CONTROL your Watercolor Paint like a Professional! (My Top 10 EASY Tips)

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Do share in the comments the practices that help you control your watercolor paintings, watch next: 20 FAST Tricks to Transform your Drawing Skills! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGe9gaRvhpl0ZtE

[@carollen5633]

Hi Michele! The last tip is the one for me. I draw too many details before I start painting. I love drawing, in the past I sketched a lot with charcoals and oil pastels; perhaps it's this pattern that gets in the way.

[@SK-gk3tx]

1) work flat 2) stretch paper 3) use a brush large enough for the task 4) light to dark 5) letting paint dry between layers, walk away, take a break 6) get to know your colors 7) brush & water control, lifting 8) practice colors & techniques on scrap paper before applying to painting 9) importance of underdrawing 10) missed one Great explanations. So much useful info.

[@sherryfurr9115]

If we open your head we will find millions of tips, lol. Thank you for sharing them with us. They are always so valuable.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Oh don't look inside my head lol :-)

[@shadowguard3578]

My ‘happy accidents’ make me unhappy because I cannot replicate the effect. Like you pointed out in the video it’s better to be in control. Thank you Michele!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are welcome!

[@alicechampagne7091]

Mostly I too work flat, but often I work at a slight angle so that I can see the sheen of it when wet. I use a 3-ring binder set under my painting-learned this from a professional watercolor artist.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I do that sometimes too, a binder is exactly the right angle!

[@alicechampagne7091]

Thanks!

[@annettefournier9655]

I use a binder for elevation also. It's perfect.

[@smz5302]

For me, the step back/slow down tip was especially good to hear. When I get toward the end of a painting, I tend to rush. There's an adage that mountain climbers don't have accidents going up the hill, the problems occur on the way down. Yep, that's me with painting. I may have worked on a painting for a week, and I can make a major mistake in the last minutes because I think it's all downhill. I'm slowly learning to stop and back away whenever I feel like I'm rushing. Thanks for your vids, as always, Michele. So helpful!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

My pleasure!

[@OneTrueWord1988]

S Mz: I can really relate to what you wrote! Excellent comment. 💐

[@rhondacalabro867]

I’m a newbie and always impatient to get on with it! Slowing down at each phase will help. I’ll try to be more mindful. Thanks for sharing.

[@joanneferguson9297]

Love the comment to slow down and take a look from afar.

[@sharonwilliams3185]

I'm using this tutorial often to keep the basics at top of mind to create good habits.

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

I have used quite a lot of these tips for helping improve my artwork over the past year of watching your wonderful informational videos. Thanks so much for helping me improve my progress & artwork! Have a wonderful day & hope you’ve been able to get the car going again!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

The car is still in limbo but I hope for it's return!

[@gracianatata8144]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤😂❤😂

[@margaretgonning453]

Thanks Michelle thanks Michelle I always struggle with watercolour but you explain it so clearly.😊

[@JudeEbbett]

Thank you Michelle - I am learning so much from your videos- often small nuggets of information that lead to improvement

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

So glad!

[@sharonwilliams3185]

I've learned the hard way that I must have several paintings going at a time, in different stages. It lets me feel less pressured about finishing a piece without letting it dry properly.. When I think a painting is coming close to being finished, I tape it up on the wall so I can see it at a distance. I use acid-free blue (Beautitone) painters tape to stretch my paper because it doesn't tear the paper during removal. It also allows me to put the painting in progress up on the wall until I find the flaws and correct them. There's always something that needs correction. After a more than 20 year gap in painting, I have found that I am better off using watercolour pencils to lay down colour. Because I have adopted the habit of letting works in progress dry properly, I have far more options when I take it to the next stage.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I've always wanted to paint several things at once, but can't seem to concentrate if I do!

[@stephanieh930]

I love to sketch drawings (even multiple times, if needed) before putting them on my painting paper! It helps my brain practice the proper perspective.

