10 GENIUS WATERCOLOR HACKS You Need to Try!

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Materials I use for watercolour paintings:
Cotman watercolours: geni.us/StarterWatercolorSet
Sketchbook: geni.us/sketchbook
Binder Clip: geni.us/binderclip
Silver Brush Paintbrushes: geni.us/Brushset
Windsor and newton gouache: geni.us/DesignerWhiteGouache
Washi Tape: geni.us/washitapeset
Faber Castell Polychromos coloured pencils: geni.us/Polychromos120Set
Prismacolor Coloured Pencils: geni.us/Prismacolor150Set
Gel pen: geni.us/SakuraWhitePen
Gold ink: geni.us/goldink
Masking fluid pen: geni.us/maskingfluidpen
Masking fluid bottle: geni.us/maskingfluid
Arches Cold pressed paper: geni.us/Archescoldpressed
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Some links are affiliated.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

What is your favourite watercolor hack?

[@lucasgalea5906]

I love the water used to create highlights in the art

[@predragdjokic3761]

All of this and everything you share with us is beyond words of thank you and God bless you to describe how much you are wonderful for helping beginners and also other artist to learn more and more .I wish you nothing but the best Kristy !!

[@ruxandra.2687]

A L L

[@mom23js]

All was great. The one I loved most was the heat tool. When in class it's not possible to use so I never knew about it.. amazing..❤️

[@58Kym]

Stick the edge tape to your shirt or sweater before sticking each piece to the paper. It just cuts the stickiness a little by putting a little lint on it.

[@Shokupanko]

I love how the thumbnail isn't clickbait and the iron hack was the first hack you showed us. I love your videos and they help me out a lot! Thank you~

[@nicole._.sunshine]

You can put masking fluid into an empty nail polish bottle, that way, you have a brush that you can keep in the bottle and it won't dry and ruin the bristles

[@artaemip3044]

Good tips

[@pewpewcat7679]

Great idea

[@lizziedae91]

That’s genius!

[@Qtipatootie]

What is masking fluid used for?

[@strawberrywarrior4728]

Sana Mirza I’m pretty sure its to keep the paint from getting on parts of the paper you want to stay white

[@BethPeppersCoats]

Also, to prevent tape from tearing your paper when removing it, I use a hairdryer to heat the glue on the tape, then pull slowly! I also, press a strip of tape onto my beadspread or blanket, lightly, before placing the tape around my painting. This helps remove a little of the tacky glue, which makes it much easier to remove without tearing your paper. Hope these tips help you!

[@SerenityScratch]

Or you can just use painter’s tape which costs the same amount of money

[@kai-xc5dk]

I use masking tape, but just in case it's great to stick it on your own skin once before applying owo

[@graziacavasino8884]

Jeans or a woolen cloth are as effective as skin.

[@wooottff]

I teied the bedspread hack and it still ripped my paper

[@graziacavasino8884]

@@wooottff Maybe the paper was still wet.

[@slaykei7132]

At university they thought us how to straighten watercolor paper. You need to wet back of the paper (but not too much) and then put some blank sheets over and under the paper. After that you put something heavy on top (big book or something like that) and let it dry. After its completely dried, paper will be straight. It's important not to overdue water so you don't reactivate watercolor on the other side, but if you don't put enough it won't be as straight. Also make sure your painting is dry. Ps. I never managed to smudge or destroy my painting, so I can say this method is safe.

[@coco.clownie]

U misspelled straight!

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

Yes that is a great method too, I have done that before and it works really well 😊

[@slaykei7132]

@@coco.clownie Thanks for noticing! English is not my first language so I didn't notice. Hopefully everything is spelled correct now😅

[@maddy7386]

@@slaykei7132 what's your first language? Xx

[@Kimmiebaby24]

@@coco.clownie misspelled taught too... lol I personally prefer straightening paper with the iron technique 😁😍

[@sisterdankus1669]

Not meaning to say that your thumbnail looks like a 5-Minute-Crafts video, but your thumbnail looks like a 5-Minute-Crafts video. Btw you're videos are awesome and help me soo much

[@weiwei4804]

But without the clickbait

[@Grayson4795]

Lololol true great content tho but wtf true

[@crazyarmy1860]

But that works

[@adityaprasad9734]

true

[@user-qe6vi5cm6e]

But at least it’s actually in the video

[@surfit.]

