Painting Sketchbook Tour, Days 7-14 - 30x30 Direct Watercolor Challenge + Speed Painting

The 30x30 Direct Watercolor Challenge is almost half way done. In this video I'll take a look at paintings for days 7-14 plus show you a speed painting for a plein air session in my back yard.
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[@stearmankc]

I love intense colors, so I hope you will keep going on this intense color path. I would agree that your day 9 is the best painting of this set. To my eye it looks cleaner, more confident, and the colors and contrasts really work for me. I really enjoy your comments and critiques here. It is so helpful when you share honestly how you feel about your work and what you are learning in the process! BRAVO!

[@pjlewisful]

I like when you share your feelings and moods about what you are painting.

[@bevann716]

Love the video. So glad you explain your likes and dislikes of your pieces. I am always learning from your explanation of things. Love your work.

[@bikempc9790]

Muchas gracias

[@MDCampbell]

What I love so much about this kind of discussion is your sincere, objective review of your own work. The honesty, not only to yourself, but to us viewers, is so valuable. At 5:28 your comment, "I expect not to like some of these" is a really interesting statement. Allowing yourself the ability to discriminate your own work - to "like" or "dislike" it - is extremely helpful in growing as an artist _and_ as an art lover. I assume most artists tend to dislike their work more often than like it, seeing the flaws and areas of improvement before seeing the success and charm. I know for me, I'll put a finished piece in storage, feeling no connection to it right after I finish it; however, six months later, I'll just happen to come across it again, and see it with brand new eyes and feel much more love for that piece than when I created it. That's why I did my "sketchbook purge" a while back, to really look at all those years of doodles and drawings and make a final decision over what was worth keeping and what was truly just awful, in my opinion, and worth ditching. lol! Wonderful work, as always, and I adore seeing it presented this way. But, even moreso, hearing your thoughts and perspective is priceless. I learned so much from this. Thank you for sharing!

[@melissaamyx2196]

Your day nine piece is utterly breathtaking! I just want to walk into that painting!

[@MPLangerArt]

I'm really enjoying your direct paintings and particularly appreciate that you talk through your process and focus on dynamic light. Thanks again for another terrific video. Patricia

[@pammcardle40]

Wonderful! Thanks to you, I now look at trees totally different.. I can now see the shapes and values and it was like a light bulb went on and the stars aligned, LOL. LOVE it!

[@soulsisterssurvivorssister8463]

You made some interesting comments in your critique of your work. I appreciate your honesty.

[@pilidiaz7856]

Yeah! We are half way Steve, those greens are super, so fresh and so many diff. tones. You have a great collection already and I like the way you give yourself feedback 😁

[@suewilkinson910]

I'm really enjoying seeing you work on this challenge. 30 days is a big commitment. I have done similar with dance in the past and it's really hard to fit it all in! I've got used to watching you and various other YT artists in recent times. But I've just pulled an old book off my shelf called The Magic of Watercolour by James Fletcher Watson. The book was published in 1987 and I got my signed copy in 1997. I loved it when I got it. I was painting a lot then. The artist uses W&N paints. I'm actually quite shocked. There is a colour mixing page on how to mix various shades of very dull, muddy and uninteresting greens and browns. The paintings themselves are so brown! I know fashion changes, but these are really, really brown. Tonally they work as paintings, but they are so drab. There is good light and dark work and I quite like how he paints water. But I just don't find these pictures interesting anymore. I love all the vibrant colours you come up with. The greens and browns that have life in them, the beautiful blues and reds and purples. I think time has moved watercolour painting on a bit.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Sue. Yeah, some painters are tonalists not colorists. Andrew Wyeth would be a good example and more currently Dean Mitchell (no relation).

[@Linda-qq5mg]

It is so enjoyable to watch you paint! Thanks so much.

[@teresawebster3498]

I am glad to know that I am not the only one that snapshots videos😃

[@SouthernArtGallery]

Glad you enjoy Maimeri Blu. I have used them for years. They are great paints.

[@mageetu]

It will be interesting to eventually see your reviews of your Maimeri Blu explorations! Can hardly wait!

