3 ADVANCED Watercolor Techniques You NEED to Know

[@MrPuddinhead61]

Love these tips. Please continue giving us more advanced instruction. Basic watercolor instruction and tips are common on KZbin and online but this is a niche that is needed. It would also be helpful to learn what techniques use the softer, Silver Black type brushes vs. techniques where brushes with more snap might be called for. It is more difficult to find advanced techniques in this brief, concise format. Thanks Liron! As always, excellent teaching style.

[@leilaskye8143]

As a 70yr old dyslexic, I love the way you breakdown complicated processes. Great teaching methods

[@Gwentheknitter]

It took me 4 months to realize one of my problems in my work was blending my edges. Not just my edges on the framework but even my darker values within an object. These exercises are really helpful. I like the way you teach the little concepts that have huge impacts on successful paintings.

[@LironYan]

So happy to hear this was helpful 😁🙏🏼🙏🏼 Thank you

[@cherriercheung]

There are tons of KZbin tutorials but I only follow you, because I really enjoy your personality. Many others might be technically more advanced and experienced but that’s actually a little intimidating to beginners like me. There are so many techniques that already became second nature to them so they don’t bother to address them. You explain little unnoticed details and beginners’ struggles so well! Don’t get me wrong I think you’re a fine artist, too! Just more relatable, fun, and inspiring. I especially enjoy your spontaneous motivating talks here and there! Keep up with good work!

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 😁 I’d definitely rather be that type of artist 😉🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@jackiewaldron2091]

Liron Yanconsky v

[@simosimo7560]

I totally agree!👍 Especially for a difficult technique like watercolor, you must first find a teacher who teaches you not to be afraid and not to be intimidated...and DO it with fun and curiosity. Think and observe then the result to understand your mistakes. And then try again with more awarness of what are you doing. But always with fun and no stress.

[@valeriewheeler6490]

Simo Sim

[@KenStentiford]

Mixing on paper is good and and give good effects, but keeping a clean pallette helps, that what makes greys, having foreign colours in your mix, also mixing complimentarys.

[@NullAndVoidTV]

This! I clean my palette after every painting

[@magnoliaorli6836]

These are things that I did instinctively 😮 awesome content ❤

[@DjedduAmun]

You’re an awesome teacher.

[@noelvillegas5357]

Thanks Liron.

[@bombshellbeth1]

Another great lesson. As a visual learner, you frequently use my favorite words, "Let Me Show You".. Thanks Liron! I appreciate you.

[@m-k-g-w]

Thank you Liron, I will be trying these techniques out later today.

[@christinabrennan8046]

Your hair is great in this video Also best watercolor tutorials ever

[@luckyhiker3434]

Even your random marks are beautiful!

[@rainbowfox3071]

Great video on three techniques that make a big difference in how sophisticated the watercolor appears.

[@jeromebonto8680]

Thank you very much Liron. These are exactly the same problems I have to work with all the time.

[@LironYan]

Thank you Jerome 😊🙏🏼 The source for these techniques are my own struggles too, so I get it 😁

[@barbiebrowny7003]

You have done an excellent presentation Thanks 👍

[@livinginmexico]

Thanks Liron, I am going to make myself a little chart like yours to get in the practice of these three techniques. What a teacher!

[@skarenkappellfspa1781]

excellent teaching and very clear

[@EM-ug8ud]

Mister inspiration - you’re so talented, not only in art, but in teaching!

[@pilasumana4410]

A must to learn. Thanks for your videos

[@isabeltipple9942]

Very helpful. Essential actually and it has givenme confidence to have a go

[@lindathaxton1994]

Thank you for giving so much of your time to teach!

[@LironYan]

I'm so happy to be able to do that, thank you 😊🙏🏼

[@sandrajohnson2489]

Watercolor painting is so much different than using oils and acrylics. Of course when using these I mix my colors on the palette. I haven't painted with watercolor paints yet but I just finished a small picture today using watercolor pencils. I was just going to leave the picture as a pencil drawing but changed my mind. It's a picture of Vincent Van Gogh's Yellow House and I felt that it needed color. I have watched several of your videos so far and really enjoy them. The tips you provide (I think) are essential especially to someone like me who isn't familiar with using watercolor paints. I hope you will continue to share your skills and beautiful pictures! Thank you so much!

