Watercolor essentials to get you painting today

With Watercolor there is so much information its hard to know what is essential and what can be cut out. In this video I share the essential knowledge you need to start painting with watercolor today. I go over paper, brushes, paint and techniques that will take any beginner watercolor artist and have you painting like a pro in no time.
For more tips and tutorials, follow me on instagram
@hellolovelypeople_
My first book, Modern Watercolor
amzn.to/3zHaWHv
My second book, Your Year in Art: Watercolor
amzn.to/3zzJg7v
Supplies list and links:
Polina Bright Brushes
link: www.polinabrigh...
code: Hellolovelypeople
for 10% off on her site
Artist grade paper
arches cold press amzn.to/3l4wubT
Student grade paper
canson cold press amzn.to/3z6L9bP
Masking fluid
amzn.to/3lThoq9
Brushes
princeton round 2 amzn.to/3zYEzVM
da Vinci mop brush size 2 amzn.to/3zSa1VI
Polina Bright Brushes
link: www.polinabrigh...
Paint
professional grade, winsor and newton tube paints amzn.to/38WuRas
(can select paint color and tube size)
student grade, winsor and newton cotman travel pans amzn.to/3yRjBXv
Ceramic palette amzn.to/3jV41Gb
Paint colors I used:
Hookers green light
emerald
viridian
cad yellow hue
lemon yellow hue
cad red deep
turquoise
Opera rose

[@laloops]

I have spent the last half hour totally absorbed in your channel. You have to be the most helpful, and easiest to learn from person, on youtube. You are wonderful!

[@howardcameron934]

You are my new favourite teacher : )

[@BenM-nv6mu]

So concise and super helpful, thank you so much! 🤗

[@user-se6me4lv3w]

You are the best teacher for the beginners. So glad found your channel. I want to paint flowers for my son's wedding sign hope I will follow some of your technique to start.

[@kristinvanleuven]

Thanks so much 😊. You’ll do great!

[@Violintime11]

Hi Kristin, this was one of the first videos which helped me painting. Now I can paint decently following tutorials but can you please make a video of giving ideas what we can do to develop further? Thanks!

[@rebeccawong1]

Watched many and yours is the best for beginners ❤❤❤

[@tartagliachi]

I am making a whole playlist of watercolor basics and color theories videos from your channel, your voice is calm and you speak slowly which makes it easier for me to understand! 😌

[@amydost]

This is wonderful! I love your content on Instagram and so glad you're on KZbin! I'm new to watercolors, and I'm a stay at home mom of a 4-year-old so I don't have a ton of time to devote to learning, so concise and informative videos are so so helpful!

[@kristinvanleuven]

I'm so glad! I have 4 kids so I want to make my videos concise too haha

[@HeidiVillegas]

I've been loving your IG--- and so glad you're here on KZbin. I'm an herbalist, and I'm trying to learn to paint botanicals better.... Love the plants! Thank you for this!

[@NellieandRuthDesigns]

The salt aspect is so cool. TFS, all very helpful ! xo

[@karencartwright846]

No longer a beginner, but wish I had this this video when I was!

[@erikajennings9040]

I'm so glad to have discovered your work last year, I really love your style and pace, looking forward to learning more in 2023!

[@Scrapjoy2010]

This. My feelings exactly on style and pace.

[@kristinvanleuven]

Thank you so much! That means so much to me!

[@kristinvanleuven]

Thank you Scrapjoy! I love the feedback

[@christinemcclester2695]

I’m new and super excited that I found you and subscribed! So much information in such a short video…thank you so very much!!

[@forfoodsake]

Thank you !!! A great video .

[@barbianni2194]

Great video! So much information in one video. Thanks so much for a super resource!

[@kristinvanleuven]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ellieferguson104]

I am a new subscriber of yours on IG, and so glad that I am, as I found this youtube, which is exactly what Ive been looking for. I love these shorter youtubes, but with so much content. Thank you, from New Zealand.💜

[@ShariDeUrso]

I follow you on Instagram and was happy to see this video. Learned some new things, thank you!

