Watercolor Goat // Focusing on Soft Paint Edges

[@vickiestewart7394]

My dear Louise, I cannot even imagine what Mr. Goat will look like nine years from now; presumably your skills at that point will have reached such an artistic level that his lifelike image will virtually leap from the paper, causing all who gaze upon it to instantly subscribe to your channel and sign up for all available classes and Patreon memberships, as it should be....

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Lol... thank you Vickie. 😅💙

[@terrifabula9790]

I absolutely adore your videos! The detail with which you explain what you are doing is unlike anyone else that I have come across. I really appreciate this! I also love that you are someone of my own generation with whom I can relate on that level. Your voice is soothing, your studio is soothing and I feel like I’m taking classes from some high-end resort. Thank you so much for your videos!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

YOUR EDGE CONTROL OVER THE YEARS IS SUPERB..........amazing growth!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

its true....watercolor is so challenging........until i dived in ......i didnot know the depth of this ocean.........but so much of beauty and splendour in these depths....its wow!

[@nettiemoss324]

I cannot wait for the full tutorial of this gorgeous goat Louise! I love goats - and sheep (hint, hint!!!) I have the cow to get to also. I finished the dragonflies and am working on the white cat which you say is quite a quick painting - well not for me (at this point) as I like to do small amounts and think carefully about the next move - watching your youtube tutorials in between helps remind me what you teach in the Patreon ones. I am developing a pattern in my own process and journey in this way: I feel so privileged and fortunate to have found you as a teacher. Bless you!

[@janstevens9183]

Louise i have just found you & have become addicted to watching your tutorials. the hard & soft edges of the goat was fantastic.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks so much Jan. 😊

[@paulamorgan8030]

Your out takes at the end are hilarious but I love your very informative videos. Thank you

[@NYtalk60]

Hello. I just saw this painting! It is beautiful. I want to thank you for sharing your painting tips. They are very helpful to a beginner like me. I enjoy your videos very much.

[@doumkatekz]

Oh my gosh your house looks so clean and bright, if I had a room like that sunlit room behind you I might want to dance around in it in all the space. I really enjoy your tutorials, and the bloopers bit at the end of the squirrel totally cracked me up.

[@SiddhiOm3]

Dear Louise, first of all a big hello and Namaste from India 🙏 and let me acknowledge you that you have a very gentle voice very soothing to the heart and equally soothing are your creative compositions. I subscribed to you channel just yesterday . Me being a self taught artist came across your vlog and thank you immensely for the unconditional service you are rendering to many🙏🕉🦢Gratitude and Love🌾🕊🐩🍃☺️ God Bless you and your loved ones❤️🌺

[@josieswan9526]

Louise, your lessons are so lucid and you share so many of your techniques with us so generously. Thanks very much!

[@lydiabosley9152]

Enjoyed the goat tutorial very much, Louise... and the adorable bloopers as always! Looking forward to all of the new tutorials you're planning, but the ones you've already posted will keep me busy for months (if not years!), so thanks very much!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks very much Lydia. 😘

[@don9133]

Nicely done and I think we can say, that with each posting your growth is evident. We are often our own harshest critics.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

So true- we are our harshest critics! Thanks Don. I find that I'm happy with it at the time but then years later I'll look at it again and I wonder why I liked it. Maybe the same will happen with this new goat. 🤷🏼‍♀️😀

[@don9133]

@@LouiseDeMasi I don't think we see any piece as truly finished and we always think, "What if I did it this way?" :)

[@1fredricka]

excellent tutorial on soft and hard edges and the nature of watercolor! Thank You, very informative!

[@shcodry]

I also really like your first drawing of the goat. There is something very cheerful about her. I don't fully understand why you want to lose some of the external edges.

[@maryk1668]

Your advice on soft edges is wonderful! I think it makes a watercolor painting more interesting and less of a coloring book look. I have done numerous “do overs” of my paintings and am pleased when I see that I have improved over time ( only have been watercoloring for a bit more than a year and a half now). You certainly are one of my inspirational go to artists. I find the challenge of watercolor a great part of the satisfaction I get from doing it. Thank you for generously sharing your techniques !

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Mary. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy using it so much too....the challenge. It often surprises me.

[@SuzanneLegault]

You are such a generous teacher. Thank you for sharing how your work has evolved. This was both helpful and inspiring.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you Suzanne.

[@marycope2278]

Such perseverance and patience. You are amazing.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

your passion and interest in art is too inspiring.....like these index cards, small studies.....repainting old art etc.

[@donnastout4111]

Louise, once again, a beautiful painting! I am also impressed by the way you apply your backgrounds. Along with your lost and found edges, they enhance your painting beautifully. That is something I really need to learn. Well done!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

i really enjoy your close view of the work......in between......its quite interesting and easy to understand for a slow learner like me

[@Nancy-pf6ft]

Really great lesson. Thanks! And, thank you for showing us the before and after to see how far you’ve come-very helpful to know there is still hope! LOL!

[@heideseeman4621]

Amazing! This makes all the difference ,, without the soft edges” the picture looks more like paint by numbers, now it looks really alive!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Yes it does! Thanks Heide.

