How to Loosen Up | 3 Tips for Loose Watercolor Painting

[@Chavacandraw]

No one else tells me the things you do. And I think they are so basic and IMPORTANT. Thank You.

[@LironYan]

Thank you Chava! 😊🙏🏼

[@103Ds]

I really appreciate your videos, Liron. Keep making them. My tip for loosening up is to let go of perfectionism and the death-grip it has on expressive painting.

[@leewiren8404]

dgdraws that’s the challenge isn’t it. I strive to get away from my tendency for perfection...., it ruins most of my painting attempts. This fantastic tip from Liron May help with that.

[@markdonovan1540]

Love this insight, I've been focusing too much on detail and have way too many different brushes!

[@johnrestucci8269]

Liron, the best and most practical watercolor instructor !!

[@LironYan]

Haha thank you so so much John! 😊🙏🏼 I really appreciate it!

[@stacyhannon4081]

That’s it. I’m absolutely certain now that you are in fact a mind reader! Somehow, you always seem to perfectly time your videos with exactly what I am struggling with at that moment. Boggles my mind it does. Over the last few years you have helped me, and so many others, with our struggles in watercolors, and I just want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and the top too! I am so grateful that you are so generous with your time, wisdom, and beautiful art. Thank you! Much Love and Respect as always, Stacy

[@marigoldwood8494]

Decided to gradually adopt your advice a couple of days ago. I naturally reached for a number 10 brush but forced myself to stop and take a number 12 instead. I noticed where I was holding the brush every time I picked it up and forced myself to hold it just a bit further away from the ferrule. The result was amazing - the washes seemed looser and more transparent! I almost felt like a real artist!😁 So, definitely going to continue gradually increasing the size of my brush (except for fine details, maybe) and gradually aiming to hold it by the tip of the handle. Thanks, Liron.

[@selftrue670]

Best, most concise watercolor instructor on KZbin. By far.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 🙏🏼🙏🏼🎨🎨 Happy I can help

[@jaquelinedeponce5251]

Thank you, you are appreciated by many. I’ve been painting since I was a child. Decades have passed, painting here and there whenever I was able. I now I have another new studio and all the time in the world to dedicate my to my first love, painting. I’ve suddenly found myself stuck for the first time. Go figure that? I will accept inspiration from whatever means to actually pick up one of my many brushes.

[@tbluemel]

Hi Liron, Great video as always. I would add one idea to your wonderful tips - set a time limit that is short. For example, if you're painting an 8" x 10" paper, try to finish it in 5 or 10 minutes. Doing this exercise has forced me to avoid fussing with detail and focus on the bigger, more dominant shapes. Thanks again for all your videos!!!

[@SweetArcane]

I agree so much with " values are more important than colors" ! I experienced it and I really know when my paint is not good based on that haha. Also thanks so much for all your tips, they are so valuable !

[@barbaragemin5117]

I really enjoy your videos Liron. What I find so important is anything to do with SIMPLIFYING from a photo. That's one of the most difficult things to do. You , Castagnet, Zbukvic and Eric make it seem soooo easy. It isn't. Any time you want to do another one of those, much appreciated.

[@selftrue670]

Wow, a ton of really usable tips. Thanks, Liron.

[@Addleysmom]

I paused to watch the linked video on using pure paints. And it was so helpful then I came back to restart the video. It was overall so helpful!

[@smccauley1973]

Tip #2 works brilliantly. When I have used a tirade of primary colours in a painting and concentrated not on local colour but value...allowing the colours to mix on the paper my paintings improved immediately. I picked this tip up from an artist named Laurel Hart....I cant wait to try your other 2 suggestions. Thank you .

[@Black_guys_here]

Love using the brush at the end ❤

[@joycechristenson7474]

😊thank you very useful. Will try all three in my class tomorrow.

[@MarciaVkintner]

excellent tip! I´m trying !👍

[@ptstrngr12345]

Your timing is perfect. Yesterday I bought a small 5x8 watercolor sketchbook because I need to PRACTICE. It will be perfect for this as I attempt to loosen up. Have had several good ideas, as well, to get the most out of practice without using my Arches paper. Thanks again for your vids.