I have another hack. Smear lotion or petroleum jelly inside the sides of your bottle cap. It prevents your mediums to glue it shut. It works on industrial glue tubes, etc.

[@pewpewcat7679]

Thanks for that. I just had to use a pair of pliers to fight my E6000 today 🤣 I won. 😁

[@MeredithMynroseUniversalHealer]

Useful! Tq! Next time i know!

[@mathyougriffthis1085]

Now that's a hack!

[@user-ot4vs1mg2o]

PewPewCat congrats xD

[@Jivanmuktishu]

Paul Panton was a Canadian watercolorist of the latter 20thCEntury, who liked to work outdoors in the very cold winters of Manitoba. One day his picture froze while he was working on it. The result was a sort of crackle glaze. He began experimenting, putting fresh watercolors into his freezer. I don't know the details of his technique, but can testify to the beauty of his results.

[@Jivanmuktishu]

@Blank Space I hope you will make use of it. Paul was a boyhood friend who was able to make a living as a watercolorist in CE20 Winnipeg, the slum city of Canada. Unfortunately it was too early in time to make a copy but if you experiment you will find this amazing process, which makes a beautiful watercolor more beautiful still.

[@Jivanmuktishu]

...then try it and show the result...

[@ninacohen5401]

I remember reading in the Artists Magazine eons ago that some artists used alcohol (vodka)with watercolor paints instead of water to prevent the paints/brushes/painting from freezing (painting in wintertime). This might actually be a niche painting cause its technically not water media anymore.

[@Jivanmuktishu]

@@ninacohen5401 Paul Panton was a purist. He did not mix alcohol with his paints, tho he enjoyed a blonde bordeaux in a wineglass. Most of his frosen watercolors were created in his freezer, at home. Give it a try, on a simple work: a barren tree in drifting snow. I wish I could tell you more about the technique, but that's all I remember: paint & freze, and you will produce a crackle effect.

[@Jivanmuktishu]

"frosen" = "frozen".

[@anushkabhawnani8670]

Who else just loves her accent? 😍

[@selinashulamitsteiner]

Metoo

[@risalee1906]

I do

[@mawaariaanaaa1585]

*not me* you *dummy*....

[@reddestcherry]

@@noyevlogs4855 fuck off

[@paulus4222]

Sounds like a normal accent to me ... I suppose you are Americans?

[@cherylotto-cunningham1843]

To keep bottle lids from sticking, apply a very thin, thin layer of vaseline around the top. Your lid will always open up easily. This works for tubes of superglue as well. It keeps the lid from being glued to the cap. If you find you don't have vaseline I've used the antibiotic ointment Neosporin because it's base is just like vaselene. I use it on anything that might stick, I have a small container in my art bag. I use this all the time. There are so many things that are so hard to get open that second time.

[@yht3231]

7:25 This is science. If you put a cap under hot water, it expands. If you put under cold water, it contracts. Basically, why the cap got easier to open, cuz it expanded. I am sorry for being a nerd.

[@fewcuchptat7431]

TanHuiYuan123 ROBLOX Games no, thank you for being a nerd

[@paulerese3986]

Its ok. Its the thermal expansion by the way

[@viennadoll4]

NEVER be sorry, for being a nerd

[@faiziashahbaz7685]

Was reading this chapter yesterday lol

[@SuperficialGloworm]

Works for jam jars too!

[@rgrdesigns]

Great tips. To help prevent ink bottle caps or paint tube caps from sticking, I wipe off any drips or smears from the container before closing. Watercolor paint in tubes benefit greatly by this precaution. With acrylic paints, I apply a very thin coating of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) using my finger to the threads of the tube to help prevent sticking. Take care to not get any into the end of the tube so it doesn't contaminate the paint.

[@BeezeeCohen]

In order to flatten a warped finished watercolor, I spray the back lightly with clean water. Place the damp painting face down onto an acid free mounting board, cover with paper towel, place framing glass on top (both about 9x14”), lay a heavy book on the glass and allow to dry a few hours. The painting comes away flat and undamaged. Been doing this successfully for several years.

[@zacharyulman7232]

Kirsty makes amazing art hacks! Usually art hacks you see scattered about on the internet are just impractical unrealistic “hacks” that don’t really fit the definition of the word. But Kirsty’s hacks are genuinely useful and make my life easier as an artist 😊. One thing I really love about kirsty’s art hack videos are that you can tell she uses them herself to make her life easier and improve her art which means they are completely genuine and practical 😃.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

Thank you! I am so happy you find my art hack videos helpful 😊

[@envynathan1]

I endorse that a hundred percent.

