Easy Watercolour Gradients 4 Different Ways!

[@unusualsponge2145]

I’ve just started watching your videos and they are great. You made a mistake in this video and said it was embarrassing but I think it’s great. You also did a do-over in your techniques with poppies video and for a beginner like me who gets frustrated and disillusioned it’s brilliant to watch someone with your experience be honest about the fact that it goes wrong!

[@leoniejonk]

Gotta love that you kept the example that went wrong too. Painting is all about failing upwards/experimentation after all 😁 I also love the effect of that last gradient, the way it's darker along the edges in the middle section gives it an incredible effect. I may have to try that myself one day!

[@Finelinernerd]

That’s exactly why I left it in, I’m not interested in making polished videos, I’m happy to prove myself wrong any time 😂

[@annewatman677]

I’ve watched a lot of tutorials on gradients, and I’ve never seen this method. Also, none of them were as good! Now I want to try it your way.

[@andresbey2721]

Thanks a lot from Spain! I am the director of an institute, in this sad year, it is very important to do things that make you feel good. You have helped me a lot with your videos to have less stress and more happiness. Thanks again!

[@Finelinernerd]

Hi Andrés, I’m so pleased that my videos have helped in some way, have you been painting to de-stress this year? 🖤

[@shiii_yuuhhht5765]

Thank God you've got a YT channel now! I hope that you and your channel grows in the most positive way 🤗♥️ Your talent deserves it!

[@Finelinernerd]

Bless you Kiki! That’s so nice of you say, I hope you enjoy the content and don’t forget I’m always open to suggestions of what you might like to see in the future 💙💙

[@JonaC-rx8ul]

Thank you for breaking down these watercolor techniques. As someone new to watercolor painting it is helpful to understand how different watercolor effects that I have admired in paintings are achieved and to be able to practice them.

[@momma8487]

You had me giggling. You are so real. I love that you show your mistakes (happy accidents whatever). This video was very helpful. I can do difficult techniques but sometimes the more simpler ones stump me!

[@RushedaSavage]

thank you. as a newcomer to watercolours I find your instruction fantastic

[@marellibelli]

I'd love to see some of your concept/sketching process :)

[@Finelinernerd]

That’s a great idea! I’ll get b planning! 💙

[@TegsMom]

Some really useful tips! I’ll try to use them in my next paintings!!

[@Finelinernerd]

Oooh let me know how you get on with them!

[@LoveeAsHell]

SQUEEEEEEEEE! Honestly, I'm super thankful to have discovered you on IG with your amazing DTIYS lately, and now you have this channel all you do is give us such quality content with great advice and helpful tips... So yeah, thank you!

[@sweetea424]

Thank you so much for this video! It helped a lot! You showing your process as well as mistakes you made really encouraged me since a lot of people give the impression it's super easy the first try. I would love to see tips on how to work around details you want left in a seperate color or working smaller scale with gradients. Reguardless, you're amazing and I hope you have a great day!

[@Finelinernerd]

Hey Sweat Tea! Thank you for your kind words, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the video 🤗 honestly I still struggle somewhat going around shapes with large washes/gradients, but when I feel super confident about it I’ll share my process with you all. Mini gradients are much simpler, I wash one colour, and while that’s still wet I drop in the second colour (a technique called charging if you wanted to google it) to the other end of the wash and let it spread, it’s what I do to make fingers slightly more red that the main skin tone for example. I hope that helps! 🖤🖤

[@deniselarrybekkedahl6555]

You are an excellent teacher! Thank you so much for sharing your insights.

[@mayloo2137]

I've been working with watercolor paints and pencils for several years. I sat down to create an ombre effect, and it was bad. I badly need to learn this basic skill, so thank you. This is the first time I've watched your channel. Hello from 🇨🇦

[@BRENDAESQUIVELF]

Thank you so much. I've been struggling with gradients so badly, but your technique is perfect. I'll apply it as soon as possible!

[@erikav.786]

i would like to see some tips how to draw/paint hair. :) i am very happy that you decided to make youtube videos because i love your artworks and would like to learn some tips from you.

[@Finelinernerd]

Hair terrifies me 😂 it’s why mine is always a block colour when I paint (but I guess that’s part of my style) - as soon as I have worked on some more style options though I’ll make a video about it 😊

[@elderberry2355]

I already love this channel! Awesome tutorial, easy to follow and understand. Thank you so much for doing this!