[@judithlarkin600]

Great tips! I will try them! Thank you!

[@yunzers]

Thanks Ligonier I am going to give all 3 a try. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Thanks so much!

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Thank you so much Livonia, I really really enjoyed watching you teach us all these techniques and I’m extremely impressed with your skills and creativity. I’ve subscribed and given you a thumbs up too

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much and welcome aboard ☺️🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@BuffKermie]

this was literally the most helpful thing for me lol I did not realize how tense I was being instead of letting the water do some of the work. Thank you!!

[@LironYan]

😁😁 Happy it helped!

[@babycakes1949]

Hi Liron..... I am in a constant struggle with this issue and sometimes it frustrates me to the point of avoiding painting altogether. My brain is telling me to paint realistically but I aspire to do just the opposite. I’ve even tried squinting to blur the details, but you can’t do that for very long. :) I liked what you said about focusing on the ‘shapes’ and the ‘contrast’. I keep thinking one day it will just click for me but so far it hasn’t happened. Regardless, I am quite simply ‘addicted’ to watercolor, and I’m determined to reach my goals with this medium. Your continued lessons and tips are welcome, and especially any other ideas regarding painting loosely. Thanks.

[@annangel4828]

Wow Liron! Those tips worked like a charm! I did 2 smaller versions of landscapes I had labored over for hours and ... Presto changeo ... Loose paintings. Other videos offer nebulous/theoretical methods but yours were perfectly practical! Thanks a million.

[@nullnull4900]

I found finding and focusing on simpler shapes, accentuate the beauty of the object. I will try using pure colors to focus on mastering the medium more.

[@shenahicks140]

I’m going to try holding my brush that way. I’ve been going more toward using pure pigments for a while but for some reason hearing you say it out loud made the light bulb come one for some reason. Great video!

[@zerocalvin]

I'm already using a limited palette.. so I could use tip #3.. but i dont understand it.. can you electorate it more? maybe do a painting demo with it?

[@sharindon]

pure colors works for me, thank you !

[@AlbertDolmans]

Thanks Liron !

[@kymberlydawn1445]

Excellent advice! Thank you for sharing!

[@reneehawkyard]

GREAT suggestions! thank you

[@Alesauria2009]

you have great tips, thanks Liron!

[@thelmablake7045]

I've got to try this, really, thanks a whole bunch!

[@fatemesh1113]

I struggle with losing control and now I just applied your tips. it helped me a lot! Thank you for sharing your experience :)

[@charmde2008]

Thank very much for the useful tips. Very helpful ❤

[@frenchgrama]

Great tips - I was lucky enough to do a workshop with Alvaro Castagnet here in Brisbane, Australia and I too have adopted his tip to use the brush as an extension of your finger and hold it at the end - AND immediately I found it soooo freeing and now it comes very naturally to me. I’d love to see a video on doing thumbnails in which you try various compositions of shapes, values & simplification of scenes... thanks for your time😀

[@michaelwilton4545]

This would be so helpful for me, too. I am a complete novice to art and just learning to draw, so any guidance from Liron about setting up a good composition would be invaluable to me.

[@appleknocker56]

Think if you can master that tip of holding farther down it will help!

[@terrymeechan2998]

Thank you again. You teach from what you have learned in an easy manner. I will work on this. BTW, the best teachers are those who give understandable instruction as you do.

[@nek114]

Great tips! Thank you for sharing your ideas!

[@macgurrl]

Awesome advice, I have been struggling so much to loosen up.

[@BB-nz5sk]

I am jealous of your curls.

[@jaquelineballantine1489]

Thank you! So helpful and succinct!

[@barbiebrowny7003]

A very helpful video Thanks ☑️

[@janetwalsh7025]

Great tips! Looking forward to the class!