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much Sandra! 😊🙏🏼 Let me know how it went with the painting, curious to hear as I never created a full one with watercolor pencils (: Curious to know how adding water affected the result

[@PaintAndDrawTogether]

Great video for all who would like to learn watercolor painting. Thank you for sharing.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 😊🙏🏼

[@evelyne7071]

Thank you. I need to do a large dark background with sugarplum fairies. So I don’t want a boring monochromatic premixed dark. I will practice with mixing on paper.

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Wow & yes I am finding out that these techniques really depends on what paper I am using, the paint, & brushes as well. Thanks for sharing specifically with examples of how to mic colors on the paper & blending edges on the paper. Both of these techniques have been a challenge for me. Watching how you do this has helped me with both of these techniques. Thanks for sharing this informational video with us.

[@nsm5689]

An lightbulb moment. Thank you!

[@tucsontom7244]

Blending edges is what I'm trying to learn how to do. Thanks so much for the video it helps.

[@Gwentheknitter]

I struggle to even recognize that it is the blending that is keeping some of my work from being good. Such a simple idea but not always intuitive. I like the concept of practicing blending as a skill just as a reminder that this is an important step in the painting process.

[@Deankut]

You're such a good teacher! Thank you for your lessons.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much Dean 😊🙏🏼

[@Deankut]

@@LironYan No, lol! Thank you! :P

[@annevickers3307]

I loved your explanation of blending edges. I've always had trouble with that. Thank you.

[@LironYan]

Happy to help! I've been at it for several years now, and blending edges is still a challenge 😉

[@hshwhitten]

These are great tips. Thank you so much!

[@Elaine-tk7nx]

Thanks for such a logical and helpful video. You explain things so well, Liron, and I like the way you show several examples and you express interest in what you are doing...makes it a pleasure to watch and listen!

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much Elaine! 😊🙏🏼

[@Elaine-tk7nx]

@@LironYan your enthusiasm has inspired me to return to watercolours after using oils and acrylics for so long. Also, loved your interview with Nitin Singh as I admire his work too. Thanks guys😊!

[@lynnfetzer6424]

You are so inspirational. I found you today after having several "mistakes" yesterday that I felt ruined my attempts. I was discouraged and feeling frustrated. Your lessons and upbeat style have given me the confidence to keep trying and keep practicing. Thank you so very much

[@Droidzi]

great tutorial

[@dianneandstevehorvath2681]

Excellent tips here! Thank you.

[@stubostar]

I sometimes mix paints directly on the paper, but didn't know it was a thing. Now I know that it is, I feel more confident...thanks!

[@AKRamachandran1971]

Nice all your teaching. Good👌🥰

[@LironYan]

Thank you Rama! (:

[@auhmsoogood]

So much info! But thanks for thr breakdown, I'm excited to play more with mixing on paper I've been feeling as if all of my colors have been too dull, but throwing pigment directly to paper is a game changer, I'm going to practice this technique today!

[@moonmagnolia7]

I like your suggestion if mixing the watercolor on the paper. I’ve spent the last two hours trying to mix the right colors for a painting, keeping in mind colors are relative. Pair mixing on the paper with the real time value adjustments, or in my case possibly the color/hue, and I might actually be able to paint the photo if my cat where it looks like her.

[@danthomas6587]

I really like the idea of mixing on paper. I don't do it enough but the result is so much more interesting.

[@jasneskis]

I have enjoyed you sharing your progress so much and I have learned so much from you.

[@emmyc9333]

I learned so much from you. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.

[@TTomJohn]

Thanks, Liron. Nice lesson. Three terrific tips.

[@sharonnorvelle6926]

Thank you so much for giving us these videos. So appreciated and helpful.

