5 things you NEED to AVOID if you want to find your loose floral watercolor style

[@vupps]

You are so right about how our brains are trained to bring out detail in a painting and the loose brush strokes doesn’t quite capture the subject that should be looking with details. I tried to post a couple of paintings that was loose painting and I didn’t quite get the response I expected from my friends circle and pulled out of posting anything anymore on social media. It gave me a feeling of dejection! So, i should embrace and recondition my way of thinking to create loose paintings for my satisfaction rather than trying to impress anyone! Thanks for your insightful advices! Love your work!

[@brushmovement]

I feel your frustration especially when you tried to paint for yourself and joy only to get a response that wasn't favorable. It isn't easy to post your work to begin with! I am here for you and hope that this message gives u courage to post ur work regardless of what you feel about it. Your journey is so unique to you!

[@donnacarraway9182]

Thank you Jillian! Honestly, I don’t quite know what my holdups are right now…but I do know that I appreciate you!! 💕

[@tinacookieleesanchez6850]

I really enjoy wtaching you Jillian . You have a way of explaining things in a way I can understand. 💗 I am starting to realize you do need to use your body to get in to your painting and, just have an open mind that your art mite come out different from what you had in mind lol .

[@jillbooker7970]

Such an informative and encouraging video! I know that fears holds me back and small= tight …so true. I am going to now try and stand up while I paint ..and be aware of how I’m holding my brushes. Thank you so much Jillian!!

[@brushmovement]

So happy this video was something that helps you along in painting loosely!

[@the_watercolour_gardener635]

All of these make so much sense. I have to be kinder to myself and embrace the journey and the learning more rather than worry if what I have painted measures up to expectations. I have noticed as the 5 day challenge has gone on that I have moved to smaller brushes and smaller paper. I am going to try larger brushes and bigger pieces of paper. The comfort of watercolour techniques should, I think, come with making painting a practice. I think many of us have grown up with being told to pay attention to details and memorize to get ahead in life. It is a leap of faith to go outside of your comfort zone. I hope you will continue to do more videos like this one. ❤

[@brushmovement]

Hear hear. Everything you said is everything I should continue to practice and pioritise too when it comes to painting!

[@jerrygill4828]

I’ve been painting watercolor florals for a long time but was never satisfied with the results. They looked so wimpy. I was so unhappy with my attempts that I tried to go to acrylics. What a disaster! Since I found you and your channel I’m encouraged to go back to watercolor. Thank you. You are so inspiring. I remember what it’s like to have only nap time for myself. God bless you.

[@brushmovement]

Acrylics is a new ball game for sure! I do enjoy that too but there is something about the way paint moves with water that I love about watercolor! Haha enjoy those precious naps! And glad u are here!!

[@crystaltanart]

Such great points for loose style Jill! I really appreciate how you encourage us to slow down in loose floral in contrary to many other loose floral teachers. Going slow is so counter-intuitive to my urges though. But I totally see the benefits of slowing down - teaching us so much more than just going super fast.

[@brushmovement]

Hey Crystal! Its nice to see you here and I m glad these points resonate with you! I realise with time that the faster I paint the less I get to appreciate how watercolor is. I also have this tendency to paint fast because my mind is so used to watching time-lapses haha

[@janc734]

Really good tips- I'm guilty of the "hunched over and uptight" I'll pay more attention to that for sure. Thanks!

[@brushmovement]

Oh yes I get that way too so to prevent myself from doing that I would stand to paint! Thank u for watching and also sharing what relates to you most!

[@PatriciaGodboutArt]

Thank you so much for this excellent instruction. I especially like the tip of slowing down and being aware of our movements. You are the best!

[@brushmovement]

Thank you Patricia! I am glad that moving slower is a point that you want to do more of for your practice

[@sylvieleduc6196]

Très juste! Belles matières à réflexions ! 😊

[@dancingirldesignswatercolour]

Hi Jillian, thank you so much for this and all your wonderful videos. I love the beginning of this one, it made me laugh so much. I used to paint flowers in a realism style so YES I am having a lot of trouble painting loosely without all those fine details. I am going to try bigger brushes, speaking of which... Emma Jane's Botanical Brush Set arrived today!! I'm so excited, I can't wait to use them. I found you through Emma Jane BTW. I am going to try painting standing up and loosening up my body. See how we go. Thank you so much again. You're such a treasure. I'm so loving your channel. -Jo 💕

[@treesapgrl]

I love this video!! Thank you, Jillian!

[@brushmovement]

Thank you for being here and I m glad you like this video!!!

