How to Paint Light in Watercolour

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This is a pretty long video! It does show quite a few processes! This painting is all about attempting to capture light in watercolour! The white of the page is a great way to create light in a watercolour. I hope you enjoy the video! Let me know if you would prefer that I edit more out or have periods of time lapse so it is a shorter video that packs more punch.
This was painted on half a sheet of Rives BFK, 280gsm, white, etching paper. 28cm x 76cm.
The colours used were:
Yellow Ochre
Winsor Yellow
Mix of Cobalt Blue and Light Red
Mix of Winsor Blue (red shade) and Light Red
Cobalt Turquoise
The brushes used were:
multiple hake brushes - mostly 2 inch hake brushes Holbein, Ron Ranson and the Silver Brush Alpine White Blender (still goat hair and very similar to a hake).
The 4 inch hake brush to re-wet the page
My pure kolinsky size 12 round sable
Other things used were:
MDF board
3M magic tape to tape onto the board
Spray bottle
Razor blade
Metal ruler
Tissues
Salt
Tooth Brush
Happy painting everyone!
Cheers
Scott

[@PeterGonzalezAyres1932]

I am an Australian teacher, retired to the Philippines, and using my free time to indulge in my love for watercolour. I have been watching your videos and enjoying them immensely! Thanks for that!

[@krazykbrooks6208]

Just found your channel and 💗 love it. I was told at an early age I wasn't 🎨 artistic couldn't draw etc so I never tried. At 58 I am making myself try things out of the comfort zone Art is my new favourite thing...even started drawing! Now watercolours 😃 excited to start. NEVER tell a child they have no talent for something always encourage others. 💕

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Fantastic to watch your process and to listen to your thoughts as you paint, beautiful painting, thanks Scott 👍🎨

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Lois! Glad you liked it! Pretty long! 👍

[@JHM30fan]

Lois and Scott, thank you both for sharing your amazing talent with others. I enjoy both of your channels very much. You are both very inspiring. I started attempting to paint with watercolor about 6 months ago and you both make it look so incredible and have given me the courage to keep trying and experimenting. Love both of your work very much and you help me not be so scared to try different techniques. Hopefully one of these days I will get the hang of it. You make it look so effortless but that is just a testament to your incredible talent. Cheers.

[@MarianGilmer]

Love your abstracts and love love the accent. Very relaxing😊

[@bonniegarson80]

😅love your flying entrance!

[@suel4269]

29k now. I’m watching again.

[@lauriecrosby2906]

Love your panoramic pieces!

[@dustydesert1674]

This is something I’m constantly trying to be conscious of because otherwise I tend to want to cover the paper in paint from corner to corner. Once you lose the lights it difficult to get it back and it becomes muddy very quickly. Great video, Scott!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Charolette! Yes keeping lights is so important! It is why painting with a plan is often a good idea otherwise it can turn into a whole sheet of mud! Glad you are liking the videos! Cheers Scott

[@LisaLisa-fq4th]

Love when you added the “pop of color”.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Lisa Lisa! I think it worked! Cheers Scott

[@minervelahad9601]

The bleue storm! A very powerful impact emanating from this beautful art work!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Minerva! I do love stormy skies! And Yamba had quite a few of those while we were there! 👍

[@patsymccown2766]

Watched this again…I continue to learn from it! Thanks!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Patsy! Yes it is good to find paintings that you really love and then watch everything, How to hold the brush, how to hold your body, the speed of the stroke, the amount of water, the angle of the board, the firmness or lightness of the brush on the paper etc, etc, etc, so many bits that influence the end result!

[@rosasadler1084]

Your lessons are very straightforward. I’ve learned more with each one!

[@suel4269]

21.7K subscribers! Woohoo! I love your excitement.

