de tus clases, hay posibilidad de conseguirla en español?
Beautiful. My only question is why you painted the first wash so that you had to tackle two edges? Was it to just show your viewers something you would normally not do? Or was there a reason you changed direction on the second through 4th wash? And thank you, lovely lesson,gorgeous flowers.
Thanks Linda! I did that in the first layer by mistake, but I think it was a good lesson to demonstrate what happens and how to remedy the hard line edges that can happen as a result!
Thank you for sharing your valuable information, I will utilize it properly. I wish that I could afford to take your classes!
Hi Debra, why don't you sign up for a month and see how you get on? We currently have an offer on for 50% off your first month and you'll have access to over 65 full-length tutorials. You can email carrie@annamasonart.com for a coupon code and more info on the School. :)
So very helpful
This was incredibly helpful, thank you!
Super super helpful
Thank you Anna. I take it that big round brush is a #6 Rosemary 304?
Hi Andre van Wyk it's a No. 0 actually! 6 would be really big I think!
***** thank you Anna. It looks really big. That means the #6 is big enough to paint a house.
Andre van Wyk Haha yes!
Great video! Thanks!
BusyMom no problem!
I wonder why you did not use a flat brush, work horizontally and at an angle, grasping the bead at the lower edge of the stroke to continue the next stroke? IF the color you use is consistently the same color and value, you might not even have to do four layers. Just curious. Your final product is lovely, just seems a bit like more work, but I am going to try it out!
Thanks! It's always challenging for me to create smooth background, I hope this vid will help :)
This may sound like a silly question, but why not just go to the darkest application for the sky at the outset? Why 4 layers? This is very curious to me. Thank you.
Hi Frances, my method is probably best explained in this video here: ua-cam.com/video/AkxB4p-S27o/v-deo.html
what masking fluid do you use?
I am also want to know
this is not necessarily true, if you use a large flat brush and wet your papers first, and work wet in wet you'll come away with a very nice flat wash. And it's not necessarily true that you need to use cold press to get a nice even flat wash, I almost exclusively on Hot Press.
Connie Faye Yes, we've all got to work with what we feel comfortable doing, there are so many ways to do things.
I guess there are multiple ways of achieving the same effect. I saw a video where the artist emphasized that you need to work at a 45 degree angle and let gravity work for you. This video said the opposite. But the bottom line is both artists showed their method and achieved beautifully smooth watercolor washes! Thanks for sharing your technique! Will definitely try it. I hope it works for me.
that's what I was thinking about, working on a damp surface to reduce the risk of getting hard edges.
Connie Faye I agree. A flat wash can be achieved on either hot press or cold press - the trick is in controlling the bead, not the paper. I agree that hot press is a little more difficult to work on but it’s not too hard to get a flat wash on it.
thank you so much, this was so much help!
Anna,tesekkurler,cok guzel,cok yararli oldu.:)
Zubeyde Parlak thank you! Glad you enjoyed it :-)
beautiful.....thank you
Helpful! Thank you!
What is mask ? Please answer
Hi Poly, if you search "masking fluid" you will find it :-)
smooth watercolour washes, thank you quite interesting concept.
Doreen Christie Let me know if you paint anything! I'd love to see. :)
Thank you!!
Way too much masking-you only need it around the edges of the flowers. If I put on that much masking, I could never get it off without damaging the surface of the paper!
It's great if less works for you. I don't tend to use it most of the time since I don't usually paint backgrounds.