How to Paint a Variegated Wash

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In this video I show you how to paint a variegated wash while also talking in detail about how brushes work to lay pigment or water down on the page or pick it up. It is really important when painting in watercolour to really get to know your paper, brushes and paints. They become your friends. You don't want to go changing friends all the time as you won't get to know them well otherwise.
This simple watercolour landscape which would be a good exercise for a beginner learning to work wet in wet or wet on wet. There are a lot of lessons in this video that are pretty important to grasp.
I used Arches cold pressed 300gsm paper about A5 size. I used yellow ochre, cobalt blue, mix of cobalt blue and light red, burnt umber and raw umber. I used the 1 inch hake brush and round sable and flat nylon brush.
Let me know if you have any questions. I have learnt most of my watercolour from Tony Smibert his books can be found on the links below. They are all fantastic!
Tony Smibert’s Books for Sale:
Turners Apprentice: A Watercolour Masterclass: geni.us/Turner...
Painting Landscapes from your Imagination: geni.us/TrlbvxR
How to Paint Like Turner: geni.us/PaintL...
How Turner Painted: geni.us/HowTur...
My Two Most Popular Videos on KZbin:
Large Abstract Watercolour May 2020: • Large Abstract Waterco...
What to Know When Starting Watercolour (2020): • What to Know When Star...
Paints
Winsor and Newton Artist Quality Tubes:
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/Winsor...
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/Yellow...
Light Red amazon: geni.us/LightR...
Winsor and Newton Cotman Tubes (student quality):
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Light Red amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/cotman...
Tape
3M Scotch Magic Tape amazon: geni.us/Scotch...
3M Scotch Removable Tape amazon: geni.us/Scotch...
Brushes
Round Sable - Size 12 round kolinsky sable from amazon: geni.us/SAAKol...
Imitation sable - amazon: geni.us/Escoda...
Holbein Hake Brushes: geni.us/Holbei...
Equivalent Hake Brushe 2” amazon: geni.us/Winsor...
Nylon Flat Brush amazon: geni.us/NylonF...
Travel Brush set with covers amazon: geni.us/travel...
Mixing Brushes and other effect brushes amazon: geni.us/HogBri...
If you just want two hogs bristle brushes then the best thing to do is to head to your local art supplies store and buy them there.
Watercolour Paper
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed pad amazon: geni.us/ArchesPad
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed block which is glued on the outside so you don’t have to stick it down on a board amazon: geni.us/Arches...
Rives BFK etching paper. Probably best to source this from your local store so you can look after the paper and not have it posted unless you are buying a large amount of paper and it will be looked after. There is nothing worse than getting hundreds of sheets all with a indent in them. Having said that you can actually source this paper from amazon:
geni.us/RivesBFK
Some people have been extremely happy with the state of the paper when it arrived (and some not!)
I love this paper it is soft and lights are lifted easily from it.
Equipment Used to Film Each Episode
Camera - Canon 6d mark II with 24-105 lens amazon: geni.us/Canon6...
Iphone 11: geni.us/iphone...
Rode Video Mic Pro amazon: geni.us/RodeVi...
I also use: Rode Wireless Go Mic: geni.us/rodewi...
Aputure LED Lights from amazon: geni.us/apurtu...
Aputure LED Lights with stand from amazon: geni.us/aputur...
Mac Book Pro for editing: www.apple.com/
Friction arms
Manfrotto friction arm short one amazon: geni.us/Manfro...
Manfrotto magic arm longer one so my camera can be closer to the page from my overhead rig amazon: geni.us/manfro...
Neewer Friction arms cheaper than manfrotto and good for lighter things like lights from amazon: geni.us/neewer...
Hard Drive for storage WD 4TB amazon: geni.us/WDHard...
Hard Drive for projects Samsung T5 500GB SSD amazon: geni.us/Samsun...
Manfrotto Tripod and Video Head amazon: geni.us/Manfro...

[@robfielding100]

Excellent helpful video for a total novice like me! I'm just starting watercolour painting at 67 years young and haven't painted since I was a school boy. I love your creations

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Rob! Good work mate! It’s always a good time to jump into something new and take yourself outside your comfort zone! Good luck! If you need any help just ask! 👍

[@philipdown3147]

Scott Thanks for sharing your amazingly clear and calming approach to inspire others to paint with watercolour, greatly appreciated stay safe

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Philip, you are welcome. Glad you find it helpful! Stay safe too. 👍

[@lindyh2009]

This is the most useful tutorial I’ve seen in ages! Thanks so much!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Linda! I’m glad you liked it. I think some of the things I talked about are really important to understand and then know by doing (painting). Thanks for watching! 👍🙏

[@yunzers]

Thanks so much for your wonderful description of techniques. The way you share your knowledge is really appreciated.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Bas, no worries. Glad you found it helpful. Happy painting! 👍

[@agbphotographics]

Hi Scott. I appreciate this technique video explaining so many useful processes. Thank you for your time and sharing your expertise with us.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi AGB photographics, you’re welcome! Glad you find it helpful! 👍

[@lindaw9329]

Great lesson. So useful for a newbie. Thanks for your time.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Linda! I think that lesson is a really good one for understanding the medium. Happy painting! Cheers Scott

[@kauseressaji876]

This was such a helpful video Scott. This happens to me so much and I give up! I shall persevere now

[@ScottSwinson]

Glad it was helpful Kaiser! Always good to talk through lots of things that are going on. 👍

[@dcfan333]