[@junemackenzie4205]

As usual, great tutorial Scott, thank you. For a while I couldn’t stop focusing on face profile right, dark cloud. Needless to say, you successfully altered this by adding more water and colour. A master artist and teacher!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi June! It's always funny what we can see in the clouds! I enjoy doing that sometimes! Glad you liked the video! Cheers Scott

[@jackiegoodwin2332]

What impresses me most is your willingness to change your ideas and push the painting again and again - it’s very inspiring. Oh, and all the tips on creating light 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Jackie! It does not always work but I am happy to share so that others may learn from my mistakes! I am always learning in watercolour! always! Glad you are enjoying the videos. Cheers Scott

[@kingussie]

Beautiful. LOVE the salt and toothbrush effect

[@avaliveradio]

Love the videos. Great to hear you chat about your experience with watercolor while you paint.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Ava! Glad you enjoy them! I sometimes forget to talk I’m so involved in the painting process! 👍

[@shelleykeast1382]

Love watching your painting! Your tips are great!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Shelly! Thanks! Glad you enjoy the videos! I endeavor to please!

[@tanyaharris7514]

Thank You so much ..all the techniques you share are priceless...and the end result is fantastic ! as a beginner who as found the love of watercolour painting very late in life I find you very inspiring..💕

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Tanya! Thanks! It is never too late to evolve snd learn and be brave with watercolour! Good luck! It is an amazing medium! 👍

[@pamelaknott6707]

Absolutely beautiful, as always!! Love your videos.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Pamela! Thanks! 🙏

[@else-britjarl9721]

Love your paintings. Really much to be learnt from you. Thanks.❤😊

[@vickilee6335]

absolutely beautiful

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Vicki! From a lovely holiday up in Yamba which is probably very wet at the moment! I hope they don't get flooded over the next few days like Lismore!

[@markdonovan1540]

Excellent demonstration and great to see the process involved.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Mark! Thanks! I do love painting scenes like this! Cheers Scott

[@stephaniecorbett5356]

Love your narrated videos.. so informative and inspiring… thank you so much..

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Stephanie! Glad you like them! I try and make most of my videos like that when I have the time! 👍👍

[@lindaw9329]

You bet I get benefit! Thank you for being on KZbin

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Linda! No worries! It's a win win!

[@_thebusinessof]

Awesome painting skills! The finished painting looks great 👍

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Juan! I like the end result too! Cheers Scott

[@dalyn10]

I absolutely adore your videos! You’re a very talented artist and teacher

[@Lulu-wk6xb]

Loved it!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Lulu 2! Lots of layers and trying to get it to work!

[@deirdrehalstead6963]

Inspiring tutorial Scott! I long to progress from my timid flower paintings to some brave landscapes! As you suggest I’ll start small so that it’s not to intimidating! I love your style, impressionistic and free - but still absolutely recognisable, for me you have found the perfect balance. With many thanks and all good wishes, Deirdre U.K. 👏🎨👏😍👍

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Deirdre! Thanks so much!! I do love the painting process and working towards an end that I am happy with! 👍👍

[@AmericanPatriot447]

Excellent painting well done!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Monte! A long one and quite a few layers but I like the end result!

[@karolfrench5816]

Ohhh lovely THANKYOU brilliant artist

[@ScottSwinson]

You are always welcome Karol! 👍🙏

[@ruthkoster4140]

I love to watch you paint. And want to try to do the painting myself. You are a great teacher!t

[@ScottSwinson]

Good luck! Enjoy! 👍👍👍

[@lisacody8502]

Fabulous ! Thank you!!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Lisa, you are always welcome! cheers Scott

[@sallywebb8986]

Don't change a thing! Perfect. Thank you.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Sally! This painting sold a few days ago so must have done something right! 👍👍

[@janicecosenza1812]

Awesome. How you do the layering is amazing. Beautiful painting Scott. ❤️. Xo

[@ScottSwinson]

Yes one of my favourite subjects! Moody seascapes! 👍👍👍

[@gullwingstorm857]

Best entrance ever.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! I forgot about that jump! lol

[@dearbh1736]