[@evelyne7071]

Thumbnails are very helpful. I hate it, though, when the thumbnail/practice subject looks better than the finished product….Painful !

[@jaspermartin7444]

everything you share with us is super helpful, thank you! 🥰

[@carollegros6304]

Second time I watched this. I finally got a smooth background with a larger brush and kept on going without going back. Better results

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

That's great!

[@slcrooks]

Thank you Michele I am learning lots from your videos, so helpful for this wandering 60 something having a go

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Saphia_]

As someone in the beginner-intermediate level of learning watercolor, I've always found your tips really helpful, especially in getting to this level from a beginner. I also wanted to share the things I've found really useful in learning watercolor: 1. Learning the nature of watercolor and how it works. Learning how watercolor acts in presence of a certain amount of water really helped me control watercolor to my liking rather than have it control me. 2. Swatching any new color I make by mixing two or more colors and writing down the colors that make the resulting color. For example: The brand I use has colors named Viridian Hue and Crimson Lake which make a lovely stone grey when mixed in equal amount. So, when I first mixed it, I swatched it and wrote VH + CL on top of it. Similarly, Viridian Hue with a little bit of Scarlet Lake produced this gorgeous dark green. So, I swatched it and wrote VH (^) + SL on top of it. The ^ was to indicate that more VH was used than SL.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Sounds a great way of working and learning :-)

[@Saphia_]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber Thank you :)

[@annettefournier9655]

Thanks Michele. A bad underdrawing will not make a good painting echos in my head. My family are always commenting why don't I just draw on my watercolor paper and save a step? I may be an intermediate painter but I'm still a beginner at drawing. I erase way too much . Except for a landscape. Just angles and lines. And I use a T- square! Lol. I have a swatch card for every pallet AND a swatch binder. I find switching and making color charts totally absorbing and relaxing.🥰

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

So true!

[@buddyblondell1507]

you are fabulous! Thanks so much for these informative and clever tutorials.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thank you so much!

[@swlbarely]

Excellent video giving great advice solving many of the issues I'm encountering as I'm starting out in watercolor. It helps speed up my learning curve. You really get down to business and don't waste time. Thanks for imparting to me this valuable knowledge.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Great to hear!

[@susiemejia7917]

I know watercolor painting is teaching me patients. Waiting fir things to dry I a challenge for me. It’s such a good practice for me.

[@user-tg8wh7uz3j]

All great tips and reminders. Thank you.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@solar979]

You are a great teacher. You allways make me want to paint.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Wow, thank you

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Having a plan in water colour before starting for me is most important....like which are the areas i cover my first wash and thereon.

[@anthonyjones3698]

All the points super helpful here, I have tried to find the best amount of water to add to the different watercolour paints, it varies a lot, I measure out the tube paint in mms and use an old animal medicine syringe ( we have two 14 year old cats!) to add a measured amount of water and then try it out in swatches.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Great tip!

[@nattyw495]

Enjoyed video... and learning skills i can use to further my confidence and amatuer skills...🎨👩‍🎨✍mikelle art mom

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

All are so useful. Thank you Michelle.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

So glad!

[@kathleenlivingston4220]

As always, this video was well worth the time to watch it. Going to your website right now!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Liz.4485]

ALL your Tips were great!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad you think so!

[@sue9435]

Thankyou Michelle, loads of helpful advise ☺️

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jerrincurless5249]

All wonderful tips, thank you, they will help so much!

[@OneTrueWord1988]

Thanks so much for another excellent instruction video! I appreciate you so much! Donna ♥️💐♥️

[@hollyhaggard8033]

Thanks so much for these tips! I love your videos!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks Holly!

[@leonorlatour9250]

The accuracy of the underdrawing is so crucial. It's so true that painting highlights the mistakes... After one year it looks like I've been through most of the mistakes and learnt to fix them.

