Most Common Watercolor Mistakes: Stop Pre-Wetting Your Paper!

[@Pegisus2501]

I'm so happy I found your video! 🤩 I stayed away from watercolor because I thought you had to wet the paper every time. Thanks a bunch! 😊👍🏽🖌🎨🖼

[@chrislora8895]

Thank you! I will stop pre wetting paper before a flat wash. Somehow missed this advice in the hundreds of videos I’ve watched during the pandemic. These short, “do” or “do not” specific videos are very helpful.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@weronikagroszyk9728]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what I was looking for! I'm a total begginer and you've answered my biggest question about watering the paper. Greetings from Poland ;)

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Hello in Poland ,👋🙂 glad you liked the video!

[@chrissie-2355]

You raise a good point. I have no idea why I've been wetting my paper , and over-wetting it at that 😳 Thanks for the tip!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Happy to help! Don't worry, lots of people do it, if they didn't I wouldn't have known to make a video ;-)

[@wildzwaan]

But pre-wetting can give incredible results. Why rule it out categorically?

[@wildzwaan]

Nvm there is nothing said categorically. Would live a video on pre-wetting techniques though!

[@jojocatattack]

These tips helped me a good deal. I have been making about half the mistakes you mentioned. I watched the video in the middle of the night on a different device. I am coming back to say thank you for sharing your wisdom!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marciahansford8039]

Such sound advice!

[@fdej51289]

Thanks for excellent advice . Will use it today in my next painting.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Wonderful!

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

When I began painting I never watered the paper first, I always just put the paint on. Now I have learned how to do it with a purpose after watching many of your videos. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Wonderful!

[@christineheinsohn5256]

So glad this popped up on my you tube home page. I think over wetting is one of my problems.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it helped Christine!

[@joeshortt579]

Very useful hint,thank you Michele.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

No problem!

[@Tugboat-R-Us]

I definitely agree to know why you are pre wetting. I love doing wet into wet for tree trunks. However, I never wet my tree trunks first bc it does dilute the paint and I have zero control of where the paint is going. ❤

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

So true!

[@suebkostick2040]

Great class as always! Thank you

[@MazArtStudio]

Really informative video !

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thank you, great to see you here 💛

[@jamessaretta8278]

Thank you !

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

No worries!

[@patwessels2322]

Good to be reminded of basics. Thank you very much. How about a tutorial on how to use a fine mlisting spray to extend drying time?

[@janten6554]

I've always been making that same mistake..thanks for this video..i was enlightened😊

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You’re welcome 😊

[@keepingourhome7271]

Very informative & useful, thanks so much!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You're very welcome!

[@lindathaxton1994]

Thank you

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Welcome!

[@SineadAngus]

Guilty!! Thanks for this video 😁

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks for watching!

[@evelyne7071]

My watercolor teacher had said to totally wet, then totally dry your paper before working on it in order to “preshrink” the paper. Allegedly, later, if you use water in just one area,then that larger area will have uneven puckering. Also, I’d like to ask about the use of salt on wet. And, using starch as a thickening medium. Any thoughts ?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I have a video on salt technique if you'd like to watch that. I haven't used starch, so can't comment on that.

[@evelyne7071]

Yes, I will watch the salt video. Thank you.

[@bernadettesmyth9389]

Bernadette Smyth I love Michelle Webber is very good at explaining about the paint and pencils plus paper to use

[@susanmae5429]

Thanks, great tip. Why don't any of the books tell us this?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Good point!

[@nickdrexler-art]

wow i wish i heard this ages ago

[@lisacarey618]

What about a gradient wash?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

It's fine to pre wet for a gradient wash, you can do it two ways, I do it on dry paper, but it's not wrong to do it on wet paper if you find it easier.

[@lisacarey618]

❤

[@lesleykurdi873]

Youre GREAT!! Thank you. 🌺 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thank you!

[@robertweinblatt2018]

Love all your videos🥰You look a bit sad or bothered about something here and I hope you’re well and feeling good🥇ALL MY BEST WISHES FOR YOU🙏🏻

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

A very old video, no idea!

[@tariqmohammad1900]

I totally agree with you!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks Tariq!

[@davescupper5789]

I'd probably get told off a lot if I was at one of your classes........I wouldn't mind that though 🤭☺. Great advice from a great teacher , thankyou 😊

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

No worries!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Let me know if you have ever pre-wet your paper without really knowing why! (Most people have) :-)

[@estherrogers5601]

I am guilty of doing this without really knowing why. When I have watched different watercolorists , they seem to usually wet their paper first. However, when I try this, my colors don't seem defined and beautiful, but muddy and indistinct.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

@@estherrogers5601 it's like most watercolour techniques, it's neither right nor wrong but works when used for a specific effect. ☺️

[@PortableXombie]

I have thought I knew why I was wetting the paper. But after experimenting realized I either did not need to wet the paper or was using an ocean of water when it only needed a few raindrops.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

@Mrs T you are very welcome ☺️

[@janc734]

Guilty as charged- you have totally turned my thinking around by simply suggesting I ask myself why I am wetting my paper. I love really loose florals and always think that I have to drown my paper to get the effect I want- sometimes it works out ok but more often not; when it comes to loose florals the whole process confuses me in terms of how much water I should be using.

[@95DiKar]

useful :) thank you

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You're welcome 😊

[@annvanderhoeven6062]

I am one of those that throws on the water haphazardly, thanks for enlightening me

[@pamelasfavoriterecipes7998]

I’m fairly new to watercolor so I am a bit confused…..What is ‘wet into wet’ if you aren’t adding water to your paper first?

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I sometimes use it to describe bleeding one wet colour into another wet colour. Pre-wetting your paper is often not necessary and only dilutes your paint. I would only pre-wet the paper if looking for a soft edge. If I'm filling the whole area with colours there's no need to pre-wet. There's sometimes a difference between the words used US vs UK examples: Wet into Wet, Wet on Wet, and the wet area can describe clean water, or wet paint.

[@pamelasfavoriterecipes7998]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber That makes sense, thank you!

[@amandaspaintinglessons9908]

I guess it depends on the technique you are going for. wet in wet can make some lovely skies.

[@anneadamczewski4187]

Thanks Michelle, good to remember.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

My pleasure!

[@moonmagnolia7]

“Don’t do any in life unless you know why you’re doing it.”

[@valeriegehling4358]

Do find the videos interesting. Thanks

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad you like them!

[@ericcampbell6370]

My grade school art teacher is the one who got me making that mistake.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

School art teachers vary widely in quality I have found!

[@stormy439]

Thankyou! I don't use Facebook, but do you have a Patreon group? I would ❤ to join!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Hi yes I do, I can't put links here but if you Google my website and click membership you can find details 🙂

[@Corinthians-kjv]

A lot of people pre wet the paper

[@bookshelfhoney]

Oh no I thought you were supposed to pre-wet the paper to stop it from warping

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You do this if you stretch paper onto board before using, but pre wetting a loose sheet without stretching would just mean you never got any crisp edges.

[@bongbonglelina4895]

Pre wetting on paper is a technique used by most professional watercolorists

[@Rileygirl746]

I'm concerned that you are not feeling well. You look much thinner. Take care of yourself.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

This is a very old video :-)