[@Finelinernerd]

Thank you for your lovely feedback! I can’t tell you what it means to me to hear that 💙💙💙

[@basenkaua]

This is exactly what I was looking for! :) Thanks for the video, it´s great! All those color swatches tables that people make mixing "half" of each color lack all that variety of tones that this method shows. Thanks a lot!

[@Finelinernerd]

I’m really glad you found what you were looking for here, I prefer the look of the whole spectrum too with the gradient, let me know how it goes if you try this out 🖤

[@basenkaua]

@@Finelinernerd Ohh, yes I've tried it out! Amazing! Such a relaxing time trying all combinations for my 4 new paints. And the result looks sooo pleasant, I want to put it on the wall as if it is a real painting :) Really, so happy to have found your video in just a perfect moment when I needed it. Thank you!

[@Finelinernerd]

You should! Why not? I love the look of graded washes too 🤩 I’m happy to hear it all worked out 🖤🖤

[@lorianndupont7586]

Great video!! I wish you had more tutorials; you’re a very good teacher.🎨🙂👨🏼‍🎨✏️

[@Finelinernerd]

Thank you so much Lori! I’m working on building my catalogue slowly but surely 🖤

[@escuela.conectarte]

Amazing!! This is soooo useful!

[@Finelinernerd]

Thanks Sofia! I’m glad to hear that 🖤

[@kali2796]

Loved watching this tutorial! Def found a new way to try and do gradients! (I usually premix my colors but make sure they arent super dense with pigment ,and paint them wet on dry for the seamless effect ,but those were some awesome tips James!!) 🖤🖤

[@Finelinernerd]

Thank you so much for coming over to watch Kali! And glad you liked it! I’ve never made a gradient that way, can you show me somehow? Sounds like a very precise way to do it which I like 🤗

[@kali2796]

@@Finelinernerd if I can I'll def try and record something and send it to ya via DM! (I dont have a tripod so I'll have to hold my phone 🤣 but I'll give it a shot when I can!)

[@Finelinernerd]

That would be amazing! No rush but I’m certainly intrigued 🤗💙

[@adamkovacs5883]

Wow! This one was great as well! I wanna try this now so badly(all of my paints are back at home) 😓 I still struggle with gradiens so this is going ro be fun and a lot of experience😊 what I would like to see is how to do shadows/what colors needed for shadows or something like that. I feel like my shadows are always so weak no matter what I try. My shadoes are only good when I do a pencil drawing

[@Finelinernerd]

I’m so glad it makes you want to try it! And shadows I can definitely help with, I’m doing a skin tutorial soon for different skin tones and I’ll include shadows in that one for you 🤜🏻⚡️🤛🏻

[@adamkovacs5883]

@@Finelinernerd Thank you so much!😊

[@BlueCherryNice]

Another amazing video! Your voice is so calm and pleasant to listen to

[@Finelinernerd]

Thank you so much for the suggestions! I’ve added them to my list 🤗 I like those kinds of videos too, you’re certainly not the only one 💙💙

[@MeggynQa88]

looks amazing!

[@EricaJoyArts]

Peeling off the tape is my favorite part too! Just found your channel today! You have been very helpful to me! Thank you!😁✌

[@kalliopilyviaki]

lovely tutorial super helpful ♡

[@Finelinernerd]

Thank you so much! I’m really glad it was useful 🤗💙

[@sunayanass5473]

The video was so helpful and soo very satisfying towards the end!!!😂😁😁😍😍😄☺️💖💖 I really liked it when u decided to keep the first gradient that actually went wrong a bit...it really shows that when in comes to watercolor it's all about experimenting and learning😄😄😀🙂💖💖

[@Finelinernerd]

Oh totally! And I’m not afraid to be unpolished, I hope it makes things more interesting by messing up a bit and showing how to fix it 🤜🏻⚡️🤛🏻

[@ashleycaulfield1823]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@Finelinernerd]

My Pleasure Ashley! Glad you found it helpful 😁

[@ruthmoore1448]

I'd like to see you try using Cad yellow light & Ultramarine blue and gradient them with out making green show up!