I really appreciate your instructional insight you share when you're demonstrating. I know it takes practice, but there are somethings that I find frustrating that when it's explained and demonstrated, makes so much more sense.. so thank you for taking the time to really explain what's happening!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi dcfan! You are welcome! I’m glad you find the explanations helpful! It’s great to get to a point where you really enjoy watercolour! Any questions let me know! 👍

[@francoforleo4971]

Another great demo with helpful commentary 🙏🎨🙏🎨🙏

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Franco! 👍🙏

[@kellyperez2543]

Such good info thanks Scott!I have been frustrated by some of the things you addressed and because I have watched some of your videos I attempted watercolor again for the first time yesterday and I’m very happy with my new beginning so thank you!❤️🙏

[@ScottSwinson]

That’s is great Kelly! Watercolour is so much fun and sometimes it’s terrible but you never stop learning or being surprised and that’s what I love! Enjoy! 👍

[@svetlanamarkova5758]

Thanks a lot, Scott. Very helpful. Please, tell us about how you decide on colours when painting from photos. Best wishes

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Svetlana, I just look at the sky then look at my bowls of paint and then start playing around on a spare piece of watercolour till I get what I want. 👍👍

[@alisonruth3947]

Thank you so much for the way you explained this😊

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Alison, no worries! I thought it would be good to do a video where I talk about things more. Glad it was helpful! 👍🙏

[@jenfleming9412]

Wow Scott, that is the best demo of lifting out I’ve seen. And you are the first artist I have seen who has their paints mixed up in little bowls like that. I read your description on how you keep them and it’s fascinating. I must try it. I see in your brush descriptions list you have a kolinski sable and a synthetic one as well. Is the sable worth the expense? I am using a Hake brush a lot now to get used to them. Love your demo. Thanks so much. Wonderful! PS I went and saw a Turner exhibition in England last year. Felt so lucky to see it.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jennifer, glad you found it helpful! I have quite a few round sables both pure kolinsky and synthetic. I have to say that the pure kolinsky sable is just amazing and I have had it for over 20 years! If you are starting out get what ever you can afford but I would be gradually saving up for a good one! They are just divine! 👍

[@HemuArtWorld]

Painting is super and great talent 👍 stay connected 👍

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! Will do! 👍

[@luannrichardson1436]

Thanks. This is very helpful.

[@madhursrivastav]

Very informative

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Madhur, I think this is probably one of my most informative videos when painting wet in wet. 👍

[@katyhill9449]

That was really interesting Scott, thanks. If you haven't already, can you please do a video about the bowls you use?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Katy, glad it was interesting. I’ll send the link to the video I have done on the bowls I use. Someone said the other day you must use a lot of paint but I don’t. The bowls of wash last for ages! 👍

[@ScottSwinson]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqK2m4aEmJWqeMU

[@katyhill9449]

@@ScottSwinson thanks so much! I'll check out the video.

[@ferietaylor1551]

Thank you 🙏 very useful

[@WatercolourMentor]

Hi Scott - you've really mastered this wet-on-wet wash technique. Beautiful painting and style - subbed!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Watercolour Mentor! It's the process that I love the most! I wanted to talk about in some more detail the nature of watercolour. I learnt a lot from Tony Smibert for many years and it is good to pass that on. Thanks for watching. Cheers Scott

[@suel4269]

Great explanations of things that I struggle with. I’m wondering why the blue on top of yellow didn’t make green.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Sue! glad it was helpful! I think it was because I put the blue more next to the yellow rather than on top. You could paint on top but and it would probably not create green until you mix them a few times with the brush on the page. Good luck!

[@Mr.S65]

Good morning here. I saw a lot of granulation except with the yellow ocher. Did you use burnt sienna too? I see a very strong reddish brown at the bottom of the picture. I also use arches paper and it allows me to lift paint very well (Fabriano too)

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi MrS! Yes good paper!! I used burnt umber at the bottom. Thanks for tuning in again! 👍🙏

[@theresawallace9080]

Really love your tutorials. I can't seem to get my ratio of cobalt and light red correct, 70/30? Anyways thankyou, you have a very encouraging voice filled with really good advice...don't stop the chatter 🙂

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Theresa! yes if you are using winsor and newton light red and cobalt blue then I know those pigments well. Light red is very strong so yes i think about 70 percent cobalt blue and 30 percent light red is about right. To be honest i always mix the cobalt blue mix fist with the amount I am happy squeezing out then I very slowly add a little bit of light red from the tube at a time until I have the colour I like. I can then add more cobalt blue or light red to the mix while painting if I want to take it towards red or towards blue. Cheers Scott

[@theresawallace9080]

@@ScottSwinson thanks alot Scott, yes I use Windsor and Newton... On been painting for 18months or so, so just learning.... I love this watercolor thing... Thanks again for you sharing of you knowledge..🙏

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Theresa! No worries! It does take a while to learn this medium! 👍👍 any questions let me know! 👍

[@jimbobbluegrass]

Thanks so much for the tutorial. What type of tape? 3M Magic?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jim! You’re welcome. The tape was 3M magic tape. It comes in blue coloured packaging. At least in Australia it does. There are links to it in the description below. 👍

[@yvonnegeelen6571]

Great information I need to use less brush strokes ....love watercolour but sometimes it makes. me scream.....

[@ScottSwinson]

You are probably right. You don’t have to use less brush strokes but it will often create a cleaner, fresher watercolour if you do. It’s just worth doing some experiments. Do the same simple landscape with lots of brush strokes then one with much less. Or see if you can follow this video exactly and see how that goes and feels. 👍🙏

[@Turkeeney]

Wonderful Scott. What is the tape called that you use? Thanks.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Catherine! Glad you like it! The tape is 3M magic tape. It comes in a blue packet. 👍