[@jayneal8650]

Beautiful. Awesome.

[@rnee1000]

Always love your videos and I always learn something as well as getting inspiration. Would you consider sharing a list of some of your favorite art books. Books are my first obsession just above art supplies. LOL

[@ivanyargueta8644]

I came to comment section to ask for the same.

[@lydiashemain9746]

One of my very favourite artists - one that I truly enjoy watching. A brilliant artist. Look forward to viewing this.

[@cindycreateforlife]

Love this tutorial, I love the dreamy look of the new goat painting. I am untrained but I like to do watercolour, I appreciate the reminder to leave some edges undefined. I think as we begin painting in any medium we tend to think that the more definition we can achieve, the better; the more experience and confidence we get, the more artistic we become. Thank you for your generous teaching!💕🇨🇦

[@07leisr]

I have watched this over and over and it's just inspiring how you share your watercolor painting journey. I also paused so many times on the side by side 2011 and the present goat studying the edges that you pointed out and it's just amazing how the two are really different and how it captures the viewers interest. 😍😍😍

[@annemaster5254]

So beautiful!!! I love u r paintings!

[@COCOChatnails]

Absolutely brilliant, both the result and the tip. So useful. Thanks much!

[@judybreedlove5348]

Thank you, Louise for this tutorial. Great inspiration. I especially appreciate your idea of using an index card box for ideas....why didn't I think of this? I have all kinds of sticky notes, scattered everywhere with little jewels of wisdom written on them. Your idea will help me be much more organized.

[@lornafinch8855]

Thank you for being so generous and sharing your thought processes as you developed this painting. How you manage to get the soft and hard edges and why, was very useful. You have definitely grown as an artist in the nine years between these paintings. Love your videos, I'm learning so much but still have a long way to go

[@delithnutkins6017]

That was so interesting I think I’ve learned a lot and I’m just beginning. Thank you

[@maryalgar8779]

Wow - another beautiful painting. What a great explanation of why various edges make for a better painting. I like your idea of actually reading art reference books and making notes (something I need to do as well). Your work continues to be amazing and you are a great teacher.

[@LeilaAtaya]

So gorgeous!! The graphite sketches are wonderfull too 💗

[@BluJean55]

Fabulous video!! I’m learning so much from you. Thank you for sharing your unique passion with the world! 💕😃

[@lydiawieselthier5802]

What an excellent lesson.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Lydia! 😃

[@rebeccawong1]

Love love love 🥰

[@ranjanachand9306]

Definitely insightful video... And the plateau.. That happens to all of us I fear 😀😀

[@sharonnaysmith2984]

Thank you for that video tutorial.

[@alistroud3006]

Louise I love the changes you have made to this and can’t wait for the full one - I’m off to purchase that new blue, as always thank you.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Ali. 💙

[@mirana0elena1]

What an amazing video! Just saw your art. Great content. Thank you

[@raquelpeiretti3374]

Beautifullllll !!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@lysonmaisonneuve7354]

I love your tuto.

[@wendyst.germain4482]

I love your animal art. I’ve been rescuing German Shepherds for many years. Would you consider showing us how to paint one, please?

[@joelmedalle7362]

Absolutely love this! Amazing work Louise👏

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Joel. 😊

[@annenelson5170]

I absolutely LOVE your beautiful work. Perchance, have you ever made a tutorial of a tiger?

[@alisonhendry2928]

Thank you Louise fabulous as ALWAYS! This goat is precious! I love how you share your journey and your learning needs and growth. I admire how you challenge yourself to go just a little more and more and get better and better. I am so happy to have found you and joined your lovely group. Looking forward to the Patreon upload and asking myself in my next painting “ soft edge? Hard edge?”

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Alison. It's all my patrons, like you, who inspire me to learn and grow more.💙

[@bruceosborne1892]

Excellent as usual Louise. Thank you so much.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

You are welcome Bruce. Thank you.

[@solar979]

Can't wait for those tutorials on Patreon!

[@inherjyze1ify]

Come now if you continue to improve your art will be so mind blowing i will not be able to contain myself. lol... great job Louise De Masi.

[@marievanderwijk9845]

Wow you inspire me to keep learning! Thank you so much!

[@thealchemistdaughter3405]

Really really helpful .. I learnt so much in 18 minutes!.. I just adore watercolour but really struggle with timings and edges .. You are a fabulous tutor , just the right pace for me.. Thankyou so much and wish all the very best with this channel..

[@LouiseDeMasi]

I'm so glad! Thank you.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

could you do a video on .......like what are the common questions do artist ask onself....before starting a watercolour painting? like...Do i want to start with background first? Do i need to start with most complex parts of the reference first? what is the focal point in this subject? what are the values? where are the hard and soft edges? How deep i want the chroma to be? etc....

[@henriquejanuario881]

Great class and vídeo! Thanks for sharing!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

My pleasure. Thank you.

[@nkguenther1]

Wow, Louise. This is a wonderful video. I love the soft edges and the tip for scrubbing out pigment on a hard edge. This is an issue for me as I’ve only been painting a few months. You really gave that brush a workout. Does that damage the brush? Finished the succulent on Skillshare today and looking forward to signing up for your Patreon next. Thank you! You’re an inspiration.