[@Finelinernerd]

Omg that is a lovely green spectrum from those colours isn’t it? 🖤

[@DavidCortezfau]

Thank you for all of your tips and this excellent video, hope you can do more tutorials!

[@Finelinernerd]

Thanks for your nice message! And sorry for the late reply, I’ve been on a (far too long) break, but will be back making tutorials soon 😁

[@islamnafiza6888]

WoW 😳 joss painting 🖌️

[@helmet212]

Excellent explanation. Can you do a gradient wash in circular strokes? More like a vignette, red in the centre and dark on the edges blending nicely towards the centre.

[@Finelinernerd]

Oh gosh, I think so? I have done this before with one colour fading to the edges, but never two colours blending in a circle. I’ll have a go and if I get good enough at it and learn how to make it easier I’ll do a video, thanks for the suggestion! 😁

[@selenophile5256]

Can you do one on how to get smooth finish ? Subbed already !

[@gothorama]

thank you I will practice with this video as a guide it'svery helpful

[@Render-Realm3D]

Perfection

[@SabihaHayath-el3cs]

Thank you, this helped me a lot with gradients, also I have a doubt, does the drying technique help in wood?

[@mknknutsson3114]

Watercolours has been an enemy to me for years, pfft. But even so I enjoyed this video a lot. I'm a big fan of people who can actually work with watercolours, they have the God's hands I would say😂 Also, brittish accent gives lives.

[@Finelinernerd]

Oh gosh me too! I started seriously playing around with them this year around February and it’s a long road, but once you start getting the hang of them it’s like no other medium exists 🥰

[@nigebrown2510]

Hi thank you a great tutorial. I notice it didn't look as if you stretch your paper first can you tell me how the paper didn't cockle given the amount of water you put into it?

[@khushboo3412]

Hi what is the difference between ombre and gradient?

[@judypoliquit1185]

Can I ask, what paper did you used?

[@Finelinernerd]

I can’t remember I’m afraid, it was so long ago. It might have been Daler Rowney’s “Langton” paper (cold press version)

[@DNortRyan]

I have been using Arches for the first time, a rough paper and I really like it, then I got Hanemule, which I’ve used before, but it’s not rough, it’s not very smooth either but it’s whatever size you’d call twice A4…I want a thick a dark wash for the art I’m doing lately and anytime I try with this Hanemule I just get streaks, I’ve done this with 5 sheets now, I have a thick makeup style brush and it sucks up all the paint, I don’t know what brush to use for larger paper, what do you reckon?

[@noramagaly]

Thanks for teaching your technique. Question why you don’t make more videos. Are you okay?

[@aoutsky]

Beautiful gradients. I think you would save yourself some trouble if you used a bigger brush.

[@Finelinernerd]

Thank you! Yeah it was the biggest one I had at the time, I have some really big brushes now compared to what I used in this 🖤

[@nataliesimpson944]

James that was mesmerising! The way you explain the process makes it seem so simple! And what beautiful results! I definitely want to try this now! 😍 💕 Your presentation is just perfect and let's be real your voice is so soothing xD💕 also ngl I was living for the end when you pulled the tape off, straight up art porn right there! 👌👌👌💕💕💕💕

[@Finelinernerd]

Thanks Natalie! Hope Rowan didn’t go hungry because you were drooling over the tape 😂😂😂

[@DrawingAndPaintingMeditations]

Thank you. Why is my tape taking off the top layer of paper when I peel it off? Any ideas? Or how does yours not do that please?

[@DrawingAndPaintingMeditations]

.....just watched your video about this. I’m using cotton paper, clothes fabric and the hairdryer method.....

[@seths450]

i am struggling very much with gradients. i always seem to add too much water to the color just fades out but i also dont know how to spread it if i cant add a lot of water. trying wet on wet and i cant figure it out. gonna give your videos a try but it is very frustrating

[@CLOUDSINTHEKITCHEN]

How did I not find you before?? Add with an English accent : a balm to my ears x I'd appreciate any contents on volume and movement, please! Thanks!!!!

[@MP-xv3qn]

5:01 I thought watercolour didn’t get reactivated once it dries?? or was I told wrong?