That was an amazing tutorial Scott. I love the end result. In a strange twist of nature we are having a heatwave here in Ireland at the moment (up to 30 degrees most days) so I am finally realising the difficulties people have to contend with while painting in a warm climate without air conditioning. Fear not - it is only a minor glitch and no doubt we will be back to our 14 and 15 degree summer days before long 😂

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Dearbhla! Glad you like the end result! I think I do too! Yes hot weather is sometimes very hard with the page drying very quickly! Good luck! Love the landscape of Ireland! Very paintable and inspiring! 👍 🇮🇪

[@PatriciaGodboutArt]

We too on the westcoast of Canada experienced the same unusually hot temps. I live on Vancouver island but our ancestors came from mayo county. I am enjoying this artist and it is so nice to meet someone from my homeland. Cheers!

[@dearbh1736]

@@PatriciaGodboutArt Hi Patricia. I am from the south-east of the country but my ex-husband is from the Roscommon-Mayo border so I spent a lot of time over there during the 20 years I was married. It is quite a unique spot, very desolate and bleak in some areas with mostly small, very rural towns dotted around. Have you ever been to visit? I would love to visit Canada but I am getting a bit too long in the tooth for making long trips these days. Anyway, nice to hear from you. All the best!

[@robertaustin6538]

Enjoyable video.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Robert! 👍

[@pamobrien9058]

So many interesting points to this process. I'm just learning and would have stopped many at many points before your finished piece out of fear, but you just proceed and the end is marvelous.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Pam! It takes quite a while to get to know the medium, brushes and paper well enough to take them that far! If you are starting out it is best to paint smaller with less layers! Good luck! 👍👍

[@user-ob9wv6yy6e]

很喜歡您的畫... 讚！👍👍👍🌈🤩

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! 🙏

[@vladm9384]

I ve been too structured. The loose style speaks to my soul. I am switching to this style.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Vlad! I have always felt the same way! I can appreciate the skill involved in painting detail, photo realistic paintings but they don't generally make me feel anything and that for me is the reason for painting! To evoke a strong response! I think in the landscape genre a loose style tends to do this quite well! Cheers Scott

[@ScottSwinson]

enjoy following this style! It is good to start with a good foundation, which you may already have, so that you can be free. If you you don't understand the medium of watercolour the loose style will likely turn to mud and become frustrating. let me know if you need any help. cheers Scott

[@socratesthecabdriver]

Much thanks 🙏🌊🔱🌪🌪🌪

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Socrates! Cheers Scott

[@jaynedough130]

where was your cape!!?? your entrance was like a watercolour superheros!

[@ScottSwinson]

Ha lol! Always willing to try something and look stupid! 👍

[@barbriley583]

❤

[@marinabourgou378]

I love your technique.I would like to know the type of paper you are using.Thank you very much!!!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Marina! Thanks! I mostly use Rives BFK etching paper 280gsm white by Arches. 👍👍

[@avaliveradio]

What do you like better ? Have brushes or Princeton flats? Is there a benefit to hake style brushes over the nicer princeton flats? I also have a Windsor hake but it sheds where my flats never have that issue.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Ava, I don’t own any Princeton flats will have to have a look! I’ve got a Princeton round sable. Most likely the hake brushes hold more water and more pigment. That makes them better on a large scale but potentially a lot harder to control! 👍

[@carlvonthron6701]

Very nice piece. Love your technique. Do you ever stretch your paper? What weight paper do you use?