[@rupamagdy805]

Both the goat paintings are excellent. But I can see how you let the water do the job in the recent one! Which watercolour books do you find inspiring? Would be grateful for a reference!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Rupa. One I really fine inspiring is Painting Portraits and Figures in Watercolor by Mary Whyte.

[@CosmicKaori]

i love the look she gives the camera when she messes up a line xD

[@dorisdavidson7849]

Thanks for sharing!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Doris.

[@Gina-bt7qk]

Fantastic! I would have never thought of that. I need to re-sign up on your Patreon channel. Thanks!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Awesome, thank you Gina!

[@nettiemoss324]

Oh Louise - you make me smile so much with you little bloopers at the end: it sends me off to bed feeling happy! You are so perfectionist and it never ceases to amaze me how you analyse your work - and then improve on something that - to me - looked perfect first time around! You really help us to train our eyes to look and study hard. I can't imagine any other tutor on youtube or patreon who can match your skills and teaching methods, so privileged to be a student with you - thank you ;-) BTW - what mechanical pencil were you using here? thanks

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Nettie I love getting messages from you. Thank you so much! It's a Lamy mechanical clutch pencil. 😘

[@nettiemoss324]

@@LouiseDeMasi Oh thank you Louise! I do like Lamy - I have their fountain pens, so shall look out for their pencils!

[@Cendrillon-5962]

Merci

[@rebeccawong1]

Louise, u r so great already in these videos, I struggle to find a reason to go to the classes / Skilshare 🥺

[@LouiseDeMasi]

That's very kind of you. Thank you! What you see here is a tiny teaser of what's in my tutorials.

[@candykelly2705]

Very nice, Louise. What colors did you mix to make your gray color? TYIA TYFS

[@nicolelamon9430]

Magnifique😍

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you!

[@suel4269]

Great tips! Beautiful painting. How do you decide which edges to leave soft?

[@juliebergacker5680]

Awesome 😁👏👏👍

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Julie. 😆

[@andreakovacs2009]

Dear Louise, yesterday, I watched a Flamingo tututorial video, and now I can not find it, even in my KZbin history 😱 Could you help me please where it is? Thank you so much! 😊🙏💕

[@FeathPymArt]

Hi, Louise! I will never be the painter you are. But I have vast experience when it comes to memory tricks. @1:50 isn't going to work. Writing things down is probably how you remember things, or you wouldn't have chosen this method. But then you put those in a box - alphabetized! - you may have just put them under a 'you shall not pass' sign. In a while, you'll remember to go look at one, because you're thinking of it. If you're thinking of it, you don't need a card to tell you about it. Here is my suggestion: Find a wall you are in front of a lot - like your painters' room - and put them up on the wall. Randomly, mixing subject and painter. And during the times you're thinking 'how should I do this painting?' or while waiting for a painting to dry, just let your gaze travel over the different things you found inspiring. This will keep the ideas fresh in your mind, it'll remind you to try something amazing and new. In addition to the cards, you could put thumbnail versions of the pictures that brightened your heart. Keep your inspiration in front of you not closed up in a box. Much love from England.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! Great suggestion. I find that I read something about a particular subject that makes things clearer for me and months or years later I half remember what I read and then I can't find it again to re-read it. So by writing them down like this it will help me keep all those important ideas and thoughts organised.

[@FeathPymArt]

@@LouiseDeMasi Ah! So if you're thinking of it, you DO need a card for more detail, for later. The card box then is a great solution.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

​@@FeathPymArt yes. It helps me if I'm trying to explain something on my videos as well. I will feel confident knowing that I'm giving sound advice. I like your idea of a memory wall. If I ever get a larger studio I plan to put something like that in it. I can pin and tape all of the things that inspire me.

[@corvaisierclaudine7302]

Dommage ,je ne parle pas anglais et il n'y a pas le dialogue et la traduction sur la vidéo.... mais c'est très joli!

[@barbarawightman2310]

Oui, je suis d'accord. Peut-être un jour la technologie nous permettra de profiter des traductions. Le français n'est pas ma premiere langue, (je suis une Californienne!) mais j'ai habité en France et j'adore le français et les français!

[@nettiemoss324]

@@barbarawightman2310 et CORVAISIER Claudine: vous pouvez trouver des outils de traduction en ligne - il vous suffit de rechercher «traduire du français vers l'anglais» we also need one for speech however!

[@olga2392000]

J'ai activé Settings >> titres >> auto-traduction >> French. Ca aide un peu.

[@corvaisierclaudine7302]

@@barbarawightman2310 Merci.

[@corvaisierclaudine7302]

@@nettiemoss324 Merci

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Do you art critique your patreons.........if we request?

[@marilyndescours6013]

Is your color study done in watercolor?

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

why is it...that best ideas come in bath tub? .......

[@JulieLock]

Totally lost, when you started doing the beard, that was fine, then suddenly the eyes , mouth, nose were done. Obviously not for beginners!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks for watching Julie. This is just a short version of the tutorial that concentrates on painting soft edges - the full-length version with all the details is available on my Patreon.