[@HeikeX]

I really love the tree-painting and the video is very helpful. Thank you! I wrote as a remember what you've said. That you don't expect do like the paintings, and that you are in the learning-process too. I will remind this in times when I am get frustrated about my paintings. Especially the 30x30 direct watercolour is not easy for me. Thank you!

[@sorsofia]

Love the bear.. you can really tell doing that one brought you joy....

[@ladyshadow79]

You never cease to Amaze me!!! Wow. They all turned out beautifully. I think the lamp post is my favorite one. Oh, and you really made me smile with your comment about being busier then a one legged man at a butt kicking contest. That was hilarious!!! I hope you have a great weekend! I am going fishing tomorrow, (my second favorite thing to do besides painting) , and I am going to take the opportunity to have a go at my first en plein aire painting. I can't wait. Much Love and Respect, Stacy

[@krobertsonartandphotograph6573]

I love this demo so much! Thanks so much for introducing me to white gel pens( from a previous demo). I enjoy and hopefully will be working on introducing some of your techniques in my watercolors!

[@phylliscampbell2325]

I just love the verses at the end of he videos! Thank you for those reminders!

[@brianashmorestudio]

Great video! Such good points about taking away an experience and learning something from each piece. Great seeing the plein air at the end, as well. I need to do a lot more of that. Always love the verses at the end! He makes it all possible and it’s His world that we paint and enjoy. Onward!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting Brian. It has been fun trying to decide how i want to use this challenge to learn or practice certain techniques. Been really enjoying your contributions to the challenge as well. Glad you enjoy the verses!

[@susanhepburn6040]

Wonderful work! I love the colours. Thank you so much.

[@mindakahn9964]

Wow! Fast response. Thanks. I’ll have to start sketching where the light comes from. (?!)

[@kimleon-guerrero9980]

Always a pleasure and inspiration to watch you paint Steve. Love the sketch. 💞💫

[@chrismalone617]

Day 11 is really awesome. (Well, all of them. But I love the composition in #11.)

[@liliawebb9377]

Love watching your videos as always! Thanks for sharing and all that you do Steve. Continued happy painting.

[@ShawNshawN]

It definitely is a challenge to do 30 paintings over 30 days. I know I regularly paint but seem to always take a day off here and there. Congrats on the progress.

[@valeriegirvin7939]

Hi Steve, love the bear! 🐻 😃

[@pablomiezavarela8358]

Great video. Thank you.

[@rgrdesigns]

Love!

[@pkidawmbt]

There are some days i think Reese is actually communicating with him on some other level. XD I've not had enough coffee this morning.

[@AvidAbstractions]

Wow! Wonderfully done! Cheers!

[@davidhooper9769]

Hi Steve , love the teaching you give us all . My tree background,s are looking more like a military camouflage jacket ?? . I am throwing in all shades of green and blue and shadows huuuuu it's missing something and my mind just doesn't see it yet 😳 I will keep looking and watching. A Big thank you . 👍👍👍🇨🇦

[@flooklh]

Thank you for a really interesting video. You sure have been busy doing these paintings. I love the way you paint all over the paper, and this creates a colour harmony over the whole scene. Your watercolour sketches are an inspiration to me. Thank you again.

[@DrawingWithFire]

Great video Steve! 😁 I think these are all great, BUT I adore that bear scene. 😍 I just love have did it all; the rocks, trees the stream, the colors and absolutely the bear. I would love to see a bigger version of this one. It doesn't have to be exactly this one, but something similar would be awesome. 😃 I just love how you put your composition together. I hope you are doing well my friend. 🤗

[@mindofwatercolor]

Oh, thanks Val. Very kind. Yeah I sort of liked that one quite a lot myself.

[@salliewhitney5889]

I don’t think I commented on the insta posting but man I do love that bear.

[@zenandink3531]

Day 9?-loved it!!!