[@Finelinernerd]

It can depend on the permanency I think, and if it’s a very diluted layer then it probably won’t reactivate, but certainly in my experience the heavier the pigment the more it reactivates when wet - nightmare when you want to glaze over darker areas 😖

[@verofleuri]

sublime couleur j'aime beaucoup les cotmans j'ai toute la collection '-) Tu dessines trop bien Moi plutot les botaniques '-) Merci

[@JimJudoka]

what's the purpose of the hair dryer?

[@bingusslingus7020]

Making the paint dry faster :)

[@roonilwazlib5402]

Thank you for this! I‘m new to painting with watercolor and I never wanted to use the Schmincke color chart paper that comes with the watercolor boxes because I didn’t want to mess it up (already messed up one) 😅 Now I‘m gonna try it again, wish me luck

[@Finelinernerd]

Best of luck! I find that with watercolour it requires as much experimentation as you can give it, I totally understand the feeling of being precious about paper, so you could get something cheaper like Arteza’s watercolour paper to practise on, it’s affordable and what I do all of my swatching/thumbnails on 🖤🖤

[@mydogeatspuke]

I know this was a while ago now, but I highly recommend the jumbo packs of Daler Rowney Aquafine paper (50 A4 sheets for around £15, they do what they call texture which is cold press, or smooth, which is hot press) or the 100 sheet Clairefontaine Goldfine I think it's called. It's a cotton blend cold press studio pad and slightly larger than A4 but also around £15. They're obviously not professional quality but they are both acid free and excellent for practice and learning and can take a fair bit of abuse, and they don't cost very much so you won't be afraid to "ruin" the paper. You can get them both on Amazon and they go on offer really frequently. There's also the Canson Montval 50 sheet pads but they're a bit more expensive, closer to £25/30. You can also check the Amazon Warehouse section for paper as people sometimes return pads. I've picked up a few 100% cotton 12 sheet pads for just a few quid, and if they're listed as very good or like new but arrive in poor condition then Prime lets you return for free. You can even get someone to come and collect the parcel from your house in some places. There's no point picking up something like Arches or Bockingford or Fabriano etc if you're not making art to sell. There are loads of budget options that won't hinder your learning.

[@njfranck]

does working "down to top" always work for you? That was the first thing I was discouraged to, giving the fact that water always runs down ..

[@knittingnirvana]

Very nice (only I think you'd have been better off had you changed the water that became grey, before using the red!)

[@Finelinernerd]

I was certainly not as experienced back then as I am now, I have much better discipline with my water management nowadays haha 🖤🖤

[@amxliachristmaswillowbird2968]

My..classmates ruined my painting ... BUT IMA KICK YO FACE WITH MAH WATERCOLOR YAS i already learned how to do it at the first of the video! Thank you!

[@SuzyUzi]

😁

[@rachelmarney4138]

Lovethisx

[@orkuna4960]

I don't understand the difference between the first and second

[@lazaroribeiro417]

Ele é brasileiro?

[@Finelinernerd]

Quem é brasileiro?

[@lazaroribeiro417]

😱

[@serge8397]

It's regrettable that the most important and the most interesting parts of work that is applying of the paint are made in a fussy speed up recording. That practically defeats the point of instructional demo that was to show the process. The final results look good though.

[@baiservole2298]

Disagree! I thought the speed showed what he did just fine.. dragging the paint up, down, repeat. I can clearly see what he’s doing, and quickly get to the point so I can go try it. If he showed it in real time, the video would be at least three times as long just to see it in slo mo.

[@keener57]

Try setting playback speed to .25 It worked for me.

[@serge8397]

@@keener57 Thank you for trying to help. Of course, it's a natural recourse and that what we always do to compensate for deficiency of the original recording. But after decreasing the speed, especially so dramatically - to .25 we can't recognize what this instructor is trying to say. So my point stands. Is it an instructional video? If yes, then it is a lousy one.

[@JewelJinX]

you can replay the video repeatedly for how the they he does the process, this way I understood some of the basics he did. but i cant exactly pinpoint and explain all about that part how i managed to understand but if you think his instructions you may explore furthermore in the web 😅

[@chaotic_fever_drem6494]

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@Finelinernerd]

😂😂

[@artsy897]

Beginner here…this looks terribly hard, think I’ll keep to the basics…lol

[@ouuzzii]

666th like