Abstract Watercolour Tutorial

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This Abstract Watercolour Tutorial is a tutorial for me too! I am still working this style and process out as I go! It ends up being a river scene which I had not intended but it's an interesting finished painting. I use a lot of wet in wet processes and used a plastic lid of a butter soft container, a large asian style brush and my more usual hake brushes and round sables. This is a pretty large watercolour but you could do this on a smaller scale.
I used a full sheet of Rives BFK etching paper 56cm x 76cm 280gs
I used Paynes grey and a bit of cadmium red
To buy original paintings visit www.scottswinson.com
Paper: • Watercolor Paper Expla...
Paints: • Watercolour Paints - C...
Brushes: • Watercolor Brushes - T...
Paints in 7 Minutes: • Watercolor Paints in 7...
Paints
Winsor and Newton Artist Quality Tubes:
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/Winsor...
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/Yellow...
Light Red amazon: geni.us/LightR...
Winsor and Newton Cotman Tubes (student quality):
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Light Red amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Tape
3M Scotch Magic Tape amazon: geni.us/Scotch...
3M Scotch Removable Tape amazon: geni.us/Scotch...
Brushes
Round Sable - Size 12 round kolinsky sable from amazon: geni.us/SAAKol...
Imitation sable - amazon: geni.us/Escoda...
Holbein Hake Brushes: geni.us/Holbei...
Equivalent Hake Brushe 2” amazon: geni.us/Winsor...
Nylon Flat Brush amazon: geni.us/NylonF...
Travel Brush set with covers amazon: geni.us/travel...
Mixing Brushes and other effect brushes amazon: geni.us/HogBri...
If you just want two hogs bristle brushes then the best thing to do is to head to your local art supplies store and buy them there.
Watercolour Paper
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed pad amazon: geni.us/ArchesPad
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed block which is glued on the outside so you don’t have to stick it down on a board amazon: geni.us/Arches...
Rives BFK etching paper. Probably best to source this from your local store so you can look after the paper and not have it posted unless you are buying a large amount of paper and it will be looked after. There is nothing worse than getting hundreds of sheets all with a indent in them. Having said that you can actually source this paper from amazon:
geni.us/RivesBFK
Some people have been extremely happy with the state of the paper when it arrived (and some not!)
I love this paper it is soft and lights are lifted easily from it.
Equipment Used to Film Each Episode
Camera - Canon 6d mark II with 24-105 lens amazon: geni.us/Canon6...
Iphone 11: geni.us/iphone...
Rode Video Mic Pro amazon: geni.us/RodeVi...
I also use: Rode Wireless Go Mic: geni.us/rodewi...
Aputure LED Lights from amazon: geni.us/apurtu...
Aputure LED Lights with stand from amazon: geni.us/aputur...
Mac Book Pro for editing: www.apple.com/
Friction arms
Manfrotto friction arm short one amazon: geni.us/Manfro...
Manfrotto magic arm longer one so my camera can be closer to the page from my overhead rig amazon: geni.us/manfro...
Neewer Friction arms cheaper than manfrotto and good for lighter things like lights from amazon: geni.us/neewer...
Hard Drive for storage WD 4TB amazon: geni.us/WDHard...
Hard Drive for projects Samsung T5 500GB SSD amazon: geni.us/Samsun...
Manfrotto Tripod and Video Head amazon: geni.us/Manfro...
Photo Editing - Affinity Photo: geni.us/Affini...
I use this for any photo editing that I might need to do such as stitching multiple scanned images of my original artwork together. It is a one off expense ($70 at time of writing this) rather than the monthly fee you have to pay with photoshop.
KZbin Thumbnails - Canva - free and easy to use! geni.us/CanvaI...
Video Editing - Final Cut Pro X - geni.us/FinalC...
Reflector 3 software so I can see what is on my iphone screen - geni.us/Reflec...
Galvanised Steel for the overhead rig from bunnings - geni.us/Bunnings

[@shannonw6604]

Payne's Gray blending in the water and moving around on the paper, has got to be one of the most calming, ethereal and visually pleasing things I think I have ever seen. Stunning. I have stacks of beautiful abstract shapes and designs made from just playing with it. If only we could keep the effect it has when wet.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Shannon! Yes I agree it r we Otis be great if you could keep watercolour looking as it does when wet!! 👍

[@carolseigrist3435]

I love your honesty, no music and limited conversation. Also, your beautiful work.