[@reginathomas5857]

AWESOME hugs! Love the insights you share from your expertise..! thank-you

[@LironYan]

So happy to hear 😊🙏🏼 thank you

[@Lisa-qt7pw]

thanks for another great video! It's so interesting to see other artists' tricks and techniques and what works in their style *thumbs-up*

[@margaretmartin6620]

Fantastic techniques and the best advice. You are a great teacher. I recommend you to everybody I talk to about working with watercolour. Thank you for all your help. :)

[@LironYan]

So awesome 😊😊 Thank you 🙏🏼

[@hyukfly1]

Thank you! The first technique is new to me so I will try that!

[@COCOChatnails]

Thanks so much, once again, for sharing your tips like this. You're a fabulous teacher!

[@M2019-k9u]

Excellent! Super-helpful. Thank you. 👍

[@verwilliams1]

Thank you!

[@sylvieliechtele3928]

Merci! Always so useful and inspiring!

[@LironYan]

😊🙏🏼

[@sharondempsey9329]

thank you so much! This is very helpful!

[@richardswift2330]

Got it!!! Thanks!

[@PalomaNegra873]

I will not be mixing on a palette again. Thanks so much for the tips. Can't wait to try them.

[@charlesz8531]

Hi Liron, thank you for the demo! Is it possible for you to do a painting using the techniques that you share with us in this video? I appreciate it. Thanks!

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😁 It’s funny but I probably use these techniques in almost every painting haha! Though I could probably show it in a more structured manner. Will try and do something like that soon (:

[@charlesz8531]

@@LironYan Thank you, Liron! Looking forward to it. After watching your video (I've watched a similar video before but didn't try it out myself), I used the mixing on paper techniques to paint an autumn scene from a reference photo I took last year in Massachusetts, and the colors turned out to be so much more vibrant and alive. I also used the 2nd and 3rd techniques a little bit for that painting. Thanks again!

[@Gluttoninglam]

I love your videos! So informative

[@simonettagenova]

Thanks Lyron💕

[@chanashaffier4985]

Thank you so much for this. I really like your way of teaching. Very clear and straight to the point!

[@sherryscoloringandpaintingcorn]

I am somewhat of a beginner still and i really appreicate the way you explain things. It will help me in quite a few ways. Also as a funny side note i have that exact matt you have under your board lol.

[@marieilove]

Really valuable tips, I actually use them already in my works, they didn't have names tho😉

[@lubapatitucci5831]

great lesson

[@AyaSmith]

Love these techniques 😍🙌🏻

[@robinhere4230]

This is very helpful. Thank you.

[@dushantha84]

thank you very much... I think you really know what are the beginner's mistake, and these techniques really help me. specially blending edges, especially when I'm doing the second layer these hard edges popping up thanks to you, now I know what to do. (blending edges)

[@sabineleppanenart3014]

“It’s very hard to go *back* to vibrant paint.” I need to make a sign for my art room.

[@LironYan]

😁😁😁 EXACTLY- took me so long to internalize that!!

[@josephinemaxwell795]

Sabine L q

[@romandiazy]

This is a great selection of techniques, even if I " know" them, I sometimes forget to use them :-D You are inspiring, thanks!

[@Spellbound_Sam]

damn it ws so helpful .. looking forward to your channel . plz make a video on painting video setup

[@artbytessiejo7218]

Awesome techniques! That is the messiest palette I've ever seen. LOL Your towel about through me into an OCD fit though! Dude, I'll send you a new one! LOL

[@davepane7306]

After my painting is finished I use a tombow water cartridge brush to blend my edges. It has worked well for years.

[@rodrigo_lima]

Nice Video Liron, wondering if you do something on your palette to avoid bidding the water? Thanks

[@amandaslaven4574]

Helpful! Thank you.

[@BarbrajoanOriginals]

Very good video Liron. Your such an inspiration to new artists and old ones LOL ! like me. !! Don't ever change... Barbra Joan

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much!! 😊🙏🏼 Doing my best!

[@annakoch9972]

[Q] What the name of the red adding @1:48 and couple seconds after that? In the down bottom corner of the pallet.

[@lalitagonzalez4618]

Thank you so much, the video is helpful for me.

