3 Watercolour Rules You Must Follow!

[@sandrift]

Thank you, Emma. May I offer another rule? For people with pets, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not leave your dirty water out where your pets can drink it or lick dried paint on the jar😂. Cadmiums, cobalts, and certain other pigments are toxic. If you wouldn’t want a toddler drinking it, your pets shouldn’t either. ❤ 🐈 🐶

[@marygeorge7564]

Your No 3 rule was my favorite. As a beginner watercolor painter, I often give up on something because I don’t like the way it is going. I will try to follow your advice and keep going on it by experimenting and trying new things. Thanks for your valuable instructions!

[@louiseschultz2064]

All great rules. Thank you for the reminders. A tip I saw somewhere to help with rule #3: use an empty mat (smaller than your painting) to help frame parts of your painting. Most likely, you will find a portion of your painting that you like and can cut to size for a card or smaller painting. 🎨🥰

[@stevesidare2493]

Good points! I think, better than never leaving a painting unfinished if dissatisfied with how it's going, is to leave it alone for a while until a time you have fresh eyes and mind and not comparing it to your envisioned result. I've learned to do this as an alternative to ripping it up, or what have you. The thing to do is make notes and a swatch sheet of the colors used to paint your paintings, so if you DO need to put one aside for "a better day," you're not left guessing what pigments were used.

[@karencamping.5813]

Thx - two of your hints were very helpful to me 😊 I live in a VERY dry climate (AZ) and am always finding my wet on wet painting to be different - always drying out ! Only way I’ve found to combat it is to paint “ smaller” - like photo sizes- maybe little by little I’ll either work faster, or something😊. Other was to keep environmental dust off my paints or pallets! I like having mixed dry paint on my pallets ( just the right color for layer) but now turn them upside down when I’m not painting-- it’s dusty here too! Thx

[@barblallier9413]

I cover mine with a bit of cardboard, it helps!

[@Love2Create62]

I'd like to add, for people who don't know yet, you need to let your paints dry completely before you close your palettes, or your paints could possibly get moldy.

[@revinakeener7299]

I cut a pool noodle on one side to open it up then I slide it onto my table and cover the table edge with it. I then decide how much of the noodle to use for my wrist to rest on, trim that decide how much to use for my brushes, usually at least 12 inches and then trim that. after I get my trimming done, I use my ex-acto knife to cut a line/slot to place my brushes in hanging them from the slot to dry tip down. for my larger brushes, I cut out some of the noodle to have a larger slot.

[@marciayoung8208]

This session is gold! Thank you so much for sharing this. It is immeasurably helpful in so many little ways. You are a gem!

[@marlaatml]

Thank you. I don't know how to draw but I love watercolor painting. ❤😊

[@JH-W]

Rule 3 is definitely my favourite. Thank you so much for sharing your talents & for inspiring me to paint with watercolours again. I dabbled with them previously but am learning so much from you. Blessings from the UK ❤

[@Ms1lonewolf]

Oh on brush care. You can use a little bit of baby shampoo instead of buying that expensive brush soap. Baby shampoo is a very gentle soap and thats what needs to be used on a brush. Thank you Emma 😊 for your rules. They are very good rules to follow 👏 👍 😀. Have a blessed day 💖 🙏.

[@Dawnnie473]

I use the bowl covers with elastic around the edges to cover my ceramic palette to keep out dust and pet hair out.

[@denisevogt3831]

Thanks so much. I've messed up really good brushes with those mistakes. Love that you mentioned to finish that crapy piece of art because, like you said, it can be a fun process, and we can look back at what we learned 👍😊

[@waynehudson5903]

Really enjoyed this video. Love your delivery. I mostly do card making and am trying to incorporate some watercolor even tho my results are pretty lame, so far. I DON'T give up! Cardmaking rules are similar in that if you don't like your results, add something until you do. Lori

[@silverleafmaple]

That swell of music during the white watercolor comments 😂 I really loved this video! Tysm❤

[@lorrainebrown6364]

I wash my brushes with Masters Brush cleaner. I’m amazed at how much paint is in the bristles that don’t come out just swishing them in water. I have had some color “surprises” as I’ve been painting with hidden paint not washed out thoroughly. When washed you can also reshape them. I hang them tip down with a Puck water cleaner jar.