[@AyaSmith]

Haven’t you heard of Mary Whyte? She’s one of the most renown watercolor artists there are and works exclusively at an easel. I work at an easel and I chase the bead, it’s a wonderful way to control the watercolors but it’s not for the faint of heart 😄

[@maureentanner8164]

Thank you Michele for another great video. I have lot of trouble with my constancy of paint to water but all your tricks certainly help 😋

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it helped Maureen!

[@fiddler1252]

Wonderful tips and reminders! You mention you stretch your paper. My understanding is that good quality paper has sizing so doesn't need stretching, especially a block like Arches.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

All papers have sizing. The heavier the paper the less it will buckle, Arches is very thick. It depends most on paper thickness and subject (ie how much water you intend to throw on it :-)

[@kathystaudenmayer2277]

Thanks for another great tip video. The most useful one for me was to use only the tip of the brush to dab out water puddles. I have learned so much from your videos and courses.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks Kathy!

[@debbieborden7651]

Thanks!

[@1msfit]

I always find your tip lists to be helpful. As far as those things that have helped me the most over this past year, I would say your suggestion to use a larger brush and to concentrate on the accuracy of the underdrawing are the two most important. The only thing I would add is changing to 100% cotton paper as it makes a huge difference. I realized that the paint behaves very differently on wood pulp paper and is more difficult to work with. I now use it only for testing color mixes and practicing techniques. Even doing that I will switch to a scrap of cotton before continuing on with a painting. Thank you for generosity of time and advice.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are welcome Jodi!

[@sharonwilliams3185]

I've gone to a lot of workshops. At each one when a demo by the instructor started each day, they did the demo flat with a large stretched-mylar overhead at angle so the whole class (up to 25 people) could see it done. I don't know why this isn't done for you-tube tutorials.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I have done this, the issue is, if you are short sighted like me, your head will move forwards and block the camera, it's even worse now I wear varifocals, which is why my board is at a slight angle.

[@sharonwilliams3185]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber Sorry it didn't work out for you . Just out of curiosity, did you try this when you were doing in-person painting classes or on KZbin tutorials?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

@@sharonwilliams3185 both. Demonstrations to art clubs. Although painting at an easel is worse. Early days of KZbin I tried a camera mounted overhead but I couldn't control or see where it was focused, or when the battery was low etc. Now I just use my phone

[@carollinneborn7150]

The importance of the under drawing thanks

[@joycekowbelharvey4816]

All wonderful ideas Michele! So helpful! Thank you!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

I had noticed recently, if i made a mistake... I spray water from distance to keep it wet and then intervene or i will wait till its completely dry to correct

[@BrazenSpirituality]

First comment? 🎉🥳 I truly appreciate all of your tutorials! 🥰🧑🏻‍🎨🎨🥰

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Yay! Yes you are number one! Thank you!

[@BrazenSpirituality]

I do not often get a first comment and on some channels is seems to be a great rush for whomever gets the first one. Hahaha But my comment is still genuine. Your explanations are more clear than many others I have watched. Your experience as an art instructor truly shows. Some of the tips may seem to be obvious but perhaps it is just me and I would prefer you state the obvious than you gloss over some things and leave new artists lost and confused. I definitely am learning so much from your tutorials old and new alike, without me having to fill a basket with ruined paintings to get to this point!

[@pch2230]

I've been trying Chinese brushes for the last few weeks. They're very versatile and a lot easier to use than I'd expected. I'd really recommend them. Check they're synthetic, of course.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Nice!

[@anasel-mahdi7908]

Great tips from excellent teacher.Thanks. what is the name of the BOSS CAT?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

The cats on the graphics are unknown, my own cat is black and called Gimlet :-)

[@barbarag7831]

Thank you Michelle. I wondered how to remove color that is too dark once the painting has dried. I will look through your other videos for an answer.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I can't add links here but the following video title has the information you require, just pop it in the search bar with my name: Watercolor Mistakes (10 most common & how to FIX them!)

[@marie4pocheswoodworkingmar828]

I love your tips! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are very welcome!