[@MalamikArt]

All great techniques! I love the first one the most as I do not work that loose. It encourages me to try that next time. :)

[@Donna_G]

After I got through color theory, softening edges was one of the things that I learned. For me, it was easy; but, sometimes, the hard part was when to use hard edges and when to use soft edges. People think clouds are fluffy white things up in the sky; but, when you look at them, you will notice that they aren't really white and they do have hard edges along with the soft edges.

[@LironYan]

That is so true! It’s actually even more complex than that. Sometimes it’s worth painting a soft edge as a rough edge only for the sake of composition (and vice versa) 😊

[@Rockymtnbloom]

These are really helpful tips and exercises! For practice I purchased a lot of inferior paper (90 pound, not cotton) and Arches 140 CP for better paintings. After doing these exercises on both, there is a big difference in results, especially how they interact with water. In order to advance skills so they become second nature, I'm realizing it may be best to always paint on the better paper. Also, Im always worried about contaminating my paint, but then I see your palette! :-)

[@stacyhannon4081]

Debrah Binard I fell into the same habit! I buy/ bought the “cheap” paper to practice on, and the cotton paper for when I finally decided I was worthy of painting on the expensive stuff. I finally figured out that it was detrimental to my progress because I would finally figure out how to work around the short comings if the cheap paper to achieve tolerable results. But then, when I decided to have a go on the beautiful but expensive paper, it was as if I was starting out all over again. I had to re-learn certain techniques because the cotton paper behaved quite differently then the cheap paper did. Essentially it was taking me twice as long to learn a certain technique I wanted to learn because I had to learn it twice. I also finally came to terms with the fact that I might not ever feel “worthy” enough to paint on the expensive paper. I have yet to create a painting that I was completely satisfied with. I am determined to reach that goal at some point but for now, I sure am enjoying the process. Now I use the cheap paper for swatches of new colors or mixes and for warm up sessions. Also, I am so grateful that Liron is so generous to us all with his time and wisdom. I truly believe it is lessons like these and his many other videos that I have watched over and over that have helped me to gain the bit of confidence that I have gained thus far. I wish you all the best, Happy Painting!

[@flordemariamejia6266]

Thank you so much

[@rstallings69]

Liron do you have a problem with wearing out your brushes when you push with them- like when you were doing the blending edges? (Forgive the ocd question)🤪

[@lybasiddiqui3765]

We should be paying him. There's alot i learned from him and so many mistake that i was making that he pin pointed. ❤

[@ptstrngr12345]

You are my mentor.

[@tziporaneemanfeder1813]

Liron, terrific. Thanks. I see you don't wet the paper ahead. All three are on dry paper. When to wet the whole paper or a section? It's a different technique but I'm not sure when. Thanks again, Tzipora

[@LironYan]

If you want to achieve a softer transition anywhere - wet that (: Like soft skies, foliage etc It’s also a stylistic choice so experiment and see what you enjoy the most

[@MelanCholy2001]

*Challenge!!!* Do any of that on "Bee" paper! 😅😇 I know, it can't be done. Well, you can soften edges on that material ("Bee" 140lb cotton cp) with a lighter. _Now this is dangerous and you might need fire insurance and a fire escape_ but probably not since Bee doesn't react to elements like water and hue and fire the way one might think. #BeeCrazy #WhoDoesThatToTrees Srsly, neat video, thanks, subbed.

[@fbraakman]

Really enjoy your videos, Liron; sometimes if I add a bit of water to a too dark area of wet paint, I get blooming; isn't this a potential problem?

[@danthomas6587]

Call it a happy accident if it works and if it doesn't call it an unfortunate byproduct of working with watercolor. Win/win.

[@LironYan]

You slowly learn to avoid it, plus it can indeed be treated as a happy accident 😉🎨

[@androandro7179]

What is the brand of the paint you used here ? It seems of a good quality! What do you think is more crucial a quality watercolor or quality paper or a great brush if i have to choose only one? :D I already experimented on this but wanna know your opinion. Great tips again ,thanks ^^

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 😊🙏🏼 I’m using Daniel Smith here! I think paper is MUCH more important though (:

[@androandro7179]

Liron Yanconsky 100% that is what I discovered too! Paper quality is what makes the real difference ;)

[@suecoolman8985]

Iron, you rock. Thank you for the vids

[@pesto12601]

Paper is SOOO very important in watercolor... using GOOD paper vs BAD/CHEAP paper can make a lot of difference.. maybe even more so than the paint?

