10 THINGS I wish I KNEW When I started Watercolour Painting

[@MaiNguyen-ee3lv]

1. Always allow your painting to dry in between stages. 2. Load and glide your brush when painting. 3. Use soft haired brushes. 4. Use 100% cotton paper when you can. 5. Try not to loose the Light in your painting. 6. PRACTICE build knowledge and confidence. 7. Planning your painting. 8. Less is More. 9. Stop before you fini sh! 10. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you make mistakes. Thank you Karen!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you for that!! ☺️

[@greengal616]

So helpful--thank you!!

[@virginiarparker9503]

Thank you for your time over this

[@aartiar1971]

This painting was informative with lot of painting tips.Thanks Karen for your help and please 'more'

[@KarenRiceArt]

thank you!

[@jeanne-patrickmcdonough-so1100]

What a revelation! These 10 tips are great. Your instruction will get me over my hesitation to paint again. Thanks Karen.🎨

[@KarenRiceArt]

So glad it was helpful!

[@afzalzak1179]

Very nice work ❤

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much 😀

[@nokchilton1562]

I love your teacher style with so much details for an absolutely beginner like me! I will have a go of flowers painting. Thank you so much ❤

[@KarenRiceArt]

My pleasure 😊

[@marysharp9635]

Thank you for sharing your experience Karen - very grateful for these tips whilst learning ❤

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much Mary!

[@nadinchikk]

Thank you very very much. Your lessons are really helpful☺️🌸

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@juststartingover2735]

Thank you! #9 Stop before you finish - YES ! I have to do that!

[@KarenRiceArt]

We are all guilty of that! 😀

[@patriciadupuis9857]

12 minutes of encouraging and informative comments AND a tutorial illustration of these helpful tips....that's a lot of bang for your buck! Many thanks:)

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you sooo much!! 😊

[@pattizeis3725]

Never give up on a painting.

[@barbaragrilz8936]

This is a very good and important lesson. Thank you that for. I just want add what I found out through my time of painting. Sometimes I can hardly wait to finish my painting and I think "now it is done", but it isn`t. As soon as I can hear my inner voice telling me "I have done", it is time to stopp. Most I make me a cup of coffee and think about something completely different and after this short break I have a fresh look on my painting and I know what is missing. This are mainly just small details but important one. I know the end of a painting, when I feel good and pleasant. 🙂

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much for sharing g Barbara! I am sure everyone appreciates your comment. 😊

[@susanbeaumont9478]

A beautiful flower to illustrate these valuable watercolour tips --I love how you interweave them with demonstrating painting a gorgeous Bird of Paradise with a light brush and light! Thank you, Karen!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much Susan, so pleased you appreciate both the general tips and the step by step tutorial. 😊

[@kevodevo26]

Super duper Thanks Karen

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@KginVT]

Such valuable tips! I could relate to all 10! My favorite: “Less is more.”Thank you for sharing!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Karen 😊

[@kimrigney6607]

Thank you! I love tips and I love watching you paint!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you!

[@helengill5481]

Wow thanks for the info very helpful, and as always amazing painting :)

[@1bigheaddave]

Thanks Karen

[@KarenRiceArt]

You are welcome David 😀

[@markr6682]

Brilliant Karen. Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It’s been so valuable.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Mark 😃

[@photosbyaimee]

Best beginners advice I’ve seen so far! Thank you so much!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@attorneycarissa]

This was so helpful. Thank you!

[@KarenRiceArt]

So pleased you found this helpful 😊

[@unamcgurry6875]

I enjoyed this so much. Great results. Thank you.

[@KarenRiceArt]

You are so welcome!

[@shallwechitchat]

You really are a great teacher! Thank you so much for your useful advice and tips! l've learned a lot from your videos! Best wishes!🥰

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much Cherry 😀

[@MultiMartina12]

It was beautiful and inspiring to watch your process and listening to you. thank you so much.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you!

[@anni50ful]

Thank you,I belong to an art group my tutor is just like you,when I'm being over zealous and over painting my water colours I have Ken 's voice ringing in my ear ' LET IT DRY ' haha. Beautiful painting reminds me of holidays in Tenerife. ☺

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much! You sound like you have a great tutor! Love Tenerife 😀

[@shancan6328]

Thank you for this beautiful tutorial. I just tried it out myself and loved it. I don't have access to good quality paper and would like to try again when I get some. The best tip you gave in my mind is that 100% cotton paper works best. The other paper is fine for some pen and watercolor but for blending and mixing on the paper cotton is king.

[@KarenRiceArt]

You are right, cotton is the best for watercolours. So pleased you enjoyed this tutorial 😀

[@ritaobrien9093]

Thank you SO much for these tips AND the painting! Bird of Paradise is my late husband's favorite and I have made many attempts at it. Now I'm a little closer to understanding my lack of success so I'm going to try it again! (preserve the light and don't overdo it, whew!)