[@denfen6387]

What is the dark blue paint you use on top of the cobalt blue? Looks great!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Den! The two dark blues I use are a mix of cobalt blue and light red and the other is a mix of winsor blue (red shade) and light red. 👍👍

[@ettamogahlinda]

Thanks Scott, really interesting - couple of comments it would be very helpful if you mentioned colours you are using as you apply them (For a beginner such as myself!) Also I don't own a hake brush, is there any you would recommend to purchase for a start. I just bought my first good quality round and love the difference this makes. Look forward to more of your videos :)

[@ettamogahlinda]

Oh No I just expanded your Intro and saw all the answers to my questions - there are benefits to being blonde some days LOL

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi there! Yes I always have in the description below the paper, colours used and brushes used. I have always used Holbein hake brushes (Japanese) but also have Ron Ranson hake brushes and they are great at well. They are just a bit thicker and so hold more paint and water but for me that makes them a bit heavy and not as light on the page. I think you should buy a few hakes (1 inch and 2 inch) at the very least! They are pretty cheap but priceless! Good luck! Thanks for watching! cheers Scott

[@sallybaxter4374]

Hi, I'm a new subscriber and I love your videos! I'm curious: when you wipe with a tissue, is it a dry or wet tissue and is it just a regular tissue or a kitchen towel?

[@mollab1]

Gorgeous! How do you store the left over paint in the bowls?

[@suel4269]

Look at all those bowls of paint! Do you label them?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi sue! No I know what they are and just choose the colour I want. 👍

[@lauriecrosby2906]

One question... why do you use prepared bowls of pigment vs a palette?

[@ruthkoster4140]

What do you use to take out the white streeks?

[@ScottSwinson]

It’s a Stanley razor blade snd a metal ruler 👍👍

[@unnameableuser]

1:45 is a subject in itself to make it into a painting, a card, a poster or something.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Cristina! Will take a look at that point in the video! 👍👍

[@unnameableuser]

@@ScottSwinson 😊 Thank you for the glimpse into this beautiful world of artistry!

[@ScottSwinson]

@@unnameableuser no worries! Always happy to share! 👍🙏

[@unnameableuser]

@@ScottSwinson no worries, but sheer joy and enchantment and impulse to play along 🙂🙃. Greetings!

[@ronniespilsbury964]

What is the dark colour?

[@ScottSwinson]

The dark colour is a mix of winsor blue (red shade) and light red all Winsor and Newton Artist quality watercolours. I also like to use the mix of cobalt blue and light red as a different grey. Cheers Scott

[@cherylfrank6468]

Only 10-12 pc of the population are left handed, but so many of my favourite artists INCLUDING YOU, are lefties. Do you have an opinion on that?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Cheryl! Someone just asked that the other day! I think it might have to do with the left/right brain thing. I don’t know if this is supported by functional MRI tests but it is said that we use the left snd right sides of our brains for different things. Left is more logical and analytical where as right is more creative snd abstract. If you are left handed you use the right side of your brain to move your left hand so it might have something to do with that? Good question though! What do you think?

[@dustydesert1674]

Hey Cheryl, It’s funny I noticed that too. I’m right-handed, is there hope for me? 😟

[@cherylfrank6468]

Scott Swindon, I must be sans brain, as I had to read your answer 4 times. But I worked 14 yrs in a courtroom, and watched the eyes of the accused closely. It appeared that the eyes drifted left when lying, and to the right when remembering! Now if they were trying to remember a lie, we’d adjourn to another day. Haaaaa

[@cherylfrank6468]

Dusty Desert, I’m right handed, and my mind is always “ELSEWHERE “ , so I painted a nameplate for my home, calling that. Suppose it’s just an individual thing. ... happenstance maybe?

[@ScottSwinson]

@@dustydesert1674 of course! My mentor Tony Smibert is right handed! 👍👍

[@peterpistor1962]

Dear Scott, I suggest you leave your videos in full length. Watercolor painting is something with time, away from the hustle and bustle of the day, and viewers who want to see the results in a hurry have the opportunity to scroll forward...

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Peter, thanks for the feedback! It's a good idea to not edit any of the process out the only thing is that many people will stop watching my videos if they become slightly disinterested or it is moving too slowly which means youtube then stop suggesting it to people. It's a hard balance to strike! I will do a future video in that way with everything apart from the drying time kept in and see how it goes. Happy painting mate. Cheers Scott

[@wendysamples9156]

Hog wash