[@FreeSpokenOne]

One of my best and first digital composites was from a home video of my guy's children while visiting an aunt in Oregon which I was editing. In a small room in the back of the house with clutter and a basket of folded laundry there was one clip I noticed which had an expression of his eldest daughter we'd all seen many times that made me snap a still and from there came a first attempt at capturing her essence. All things in the backdrop removed leaving only her & poppies to offset raven dark hair and artistic license of adding textures. She looked amazing and I was delighted to upload it to my guy's phone as his wallpaper. So I wondered if anyone else did this, now I know... yes, they do. My fear is that I'll do subpar painting being as I see no mud or flaws in your work like you do, it's all amazing in my eyes, yet I also know that artists can be their own worst critics! I'd like a camera like yours, Steve, because it's a great way to review what is done during the course of a creation much like a history feature of Photoshop or replaying a script in Corel Painter, but for traditional art. I've watched most of your videos but can't recall if you've mentioned which 'model' of the camera (go pro) you use or the Gorilla Pod looking clip grip to hold it. It would be great to know which equipment you are using, which editing software, because like you, these did a great job of depicting everything you do. I'm saving up for one of those cameras but am on a tight budget now and it would help to be given some direction in this.

[@mindofwatercolor]

This particular video is recorded a GoPro Hero 4 Silver. The clamp is just the GoPro brand mounting clamp.

[@bruceosborne1892]

You da man!

[@jbeansv5546]

Thiss is cool

[@BurgessTaylor]

I absolutely loved this. Just loved it! Became a Patron!!!! :D

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Burgess and welcome!

[@astridgarcia888]

Wow ! Thanks so much for sharing your sketches and paintings!!! I love your enthusiasm of learning how to correct the "imperfections" 😳, but do please don't be so hard with yourself, sir ! From my point of view, all of them are perfect !

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks for the kind comments but I'm not really being hard on myself. I'm teaching myself. Important for me to do. I participated in this challenge to learn and practice.

[@luisbuitronarttv6861]

muy bueno me encanta

[@jenniefrench1338]

Hey Steve excellant inspirational videos! But I was wondering if you could do a longer session on color study, say perhaps chosing alternate primarys for creating 'pop' in the shadows. For a great effect Laurel Hart has excellant tutorials for popping color in the shadows and uses my favorite blue, manganese. It might be a way to explain not only composition but execution of personal style. And it would apply to any color media, pencils, acryrics etc. Thank you...

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks, good suggestion. I'll think about that. Yeah, shadows are something I've been contemplating for a while as a teaching subject and how to tackle it. Approaches can vary so much. I love Laurel Hart's work by the way. Injecting color in the shadows is a stylistic approach of hers and she does it well. Its the opposite of the dead lifeless shadows that so many artists tend to use. but there are so many ways to treat shadow color and its rarely formulaic. Her approach may hold some keys so I should look at that again. Still grappling with how to teach it. I treat shadows in every subject in almost a unique fashion.

[@jenniefrench1338]

The Mind of Watercolor Yes it is a deeper technique for sure. Lately I've been detail oriented, which I like also but I find that I need something more in my artwork. Your ideas are wonderful and those tiny tweaking suggestions and examples help so much. One could study a little technique for a thousand years and still have more to learn. Thank you again.

[@marykhavelka8875]

Wonderful video showing your daily paintings. Especially like Day 10 w/the pots of flowers, a fav subject of mine! Thanks for expressing your thoughts about the paintings, likes & dislikes, etc.--very interesting. Also liked watching you speed paint the last one. Btw; do you run of out green paint often, lol?? :)

[@mindofwatercolor]

Nope, not usually but yeah, I do use a lot of it. Thanks!

[@thestandardaccount]

Hey Steve, I didn't know you're in the Upstate! I wondered where you're based out of from time to time out of curiosity. That's awesome. I live in the Lowcountry nowadays but I'm originally from the Midlands area. My girlfriend is from Simpsonville actually so when you said "Furman" my ears perked up. Small state! I love your channel man, been watching since the early days. Cheers EDIT: Lol...finished watching this video and noticed your t-shirt. High five!!

[@mindofwatercolor]

😆 Thanks! I live in the Greer area, if you know where that is. One of my daughters actually lives in Simpsonville.

[@thestandardaccount]

Right on. I know exactly where Greer is, especially because of the BMW plant. Cool finding out that we're from the same state after all this time I've watched your videos. I'll keep on watchin. Thanks!

[@muriellemann5482]

Hello,I am a french follower. Do you think il is possible to make some vidéo on the color grey and perhaps on your Greens? Thank you so much

[@Yorky222]

I love all the varied greens, what pigments did you use? Great videos.

[@MrsKerryW]

I would like to try this but am having trouble matching the colors! Which Grahams did you use?

