77 Effects, Techniques, & Tips for Watercolor & Gouache!

[@AlatarielMeneldur]

Dear Hajra I have seen quite some videos about watercolor techniques, but I have never come across one that is so extensive as yours. I also like how you quickly present the techniques without chitchat. Straight to the point, very clear. Thank you so much for this helpful resource. Greetings from Belgium.

[@HajraMeeks]

+AlatarielMeneldur Thanks so much for your gracious comments, your input is very much appreciated! Yes, I have been trying to fill a gap on youtube by posting content that is detailed and professional instruction. There are a only a very few other artists posting content like that, and I'm so glad when a viewer can see that in my videos. Best wishes to you from California, and good luck on your personal art journey!

[@joycethomas84]

Not only are your tutorials very educational for artists and new artists especially, but I enjoy the fact that you are quick with your tutorials. A lot of tuturials are done with the youtuber speaking much slower. You speak fast enough and clear to be able understand and help the videos go fast enough which keeps me wanting to continue to watch. Thank you for the tuturials.

[@HajraMeeks]

How very kind of you, Joyce! I speak too fast for some, but fast is my natural pace, so I am so glad when fast and info dense works for other viewers!

[@MYMONKEYBERNARD]

I've watched 3 of your videos and I really appreciate your technical terms and lack of long goobery pauses and nonsense. You give alot of great information! Thanks :)

[@HajraMeeks]

+Mymonkeybernard You're very welcome! yeah, i hate dead space in instructional videos so I try my best to avoid it myself. My teaching method reflects my university teaching background, and I'm happy it works for you.

[@Vgudorf]

You're so right. You've just produced the mother lode of watercolor and gouache techniques, and earned yourself a new subscriber! Thank you so much. I was already familiar with many of these techniques, because I've been working with watercolor for several years, but I must admit that I had become stuck in a rut of only using a very few of them. Your video has inspired me to play/experiment again, so now I'm about to sit down with my watercolor sketchbook and do precisely that. Keep these excellent videos coming, Hajra!

[@HajraMeeks]

Vgudorf yay! glad to help inspire anyone, and thanks for subscribing. Appreciate your sweet and generous comments. :)

[@brainwave7632]

You have such a talent for making these kinds of videos. Just clear, concise and easy to understand.

[@HajraMeeks]

+Brainwave 76 thanks, what a gracious comment. :)

[@NarendraSingh-wn6wk]

Hajra Meeks jil

[@tattinggirl4341]

I love it that you respect the intelligence of your viewer by putting forth such plentiful helps rapidly as you do. I find this encouraging as I've always been a black & white illustrator who almost feared color -it doesn't come naturally to me. Thank you so much for helping me to move into watercolor!

[@HajraMeeks]

Linda Zentner Thank you! And yes, I've found in all my years of teaching professionally that my students would rise to a higher standard of input and learning, so there's no need to insult them by lowering the bar on anything--as long as I provide lucid and approachable instruction, I've found it can be dense, and people will learn. And, your issue with values is the most "natural" way to be. It's a credit that you can recognize it and separate how you treat value and color, because most people don't give it enough thought to see that it's true for most of them, too. As humans, we all evolved to see values first--our world is basically a tonal value world of different shapes lit by the sun, moon, other light. Color was not needed earlier on, and is a "created" concept that our minds later evolved to include, which is why color is entirely relative, and some people and animals see more or less or different colors.

[@jilliancrawford7577]

I love the tissue lift! It's perfect for leather-like textures and rocks!

[@HajraMeeks]

Yes, that's very fun--the seran wrap is also good for sharper rocks, and try using wax paper over wet paint as that also makes believable rounder rock textures.

[@rosieleat6868]

Love your fast and to the point style! :)

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks! I have a short attention span, so I like things fast and dense!