[@marlenedelvecchio8074]

Thank you! This is eye opening!!!❤

[@juliebirdsong1950]

Great reminders and advice, thank you

[@brushmovement]

So happy you resonated with some of it! And thank u for being here

[@marionbik2022]

Thank you for putting into words some of the hurdles of painting abstract. ✨🎨

[@brushmovement]

@@marionbik2022 yess the entire visualising in our mind versus having it translated on paper is such a difference

[@nancypyter1511]

I can relate to all of your points Jillian! I expect perfection right away and I have to learn that's not going to happen. I just need to relax and not be so hard on myself.

[@brushmovement]

Hey Nancy I know where you are coming from and you have high expectations of yourself because you know what you can do so you want to keep moving up and getting better. It takes practice to just focus on the present and allow the painting to slowly grow and unfold. I too struggle with this sometimes

[@mariaconsuelo4073]

Thank You Soooo Much. I didnt realize til now that painting is like a relationship, a commitment thru your advice in this video. Youre such a beautiful soul kraftyFox. THank you

[@brushmovement]

Thank you Maria for being here and yes it is a relationship! We have to get to know it so we can accept its limitations and strengths!

[@robinchurchill367]

I started watercolor about a year ago and I really found that everything I’ve done has been pretty close to your video. I love loose painting! Thank you!

[@brushmovement]

You have such keen sense of self awareness. I believe you will go far :) can't wait to see u go loose!

[@CarolinePennefather-kz1vb]

Love your insight and tips! I struggle with letting go of my need to control things around me. I am going to apply these tools and tips to help me paint better. Thanks Jillian!

[@brushmovement]

So good to know Caroline!!

[@lydialee2023]

I love this, I feel I can relate to you so much, thank you for sharing, I find painting everyday truly helps me to feel comfortable about being uncomfortable if that makes sense to you. X

[@Mizowi75]

Thank you for this encouraging discussion. I’m new to watercolor and am trying to let go of my old habits. You have given me much to think about in this video. One thing I learned is that I need to scale up and use my bigger brushes and larger paper rather than cutting my sheets in smaller pieces to conserve. Fear: wasting supplies while learning.

[@brushmovement]

I usedto cut my own sheets down to smaller pieces too. Now the smallest I paint on is a4 and I have definitely loosened up

[@harmonywhalan4877]

Wonderful!

[@brushmovement]

Thank u so much!

[@CarolinaCarolina-ph9mx]

One of my biggest problems hindering my ability to paint loosely is overworking. I think a number of my paintings start out fairly loose, but I just can't let them go, and I have to keep coming back and fiddling with them - until it is a heavy, dull mess. I also want to fill the page. So many floral watercolorists have paintings with the one flower or a cluster, and then a ton of white space. I don't want a ton of white space, I want stuff there. Yet, when I try to fill that space with other flowers, or leaves, or color, or whatever, it never looks right. It is easy to understand why the others leave things like they do, it just isn't what *I* want to do. At the same time, even though there is something different I want, I don't seem to have figured out what it is! 🤣

[@brushmovement]

I feel you!!! I m currently actually working on leaving space and leaving my painting alone! 😆 😂

[@CarolinaCarolina-ph9mx]

@@brushmovement Your work is gorgeous. You have perfected the ability to paint a flower that is loose, yet has the right amount of detail to read as a flower. You also fill the pages so beautifully. You have got it down to a science. 😍 Aside from my inexperience in knowing where to stop, I am beginning to realize that one of the other reasons I may be so prone to overworking is stress. Painting is a stress reliever, When I feel stressed, I can barely come up with a subject to paint, and when I do, I want to just stay there and stay lost in putting paint on paper - and not push my brain to think of something new to do. I just want to color, not create. This may be a little of what it happening with you, too. I don't have children, but I am certain that taking care of them could be overwhelming at times - which leads more to the desire to color than create - which could quickly lead to overworking a watercolor (so set your masterpiece aside for when you are feeling relaxed! 😂). Gouache, on the other hand, can probably take more painting and fiddling since the white can be easily added back at any time, so it likely a better stress reliever than pure watercolor for that reason. 🙂

[@gadijamajiet2176]

Such great tips Jillian. I always loved the part of standing while painting , it makes the world of difference in our strokes & a higher up view of our painting.Thank you for all the encouragement

[@brushmovement]

Hey Gadija so nice to see u here!!! U r always such a source of encouragement. I actually stand alot more when I paint these days. It's just easier to see things. I understand why an easel is so great for acrylics and oils where u can keep a distance and move back.

[@gadijamajiet2176]

@@brushmovement Thanks Jillian,yeah I’ve been around catching up your & couple of other art friend’s KZbin channel 🥰

[@lenaalexandersson5615]

The Water in the pencil 😅

[@brushmovement]

Hahaha a possibility!!

[@soniabernal8463]

Im Sorry..I dont understand English..you can add SUBTITLES IN Spanish please! Thank you Jilli very much

[@brushmovement]

So kind of u to be here even though English is not a language you can understand. I m not sure if under settings on youtube u can change to Spanish subtitles.