[@KarenRiceArt]

So pleased you found this helpful 😊

[@jasmineolsen286]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@loricolpitts8979]

Wonderful insights and information.. Love your tutorials. I am in awe of your talents!!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Lori 😀

[@veroklassmann654]

Very beautiful flower, looks easy to do! I would ad a light wash blue background. Your photo has it and it looks perfect to me.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Great suggestion! Thanks Vero 😊

[@myrnalandersartist]

Great advice thank you!

[@KarenRiceArt]

You are so welcome!

[@connieostroha8423]

Great tips Karen! Very inspirational.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Connie! So pleased you think so 🥰

[@carolynl615]

Thank you Karen for doing the Bird of Paradise!!!! I love how you did it and your demonstration style.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Carolyn 😊

[@govindmatondkar7502]

Beautifully put !!!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@heidekrause469]

Thanks for the tips Karin. Lovely flower.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Heidi 😀

[@anikokisszocske9026]

I like your teaching so much! Thank you! Especially for the 10. point :-))

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you!

[@bobbiegraham7729]

Being a self-taught watercolorist, I wish I had seen this video 4 years ago! Great video! Something that I really just learned recently is that I often use too much water, and sometimes too much paint. And granulating colors can be an enemy or friend depending on your subject. Thank you so much for this lovely video, and for sharing your knowledge.

[@KarenRiceArt]

So pleased you found this helpful and thank you for sharing your experience, it can be so helpful to me and others 😊

[@sharonrose160]

Love the painting and the tips, looks fairly doable.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you!

[@markr6682]

Thank you, Karen. This is such a valuable video. Cheers

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😀

[@donnabirney817]

Thanks so much for all the tips here and the simple painting for us to try .

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thanks Donna 😀

[@LisaLisa-fq4th]

Appreciate the tips! Beautiful flower

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@yunzers]

You are such a good teacher. All these tips are so valuable, thank you. My biggest problem is affording cotton paper. It’s so expensive which makes is intimidating. I’m learning so much from you thanks again!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you hanks so much really pleased you found this helpful. I totally understand about cotton paper. 😊

[@meeraahuja1594]

Beautiful video. Thank you

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you!

[@kevodevo26]

Well done Karen , I have recommended so many people to your site and it’s because it’s so good !, always something to learn thanks

[@KarenRiceArt]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing my channel! 😊

[@carmensol34]

Beautifully done! Love tutorials like this one! Thank you!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you’

[@MedaHalmaciu]

Paint a sky every day and stop before you finish. ❤️

[@KarenRiceArt]

It really helps 😊

[@miahughes1450]

Thank you for all those tips Karen. I’m offering my tip here. I’m frugal and I like tube paints so I get aggravated at hardened lumps of paint on my palette that have to be scraped or washed off.I know they could be used again as background or experimentation but that doesn’t seem to work for me - maybe because I have limited time. Using pan paints or hardened tube paint is ok but not for the really creamy consistency. So what I have come to do is to stick to 20 or so colours and squeeze them into the palette wells using as much as I need and leaving the rest. When they harden, I add some drops of water to the well and leave them for a while -and voila, they soften to almost tube consistency. PS. Please don’t tell me that everyone does this and I’m just a Luddite !

[@KarenRiceArt]

So pleased you found this helpful! Great tip! Thank you Mia for sharing 😊

[@Kagane1001]

Those colours are beautiful! I'll definitely try that one myself. Another that tipp I have is to not go too light! Of course first comes preserving lightness, but if you are painting the darkest spots of your painting or illustration, don't be afraid to go dark. Being careful and layering light washes is an option of course but the more layers you paint the higher the risk of accidentally lifting colours or overworking the paper. Or maybe that's just a problem I had (and have😅)

[@KarenRiceArt]

You are so right about not being afraid one dark! Also layering can prove tricky with the possibility of losing the light and lifting paint. Thank you for sharing! 😊

[@sayusayme7729]

Thank you so much.

[@lauriehuber8048]

Beautiful bird of paradise flower painting Karen! I just finished the tulips, so I’m quite a bit behind!

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Laurie, don’t worry, I’m sure you will catch up soon 😊

[@pauline3379]

Great tutorial, thank you.

[@blissfull8274]

So helpful! Thanks so much, Karen 🌸

[@KarenRiceArt]

So pleased you found this helpful 😀

[@patlatour2465]

Beautiful flower and great tutoriel

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@megmoore8108]

I'd love to see a painting of sunflowers or black eyed susans

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you for your suggestions Meg 😀

[@artonthecreek]

Great reminders-💕💕

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thanks Ann 😊

[@eileenkazdan4784]

I really enjoyed this video for your advise and for watching how you painted the bird of paradise. I would love to know what color paints you usually have in your palette.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you Eileen. Check out this tutorial where I talk about the colours I use etc… kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3-2oaSviMSsrbs

[@Miastrong930]

Beautiful.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😀

[@carolinedaniels3571]

I've spent years struggling with water colours , attending classes where nobody taught you!!,and now lve learnt so much from your channel and these latest tips,reassure me and remind me to keep on practicing and just enjoy myself. You inspire and give confidence...Thank you. Ps do you run any day workshops??