[@rosieleat6868]

Ditto!! I'm so glad I found you! Long drawnoutness drives me bonkers! I refuse to participate in it! lol

[@HajraMeeks]

:D :D :D

[@charliecrossing]

I don't think I've ever gotten so much information so fast from a youtube video before! Thank you so much, this is immensely helpful as a visual learner, great work!!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Caroline Yeah, I have a short attention span so i tend to go fast! thanks for your kind comment!

[@mr.icecream7880]

Wow really helpful and straight forward. I loved how you said in the end "How was it? Watching paint dry?".

[@HajraMeeks]

XD

[@dbearup123]

Hajra, you are EXACTLY what I have been looking for. What you are conveying is what I need. Thank you so much for moving me a little farther down the road.

[@HajraMeeks]

dbearup123 Delighted to help you a bit on your painting journey!

[@MoMaryR]

Love the in-depth video and love that it is fast (I don't doze off). I can later go back and pause and view on slow speed with the sound muted as it has the lovely captions. Many thanks for taking the time to do this. p.s. Love your gorgeous lacy knitted fingerless gloves.

[@HajraMeeks]

+Mo M you're very welcome, and thanks for your sweet comments! I'm glad some enjoy my speed as I don't know how to slow down much--fast is just my natural pace. :p

[@janekerrigan4293]

So much information in 10 minutes! Thank you.

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome, Jane, glad to be helpful. :D

[@MsCuisle]

Thanks immensely for this crash course. Thanks a bow, Wonder Woman ❤❤❤

[@HajraMeeks]

Awww, how very sweet of you. Glad you liked my techniques glossary video!

[@rippy4freedom499]

Timely, wonderful, great way to play and learn and get the body memory working !

[@HajraMeeks]

Mistress JHolly Yes, exactly! I made this video primarily as a memorable, one-place index to help remind us what the various fun effects are.

[@hanoo63]

motherlode indeed! thanks for sharing such a huge range of tips and techniques

[@HajraMeeks]

you're very welcome! :D

[@margaretcaton2657]

Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing all these techniques. I thought this was a great video - it got on with the job and wasted no time!

[@HajraMeeks]

Margaret Caton You're very welcome, Margaret. Yeah, I don't like videos that are filled with empty puttering around or random quiet bouts, so I edit my videos down to just what people are there to learn, I hope!

[@slee5812]

Thank you so much!! Great editing too. I don't like when demo videos are long and drawn out but this is perfect for all that info!

[@HajraMeeks]

J Pole You're very welcome, and a kindred spirit when it comes to the editing peeve!--I find unnecessarily long videos with a lot of dull, dead spots to be terribly annoying, hence I try to edit my own videos pretty sharply.

[@PHeMoX]

A 10 minute video 'bomb' of awesome awesome techniques. Much appreciated! :)

[@HajraMeeks]

PHeMoX Thanks, dude, you da bomb. :)

[@susanhamilton1822]

Phew! That was the most informative few minutes ever spent. Thank you. I learned quite a few new things today :)

[@HajraMeeks]

+Susan Hamilton awesome, glad to help. :) Good luck on your painting adventures!

[@Linda-qq5mg]

I am adding another "Wow"! This video covers it all! Thanks so much.

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome! How sweet of you. :D

[@junemaeven]

You ROCKED this! Awesome vid for a beginner to gouache like me.

[@HajraMeeks]

junemaeven thanks, you're very sweet! And i'm glad it was helpful to you!

[@gwensimmons_gigi1629]

Wow, Hajra... that was loaded with great info and fast!! Thank you!!

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome, glad you liked the info and didn't mind my speed. :D

[@johnchatz]

thank you for your time and your effort to make this video!much appreciated!

[@HajraMeeks]

johnchatz Thanks for appreciating my effort--a lot of my videos end up being even more work than I estimate, and this was one of them!

[@fredh8733]

amazing! thank you!

[@HajraMeeks]

you're very welcome! epic painting adventures to you! :D

[@germaicanlady]

Wow! Such a short video packed with such a lot of information! Thank you, Hajra!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Chrissie aka GermaicanLady You're very welcome, Chrissie!

