Does Your Watercolor Planning Include THIS? It's Essential!

[@Shuvah2Him]

This may sound silly, but I was bored making triad swatches and figured out they would be more fun and challenging if I made them into designs ... this allowed me to do spontaneous triad swatches that look like art ... each color was mixed with two others and varying water - really enlightening! and I entertained myself for days!

[@sharonsunshine2532]

Thanks Steve... i really liked your style of instruction on this video. Blunt but honest. Well done....

[@elleeo1495]

Thank you, Steve, for pointing out the planning process & understanding needed to create beautiful watercolor paintings even when "letting the paint do its thing" as I often hear. Great tips on the strengths of watercolor vs gouache, also.

[@amberdreams_0]

You're so right, playing with these kinds of experiments and giving yourself permission to not try and make every single thing you do a perfect finished piece is so useful! Not only for composition, or colours or tone, but finding out what different paints do on different surfaces, or when applied in a different order so next time you can make those things work for you. I really need to keep telling myself this.

[@danemeow8]

Lovely! Makes me think of a fae hideout tree!

[@dianeknott3655]

You do the best trees, Steve. Also...loved the music!

[@chrislora8895]

The five P’s: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. True in almost everything, especially watercolor. Thank you for this reminder.

[@alisonhendry2928]

😂 that’s funny love it!

[@Blick_Art]

This is such important advice. People new to art sometimes fear using any kind of systematic approach or plan, because they think it will restrict creative freedom. In practice, however, the plan facilitates creativity by ensuring that the full range of the medium is available. Without a general plan, it's all too easy to use up the strongest contrast, brightest color, and maximum lights and darks in areas where they aren't justified, leaving key parts of the painting off the available scale.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Well said. Thanks for stopping by!

[@ninner196]

Nice to hear from you! So true. I hear from so many that they say that they enjoy abstract art but when asked a bit further about it I realize that they really aren’t familiar with what abstract art is but because of the fear factor ,perhaps of drawing, they reply because of not getting comfortable with those steps with whatever style of art is their preference. 😊

[@mendyhand3895]

Awesome as always! You and Sarah Burns do such great “ fantasy” trees. They look like old olive trees in Israel. Love them. Thx!

[@Mothasuperior1]

Obsessed with the music at the end!! Love the painting.

[@paulineshelley4421]

You’re absolutely right, as always! Spontaneous, or any type of painting with watercolours requires planning. So many times I’ve launched into a spontaneous piece to find that I’ve completely lost control and ended up with a muddy mess. Thanks Steve.

[@pattycyr8662]

Thanks for the great insights and tips!

[@beckyriley2406]

I love spontaneous painting. So fun. I like to fiddle with colors and water management. Much more confident letting the colors mix on paper. Thanks for all of your fab instructions.

[@mjpete27]

I have hard time throwing away paint and that is why my palette is so messy most of the time! I have even started another painting and used a new plate for my mixing as I did not want to wash away paint that is perfectly good, but not the particular color scheme I need for the painting I want to do today! I say plate as I picked up several porcelain plates from a thrift shop to use as palettes for mixing watercolors and gouache paints. 50 cents is so much easier to lose when I can drop it. Now if I drop a 50 dollar+ palette and then I loose an expensive palette as well as the paint on it! I did recently get a butchers tray a metal ceramic coated tray that I found at the thrift store and I might go that route now! Not as cheap as a plate but it does not break when dropped!!

[@deannam7551]

I really needed to hear this. I was getting frustrated with my results and am certain now that lack of planning is the root. Thanks for the encouragement!

[@aitoralvarez]

Um, I would really like to visit "that place" where you are :) ... Sensacional video.

[@agnespeterse2529]

Very appreciated this video....thanks!

[@lorraineclark7455]

How true this .... know your materials. I was in a short workshop with local w/c artists and I was having difficulties with the exercise. Our instructor pointed out that the difficulties stemedd from not knowing my materials. It was a very humble experience.

[@mindofwatercolor]

So common too!

[@carolinewithers1647]

I'm in a tree mood today! I woke up thinking I wanted to paint a tree. Great advice and I love the pallette of colors you chose.

[@antiochfoxlake7]

I can see how your illustration background has positively influenced your mastering of this exciting medium. Always so informative. Thank you

[@BornAgainFarmGirl]

Ugh 😅, Steve you are one of my much needed mentors, I do love the painting part but planning not as much. Your trees are legendary btw 😊!

[@annevanderwoude9319]

I really like this painting and I thank you for sending me this. Thank you again.

[@genziana35arte53]

It s really wonderful!

[@susanorban3059]

Thanks for your explanations of what and why you did what you did. I really love the light area down at the bottom in the middle! I've only been doing WC for a couple years and everything you said hit me between the eyes. I need to plan what I want to happen. Thanks so much! Love this little study you did here.😊❤️

[@gingerbuchanan2795]

This is great advice for almost anything in life. Thank you again for excellent advice and a lovely painting!

