4 Advanced Watercolor Tips & Techniques + Bonus Tip!

In this watercolor tutorial you'll learn a few new tricks that I have been playing with recently in my art work. Learn how to make your art more painterly, how to get more precise masking lines, how to add interesting texture to your watercolor painting, how to paint background trees and foliage, and more!
If you want to learn to paint an aesthetic watercolor painting, come join the fun! If you want to learn how to watercolor paint animals, fur, or just this cute chipmunk, you're in the right place!
Ellen Crimi Trent video - • EASY Watercolor Christ...
Maria Raczynska video - • BEST TIP How to fix yo...
Debra Rosenbach - • Vibrant Abstract Flowe...
Dot Bottle Links - www.artacademy... and everettswaterc...
Dry Cleaning Pad - amzn.to/35Gzszn
Scrubbers - amzn.to/34bmKs7
Masking Fluid - amzn.to/35OiQ8L
Ruling Pen - amzn.to/3C8KLwm
00:00 Intro
00:17 First Tip - Dry Cleaning Pad
01:38 Masking Tips
03:35 Dreamify Your Watercolor Art!
05:08 Texture Tip
06:55 Background Trees Trick
Hi! My name is Rachel Parker Varner and welcome to my art KZbin watercolor channel where the focus is teaching you how to paint loose, painterly yet realistic animals. I do reserve the right to go off on an art tangent now and then though!
If you're interested in learning watercolor from me more closely, join me on Patreon at / rachelsstudio or buy individual tutorials at www.rachelsstudio.com/watercolortutorials or join my KZbin membership at / @user-bt4uu9gc6h
My Patreon has the most extensive collection of tutorials and is a great deal because you get access to most ($5) or all ($8) of them when you join! I'm still building my collections on KZbin, although I have a lot available to that membership as well.
Join my community of watercolor artists on fb at / rachelswatercolorworkshop to share your work, get feedback about your paintings and enjoy seeing others' art too!
***************Free Stuff***************
Full Length, Patreon Style Black Cat watercolor painting Tutorial with Traceable, Free to the Public!
• How to Paint a Wet in ...
For free downloads, visit these pages, join as a member for free, and then access get access to…
www.rachelsstudio.com/pumpkins
www.rachelsstudio.com/santa
www.rachelsstudio.com/houdini
www.rachelsstu...
www.rachelsstu...
My favorite supplies(contain affiliate links and I make a small commission when you purchase something):
Paint Puck - bit.ly/3ktdbcl
PAPER
140 lb Cold Press Arches Watercolor Paper - bit.ly/38CA8r8
Fluid Cold Press Watercolor Paper - (Cheaper Option for paper) - bit.ly/39wUVwN
PAINT
M Graham Napthol Red - bit.ly/3OPm667
Winsor & Newton Colors... - Burnt Sienna - Cobalt Blue - Ultramarine Blue - Winsor Violet - Green Gold - bit.ly/3LvzJFb
Daniel Smith Colors: -DS Lamp Black - DS Holbein Aureolin - Daniel Smith Permanent Green Light - bit.ly/3y3FqGF
Wisp brush set - amzn.to/2MMbw4A
Silver black velvet brushes - I bought the set of three with the 3/4 oval.
bit.ly/3F00wHi
Asian Sumi Hake Brush Set - bit.ly/3OMIWv3
Scrubber Brushes- bit.ly/3rXGt7h
Princeton Velvetouch Size 4 Long Round - bit.ly/3s1BWRl
Winsor & Newton Masking Fluid - bit.ly/3vWq8Rk
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen in Black bit.ly/3vtHrKw
White Gel Pen- bit.ly/3s4lfol
I've also been using Holbein Soft Tape from Holbein. I have found if I leave this tape on my paper too long, it leave sticky residue. Otherwise, I LOVE it! bit.ly/3OMGJ2J
Elmer's Foam Board -. bit.ly/3F9v0qv
Pallette - bit.ly/3F0DGzk
Dot or Splat Spray Bottles -Stampendous has one at bit.ly/3MFyWlj but I haven't tried that one yet. www.artacademy... You have to scroll down and look for 'dot bottles'
everettswaterc... also has dot spray bottles. I think I like these a LITTLE better than the Tom Lynch ones.
Makeup Organizer I use to store art supplies - amzn.to/3cnam9D
Storage Bench for Art Supplies - amzn.to/32IJCdU
Gel Floor Mat amzn.to/3wyIF5X
5 inch Squeegee - amzn.to/2RjVzEE
Credit Card sized squeegee - amzn.to/3uvV88w
Samsung Galaxy - I use a Galaxy to film most of my videos! amzn.to/2IBXL5Y
SanDisk Storage for all my footage! amzn.to/3tZUYpe
Epson Surecolor P900 Printer - amzn.to/2UoSvFs
Epson Velvet Paper - (paper I use for prints) amzn.to/2K3eNKV
rachelsstudio.com
rachelsstudiodotcom (friend me! This is where I post the most)
rachels_studio
Instagram at rachelsstudiodotcom

[@bonnieh9484]

I used drafting eraser dust in my high school drafting classes 30+ years ago. Worked great. I too have a dry cleaning pad. I got that tip from a Rick Surowicz class. I love it!