[@JlynnBishop22]

I'm going to have to watch this like 5 more times lol. I love how you threw in some pastels and watercolour pencils, I have a ton of them sitting in a shoe box, I'm about to go break them out and try some new things!

[@HajraMeeks]

yay! good luck with your epic watercolor adventures! :D

[@arteworld]

What a power-packed video :-D ... great job !!

[@HajraMeeks]

+ArtEWorld thanks! :)

[@jinx4511]

Very nice! Thanks for the vid

[@c8Lorraine1]

WOW, Thank you for all these techniques, I have enough to do to fill a whole journal

[@HajraMeeks]

awesome, epic painting adventures to you!

[@paulmurphy612]

Thanks, I learned. You’re fast! 😳

[@HajraMeeks]

Hehe, you're welcome! My later and more recent vids I slow down some. :D

[@kellyflinn6490]

Great refresher - thanks!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Kelly Flinn you're very welcome!

[@pinkypilot]

Wow! That was a lot of info in a short amount of time. Thanks so much!

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome, epic painting adventures to you!

[@josephstanski5180]

Great video for us beginners to watch over and over again. Thanks soooooo much. :o)

[@HajraMeeks]

So happy you liked this and found it informative--you're very welcome!! :D

[@carlaa.1617]

Brilliant video!, I am working my way through your videos and really enjoying them. Than you so much :)

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome, and how wonderful to hear you enjoy my videos!

[@AnaCrisisBlu]

this was amazing! there were some techniques I didn't know yet :D thanks!

[@HajraMeeks]

Happy Kappa you're very welcome, i tried my best! :)

[@agedjake]

Wow this must have taken you ages to do. Thank you for taking the trouble to film it, I have found it very helpful,

[@HajraMeeks]

yeah, it did totally take FOREVER... and you're very welcome, glad you found it helpful! :D

[@weini7666]

I've been looking 4 watercolor effects n techniques n this is the best video!!!! Thanks so much and keep it up!

[@HajraMeeks]

awesome, so glad you liked it! Epic painting adventures to you!

[@weini7666]

Hajra Meeks ☺

[@kimleon-guerrero9980]

Thanks for the tips Hajra. 💞💫

[@HajraMeeks]

You're so very welcome, Kim!

[@dancerdancer313]

Awesome video! Great tips and ideas! 🙏👌😀 Thank you!

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome, and glad to have helped. :D

[@christinehlin4710]

I just came across your video and there is sooooo much information in it. You did an amazing job!

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks, very sweet of you! I try my best. :D

[@frogsnack7072]

So useful! Thank you for making this video.

[@HajraMeeks]

+Frog Snack you're very welcome, glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@scobbydotwo]

This is such an informative video. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us.

[@HajraMeeks]

+scobbydotwo Thanks, very much appreciated!

[@artandmotion]

Thanks. Perfect way to motivate to be free !

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome, good luck on your inspired painting adventures!

[@nana-amaanang9522]

That was wonderful thank you so much! These tips are gonna help a lot. I really enjoy your videos, they're very straightforward and easy to keep up with. You are very talented! Subscribed!

[@HajraMeeks]

yay! awesome! Epic painting adventures to you!

[@drbjr8223]

Awesome video, I'm newish to watercolor, I really like It. I appreciate you taking the time to make these great videos. Thanks

[@HajraMeeks]

drbjr You're very welcome, and good luck on your painting journey!

[@TerrieJohnson731]

This vid answers questions in my previous comment. Well done! You're a star!

[@HajraMeeks]

Awesome, glad to have had a video that helped! :D

[@jaynesills1248]

Thank you for all the wonderful information!

[@HajraMeeks]

you're very welcome and epic painting adventures to you!

[@leiamist]

Thank you so much, a lot of information in 10 minutes that will result in hours of fun and experimenting for me. Congrats for all your videos :D

[@HajraMeeks]

+Leia Mist Thanks, you're very kind! Happy painting! :)

[@vamps_rock]

Wow, so much info but simple and concise. TFS x

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks, very much appreciate your positive input. :)

[@kendra656]

Thanks for this helpful and awesome video! You're a really nice artist! :)

[@HajraMeeks]

+Kendra You're very welcome! Appreciate your sweet comment and wishing you the best in your art pursuits!