[@DAVIDDAMIENR]

Thank You

[@marigoldwood8494]

As you said at the end, these techniques depend on the paper etc. What (reasonably priced!) paper would you recommend for a beginner which would at least allow me to trying mixing colours on the paper? Thanks.

[@LironYan]

One paper we have here that’s reasonably priced is Saunders-Waterford! I love Cold press texture, and I think it’s a little easier for beginners - so that! The most important thing is to use a 100% cotton paper (:

[@marigoldwood8494]

@@LironYan Thanks, Liron. I'll check it out.

[@janicedavidson6437]

Thank you.

[@2lmdi]

Agreed with all but especially no mixing on the palette... well except where you might want neutrals and its desirable to squish/flatten those pigments... but not in shadows! Pigment grinders work so hard getting all those light reflecting "facets" and then they're flattened... they must cringe when they see it. lol It just always blows me away seeing so much palette mixing and really harsh mixing especially among the gouache users... opaque doesn't mean flat.... and all the dead shadows in watercolors where they could shine so much. I guess its a pet peeve of mine actually. But, yeh, I guess to each their own too though I don't get it. Anyway I agree with all these tips but especially that one. I'm still working on the "real time value control"... its hard.. I've lost count of the pieces I've ruined the paper on learning it. Thanks again Liron.

[@HerradaJulio]

Thanks

[@AlienChips]

Loved the video! But the dirty cloth and the brush without spring made me nervous 😩

[@lili721]

You could see that the cloth was white few centuries ago...

[@dcreas]

Awesome

[@kataramommy]

Do you find a brush that is natural hair or synthetic easier to use these techniques? Thank you so much for these teaching videos! Oh, whoops. Hadn't watched to the very end. I have a Cotman brush right now, and I have difficulties with water control. I just bought an Escoda Reserva but in a size 2. It is hard to see a difference in performance with so small a brush.

[@LironYan]

Both are good for these, and will depend on your style (: But I do find lifting in particular is easier with synthetic brushes!

[@donnacarraway9182]

I gave you a thumbs up but I must say that the way you work with such a dirty palette bothers me because I don’t see how you can get clear colors with all that gray around. I do like your ideas. How do you blend edges on a very staining paint? Is it just the speed?

[@TheLord_MyShepherd]

Its just part of Liron's style 😉 the more you watch him the more you realize he has his own talented way of making it work without ending up with a muddy painting!👍 regarding staining colours: wet the area surrounding the area you want to paint (I.e. Outside the lines of the area you want to paint in a specific colour.)

[@VarunPant3]

which red are you using ?

[@georginaeliason4167]

Hi there, there is a bit of contradiction with changing tonal values on paper in this video with your advice on overworking in another video. Basically going back and fiddling and losing the freshness……am I missing something? Love your videos.

[@SharonCullenArt]

I use all of these techniques but the mud problem you are having is due to your dirty palette and dirty paint. The yellow wasn’t even yellow. And the towel being wiped on was actually adding color to your brush. If you clean them up you will solve much of your problem. I never understood why an artist would not clean a palette. I mean it is one thing if you had leftover green or blue pigment but everything you have is mud. At some point you no longer know how many pigments are on your mixing tray or how contaminated the paint is in the wells.

[@LironYan]

This will really depend on the type of painting I do (: Sometimes I do want most colors (especially the warm ones) to be purer, but often I find that having ALL colors pure (such as strong pure greens, yellows and reds together) can have a negative effect. So having leftovers i quite useful to mitigate that. But it’s true that for some demos and exercises I should clean the palette more (I did that for a while and then went back to my old ways haha!)

[@aishashaikh5699]

good

[@zerocalvin]

I always forget about edges control and I ended up with painting that has hard edges all over the place where I dont want them...