[@mindofwatercolor]

Primarily Azo Green, Prussian Blue, Nickel Azo Yellow and maybe Phthalo blue and green. Sometimes I don't remember them all because the mixes can get pretty complex as I go along. I just mix on the palette until it looks right.

[@MrsKerryW]

Thank you! I have all of those and bought the Derwent water brushes as well. Hoping to try out the painting on Tuesday since it’s my day off from the Y. (If I can lift my arms after 6 weights classes, lol). I also made your mini expanded palette. ;) and your “favorite 8”. Now I just have to use them, not just collect them

[@mssfldt]

Really nice paintings and sketches. I agree that the portrait is overpainted, but anyway ;-) Your landscapes are full of light and live. What I really like is that you say "painting is allways learning" - I 100% agree. My question: It seems that you usually use small formats? Is it because you want to finish it in one session? Is it because the video would be too long? Or do you think you could not scale (brushes e.g)? Have you tried size over 40 x 50 cm? Best wishes. I love to see your videos!

[@mindofwatercolor]

The size is just intended for quick finishes for this challenge mainly. I want to do all 30 and feel the quantity is more important than the size. I normally work a bit larger.

[@mindakahn9964]

I live on two acres of wooded land. It doesn’t matter what time of year, on a sunny day there is what I call “ the play of light through the forest.” I see mainly on the forest floor, against the trunks of trees and dappled on leaves. It makes me extremely happy. But regardless of what I do I can’t seem to replicate it in my painting. Clue?

[@mindofwatercolor]

Everything is a matter of value. It really is that simple and yet that concept is hardest to grasp sometimes. Complex scenes fool us because we let all that complexity confuse us. If you can reduce the scene to abstract shapes and just think what is brightest? What is deepest? What are the shapes of those areas? That is your clue.

[@essietangle9931]

Question, on this perfect journal. Is this the same type of journal that you and other artists did for the showing in Singapore??? Is it the same paper? Just curious.

[@DrawingWithFire]

Essie Tangle It is. 😁 Its arches paper (cold press). I would love to get my hands on one, but sadly they aren't being made any more. 😭

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes. Its the same book. Its a really incredible book. Many people are sad that Erwin decided to stop making them.

[@eileengoldenberg270]

It is Fabriano paper, 100% cotton.

[@chrisrichardson5302]

Hi Steve, amazing painting. I’ve been enjoying seeing your twitter posts as well. I’m curious about your thoughts on the watercolour board you used. How did you find it? Is it just like the paper? Thank you!

[@mindofwatercolor]

It is just like the paper. I like it a lot. Pretty much Arches through and through. I don't see it as often now. Its not on Amazon any more. I should probably check to see if its still made.

[@arcuda2001]

Hi, Steve .. you were talking about how much you enjoyed working with a certain selection or brand of blues ? Merry blue ?? Something like that ... I was curious what selection you were talking about .. you said their pigments were as good as M Graham’s .. Thanks so much for the inspiration !!!

[@StephenMarkTurner]

He probably said Maimeri Blu (a brand of watercolour paints)

[@arcuda2001]

Stephen Turner thank you for that info.:-) have a great day :-))

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes, Maimeri Blu.

[@sneaks6635]

Hi - I love your work/tutorials. Couple of things - early in the video you mentioned MaiMari paints but there's no link, also there isn't a link for the Arches board. Where did you find it? At the end of the video it appears that you're using the Rosemary Travel Rigger. It looked large in your hand and I wondered if it really was that big? How is the balance on it? Thanks !!!

[@mindofwatercolor]

I just added the Maimeri Blu link (amzn.to/2yAH59A). I was specifically listing products used in the painting at the end. The board is no longer available sadly. I'm testing and will eventually review a Crescent 100% rag watercolor board. Hopefully that will turn out be a good product. Alternatively you can mount watercolor board yourself to hardboard and create panels that way. Also you can just mount any watercolor paper to a board cut to size to fit the box.

[@sneaks6635]

Thanks! Would you consider reviewing travel brushes? Thanks again. :D

[@mindofwatercolor]

Perhaps. I don't have many.