[@leoceludinov1470]

I love the way you use "Hacks" because some youtubers use hack when most of them only bought those things not like things you can find around your house. More love to your channel!!!....💓💞.............

[@redhotsweetpotatoe]

Though I've never tried it with a jar of ink, whenever I've loosened a bottle of paint or even food items like pickles, etc... I clean off the rim of the jar, the inside rings of the lid and then coat both with a thin coat of oil (I like coconut oil) before re-closing. The next time I open it, it comes off easily.

[@carlaa.1617]

Thank you for all your tips Kirsty, I find that to straighten paper that buckles I place it face down on a clean piece of paper and place it between a cotton pillow case. Make sure there are no creases on the pillow case on both sides. I then steam iron over it as you did with the cloth and place a pile of heavy books on top. I leave it overnight and the painting is perfectly flat.:)

[@aleksandrademirovic7402]

Also another tape hack, before you tape down your paper, you can take the tape and aplly it to your jeans or what ever you're wearing to make it less tacky. It still works but won't rip ghe paper 🥰

[@jadie1397]

You're honestly my favorite watercolor KZbinr 💕 Thank you for all that you do. You've helped me more than you could imagine 😍

[@koipondering]

Using a rubber cement eraser is the best thing i have found for lifting masking fluid. Super effective

[@creativesolutions902]

Favorite hack was sponging bushes and trees. I also found out by watching another KZbin or and trying it myself, the best hack for keeping your masking tape from tearing your paper is by pressing it against your T-shirt or jeans before you tape it to your paper. This removes the extra stickiness

[@jbeoin]

Omgod, thank you so much for that soap tip for masking fluid-- it's been such a pain! Can't wait to try it out!

[@steenystuff1075]

Wow! I love KZbin! So many resourceful ppl willing to share their tips! Thanks, Kirsty! Your skills and tips are fabulous!

[@maryamlethome4530]

OMG thank you Kristy! I was really struggling with the waterlogged paper and removing tape.

[@v.s.3771]

I've been surfing through many artists' channels this morning and actually asked one of them, on their paper weight review video, if an iron could be used to smooth out warped paintings. I was so thrilled that that was the first thing you covered here that I just paused the video so I could come and say THANK YOU!! :) Not sure how long I was going to have to wait to have that answered, so this just made my morning a bit brighter. 😁 Hope you have a wonderful week!! ❤

[@bluedeva]

Instead of using a brush to apply masking fluid you can use a silicone tipped sculpture tool. These are super cheap and are easy to clean off the left over dried masking fluid.

[@Jennifer-qc2tq]

I’ve watched a lot of hack videos…most are nothing unique…but this is awesome. The soap on your brush when masking. I had no idea. And ironing a finished piece. Seems obvious but I never thought of it. Thx

[@davevanfunk8917]

I've always used a rubber cement eraser to remove dried masking fluid. Last night I couldn't find it - grrr. So I took a rag and it worked like charm. Thank you!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Hmm, the tea towel for masking removal. Had not heard of that one. I'll have to try it. Thanks!

[@wlochu93]

Wow haven't experienced you here

[@artbooth8745]

Ik I'm late but hii!!

[@youngjamie2342]

Whoever is reading this, I hope you have a great day! Here is some artist inspiration for you 🎨 ✨ kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXnMXoKPnppqZtU

[@elaineandrepont]

I use a rubber cement square eraser.

[@noneyabness8761]

@@elaineandrepont Same. I'll stick with my rubber cement pickup.

[@artdelavaux]

Removing masking fluid with a textured tea towel. Thanks a bunch for the video!

[@MariaNyceDesigns]

So happy to have found you! Looking forward to watching more of your videos!!! Thank you for sharing these 10 watercoloring hacks, I like the use of a tea towel to remove masking fluid. Cheers!!!

[@jackr.4953]

FYI, with the hot water trick: You're not just reactivating the liquid. Plastic, glass and metal all react differently to heat. Most of the time a cap is plastic where the container is glass. Even if both are plastic, caps tend to be a thinner, lower grade plastic. This means that the cap expands more in reaction to heat than the container, separating it from the threads of the container more easily.

