How To Start A Watercolour Painting

In this video, I show how to start a loose watercolour. Painting freely, wet in wet, to create beautiful atmospheric effects.
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Happy painting!
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Music:
Prelude No. 10 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/preludes/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/

[@angelwings1111]

Wonderful tutorial! Very helpful to see the whole process in real-time and such detailed commentary. Thank you.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks so much, glad you liked it

[@marygoodger51]

First time watching. Love the sky. A very restful picture. Will really have to give this one a try

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks Mary, glad you liked it

[@Vorachan1111]

I so enjoy watching you paint. This is the first time I have seen any of your videos. Very calming to watch especially with the music. I’m also learning from you. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you, Valerie.

[@lindaloiselle8251]

I love your approach ….keeping it simple…..not using too many colours…..you are a great influence in my watercolour journey thank you

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you Linda, I’m honoured to be a part of your journey. Thank you so much for watching !!

[@trev1968]

Love the sky 👍

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks so much

[@deborahjohnston2808]

Beautiful!

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks, Deborah

[@farzanehsadegh1319]

Beatiful❤❤

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you 😊

[@amya8155]

Stunning

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you

[@carolafranzobernitz3515]

Thks for sharing, this is really helpful

[@ChrisStephenArt]

You’re welcome, Carola. Glad you found it helpful

[@pastorswife1998]

Love your painting style & tips. Thank you!

[@ChrisStephenArt]

You’re welcome! Thank you so much for watching

[@artsy897]

Beautiful work.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you so much

[@TheRettvest123]

Thank you again,for wonderful,learnigful video 😀

[@ChrisStephenArt]

You’re welcome, Sven. Glad you liked it 😊

[@anthonyholden2157]

Really enjoyed your posting . Thankyou . All the best

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks so much, Anthony. I really appreciate you watching.

[@53justjude]

Thank you Chris, you do make this very simple to follow.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

You’re welcome, Judy. Glad you liked it

[@caronboler4048]

One minute in and I love it already 😃

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks so much, glad you like it 😊

[@reynradio]

Just brilliant Chris. Any more words will just be wasted I just love your work and style. 👍🏼

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks Dave, that’s very kind of you to say

[@user-px7eb9ej9j]

Thank you so much. I love Morston Quay too.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks Marjorie. I love the whole North Norfolk Coast. It’s fantastically picturesque

[@eensio]

The visual process is also great part of which I enjoy: it reveals the dynamics behind the scene. Thank you for this splendid joyrney!

[@ChrisStephenArt]

You’re welcome! Thank you so much for watching

[@nancycrutchfield117]

Beautiful work! The sky turned out awesome!! All of it is awesome but really love the sky! TFS

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks Nancy, glad you liked it 😊

[@paulaburian7067]

That's beautiful! You make it look easy.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you, Paula 😊

[@lewiemay]

Amazing. Thank you

[@ChrisStephenArt]

You’re welcome, thank you for watching

[@sandragiuria8725]

Very nice and the description is clear in a useful. Thanks Sandra Giuria

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks Sandra

[@robertsparks7244]

Really nice I subscribed

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you, Robert. Much appreciated

[@luckyhiker3434]

Real nice composition. Robt

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you very much

[@krakatuk3139]

I‘m painted it🤘

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Great ! Please tag me and give a credit if you post it on social media

[@MsMonika59]

Brilliant presentation and artwork. I love your explanations while your painting. What type of brushes are you using here? Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺 😊

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks, Monika. I used mop brushes and a pointed round sable.

[@triciashaw1973]

Really enjoyed this tutorial (and I loved the gentle music btw!). Did you use cold press paper?

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you, Tricia. I used a Meeden 100% cotton, cold press, 12x9” block.

[@Merletth]

Beau

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thank you

[@susanh9113]

Hi Chris, what a beautiful painting. Is there some golden rule to help decide the scale of the boats within that landscape? Thank you again, very enjoyable tutorial.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Hi Susan, I don’t think there are any golden rules as such, I suppose it really depends on what the emphasis is on. This painting was more about the landscape, with the boats adding some context to the scene. If it were more about the boats, I would probably have made them closer and more prominent. Hope that makes sense !!

[@susanh9113]

@@ChrisStephenArt Thanks for responding, yes it does make sense :)

[@ChrisStephenArt]

You’re welcome, Susan 😊

[@judygainer1766]

I wish I could do that. Did you have a photo or was it from memory

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks, Judy. I don’t often paint from photos, I prefer to use pencil sketches and small paintings made on location. This one is a quick version of a painting I did in Norfolk a few weeks ago.

[@ralphherrick596]

Do you wet your pallet before painting....does your paint dry up in the pallet when not used ...does the pallet have a cover?

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Hi Ralph. I don’t usually wet the palette before painting, unless I haven’t painted for a few days, then I’ll give a quick spray with the mist bottle. The paint does dry in the palette, but I use artist quality paints that re-wet easily with a wet brush. I used my Meeden ceramic palette, it doesn’t have a cover, I usually just lay a piece of cardboard over when not in use, just to stop any dust. Hope that helps.

[@claraedouwesdekker6389]

Wonderful tutorial. I do find the music a bit distracting though.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Thanks, Clara. I’m glad you liked the tutorial. Some people have said they love the music, others absolutely hate it. The dilemma I have is, I live in a busy town with neighbours, cars, dogs and other annoying things. I play music to mask the background sounds. Maybe some kind of noise cancelling recording equipment may help, I’ll have to save my pennies 😂

[@Bearwithme560]

How on earth do you preserve those little white spots in the sky and water? They make all the difference, yet l am never, in the process of rewetting the paper, been good at keeping the highlights, especially as our climate is so dry that water starts drying immediately.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

I think it really comes down to practice and reacting to what’s happening on the sheet. Also, being mindful to leave some white behind, no matter how small, can make all the difference.

[@Bearwithme560]

@@ChrisStephenArt Thanks for responding! Yes, practice is key, though l hit frustrating plateaus at times. Do you think dabbing waxed crayon on spots would help to preserve those treasured highlights, which l inevitably forget about an hour in?

[@ChrisStephenArt]

@@Bearwithme560 We all have creative plateaus, it’s just part of the artistic journey. You could try wax, I’ve never really used it, but it would be an interesting experiment. I’m curious to know if it works!! I may have to give it a go.

[@Bearwithme560]

@@ChrisStephenArt Yay - it worked.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

@@Bearwithme560 Fantastic, I’d love to see the result.

[@neilstephen6761]

Enjoyed your tutorial thank you . The back round music is most distracting.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Glad you liked the tutorial, Neil. Sorry you find the music distracting, I use it to block out background noises. I’m currently looking for alternative ways to record my voice, that cancel the unwanted sounds.

[@tinarosado1045]

I found the music relaxing,not distracting at all.

[@ChrisStephenArt]

@@tinarosado1045 Thank you, Tina

[@denisezaleski7504]

Duh, just pick up the brush?

[@ChrisStephenArt]

Wow, I’m impressed. You’re a natural !!

[@Waif4us]

Unneeded comment