[@sneaks6635]

Thanks again. :D

[@AeriolNicols]

Like your plein air box. Can you recommend a not too expensive box to buy and hack. I don't have the tools and workshop to start making one. Thanks

[@mindofwatercolor]

Not too many boxes that are cheap unfortunately. Guerrilla Painter is actually on the less expensive end and still kind of pricey. Most are designed for oil painters.

[@IwtptFG2D]

Hi Steve, enjoyed your video immensely as usual and thanks for sharing your thought processes and strategy. I like your attitude that it’s all about learning and progressing. Surprised that you did 2 paintings using gouache this time. I’m a bit puzzled why you did that as I know you’re not a fan of opaque watercolour. So can I ask what is the difference between using opaque watercolour and gouache please and why did you choose to do....was it day 10 ‘at the lake’ and day 14 ‘the bear’ in gouache? Thanks for sharing....Sarah.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Gouache and opaque rated watercolor colors may sound similar but they aren't. If you're painting with transparent watercolor and striving for transparency, the techniques lean a certain way in protecting whites and luminosity from the paper. Opaque rated watercolor is really just a relative term comparing colors. They are all still fairly transparent. Opaque rated watercolors can muddy up color if you're not careful and tend to be flat and dead when attempting to get the luminosity that more transparent colors can give. Artists use them successfully but in limited circumstances. Gouache is much more opaque on the other hand and is a totally different medium and way of thinking when you paint. Its watercolor true but painted primarily as an opaque medium, or dark to light similar to oils or acrylics. It can be painted in a semi transparent way but generally you work towards the highlights in an opaque fashion. Again, watercolors that are simply "rated" as more opaque are not gouache.

[@IwtptFG2D]

The Mind of Watercolor Ah I see, that really clears it up for me. I didn’t realise that gouache was used in that way. Thanks for taking the time to explain that Steve. I might give gouache a go instead of Acrylics sometime then for some subjects. Brilliant.....thanks.

[@diannemiddaugh2478]

Enjoy seeing your work beautiful! Can you give me the name of the book that inspired your 30 in 30 day challenge? I'd like to see if I can find one. I started my 30 in 30 days and I'd love to read it. I've been in a small slump and I'm hopeful this challenge will help me pull out. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@mindofwatercolor]

This is the guy's who started the challenge and wrote the books. citizensketcher.com He has two books. amzn.to/2LTyiRZ & amzn.to/2MuAwYW

[@THEMAYQUEEN1]

Is it possible to squeeze gauche into half pans? Are they the same as watercolours only opaque? Or will they crack up and turn into rocks. I love your paintings .. Sooo inspiring.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes you can, and yes many times they will crack. I try to make sure they contact all sides of the pan well. If they only contact the bottom they will often crack and the pieces will fall out. I also come back after they've dried the first time and rewet them to fill the cracks. Depending on brand they will usually stay put eventually.

[@THEMAYQUEEN1]

The Mind of Watercolor oh great ! Thanks for your reply, I will give them a go. 😀

[@mariusvaiciulis5072]

put a like. that one for reese :)

[@linn4511]

Where can I buy the camera and the camera clip? Didnt see it in your amazon playlist. ;-;

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yeah I didn't think about listing those. Here you go. amzn.to/2MAeFzg &b amzn.to/2LXFfkT

[@linn4511]

The Mind of Watercolor Thank you!

[@ptaylor4923]

I love all your videos, but this question goes back a ways. What printer do you use that you can reproduce photos so well to work from? Ours is ((#)%&

[@mindofwatercolor]

Its a Canon Photo printer. The particular model isn't made anymore but its one of their PIXMA all in ones.

[@ptaylor4923]

Bless you. Now I've added one more thing to I Want It Gotta Have It List. - And you've got me hooked on this 30 day challenge to boot.

[@cinallsup]

Where did you find arches watercolor board?

[@mindofwatercolor]

I'm not sure they make it anymore. I used to get it at Hobby Lobby. Amazon quit carrying it.

[@ptaylor4923]

Bummer. I guess it's like Charlie Brown said, "Never set your heart on a peanut & butter sandwich until you're sure there's some peanut butter. " -- I did find a watercolor board on Blick's site, but I don't know if it's the same or would be near as good. www.dickblick.com/items/13430-1003/

[@cinallsup]

I guess so...That’s sad. I remember looking for it some time ago. No luck.