[@LironYan]

😊🙏🏼

[@appleknocker56]

Don’t know if or how to post images on KZbin comments but I have not been able (so far) to paint with water colors lightly (loose painting) & have tried from very wet brush & paint on pallet but somehow still end up with pretty colors but almost no white shoes through the paper!! Is that ok just heavy handed or trying to go over & over to fix that one place 🤔. Ty as enjoy watching yours & have shoulder injury so holding at end will be a “interesting” try ☺️..

[@leewiren8404]

Thanks Liron, really look forward to your videos! I plan on trying this tonight. Any chance to see you do a video with a simple sketch and the primary colors only technique so we can better grasp the message you’re conveying to us?

[@nikkijohnson9574]

Wow I just discovered you today and you are a saviour. I’m just starting out with watercolour painting and have looked at so many video’s about mixing colours which is overwhelming. Thanks so much for making it easier. Your the best. 👍

[@LironYan]

Haha thank you so much Nikki!! 😁😁 Happy I can help

[@jeanbatzellfitzgerald3383]

Great video. Very helpful. Thanks so much!

[@alexbaigas7190]

Love this, thank you!!

[@randyebastian8186]

Great tips, Luton! Thank you!

[@Jenny-yl2hw]

Thank you for the tips, I will certainly try them..

[@danielmcgowan4970]

Hi Liron, Great to see you again. While I agree with almost everything you mention and you have set out some great tips. I believe you have missed the most important and Quickest Lesson in How to paint Loose! The answer and method is:- DO NOT DRAW FIRST!!!!! (if at all) The mere action of drawing first, takes away your initial Freedom of your brush and you are governed by the marks you have created. Anyone can understand this and the beauty is, most pupils get amazing results first time of trying. This is also a wonderful exercise to improve your drawing too. I continue to watch your growth and improvement and wish you every success.

[@beatrixtracy]

Can't wait to try these tips. Thank you so much.

[@LironYan]

My pleasure 😇

[@MysticHeather]

Gonna give all these tips a try today!

[@LironYan]

😁😁 Let me know how it goes

[@lawanamatthews6316]

I am beginner. I love your tips. They help a lot.

[@LironYan]

Thank you Lawana! 😊🙏🏼

[@SoilaArt]

Great tips with details. I just packed a bigger round brush to my travel bag, just in case, but likely I should use that the most and avoid the small ones.. 😅 Nice advice on color use as well.

[@LironYan]

Yes! I find I can really get away with using a large brush more carefully (: But if I'm stuck with only small brushes, it's a nightmare to cover large areas 😂

[@cindyhorton6980]

Wow! I am going to sit down and do this!! Thank you so much!❤❤❤

[@LironYan]

You got it! Thank you for watching 😊🙏🏼

[@lotusphere6]

Awesome dude thanks. I’ll start using a bigger brush.

[@artdesignandmusic7035]

Ótimas dicas, muito obrigado amigo

[@LironYan]

☺️🙏🏼

[@stephaniecarrow4898]

Great tips ~ I plan on trying them. Any chance for a deep demo on this, too? Thanks!

[@dianemcgregor6171]

Saw this just when I have discovered using a larger brush is indeed better...so now will try the other tips..esp the bit about not mixing colour. Interesting.

[@LironYan]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏼 Keep me posted on how it goes (:

[@annasoucek416]

I like your thinking too

[@yakuzaman5074]

Love your teaching tips man

[@samuelmuiga3101]

Relevant content double check. Thumbs up

[@dexterbacchus4449]

Thanks for Sharing Liron

[@elinorhobart562]

I like that you use black and white. The teacher in my watercolor class is totally against them but I feel not using them just makes for hard work.

[@btwilks]

Interesting video, Liron - thanks for posting. There's very definitely a big difference when holding the brush at the tip instead of close to the bristles. I've been using the technique mostly for initial washes but your enthusiasm has persuaded me to give a it a try for the later stages of a painting too :-) I know that for some time you've been an advocate for mixing colours on the paper - I still tend to do most of my mixing in the palette wells but I shall try to do more on the page - and will also try your suggestion of using primary colours to see what results I get. It's all good learning material and thanks once again for everything you contribute to the community via your videos. Cheers, Brian.