[@Redroo11]

Thank you, Hajra!! for this awesome video! This is more than what I've been looking for in a very well done (thoughtful) quality video. What can I say, I feel like I've found so much of what I need to know in a clear, concise format. Your professional narrative alongside all of the different techniques is noteworthy ~ your teaching experience shines through. Again many thanks!

[@HajraMeeks]

Redroo11 You're very welcome! I so appreciate kind comments like yours, as I'm glad the work i put into my videos pays off. :)

[@ashleemontoya6383]

this is literally the most helpful video on water techniques ever and ive been researching and practicing for a little over a year thank you so much and im hooked on your vidoes! 👏👏❤

[@HajraMeeks]

How sweet! You're very welcome.

[@ashleemontoya6383]

Hajra Meeks well your work shows thank you!!

[@edenheaven5175]

absolutely amazing

[@HajraMeeks]

+Eden Heaven thanks! it did take forever to do...

[@magistra137]

Yay! So useful, helpful, informative, and just plain fun to watch! I know it must have taken tons of your time and thank you for doing it for us. I'm sure I'll be coming to it again and again!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Beth Arcuri thanks! yeah, this video did take forever to do and edit! Glad you appreciated it, and good luck with your art adventures!

[@tmikeporter]

I have never seen a video quite like this one!

[@HajraMeeks]

Ha! Well, I hope that's a good thing. :D

[@vikibanaszak4881]

Thank you so much for all of this info. I am really enjoying your channel.

[@HajraMeeks]

Viki Banaszak You're very welcome, and I'm so glad you like my channel! :)

[@Thatsok000]

LOved the video!! Thank you so much!! Very useful :)

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks!

[@angeliqueroux3017]

This was amazing. Thank you!

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome!

[@cosmicranger1]

Wow! Nice job!

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks so much!

[@leanna7322]

YOU ARE A BLESSING! THANK YOU!!!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Leanna Cruz You're very welcome, and thanks for making my day with your gracious words. :)

[@ShairaDarkmoon]

I´m just starting with watercolour and this helped me so much. Thank you. :-)

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome!

[@haz1004]

i've watched some videos of yours and i'll have to save money to get some supplies... ^^ love your videos

[@HajraMeeks]

+Nur Hazirah Hamzah thanks! :) yeah, art supplies are dangerously addictive!

[@MaG1cPr1NgL3S]

Holy hell this must have taken ages to make! So so useful - youre really good at explaining things

[@HajraMeeks]

+MaG1cPr1NgL3S ha! yes, it was on the editing table forever! thanks for your kind comment. :)

[@joshuaelento5046]

thanks for making this video! I love this

[@HajraMeeks]

+Joshua Elento Glad you enjoyed it, and happy art adventures!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Hajra Meeks oh, and if the salt isn't working, often times it means you aren't using enough water or too much water. hope that helps.

[@gumilangdamarbudiman8970]

Hajra, I've watched all your videos and i think you're doing a very great job explaining the techniques! i think it would be great if you could make a video where you reproduce a painting of other watercolor artists such as Arik Roper?

[@HajraMeeks]

+Gumilang Damar Budiman Thanks! Yeah, I often do "master's studies" where redo paintings or illustrations by others for instructional purposes--redoing our favorite artists' pieces is probably the best way to learn how that artist worked and really get into his/her head. I'm certainly open to requests and I'll see if I can work a piece by Mr. Roper into a future video just for you if you've watched all my videos!--it might take a while as there's the filming, editing, voiceover, but I'll let you know when it happens if you forget. Happy Painting!

[@dudediva69]

WOW >>> impressive .... thanks for the tips ... :)

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks and you're very welcome!

[@OhHappyBunny]

You are so helpful! Thank you.