[@Emeralds.Bee4]

Found you on Instagram and am in love with your work. I can’t wait to practice your tutorials!!

[@alicialewis7415]

Just a heads up the Polina site has a sale for two more days on top of the discount from Kristin. It's a great deal! 01/25/23

[@CK-ho9lp]

Thank you so much!!! This is great and so helpful.

[@shaiffyshienh6972]

It was so informative , love and blessings Kristen

[@jograham5894]

I loved this, just what I needed! I have all the gear but no idea 😂 thanks!

[@user-xv2vf3it8o]

This is wonderful ❤️ Very helpful thank you very much 🙏

[@Scrapjoy2010]

Love this so much. Just what I needed ❤ can’t wait to get some supplies you noted and get started!!

[@kristinvanleuven]

You got this! Tag me if you post about it!

[@dinky..]

Thank you!!💕💕💕

[@SpartaWarriorCodeRed]

Have you ever thought about grey or beige warm versus cool colors you can create when other colors are added? For example, if you start with a cool taupe, how can you add colors to create a soft but warm green or teal etc. Another random color mix, what do you mix with a cool leaning rust to warm it up? I’m new to your channel! Love it!

[@juliemccullough3755]

Very helpful- thanks so much

[@lilymorales5922]

I need to save this video until I get all those awesome techniques

[@juliaalexismaureira3692]

Gracias . ❤👏👏👏😂

[@lilymorales5922]

Do you have a painting where you used masking fluid? If not, would you mind doing one?

[@leahs7024]

Thank you for the great videos! I'm looking to get into watercolor and this really helped. Something I would also ask you though is what scanner would you recommend to scan watercolors? I've been looking for one, but I don't know what to look for. Thanks! P.S. I'm also a stay at home mom :)

[@carsonbockenhauer1361]

Why let the liquid paint dry if you prefer it over pans, isn’t it sort of becoming the same thing that way 2:22

[@andersphansson8335]

Nice video 👍🏻😄 brand of the palette?

[@Scrapjoy2010]

Yes, I would like to know that too.

[@Scrapjoy2010]

Oh, she has in links!😊

[@kristinvanleuven]

MEEDEN 18-Well Porcelain Artist... www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z5SKC24?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[@kristinvanleuven]

Here’s the link to the palette I use

[@Scrapjoy2010]

Are the colors you used and noted the ones you recommend for beginners? I’m making a list to start buying 😊

[@kristinvanleuven]

Yes they are! The ones in the description are what I use most of the time

[@lindaswint8692]

how do you know which colors are which in your palette? especially the similar shades? just memory or familiarity with the colors?

[@kristinvanleuven]

A lot of it's memory, but when I set up a new palette I make a reference guide. I paint the colors on a piece of paper in the order they're in the palette and put the names next to them. Maybe I'll make a video to show this process if it helps!

[@lindaswint8692]

@@kristinvanleuven yes, please! I second guess myself constantly and as I'm just starting out I don't want to make things more difficult for myself! so any examples of method or ideas are awesome. I love the way you teach in your tutorials. your teaching style and art style are so lovely and I just relax at the cadence of your voice! so happy to have come across you and look forward to watching more!

[@terrykurko2078]

Any paper suggestions other than Arches? It is pricey for a beginner making lots of mistakes.

[@kristinvanleuven]

It's tricky because I feel like my practice paintings always looked bad UNTIL I painted on arches. For practice you can use any watercolor paper 140lb weight like Canson, but I would get some nice paper too to try out because paintings always look better on good paper. It's a confidence booster! I get the Arches pads that aren't glued down in blocks for around $20-25 on Amazon and then cut the papers down into smaller sizes so I feel like that ends up being pretty affordable for me. I hope that helps!