[@charlesperez9976]

Firstly,I have an art crush on you😉🥰 But never mind that,just sayin’ Regarding watercolor: I have a collection of 60 year old tubes of watercolors,given to me by my art teacher,upon his retirement in 1986. I am 52 years old. I still have them,I have placed some in a traditional watercolor tray,they have dried out into the most succulent little cakes. I am no watercolor master,but I cherish these pigments. They just don’t make them like this anymore ❤️

[@charlesperez9976]

With that said,watercolor is an excersize in miniature tides,the water seeks a certain path of least resistance,the pigment follows its lead. We control that miniature landscape,create the dry,control the moist,the colors flow,as we dictate,but sometimes they rebel,do they not? Watercolor,a society of pigment,we control or lose control at a moment’s notice!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

It's worth researching the pigments, you may have something rare, there really are pigments that manufacturers can no longer get hold of these days!

[@charlesperez9976]

Ah! Thank you,I will look into the old watercolors,I’ll let you know what I found out.

[@charlesperez9976]

Here are the brands of old watercolors,I wish I could send photos! There is a huge array of ‘Pentel’ tubes,a brand called ‘shiva’ artist colors,and a mysterious brand. ‘Serie LM gruppo 2’ Made in Italy,many colors,Veronese emerald green,blu oltremare,and so many others.oh,I just noticed,that last brand,the Italian ones,are ‘Maimeri’. Thank you for making me aware of these pigments. Tell me if any are noteworthy!

[@charlesperez9976]

Here are the brands of old watercolors,I wish I could send photos! There is a huge array of ‘Pentel’ tubes,a brand called ‘shiva’ artist colors,and a mysterious brand. ‘Serie LM gruppo 2’ Made in Italy,many colors,Veronese emerald green,blu oltremare,and so many others.oh,I just noticed,that last brand,the Italian ones,are ‘Maimeri’. Thank you for making me aware of these pigments. Tell me if any are noteworthy!

[@aliciashackley5830]

Great tips Michele. Thx as always. 🥰

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks for watching!

[@evelyne7071]

Thank you, again for reminding me the importance of drying between colors. Of course, I had not done that at the end of my last painting, and ended up with a grey calla lily. This time, I’m going to pause more often and define my underdrawing more completely. Also, I had left a large area in the front left corner undefined. So. I said: What the heck, I’m going to try the splatter technique in that corner, and see what happens. So, I thought I was creating “a gravel path”, but it ended up looking like a fuzzy dog. That’s when I stopped. HaHaHa. Accident ? I think : Not.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Ah we live and learn!

[@elecktra6223]

God I needed this. Thank you Michele😊

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are so welcome!

[@jenniferatterton1587]

Do you have a watercolour paper tutorial. Some papers do not do our watercolours justice. Could you explain the best types of watercolour paper to use with watercolour paints and pencils please, Michelle?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Not yet but I am planning such a video :-)

[@fiddler1252]

Thanks for the drawing info. How best to transfer your drawing onto watercolour pape? I tried loose, spontaneous, watercolour, painting a couple of tears ago, yet find under drawing gives me more successful paintings, and more confidence as an artist at this time. I've been playing with drawing for many, many, years, as a means of connecting to my creativity. I feel greatly supported by your tips about drawing. 💖🤗💖

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I like tracedown paper :-) Thanks for watching!

[@kaynignrowan9305]

[@bonnieg4076]

All these tips are wonderful. My biggest control problem is....ME. I start with lovely washes, then grab the 00 brush...oops

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

We are all our own worst enemies! x

[@paulagreen9056]

I've been meaning to ask you this for a long time but I do not see a bell icon. Where is it?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Should appear when you hit subscribe, if you are already subscribed it's to the right of the subscribe button. On a mobile it will be over on the right, you can choose from being notified for all of a channel's videos or some (personalised by KZbin) it has a little drop down menu.

[@nereida116]

Names of brushes, sizes, and their use drives a little crazy.😀

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Ah, it isn't easy, it would be better if manufacturers used the same sizes to numbers, which they don't!