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome! :)

[@santosh99samuel]

such a beautiful lucid to -the -point videos...no bullshit filer talk😀😀😀😀

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks! :D

[@BRAMTV591]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Great job!!!

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks so much!

[@NicKullenNiksharStud]

Just wanted to write and say what a great video, it puts so much detail & information into the one video which was great for you to share with us all. So thanks again, and Im now going to go subscribe & see what other videos you have :)

[@HajraMeeks]

Awesome! Have fun on my channel and good luck on your art adventures!

[@ColleenM61]

WOW, thank you!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Colleen M you're very welcome! Happy painting!

[@luckynumba9ent]

loved it!!!

[@HajraMeeks]

+luckynumba9ent thanks! :)

[@livreservil]

Incrível, como você ensinou tanto em tão pouco tempo, grato.

[@HajraMeeks]

you're very welcome! :D

[@livreservil]

Thank you very much! Sorry, I can´t speak English very well, congratulations for your good job.

[@HajraMeeks]

much appreciated, thanks for taking the time to support me with kind words!

[@DotsNDaggers]

Superb video!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Steve Witt thanks! :)

[@SynchroDiaries]

You should write a book! Superb. Thank you.

[@HajraMeeks]

You're very welcome, and how very kind of you! :D

[@MsCuisle]

The most exciting experience of "watching paint dry" I've ever been exposed to. ❤❤❤❤

[@HajraMeeks]

XD XD

[@j.m.watkins5169]

You are hard core!! : )

[@HajraMeeks]

XD XD thanks! This was meant to be a speedy index, not a tutorial--I thought it was fun to do some of these older videos faster since I can speak fast comfortably, but I have made myself slow down as not everyone likes their videos so fast! By the way, I deleted my Etsy shop after what you related as an experience (I think it was you, sorry if it wasn't--but thanks for the input if it was you! XD), since I've never had much traffic on Etsy anyway and usually sell original pieces via direct contact via email and Paypal or in-person exhibits, and sell all my prints via Red Bubble. have a lovely weekend, h

[@drsfn101]

Bravo hajar

[@HajraMeeks]

soufiane amabraa شكرا اخي

[@traversom9124]

Thank you so much!!!

[@HajraMeeks]

you're very welcome! :D

[@MadSweetpea]

Thank you.

[@HajraMeeks]

:D

[@lydiahidalgo1379]

Great video!

[@HajraMeeks]

+Lydia Hidalgo thanks! it was one of the harder ones to make. :p

[@basamanwar6330]

That was loaded!

[@HajraMeeks]

:D

[@shantelanxo]

so how was it watching paint dry? lol! This was very helpful and had lots of techniques I've not heard of yet! Thanks so much xoxx

[@HajraMeeks]

You're so welcome, Shantel! Glad you found this useful. :D

[@anacarolinaaffonso7220]

Great video

[@HajraMeeks]

thanks!

[@yeprighto]

Awesome. Ps do more gouache demos

[@HajraMeeks]

Rand McNally Thanks! I'll be doing a diverse mix of watercolor, gouache, ink, and water-soluble pencil and crayon videos, so all the assorted water-media folks get their fix. And I'll probably do gouache more than some others as I'm really excited about it right now, too--it really isn't covered much by artists anymore, is it?

[@yeprighto]

yeah gouache is awesome. i always have to watch videos about other mediums then translate that into gouache. i've been getting a bit into ink pens and doing washes with my waterbrush which is also heaps of fun

[@HajraMeeks]

Rand McNally yeah i find using ink pens and making them run with water to be addictive.

[@gracetria7992]

Hi there. I enjoyed your videos. Are all the effects and techniques can be applied to gouache? You mentioned in your other video that glazing was not applicable in gouache. :D

[@HajraMeeks]

Grace Tria thanks! Some of the effects and techniques work for gouache, others not so well. I'll talk about this more in future videos but just to answer your question briefly: indenting for colors and wax resist and salt effects, for example, all don't work well with opaque colors, and gouache, of course, is opaque.