[@timothyrector6112]

Thank you for the tips. I am happy to see you have posted a new video. I pray that this means you are feeling better.

[@ErinEnoArt]

She’s been posting regularly if you look at the upload dates of her videos so I think you may have her confused for someone else🙁 Hopefully, whoever it is has posted recently 🙏🏼

[@veronicahodges6610]

Congratulations on reaching 500K subscribers 👏 Great tips for sure!

[@eileencollins3126]

Great video, as always. I have a Paint Puck watercolor jar that holds brushes upside down. I always have it in use when I am doing watercolor work. I like the never leave a painting unfinished rule. It is a learning opportunity in many ways. I also think that not every attempt is going to result in a masterpiece, and to give yourself permission to acknowledge that and try again.

[@marilynmiser8532]

You are so right about the number 1rule. I made the mistake of leaving my brushes in water for like a few days and when I went to clean and put them away the metal tip with the brush came right off the handle and everything fell apart it was a real mess I learned the hard Way about the number one rule.

[@annenglish2935]

Have been watching you since 2020!!! I've enjoyed learning everything about watercolor as well as seeing your family grow... so precious!!! Thank you for sharing! I'm guilty of #1 & #3... Don't often use tubes ... I need to start painting again after almost 2 years break... still enjoy watching watercolor videos!!! God bless you and your family in the New Year! ❤🎉😂 With love from a California Gramma ❤️

[@SusanBurgett-h1g]

Great reminders! Especially for me, about leaving my palate open. I gotta remember to close it. I do have 2 cats and dust!

[@PatHart-o8x]

Thank you for your videos. They always inspire and teach me so much. (I’m a beginner.)

[@joanbreva7251]

The ugly stage is so true. I've found my paintings would also look good if framed for a couple minutes to check them out, and if I paint on it, it really does get better, and if I keep on going it looks better too.

[@happypappy]

Thank you! I definitely need #3! It’s true!

[@heatherleighartistry]

These are great tips! One of my art mentors always says “be fearless” and it’s taken me time but it really does bear fruit!

[@AnneSmith-mu2ph]

Hi Emma ,yes I agree I’ve done that sometimes I don’t do it now .Thank you lv Ann uk ❤️❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@JennyH_17501]

Question re: brush care. I blot the excess clean water from my bristles with a clean towel, reshape the bristles, and then lay them flat to dry on a towel. I never see the blotting step mentioned. Do others do this? Is this good to do (or not)?

[@Ms1lonewolf]

I do the same. I blot the brush to get most of the water 💧 out so it'll dry faster. Of course then reshape it and lay it flat to dry.

[@ErinEnoArt]

I always blot out the excess then reshape to dry👍🏻🙂

[@mammabear2183]

This was very helpful!!! Thank you. I especially appreciated the tip about not giving up when you are disappointed with the results. To use it as an opportunity to play and explore new things and learn from the process. Thank you!!!

[@helenwang6940]

Great rules for watercolor. I have used white watercolor for bookmarks because it’s winter here.

[@anniesavidge2468]

When I was learning to tole paint years ago, I was taught that you don’t need paint soap but that a regular bar of soap would work just fine

[@maremacd]

I thought that you risk getting mold in your pallet if you don’t let it dry completely before closing it. Is that not the case? I don’t paint every day but when I am painting regularly I rarely close my pallet because it’s usually always a little wet.

[@TheNailPolishHound]

I always finish a painting just for the practice itself…. as a beginner I need all the practice 😊

[@ma.alejandralopezcoda2729]

Gracias por la traducción al español

[@shariherrington7035]

Great tips and rules Emma! ❤ this! Keep em coming!

[@spbv1961]

Thank you ❤

[@kraznia]

I like white sometimes when working on toned or black paper, but not when working on white paper. Just depends upon what I'm doing. For me, the white is when I want something gouache-like without the actual gouache. Just finished a piece a few weeks ago on black watercolor paper. Some of the colors just were not opaque enough, so white to the rescue! I under painted with the white and got the effect I wanted. I have done similar work in acrylic and colored pencil, but it's trickier in watercolor because the watercolor white will reactivate and mix...