[@kingussie]

Stormy wetlands - beautiful

[@vivilanatura]

Al minuto 7, 40 del video ci avrei visto già la realizzazione di una foresta, fino ad arrivare a stravolgere il dipinto in una magnifica opera !👏👏👏👏👏

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! I think you are saying that you could see the trees early on and could already imagine it being a finished piece? Like an opera. Thanks! It was quite a unique painting for me! Still is! Happy painting Arte e Orto!

[@tbluemel]

I saw exactly what you saw, Scott. What I like most about how you paint is how you are so free of watercolor conventions, while still maintaining an intuitive sense of composition and balance. It's inspiring!!!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Thom! Thanks! Yes sometimes it just turns into a mess though!

[@tbluemel]

@@ScottSwinson So do conventionally done paintings!

[@karolfrench5816]

THANKYOU. As always the magic happens encouraged by your skill and passion. It’s very interesting read other artist comments too as we are all pushing the boundaries to enable us to creat and express our appreciation for nature. I love seeing pigment flow and how you compose great beauty every time Perfect

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Karol! Thanks! This painting did feel like it was heading towards a fail but I kept going and managed to salvage something that I was happy with in the end! Always good to start to see a landscape come out of the mess on the page! lol

[@brianfisher1314]

I bought Tony Smibert's book you mentioned, it is fantastic, as is Painting Landscapes from Your Imagination. You're right, just watching technique over and over is as good as verbal instruction.

[@ScottSwinson]

Glad you got that book! There are some great demonstrations in there! Happy painting! 👍

[@suel4269]

I just got it too!

[@begonalusarretaarrizabalag8445]

Thank you so much... Wet on wet..... It's amazing.... Hello fom Madrid

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Begona, thanks! Hello Madrid from Sydney! 👍

[@louisscenti3813]

What an amazing evolution on the paper. The journey was as hypnotic as the finished image. Thank you.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Louis! You are always welcome! Yes that was an interesting painting process with lots of water and mess! Good fun! thanks for watching!

[@leehaslehurst3482]

I can see the river scene clearly it’s beautiful

[@ScottSwinson]

Nice! I often wonder what others can see! lol Thanks for watching! cheers scott

[@rosalindkeep9360]

Yes, a river! Reminds me of one I lived next to for a few years in Thailand

[@ScottSwinson]

Memory and imagination are amazing things! Sometimes the more abstract the better! 👍

[@brianfisher1314]

I love how paintings look with this technique, so atmospheric. I often I see something in mine in the sky that I love, but of course it changes because it's flowing. I just have to hope something neat comes back around. I can't believe yours was like a band of gray at 5:40 in the video. Turned out great! I love the "hmms" while you create. I've never put paint in a spray bottle, but I will try that. Well done, thanks for sharing.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Brian, yes it was an interesting process! I am the same, I like a sky or this landscape at a certain point but then it flows and changes or I dry it and it looks very different! Thanks for watching! 👍

[@yvonnegeelen6571]

Love the way you don’t know how it’s going to turn out but you are willing to have a go....

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Yvonne. I am much more able to produce something painting with brushes not in this style but it is interesting for me to do this and most of the time fun! Although filming while things are not going according to plan is still interesting! glad you enjoy the journey. That's what I love about watercolour.....I am always learning and it has been over 30 years of painting in that medium! 👍🙏

[@brodouglasop]

The red does it for me. Thank you.