[@nereida116]

I'll need a reference chart @ the beginning for brushes!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I do have other brush videos, a little youtube search should find them, there are playlists too, including an art materials one.

[@BrazenSpirituality]

😮 at 25:12 the text is incongruous “trying colors and techniques out before they to on your painting” maybe meant “go on”? Hope this helps others as confused as I was.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Oops probably, sorry I am working very long hours. Can't edit once uploaded but that's the fun of youtube...

[@BrazenSpirituality]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber My sympathies! I am hearing impaired so I watch videos with the closed captions on, and I can not quickly read the cards at the same time but I often rewatch a video and that is when I noticed the oddity, which causes my mind to try to contort the words into a likely accurate alternative, similar to when I hear someone speaking and I think I hear a word that does not fit the context such as fit versus fix. In case anyone cares: as a rule, the things I think I hear are much funnier than the things people actually say.

[@3534538]

@@BrazenSpirituality Hi, I heard and read "before you put them on your paper" and I believe that fits what Michele wanted to convey. I know the problem of "mishearing" things though - that mostly happens when I'm thinking about something else and people talking about things that "kind of" fit the topic 😃

[@michelemarchesani5139]

Dear Michele, New subscriber here. I am one of those quirky painters that LOVE the deckle edges of paper & paint right up to the edge , so I am adverse to stretching paper with tape and cutting (!!!) the edge off. Any suggestions or advice you have for keeping my paper flat while preserving the beautiful handmade edges would be appreciated. Kindly, Michele

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks for subscribing, great name you have! I hear good things about wetting the back of your paper and placing it onto a glass or plexi board, but have never tried it myself...

[@michelemarchesani5139]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber Oh, I love your name as well!😄 Thank you for this idea, I will definitely try it soon & let you know! Kindly, Michele

[@katemccarthy2463]

I get letting the paint dry. I have the opposite problem as I live in a hot climate. Keeping my paint wet long enough to finish what I am doing. Ok I can add more water, and paint but I find I end up overdoing it and spoiling my work. Any suggestions?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I have painted in such conditions. Having enough paint, the right brushes etc ready to go is vital, as is loading your brush well and using wet enough paint. Work fast in small areas then leave them alone. Keeping the leading edge wet is a good technique. Of course water sprays and pre wet paper can be employed but that doesn't help if you need to go onto dry paper. And don't answer the phone or the door if you are in the middle of an area (if you can help it!)

[@katemccarthy2463]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber yes it does thank you. Will try that.

[@katemccarthy2463]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber I have organised a water spray bottle to use.

[@salishacorbie6612]

Best tip for me....get your under drawing right. 🤭

[@4ohgollycats]

Does watercolor paper’s age change the the quality? I mean ten years or so?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Hard to say, it can be fine but depends how it has been stored. Damp will affect it badly.

[@4ohgollycats]

It was in my house not damp. Arches blocks

[@junevvaldez5959]

Im not sure why you dobt recommend it. If your paper is slanted your painting is more cleaner even distribution of color and it look transparent

[@junevvaldez5959]

YOU WONT GET PUDDLE OF WATER IF YOU SLANTED YOUR PAPER AT LEAST 30 degrees

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You still get the puddle, it's just at the bottom :-) Puddles must always be dealt with, one way or the other.

[@jennyolson1536]

LOVE your videos, but hate the political ads (especially because the ads are promoting fascist American politicians).

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Oh dear that sounds awful. Unfortunately Google tailors ads to you individually (I get a lot of Grammerly ads so I don't know what that says about me). I have a big interest in US politics, therefore I am aware you only have a couple of weeks to go until the mid terms. Which means that it's big ad spending time to try and sway you to the dark side! Hopefully you will get a break after Nov 8th :-)

[@catherinesochacki795]

Thanks!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks so much Catherine, I appreciate that!

[@nereida116]

Fabulous recommendations! Thank you so much Michelle.🥰

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are so welcome!