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you hank you so much Caroline! Really pleased you found this tutorial helpful! I run a regular watercolour class, full at present. Let me know if you would like to go on my waiting list?

[@beverlydavis7613]

I have learned so much from my tutorials with you Karen. I would like to be able to give to your patron membership. I do not want to go through the internet channel. Is there a y other way that I can contribute to the membership than what is mentioned.

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much Beverley! You watching my videos here on KZbin is amazing support! If you change your mind here is the link to my Patreon membership: www.Patreon.com/karenriceart.com 😊

[@gerardbradshaw5644]

hi Karen they are brilliant tips straight forward and simple, JUST LIKE ME SIMPLE 😁 but I do practice on I suppose just ordinary watercolour paper because I,m scared of wasting the brilliant cotton paper or not paper as some people call it, anyway could you tell me what are the best beginner paints or practice paints to use because some of them don,t blend as good as your,s do in your beautiful work or even the colours just don,t look right and thanks

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much for your comment and questions. You are right. The cotton paper is the best. Remember you can use the back of the paper as well for practice. I recommend using Cotman Winsor and newton watercolour paints for my students. They are very good quality as well.

[@jennifergraham6896]

Beautiful and great info. The final painting looks like the background is blueish. How did that happen?

[@KarenRiceArt]

It is just the software I used on the computer to present the painting at the end.

[@KarenRiceArt]

It is just the software I used on my computer.

[@anniyule3061]

I really like Cauliflowers. Can you show us how then can look good?

[@KarenRiceArt]

Great suggestion!

[@dorothygladsjo3510]

Hmmm newbie here, I have stiff hog hair brushes and wondering if they were used dry on wet petals they might make great veins?

[@KarenRiceArt]

I have not tried it for veins, but find them great for texture and lifting off 😀

[@trisht5064]

great content 👌

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you 😊

[@picopi]

Hi Karen tks for your tuto, they help me very much.. can I find sketches of your turo?

[@KarenRiceArt]

Thank you so much. Sketches are only available on my Patreon membership. You can’t upload them onto the KZbin membership. Www.Patreon.com/karenriceart

[@SusiePetrone]

Is there somewhere your reference photo is stored? I love it

[@KarenRiceArt]

Hi Susie, you can find the link for the reference photo in the description 😀

[@annschade802]

Thank you for great information. Did you paint blue background as it appears in last shot. If so, when?

[@KarenRiceArt]

Hi Ann, I did not paint a background, kept this one really simple. It may just be how the photo looked?

[@annschade802]

Did you paint blue background after painting flower? Thank you

[@KarenRiceArt]

Hi I have not painted a background, must be the photo, giving that impression 😀

[@lisapounder1950]

Karen,could you tell me,do you use tap water or distilled water when you paint …thanx

[@KarenRiceArt]

Tap water 😊

[@lisapounder1950]

@@KarenRiceArt thanx for replying.What about fungus growing on your paintings,people say that happens if you use tap water?

[@r.lindalevy6115]

When did you add the blue background?

[@KarenRiceArt]

I have not painted a background. It must be the photo at the end 😀

[@yifat120]

Great tutorial thank you

[@KarenRiceArt]

You’re welcome 😊

[@arlettevandeperre1016]

Thank you. Do de pensil strokes disappear?

[@KarenRiceArt]

It can be tricky to get rid of pencil marks, but I have a few tips: 1: Try to rub them off when your painting is dry. 2: Draw very lightly, make as few marks as you can. 3: Don't use a hard or soft pencil (HB is best I think). 4: Don't use pencil, paint without drawing! That is the hardest! I hope this was helpful 😊

[@arlettevandeperre1016]

Thank you!

[@trotter5099]

Hi Karen do I need to gesso my canvess before I paint water colors?

[@KarenRiceArt]

Hi Colin, great question. This tutorial may help you with painting watercolours on canvas: kzbin.info/www/bejne/in2lZpubrJ6CedU

[@marthashaffer8295]

What do you mean by "creamier" paint?

[@KarenRiceArt]

I mean, slightly thicker than water repaint so more paint less water. You still want your paint to be transparent though so not too thick. About the consistency of single cream.

[@fuzzydragons]

i hardly ever plan a painting, which i know is a problem lol just cant seem to bring myself to plan more

[@KarenRiceArt]

It can help, being spontaneous is fun as well 😃

[@lynnchapman2211]

Karen are you letting your work dry while you're painting this?

[@KarenRiceArt]

Hi Lynn, yes I let my first wash dry before applying the second 😀

[@lizsmith2068]

No cauliflowers or mud👍👍

[@suel4269]

My best paintings have been on the backsides of a painting that didn’t work out.

[@KarenRiceArt]

It’s amazing how much his happens! Must be to do with the Pressure of a new sheet of watercolour paper! 😊

[@lisawaller7620]

Thank you!

[@KarenRiceArt]

You are so welcome😊