[@ScottSwinson]

I like the red too! 👍

[@laurenschenk5829]

I’ve been learning watercolor for about six months now, and I’m drawn to abstract styles. I’m so happy to find your work! This was beautiful and I learned so much while watching!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Lauren! Glad you liked it! I also love abstraction! I think that’s the direction I will go in into the future! I have quite a few videos like that one and you should also check out Lena Gemzoe’s work! And I love Mao Lizi’s work but he is not on KZbin! ! Good luck exploring! Let me know if you find other artists on KZbin that you like! 👍👍

[@laurenschenk5829]

@@ScottSwinson already on it! I saw the one where you referenced Lena’s technique and I’ll be sure to check out others you recommend and the rest of your videos! Thank you for sharing your videos! 😁 Makes me excited to keep practicing!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Lauren! I’m glad the videos make you excited! Watercolour has excited me for many years! 👍👍 good luck with your explorations! 👍👍

[@valeriecollard3163]

Magic 🤩 thank you for the sharing 🙏

[@ScottSwinson]

My pleasure Valerie! 😊

[@24starbuck]

Love this Scott. I see your river scene! I was drawn to your channel because this is the way I instinctively want to paint. I find it so much more relaxing than setting out to ‘paint’ something which can be stressful. Images just emerge from the paint and take me on a mystery tour. Thank you.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Starbuck! Thanks glad you like it. I think I found this painting hard because I had a plan in my head but it did not go according to that. I agree, I love painting without any plan and just go where it takes me. I normally do that wet in wet with lots of hake brushes and lots of layers. I will do some more of those in the coming weeks. Happy painting! Thanks for watching. 🙏

[@natasharossiter3754]

Love this river scene and enjoyed watching and learning 🌻

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Natasha! Thanks! It was pretty abstract but interesting!

[@jenfleming9412]

That’s a beautiful painting of a river or lake scene. I don’t know a lot about names for styles but because I can see so much in it I would call it Impressionism or expressionism, rather than abstract. I love this technique that leaves a beautiful fantasy of a scene. Thanks Scott. I am still working through all your videos. Good thing about Covid is we seem to have a bit more time at home to do those things we love. You seem really busy with your art.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jennifer! Yes it is really interesting style to paint in. Not really know what the end product is going to be and be flexible as it changes. I agree it is not really abstract but sometimes I’ve shown a painting to someone that I think is obviously something and they think it is abstract as they can’t see anything! It’s pretty subjective! It is good to have time to paint! Happy painting! Have fun working through the videos! 👍🙏

[@vickylaw659]

wonderful!👍thanks to share the technology

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Vicky! You are always welcome! Cheers Scott

[@Mr.S65]

Cool, I saw the whole thing and how you managed to give it form :)

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks for watching Mr S! It did take form over time! 👍

[@patsymccown2766]

I like this! I actually saw 4 or 5 possibilities as you proceeded..but that’s what makes it really fun and spurs you on! At least that’s what I’ll keep reminding myself, when I decide I must try my hand at it!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Patsy! Yes it was an interesting process the evolved over time. It is always interesting what different people see!

[@achillelalonde]

I’ve tried something I learned from a Russian watercolour artist. Thoroughly wet both sides on plexiglass stays put very nicely w/o tape..you could try small scale experiment. Stays we for prolonged period of time.

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Such an exciting process Scott, I'm tempted to try it, i have some heavyweight paper around somewhere!

[@aylayesilmen6060]

🤗Hi Lois ,I am your fan too.☺🤗🤗

[@ScottSwinson]

You should! It’s a bit daunting when things go a bit crazy but it’s good to share that process I think! Good luck! 👍

[@stonecreek7764]

That was an awesome dance with the initial watercolor paint movement!! so fun to watch!! Just an observation from my point of view… you were saying about keeping a hard edge? how about leaving a dry inch or so of the paper somewhere you want the horizon line to be? that might be the trick? I do see exactly the river type scene and its a epic abstract in the end……WTG Scott!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Stone! I did leave a dry line towards the bottom of the page but purposefully I didn’t leave one in the upper 2/3 of the page. It just went a bit too wet and diffuse! But turned into something in the end! Thanks! 👍🙏

[@stonecreek7764]

Scott Swinson ooo how i miss that? anyway its a good one!!