[@RincsArt]

I've started with the "little paper, big brush" tip. It's very freeing, and I find myself wanting to explore more of what I can do while the swatch is wet (I wasn't much of a wet-on-wet method artist)! It's very lovely! I need to take the next steps! :D Thanks for the tip!

[@annaedejer3618]

Hi Liron. Do you have a color composition tutorial?

[@LironYan]

Hmm, nothing that perfectly matches that topic, but the closest would probably be this one on warm and cool colors: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ7QnGmDbNaaj7M And here's a decent one on colors: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWGuiWueasp3r8k And one on saturation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6a9ZHuMf7yVabs I probably need to figure out how to tie this all together. Good idea for a future vid 😊🙏🏼

[@annsowers4591]

I love to watch Javid Tabatabei weild his brush (as I call it) especially with details. As I am new to watercolor I find using single pigments work best for me. It really helps as you are learning water control. I do use Mission Gold single pigments. I am sure I will eventually try other paints but for now this is an excellent paint for me. I also practise using the tip of my brush as well. I find my strokes are cleaner this way.

[@LironYan]

Javid's work is amazing 🤩 A very fun part of learning watercolor is indeed improving brushmarks. It gets so much more fun with time, and you come to learn the HUGE variety this aspect, alone, can achieve (: Keep it up!

[@janrpascal]

Just what I needed! I'd appreciate more help with letting colors mix on paper and choosing what colors to put where.

[@clarewarp1384]

Thanks for the brush holding tip. I was really struggling with painting large areas and not having enough range of motion to follow long lines (arcs especially) watching this I had a real ‘duh!’ Moment and realised what I was doing wrong. :)

[@trlan55]

When a building is partially in the shade, do you use a Paine's Gray in a glaze? Or would you use another single color? Thanks for your tips, I will have to try them.

[@DarbyandGill]

Terry Lanwermeyer use a warm underwash and then immediately flood with cobalt for luminous shade

[@joannehopperstudio]

Hey Liron - great video. Solid, solid stuff. Particularly about the limited palette. I have a question about paper if I may. I need a bright white paper with sizing that doesn’t disappear after the first wash! Not as slick as Yupo by any means, but something that keeps the surface workable but bright. I’m not concerned about price (amazingly). I like the Royal Watercolor Society paper but am very open to trying other options. Arches has gotten way too absorbent and doesn’t stay clear. Thank you!! 🙏 I love your informational videos and really appreciated your interview with Janine. Much Aloha to you!

[@LironYan]

Hmmm, very interesting. To be honest I’m not super versed in different types of paper. But the ones that came closest to what you describe for me is Saunders Waterford - HOT press. The smooth surface is sometimes harder to control, but the paint tends to pool more on the surface, allowing you more time to work it. Hope that helps (:

[@akudumb3021]

Woah, such great and simple tips! Thank you! Keep up the great work, Your videos are really packed with info when done such condenced time! Beautiful painting, might recreate it too🤭

[@jilliancrawford7577]

In regards to tip #2, would pre-mixing before even starting negate this tip? I can see how taking the time to mix would disrupt the flow and be distracting, especially if you're on a time limit to help prevent overthinking, but I am still curious if pre-mixing would still be enough of a distraction and not helpful in the goal of painting loosely.

[@graven13]

Love this!

[@jillmorris2849]

Good ideas. I teach and find most people are tight. I am trying to help people loosen up and paint for process not product!! Thanks, JIllyWillyArt

[@freshorganicspabar]

Hi Liron! I got a problem 😅with wetness of the paper or lack of it . I paint along with Iliya Ibrayev these days , he says he never wets paper, I ruined it today cuz paint soaked into the paper, when I wet the back, everything is great ! Can you explain to the beginner when to wet and why some do not wet at all 🙄🥺Million thx !

[@margaretmartin6620]

All good tips, Liron. The one I think is the most helpful to me is holding the brush at the end of the handle. Terribly hard at first, but really frees you up once you get used to it. I'm still working on it, though. Thanks. :)

[@HMC2133]

Thank you! I always wondered how to achieve those "loose painting." It is good that you made a video on this effort-- since people might not even consider it as a subject to teach. Will try these three techniques and see... btw, I have never unmixed colors. It is a long habit of mine -- I always mixed colors! 😆🙄

[@audreyhong3921]

Can I paint loose for a flat image that has no highlights and core shadows?