[@Mirdochlachsable]

Very usefull thanks :) What kind of Masking tape do you use?

[@HajraMeeks]

+Peter Shaw You're welcome! I use just plain old everyday masking tape from walmart or target, and I sometimes also use transparent frisket film for artists.

[@MRWDL800]

AHHHHHHHhhhh. I feel like I'm in a warzone, taking multiple hits! Machine gun blast info omg more

[@HajraMeeks]

XD

[@narrowisthewaytoeternity]

I like that ruler that has frames, can you please tell me where you got it from?

[@HajraMeeks]

Maya Ivy Do you mean the small erasing shield or the long architect's ruler? Either way, you can find both by searching for the names I specified ("erasing shield" or "architect's ruler") on Amazon or DickBlick online. Good luck!

[@kidstube9992]

oww that was a lot in 10 min 👍🏻

[@HajraMeeks]

XD

[@JM-qm2vs]

You have so much talent! Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Just one thing. The lighting in the video isn't the best, I think. But still nice job!

[@HajraMeeks]

Thanks, much appreciated. Yeah, this video was filmed at different times of day because all the techniques took so long, and the lighting was not always ideal. :p

[@maurjoy4104]

Cool.

[@HajraMeeks]

+Cheryl Pegues thanks! It was fun doing all those techniques for one video, but a monster to edit. :p

[@rodneybathgate8094]

[@NightGhost4Life]

+Hajra Meeks , first thx for the video 2nd, what is the name of the golden color that u always use?

[@HajraMeeks]

you're welcome! i believe in this video it was quinacridone gold.

[@NightGhost4Life]

Thanks alot ^_^

[@paz80917]

You talk just fast enough for me! If you ever have time in the future, it would be super helpful if you could discuss the different effects one could get with different paintbrushes. There are so many (filbert, angle, wash, flat, bright, round, liner, spotter, dagger etc.) and I never know which one to use. I mostly use round ones for watercolor, but I see that you use your angle brush a lot.

[@HajraMeeks]

+Trisha Zdziarska thanks, you're really sweet! :) A comprehensive brush video has definitely been on my to-do list for a while--thanks for suggesting it yourself, it reminded me that I still haven't done it...

[@paz80917]

That would be fantastic. I have seen many videos that plainly go over the different types of brushes, but none actually demo how to use them correctly or how to achieve different effects.

[@HajraMeeks]

Heya Trisha, I FINALLY got around to the various brushes video I put on my vid project list because of you, so if you're still interested, here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnLSkHejjL59irc

[@MaryJohansen]

Is there any way to slow this down? It's just too fast to get it all

[@HajraMeeks]

+Mary J This was meant to be a superfast run through--as I mentioned in the video, I have other videos showing things slower. But you can always pause the video, or slow down the speed on the youtube playback settings. Good luck!

[@isalawton6239]

Nice and useful information, but so fast it's hard to remember it all!

[@HajraMeeks]

Thanks! This is meant to be a speedy run through of techniques in list form--I cover the various techniques a few at a time in lots of demos. But if you did want this slower in just this vid, youtube gives you the option to slow it down or to display caption text.

[@andytaylor3230]

I really enjoyed all your techniques, but it was very fast for me.

[@HajraMeeks]

uh oh. You can pause or replay, sorry I talk fast for some people.

[@TimGreigPhotography]

Play at 1/2 speed

[@kenjiharima4294]

thanks, really useful video.. and it wasnt even a long one :_: Does anyone have a nice tool to recommend me for the following : "how does one make really fine lines with water color :_:"

[@HajraMeeks]

you're welcome! :D And yeah, I make fine lines with watercolor using a really small spotter brush or a rigger brush, and you can also use a dip nib pen used for inking for watercolor lines as well. Whether brush or nib, be sure your watercolor is not too runny--it has to have less water in it and more pigment density to hold a fine line.

[@kenjiharima4294]

Hajra Meeks thank you very much!