[@aylayesilmen6060]

Hi from Turkey .But now it is afternoon.☺

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Kadriye in Turkey! Thanks for watching! I'm off to sleep now it's 115pm in Sydney. 🙏👍

[@christiejacobson2976]

Gorgeous surreal river scene!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Christie! Pretty interesting! 👍

[@christiejacobson2976]

@@ScottSwinson I've been trying Lena's techniques also. It's not easy! You've come a long way. I just barely have a hint of one right now.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! They aren’t easy! 👍

[@ilsefleurtje]

Idd, a river 👌

[@merlinhetherington7531]

Dude this is so cool. Your videos have inspired the most out of any on KZbin and I bought some paints the other day. This particular one is my favourite, such a joy to watch, I don’t know what is happening or what you are planning but wow. Looks like a joy to go through the process and amazing results. I hope I get to try it out. Thank you!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Merlin! Thanks mate! Glad you like the videos! It seems like the videos people like the most are the ones I really enjoyed and all I was doing was painting what really excited me! Happy painting! 👍👍

[@susancourtney310]

It’s fabulous!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Susan! 👍🙏

[@MiraTulic]

Fantastično...😊

[@sophielegay4104]

So beautiful! But I have to ask... how many rolls of paper towels to you use? ;-p

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Sophie! I know! I should have shares in scotties tissues lol

[@sophielegay4104]

@@ScottSwinson ^^ In all seriousness though do you not like tissue towels? I use old pyjamas cut in pieces and for me in works and I wash them in my laundry, never had an issue. But maybe you don't like that?

[@suel4269]

I see a lake with bushes and mountains.

[@ScottSwinson]

me too! 👍

[@Nickallenphysio]

Scott- loving the videos- thank you. What wood are you using for your board? Just scrap ply wood? Thanks

[@chrishayman1747]

Thanks for a great demo Scott. Does the razor blade work on ordinary heavy water colour or only on your etching paper? Also I reckon you might have a better go of this really wet stuff if you clear the decks and put a big towel down to sop up the water and paint. I understand that makes it difficult to film , but the extra freedom might help you dance with your water colour mire easily. I’m loving this style of painting . Keep posting your experiments. I definitely absorb a lot of inspiration and knowledge by watching you

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Chris, yes you can use a razor blade on any watercolour paper. I think you are right. A big towel on the desk would be better! Glad you like it. I do sometimes question the value of a painting a don't really love and sharing it but I just let you guys decide what you like and try and balance what I love painting and also what people seem to love watching. Thanks for watching and letting me know your thoughts! 👍🙏

[@bigooboczky5382]

I saw 6 or seven nice abstracts during the constant pigment movement. The final wasn't one of them.

[@ScottSwinson]

That’s the thing about art....it’s always subjective!

[@bigooboczky5382]

@@ScottSwinson Your right, my comment wasn't about your skill but about my taste in art. I just saw several paintings during your journey that I prefer.

[@ScottSwinson]

All good! I know! It happens to me when I’m watching the video back! For some reason the video gives me perspective I don’t always see for some reason while painting! 👍

[@katherinebeattie2596]

Oh I think you should have stopped before the first blow dry!! You didn’t see some magical things that had happened.

[@ScottSwinson]

Yes! It’s always hard to know when to stop at the time and easy in retrospect to notice where you could have. 👍👍👍

[@terezasousa4641]

👏👏👏❤️

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Tereza! 👍👍🙏

[@soongloege3241]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Feewonderful]

Hi Scott, Great art you produce, love watching you. I am curious about all the pots of paint you use, is that tube paint you dissolve in water ? And if so, how do you keep it after you’re done? Greets, Paula

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Paula, yes tube paint. I let it dry out between sessions then just spray water on top a while before I start. Watch this video from a few weeks so. How do I use pigment in watercolour? Thanks for watching. 👍

[@marymary5494]

👌💕

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Mary! You are binging on my channel! lol

[@marymary5494]

@@ScottSwinson ☺️

[@maireadharkin5124]

lovely, what is the thing you use to rub off the paint please ??

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mairead, thanks!! I use a razor blade. Like a Stanley knife one. 👍

[@mlstar1695]

I can't paint 😢

[@ScottSwinson]

Everyone can paint! Absolutely everyone! And everyone can learn how to paint with watercolour. You don't even need to know how to draw to be able paint to a certain extent. Give it a try!

[@mikefisher9992]

May I ask what the paper you use is, it seems to take a lot of water without cockling?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mike! I often use Rives BFK etching paper 280 gsm, white 56 x 76. It is always in the description. It does not buckle much when you only tape it at the top or not at all. 👍👍