[@KSPicard]

Hi thanks for the video, I already the hard way what happens if you don’t follow these rule. One thing to closing your palette. I let the palette dry for an hour or two and then I close it, I noticed if I don’t so my colours get mushy and hard to use the next time. This may only apply for my environment. I set a timer to be reminded to close the lid. Cheers from Austria

[@conniemesce4093]

Good lesson ! Thank you ❤

[@barblallier9413]

I love tip two,,maybe dust will add some texture lol! And 3 is super true,,,you have to find out what doesn't work! Yes!

[@yasminamahdy1797]

Thank you emma iam from Egypt

[@SharonH11100]

Very good advice~ thanks!👍🏼

[@Kreative_Rainbow]

Great tips!! 👏👏 They are supply saving thoughts to remember!! 🥰

[@karenlewis632]

great information! thank you for sharing

[@johannjacobs4436]

Love, love #3 & 4

[@katieragg7336]

I always used to say that I was killing it when an artwork got to that ugly stage. It happens in all mediums and sometimes the best thing you can do is step away from it and come back with fresh eyes. I also like to sit the artwork somewhere else that I will see it as I walk past then I can observe it in a different light and figure out what needs to be done.

[@lynnrush7166]

There are plastic brush stands that are made to hold the brushes of various sizes upside down. I use mine all the time. They might seem a little pricey, but I’m hoping they prolong the life of my brushes.

[@Arthen1ce]

You can hang your brushes upside down with a small chopping board and elastics

[@soccertxi]

my fabric collage teacher calls it the 'messy scary stage'!

[@angie-tq4ew]

Hi Emma. Love your videos. So informative, but I haven't seen all of them yet. Working on it. lol I have a question. How long do I wait before I can close the palette that I just put in fresh watercolor from a tube. I'm afraid that if I close it too soon, and it's still moist, that it will end up moldy. I guess same goes for after activating it with water. Do I need to wait for the colors to dry before closing my palette for the day/night? Sorry if this seems obvious, but I'm new to art, and still trying to figure things out.

[@EmmaLefebvre]

I don't think there is a set amount of time. Usually when I put fresh paint in a palette I will leave it open to dry overnight. But different climates will act differently. I honestly leave my palettes open all the time, but I also use them almost daily.

[@angie-tq4ew]

@@EmmaLefebvre Thank you for responding so quickly. Okay. Sounds good. I'm trying to form a daily habit, but I tend towards putting things away, because of space issues, but I do feel like it would be easier to stick to the habit if I see my palette out. Thanks again. BTW...oops! I thought I was subscribed, since I watch your videos often, but I just saw that I wasn't. Subscribed for sure now. 🤭🥰

[@rosemariecooke9616]

I had heard from another artist that a pallette shouldn't be closed until the paint is dry because it will mold.

[@SharonFoster852]

Just be careful not to get that white paint into other pans! It'll be hard to get that pan back to its original transparency.

[@MaureenBurns-rp7ok]

I actually follow these rules. I usually keep extra empty jars and bottles of tap water so my dirty water is changed frequently.

[@ginabadeaux9319]

love you

[@melissasippy6629]

The amount of cat hair in my pallete... I leave it open to dry and always forget.

[@froggylegs1499]

Were do i store my brushes? If I just leave them in a cube won't dust get on those too?

[@lynnstlaurent6789]

Dust will come off in your water jar.

[@froggylegs1499]

@lynnstlaurent6789 So it's okay to leave the brushes in the cup out in the open?

[@lynnstlaurent6789]

@ I am not an expert but I do. I have no issues. I tend to use the same ones all the time so I am cleaning them often too.

[@froggylegs1499]

@@lynnstlaurent6789 thanks♡

[@BengtHanson]

Loved your No. 4 comment

[@lorihanby6733]

DON’T close your pallet on pans of paints if the paint is still wet! Let them dry out first, doesn’t take very long. Otherwise if you don’t use them again right away mold can start to form on the wet paint.

[@diananortman2905]

Oops, while I was watching this video, I looked over and there was a brush still standing in the water.

[@tanmaree1290]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@EmmaLefebvre]

nooooooooo lol!

[@LuGam-vf1yi]

The actual rule that is taught at formal academic artist institutions is that the amount of water that is in your jar/container is no more or higher than the thickness of your finger. That way the ferrule is never in water. I see a large majority of the so called “artist” on youtube dipping their brush in a jar of water that is filled to the top and that is not how proper professionally academic formally trained artists are taught. This is how you can tell who has actually acquired an Arts Degree.