[@patriciahorelick6450]

Love the hack that saves watercolor brushes from masking fluid!

[@vimalasharma9050]

The towel hack was the best ....I will try ...thanks for getting idea 🙏

[@tracysmith86]

Thank you Kirsty... helpful as always. You explain things well x

[@Sumpa52]

Thank you for this video. I have used some of this already but my favourite today is the soap on the brush hack and the tea cloth in rubbing off the masking fluid. Great tips!

[@janinacooper4199]

Thank you!!! My lose arches paper warps so badly doing wet on wet techniques it even pulls up the masking tape. Well of course I don't stretch it. Now I can get it to flatten out again in the process after putting down the first wash. :D This video is tremendously helpful!

[@frootify]

That's a practical set of hacks and gosh your art is gorgeous!

[@aleksandrademirovic7402]

Oh and I love your channel, I'm waiting for my watercolours to arrive in the mail. 🥰🥰 I paint with acrylics and alcohol inks my cannot wait to dabble into watercolour ❤

[@josephbyrne2202]

Hello Kirstie. The ink Came off the bottle because when you were running it under a very hot tap heat expands most things including plastic and that’s why it came off the bottle a lot easier. Well done the appliance of science.

[@SparkWorksnDesigns]

The sponge trees and bushes is my favorite. Second is the binder clips. Lovely presentation!

[@athenasword1]

BRILLIANTLY DONE .

[@lubnakhanarts]

The removing tape tip and masking fluid tip is my favorite

[@kgille]

I iron my watercolor paintings upside down with a damp flour sack towel on top and really steam it. Then I take the towel off and iron it a little more to get some of the moisture out. I put it between 2 layers of blotting paper and add a heavy weight. Let it stay under the weight for a day or two if it's still slightly damp. It's as flat as can be and doesn't seem to harm the painting at all.

[@coloringwithd]

I loved the masking fluid hack. Thank you for sharing 🌸🌸🌸

[@sawma6943]

I’m so in love with that accent ❤️

[@craftyblock7519]

She is British, so am I 🥰🥰

[@HaydenHaystackArts]

Jeeeez. How long have you been painting? I feel like I’m still working on making circles. Beautiful work.

[@Baldurpet]

Speaking of circles, in the first 2 minutes this video discusses why drawing circles is NOT TO BE SCOFFED AT kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKLPhYZ5q7VgkJI

[@JaviCarmona]

Thank you for your advices and tutorials!!!

[@sandrawebb544]

I always seem to have problems removing tape from my pictures, so I loved your hack for using a hair dryer on low. Going to try that next time! Thank you!

[@ladiacona]

Thank you so much for sharing all these hacks specially #7! 🙌

[@christinacasteel3198]

Loved all the hacks, particularly the hair dryer on the tape. Very clever, thank you💐

[@emmylane299]

I love all of your hacks, definitely will try these techniques! Thank you for sharing

[@samygdis2753]

Hello! This was the first video I saw this afternoon and spend all my afternoon watching your content and is so cool and helpful... Thanks a lot :)

[@robinmckenzie4142]

Thanks so much for the tips . my favorite is the heat tool

[@AlessandroZir]

great dahling!! 🤸🤸🙏🙌❤️

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Great hacks for watercolor indeed. I have used the sponge, soap, and binder clips for my landscape paintings. Definitely a great video filled with lots of fun tips.

[@donnawalter3061]

Great hacks Kirsty, thanks for sharing 🥰😍😘

[@anni50ful]

Love the iron hack and the tea towel ,Iv had paper rip with masking fluid so I will keep a square of tea towel in my bag for when I go to my art class ,thank you

[@krabfingers8473]

Watercolor paper hack: for practice, these work quite well. Buy some big sheets of poster board, it’s thick and one big sheet is under a dollar where I’m at. Wet the matte side of the board and let it dry. You want the lessen the sizing so water actually absorbs. You can wet it more times if you wish, because with one round it lifts really easily.

[@sifairi]

Removing masking fluid with eraser also works well.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

Great tip 👍🏻

[@mkbuike7895]

I was taught to use a rubber cement eraser to remove masking fluid.

[@Marzyart]

But if you are removing lots of masking fluid, the place will be messy with so much rubber bits

[@mayloo2137]

@@Marzyart what about using a kneadable (?) eraser? It doesn't normally leave eraser bits. Would it work on masking fluid?