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Ohh gosh I don’t really think 🤔 I have a plan as detailed as you do. I really appreciate & I am enjoying doing some Spontaneous painting these past couple of weeks. I think that I do what you are talking about as I set out painting after picking out my subjects to paint. Those do look like great brushes. I have found out that with taking your recent Strathmore Spontaneous Painting course that I have not been putting down near enough water on my paper for my Wet-on-wet techniques. This wonderful video has given me some great tips, inspiration, & things to think about now while doing my next painting. Thanks for sharing this with us! I am off to try my new Art of Soil paint 🎨 palette I received today for my Mother’s Day from my husband & children.

[@cherimawby9709]

I’ve subscribed to your KZbin videos for quite a while now and have learned so much in all areas of w/c techniques. Thanks a lot for this one on learning through application, experiment and spontaneity within a planned method 👩🏻‍🎨👍

[@shandap3696]

Great topic for me. I appreciate your demonstration because I could see how the paint moves and blends in ways I haven't tried yet. The exercise seems an invaluable tool for gathering experience and knowledge of the medium. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I am having fun following your teachings. Thank you.

[@dianelodico2166]

Love this and thank you for the info!

[@bizzyhandscreations]

I love your videos. Thank you for sharing your well-earned knowledge and skills.

[@geckonia]

Tell Rita I am impressed with her garden! I'm painting along with you today and happen to be using the same Etchr brushes. I love that set. Thanks as always for the great video and advice. You are appreciated!

[@iranewhitehouse3953]

Magical. Love it!!

[@catrena5051]

I'm new to water coloring and I would like it if you can do a series on beginners. I want really appreciate that it's just a thought. Thank you for sharing your fantastic talents.

[@alisonhendry2928]

Go back in time for Steve’s amazing fantastic brilliant beginner KZbin videos. His were the first that opened my eyes to so many essentials. He is a fantastic teacher with great sense of humour. He will show you water control, blending edges, colour choices etc etc etc.

[@watercolorpaintingintheaft9142]

If you do make this into another 'finished' painting, would you, pretty please, show us a comparison and talk about what you did differently and the same? I'm in the middle of taking your Strathmore class and I'm LOVING it! Thanks!

[@Julia29853]

What/where is his strathmore class?

[@sandradonofrio413]

What is a brush meant for gouache? What makes it different? Do I need them?

[@mindofwatercolor]

No not really. Any watercolor brush works. That’s what they’re calling that set.

[@joycesnodgrass7068]

Thank you!

[@pauloolivenca5923]

Fantastic!

[@leslierobertson385]

This brings to mind Old Man Willow from LOTR. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Hobbit foot sticking out from between the roots.

[@ralphanderson2603]

My plan revolves about defining my story {plot vs theme}

[@suev1520]

I would love to ask if you have noticed a change in the Fabriano Artistico paper since they changed over from their original machines for making the paper..I can no longer use this paper..devastated ..

[@susanshisler7074]

Do you write out your process ahead of time when you are thinking through how the mediums will work and where you want to place highlights or spraying, etc ? Do you go back and review the process with notes, or do you just remember what you learned when you look at the final painting later?

[@mindofwatercolor]

The later. I don’t write anything. I just think through how I will handle the various elements in the painting. Write it down though if it helps.

[@asta7303]

I didn't have the possibility to take part in your spontaneous pianting course. Is there still a possibility to watch it? I think I love trees just as much as you do. My phone is full of photos of different trees I see durimg my walks. Nobody understands them. But I have an idea of starting to paint only trees for a while.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes. You can watch and rewatch whenever you like. It’ll be available for a year.

[@asta7303]

Thanks I'll go and register then😊

[@stampinturtles]

It’s funny that you say “know your materials”. I started with a set of pan paints and upgraded to tube paints. I like using pans better for control of mixing colors. I get too much of the tube paint and end up mixing more than I need. (I paint small paintings). I also like my cheaper paper because I’m used to working with it. At some point I’m going to make the switch to arches exclusively but for now I’m using up what I have.

[@Vanajaschannel]

I have been using cheaper papers too. Recently bought Arches but it is unopened as I am nervous about using it due to the price.

[@stampinturtles]

@@Vanajaschannel that’s why I started with Canson XL. It was cheaper. Plus I buy the large pad of paper and cut it down.

[@MsMerlin333]

🎨💛🌈

[@elenapimenova1508]

Супер! 👏

[@awatercolourist]

First non-Patreon!😊

[@MrsBarnabas]

😄

[@ralphanderson2603]

I tell a story, needed compositioin, yes?

[@Shuvah2Him]

yep - like playing chess