[@deborahalderman4065]

You're a great teacher. And fun, to boot!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thank you so much 💗🥰

[@electrichen6243]

You can scribble with a water soluble pencil and you can shave your pencils onto wet areas or spritz after

[@Moonchaser71]

I love learning from you!!! Thank you... and for including who you may have learned it from. I've never heard of the people you watch so I wouldn't get the info any other way. I also love that you include your cat. I have 3 that love to climb all over me and my artwork 🤣🥰

[@aliciashackley5830]

Great tips Rachel. Thx very much. 🥰

[@ArtistInNewHampshire]

Word of caution about dipping the ruling pen directly into the jar, particularly a small cylindrical plastic jar. I accidentally touched the ruling pen edge on the edge of the lip of the jar, and it and the slightly dried fluid on them both, grabbed each other, and I managed to pull the jar over and it dumped 3/4 of the jar contents over my sketch. What a pricey, crazy mess! After that mishap, I placed a museum wax type adhesive on the bottom of the miskit jar, and pressed it firmly into the bottom of a very small glass canning jar. That way, it stays put!

[@carollundstrom6519]

Great tips Rachel.

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Glad you think so!

[@pafeso1659]

Just to say that ink nibs can also be used to lay down masking fluid. Either for finer lines, or for a more accessible alternative.

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

It's so weird but the first time I tried this it worked great, then I could never get it to work again. Maybe I needed to water down my masking.

[@carolratcliff]

Wow you really hit a home run on this with the changes! So much that I may join your Patreon. I just compared both horses and had to study it for a bit! Well done. ❤️

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thanks Carol, and I'd love to have you come join the fun!

[@polgara28]

Great tips, Rachel! I love how you loosened up the horse painting, especially! I've done some extensive testing on masking fluid lately. I use pebeo drawing gum, and pour some into lidded 2 oz cups to water it down. Also, I've added some marbles into the bottle to bring the level of fluid up, so that it doesn't go bad as quickly. (Air is the enemy of the fluid). Once a day, I turn it over onto it's top or bottom, so that I never have to shake it. The finest lines I've ever gotten were with a glass dip pen and watered fluid, but it takes practice to get it right. I also used one of those fineline bottles without watering the fluid and it works great, except on occasion you get an air bubble. Did you know that you can use masking fluid on damp paper to keep from getting a hard edge? It works, but I'd experiment with it before trying it on an important painting. Good paper is key there. For some reason I never could get the hang of the ruling pen, but I'm determined to get it right. Thanks again for sharing your great tips and helping us all improve. Love from Kansas! ❤️

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Those are all great ideas and I appreciate your sharing them!

[@glowycloey]

Woah, ty for the tips!

[@carolratcliff]

What??? Masking on wet paper? I will have to try this. Great tip. Thanks #christieraley.

[@terrikarman6878]

Such cool and helpful hints!! Thank you!!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

You are so welcome!

[@philipsummers14]

Great tip Rachel 😍👍

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thank you 💗

[@kle1701]

Loved these tips! Thank you!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

You're so welcome!

[@teresajordao6634]

So beautiful! Thanks😍😘😘

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thank you too!

[@barbiemathis1605]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thank you 💗

[@scribbleswh2018]

Thank you, love your work 🤩

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thank you! 😊

[@barbaramilbradt2188]

So you admire her whiskers. ? Lol!! That was hilarious! And you sounded so serious!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Haha!

[@Stacey3Pets]

Thank you Rachel! I always admire your art and I’ve learned so much from you!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

It's always a pleasure 💗🎨💗

[@fuzzydragons]

very handy tips to share 😀

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Glad it was helpful!

[@suel4269]

Be careful spraying with cobalts and cadmiums. You gave me an idea for my Daniel Smith watercolor sticks!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Oh yes those sticks make great textures!

[@cherylbrewer1218]

Thank you Rachel. Great video & tips. Love your work 😊

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thanks so much!

[@barbaramilbradt2188]

This was very helpful! Thanks again! Debra Lynn is one of my favs for floral tutorials.

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

I agree, her flower paintings are amazing!

[@jjholland8177]

Great, helpful, fun, and quick videos! Thank you!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

That's exactly what I try to make these videos!

[@creativecolours2022]

The best way to retain your masking fluid in liquid form is to add ....ammonia. After each use you add a bit of ammonia in the bottle and stir it. Don't shake it because it creates bubbles of air that dry it. Just stir it close it tight and keep it in a dark and cool place.

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

That makes sense! Thank you so much for that tip!

[@juliekraut7218]

Thanks for your demo. I was told to never shake your masking fluid as it makes bubbles and also can turn the fluid into a ball. You were asking about making thin lines. I just bought a detailing fine line fluid writer paint applicator pen , on Amazon. It has a well for fluid and a fine tip like pen. It works great for masking fluid or thin paint.

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Thank you for that tip. I just bought one and will try it soon!

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

Follow up - I bought this thanks to you and am adding it to my video line up. Thank you SO MUCH for this tip. Let me know if you have a social media account you would like me to share!

[@tiffertoes86]

Thank you Rachel! I love tips as a damage beginner :) I personally use a kneaded eraser on my line drawings and just roll it, do you think after using it that the dry cleaning pad is better to be worth the mess? Also I was wondering, does the masking dry slower with the water added?

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

I think a kneaded eraser is probably just as good really

[@monicawilcock2068]

You can use breadcrumbs! See Michael Solovyev xx

[@Raferrade]

Noooooooo the horse painting oh my gosh no

[@user-bt4uu9gc6h]

lol I take it you like more representational styles

[@Raferrade]

@@user-bt4uu9gc6h I do 😭😭 lol I’m sorry I still love your work!!