[@phylliscooper7175]

Thanks!

[@beckyhofer4328]

The comment about painting more quickly with one color is brilliant. I tried that with a portrait which was Way Beyond my ability and it came out fantastic! I just held the brush Loosely and pretended like I was sketching. No worries about the color. Thank you for this. Future video idea. I need help on keeping my paper and watercolors wet enough. I live in a very dry environment. Things dry so quickly! Do I just use the spray bottle?

[@felixvega7703]

Thanks Liron!! I will try and let you know. Regards

[@solar979]

Great! Very helpful, thanks.

[@marylabrec2728]

This is so helpful. I've been buying so many tubes of colors I see being used by artists. After watching your videos I'm wondering.. What is a "pure" color? Maybe i went overboard. Is Prussian blue, out of the tube a pure color?😊 thanks

[@strandedinseattle9931]

Enthusiastic beginner watercolorist here, and I've actually already been cutting all my 9x12 papers into fours to paint small pictures (Also if I royally mess one up, it's only a dinky picture so no great loss). My BF bought me a decent brush set, but I seem to stick to a 10 and a 2 mostly thus far, primarily the 10. The only thing I probably need to do is let go a bit more and hold more towards the tip vs like a pencil. It's so hard to let go of control though! >.< haha Currently trying to work on values and soft edges, will see how changing my grip will affect my painting. TY for the tips! ♥

[@christinebell1760]

What brushes do you recommend!? I bought a calligraphy brush and the hairs came off with every stroke

[@moodybash7334]

Try buying watercolor brushes. Which are made specifically for painting.

[@elflordsjourneys]

Thanks for the tips,looks like a a lot of great content here to watch,glad I found you.😀

[@gerrineiling322]

Thanks for the tip-use small paper-big brush!

[@gosiaplummer4794]

Thank Liron!!!! I have to stop holding my brush by bristles!

[@heloneida.Toronto]

Thanks, very nice tips.

[@brigitadovidaite8422]

Liron, thank you for your videos. They are so inspiring and alive. I totally agree, that limiting yourself to three colours is so loosening. Now I am working on my colour triads. Trying to make some notes on what works and what not. Maybe you could make (or already made) a video on best choices. Cool vs warm (should the triad include both). Which colours are considered to be blues, yellows and reds (I assume that it is those having Y, B and R pigments). Secondary colour triads - some of them work really great. To sum up, are there any rules or just trial and error way?

[@danielafurini]

The hardest thing for me is not mixing paint, I think not mixing in the palette requires your brain to be more imaginative in thinking of what colours to apply but it definitely pays off! And it's fun to see colours mixing on paper. Great tip!

[@Vipralipsa]

Thank a lot!!!

[@hilostateofmind]

I will try those. I really overthink watercolor as I've always painted and drawn in high detail/realism etc. Could you please go into paper. I can't stand the warping. I've tried every weight, hot/cold press, high quality, illustration board etc. It always warps. I try less water- I get a mess...

[@Gooshayesh]

Subscribed 👍🏽

[@Vipralipsa]

What are the three colors/paints (brand names, please!) that you recommend for a limited palette? I know some artists that recommend red with more pink/magenta tint ( or cool red if you prefer this term) as part of their color triad.

[@doodoodoodle]

I use a cooler pink with coolor skin a lot. Especially in areas like the hands where the viens are purple-blueish

[@doodoodoodle]

Also I think his paints are in the description if still interested

[@melodief3848]

Just found you...great video! Thank you.

[@LironYan]

Happy I could help, and welcome aboard 😁🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@kenclement9409]

Thanks for your insight and encouragement❤️I too would love to see a tutorial about this by you, I believe it'd be very beneficial to assist in my improvements ❤️🧑‍🎨🖌️🎨

[@lexacessde]

What brush do you use?