[@Marzyart]

@@mayloo2137 I have never used a kneadable eraser. But you want something stiff to be able to remove the masking fluid. I recommend using a tissue, and rub it with the help of your finger

[@blackrose538]

came to watch this video by coincidence, because KZbin suggested it to me and I'm so glad I watched this! Since I'm really just a beginner at water colour painting and still have a lot to learn, I will definitely keep some of these hacks in mind. Especially liked the sponge-trees. That is sooo cool and so easy :) I think I'll use that next time I paint a landscape with trees or bushes :) Also... decided to subscribe, because you paint so beautifully! I might learn even more in the future

[@dotydiva]

Love the soap on the brush and masking fluid.. I use an old old brush and I hate that it's even worse since I've used the fluid.. Wish I knew this hack before. Thanks for the video. I look forward to them.

[@anjoyart]

Thank you so much for the skill sharing It really helps

[@kristablanco8077]

Thank you. This video was so great! I've had trouble with masking fluid, sticking to my brushes.

[@NAVINARTSTUDIO123]

Wow beautiful painting and ideas

[@mausbar3146]

You're art is so calm and beautiful

[@jacotromp1065]

Thank you for the tips and tricks.

[@cheekymonkey6573]

Didn't know the hack with soap - definitely going to try it! I stopped using masking fluid because I couldn't find anything that would be comfortable to paint with and wouldn't get ruined. Thank you for wonderful tips :)

[@bdavison31]

This is wonderful. Thank you. I find the hot water tip works for most jars and bottles that are hard to open.

[@ANPC-pi9vu]

The hot water actually causes the plastic cap to expand and also increases the temperature and thus outward pressure of the contents of the ink bottle. ;) This also often helps with hard to open jars from the refrigerator.

[@tonyrobinson1168]

Very useful video, thanks Kirsty

[@rubinaimran1486]

All hacks were som so helpful!! Thank you so much!!! Love your awesome works

[@craftyblock7519]

Wow! So cleaver!! 🤩 gonna try these out! Thanks kirsty!!

[@mar666lo]

great video, Kirsty, thank you very much

[@monicakerr8248]

Thank you Kirsty for these tips! I'm new to this...like 2 months so this was wonderful!

[@1rage17]

Use silicone tip brushes for masking fluid. It’s amazing, and they’re flexible so it’s easy to make details and terribly easy to remove Use a masking fluid eraser to get it off. It’s a square made of some type of silicone rubber

[@pamelathompson7555]

love it. the highlighting is my favorite

[@evavrajova1458]

Thank you sooo much! You’re amazing ❤️

[@hvriceart1581]

love how you can paint such a nice painting.

[@birdsiview6845]

I use junky brushes for masking but I’ll have to try that. Cooooool!

[@joellyshooshoo]

amazing i rly love the hack where you use scrap paper to actually paint on.

[@awaywithfairies4689]

Fantastic hacks👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥰thanks for sharing🙏🏻🌟 you're a great artist💕

[@misstricksmix]

Great work !!

[@rendaowe]

Thanks hon, these are great tips, thank you so much. I hope people watch it, you will learn quite a bit.

[@letjck8623]

That first hack is SO genius!!!!

[@elenarojco6423]

Love it! Thank you so much!

[@madelynsmith8281]

I liked the sponge effect with watercolors. Great idea! 🙂

[@wendyb7993]

Wow you are so talented

[@littleravendesigns5587]

Amazing advice thank you!!

[@HanPaints]

Thank you so much miss Kirsty!! ❤❤❤

[@bartacademy4827]

Thank YOU so much for new idea..

[@manpreet0784]

Amazing content! Thanks so much.

[@cathyclose3698]

Thank you so much for the hacks!

[@stephenwilson9905]

Hi Kirsty, I really like the salt hack. I cannot wait to try it! Thanks for your time and effort you have put into this video. Cheers from Steve. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 {Perth Australia}

[@chloegrl1366]

Awesome tips thx a bunch😊

[@kathyhall668]

The soap hack ,that's the best!

[@LifeinGlow]

Thank you very much! Great tips ❤🎨🌻

[@Jjangbunbun]

all great tips!!

[@DwarfDragonwulf]

A tool called a colour shaper is great for applying masking fluid so you don't ruin your brush, or have to clean it.

[@hemalathak.v.3116]

I loved your painting, your paintings and painting hacks are good