Quick guide to get started with watercolor

[@ma__ri__elle]

I'd be curious to know which colors are in the palette - I can see that they are W&N Cotman but can't see the color names clearly. I really like those 18-well ceramic palettes and have a terrible time committing to colors, but your setup here looks perfect to me so I'd love to be able to give it a try.

[@kristinvanleuven]

The colors in this palette are lemon yellow, cad yellow, yellow ochre, hookers green, viridian, cerulean, Prussian blue, ultramarine blue, indigo, dioxazine purple, purple lake, perm rose, alizarin crimson, Cad red, cad orange, vermillion, burnt umber, lamp black. You can get these individually, but I think I got them in a boxed set

[@ma__ri__elle]

@@kristinvanleuven thanks so much!

[@erica_creates]

This video was exactly what I needed! It breaks the basics down perfectly without throwing too much information at us! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@peacenow10]

I have just started and your video makes me want to do more, thank you for explaining it so clearly!

[@theartperson11]

I am a beginner and i didn't really know where to start. So i gave up because i was thinking i was bad at it. I just saw your channel and i can't wait to try out this. Thank you for this video it helped me a lot.

[@74anuradha]

Hi ! I m still a beginner in watercolor and still 14🥰 So Thank u so much for sharing this with everyone.❤ As a beginner it's really useful😊

[@artlady6771]

This is a really concise, quick instruction to get started. Some beginner videos are overwhelming. I wish I had found you sooner! Thanks.

[@juliehilton1701]

I’m now going to work my way through your entire back catalogue of videos thank you xx

[@space-bunny]

straight to the point and kept it simple thank you!

[@AlwaysLearning-q77]

Wow! Great basic info!

[@Panda-24]

This is such a simple yet informative video.❤

[@nancydavidson4899]

I think this video would be really useful for beginners who aren’t sure about what materials to get to start off with. Supplies can be really expensive and so making a mistake can be costly. I’m sure your viewers would find a more in depth video on papers really good too. I’ve watched so many students struggle and get disappointing results because they’ve chosen the wrong paper and/or haven’t prepared it correctly.

[@theroadhome_Liz_Summers]

Agree!! I am 8 months in and in hindsight I would buy Daniel Smith (or any brand) Essential 6 paints which are red, yellow, blue ... warm and cool of each. Then a 6 or 8 round brush and for paper absolutely 300 gsm, 100% cotton cold press would be the splurge. I would practice mixing colors, water control, brush strokes ... just play for a bit. THEN some simple tutorials and THEN maybe add some convenience colors depending on what I liked to paint. I did start with good paper, but I got caught up in more colors of paint and many brushes. When I wanted some white gouache, it turned out than an "essential" set was $35 compared to $15 for just white so I got the set and I did start with mixing and playing. I did have some watercolor experience but ultimately found that mixing and "playing" taught me a lot more about using gouache than diving right into painting "pictures". I think I spent a lot of time and money going the "many colors/many brushes" route with watercolor. For context, I am 68 and had not done any kind of painting or drawing since grade school ... maybe a bit in high school. I am an avid amateur photographer and I think that has helped with observation and composition but I am not a "natural" 😊

[@kristinvanleuven]

Great suggestion! Thank you

[@kellenesampson1054]

Thank you for helping newbies!!!❤

[@jeaninerichardson7179]

LOVE the Splatter

[@Silverbirchtree]

Fantastic introduction- I have been binge watching your videos as I have recently started to paint in watercolour without knowing a thing - I just had an urge to paint - - I have made endless mistakes and was about to give up - you have inspired me again. Now I will restart with some knowledge on how to paint with watercolour and the essential techniques. Thanks so much :)

[@theroadhome_Liz_Summers]

This is great! I am a beginner of 8 months so have some experience, but am still in the early stages of learning particularly water control, marks and blending. Then layering and glazing. I think this video is great to start and then to come back to after some painting tries. Thanks Kristin!

[@aussieanne6812]

Great overview for someone starting watercolour😎

[@JudyWeatherly-e1n]

Thank you for this teaching!!!

[@user__214]

Very concise video! I'd love to see something on mixing paint from pans (like physically getting enough paint from the pan onto the palette and how to mix without dirtying your colors), and prepping paper. My paper buckles way too much!

[@erica_creates]

I second this! 🙋‍♀️

[@MadBytes]

Thank you 🙏. Happy New year Kristin 🎉

[@kristinvanleuven]

Happy New Year to you too! 🎉

[@astromommyuniverse]

So happy I found your channel! I am just starting out with watercolor because I am a homeschool mom and we recently switched to a Waldorf curriculum which has so much art (it is fantastic!) We are supposed to paint a watercolor every week and I was so intimidated because I super sucked every time I tried, but after doing some of your tutorials, I am in love! And my paintings have greatly improved. My kids are starting to say I'm good at painting, LOL, and they are more inspired. Thank you!

[@kristinvanleuven]

I’m so happy to hear that! I love the Waldorf method. Welcome 💕

[@urbangipsy]

That was a great start, thanks!

[@happynjoyousnfree]

That was AMAZING!!! Hubby and I are just getting started and this is so helpful thank you ❤

[@padmachakravarti8668]

This is so useful Thank you Kirsten

[@palominox64]

The biggest difference I didn’t know about paper- it comes in two main flavors that make a huge difference- cotton vs wood pulp. I had heard of rag (cotton) paper, but it was more expensive. I always used wood pulp watercolor paper. I bit the bullet switched to 100% cotton and just swatched some different brands of watercolor- and even the student grade, not just the premium colors I splurged on- all looked suddenly so much better- on both hot and cold press. I still use wood pulp pads (hot and cold) for sketch books but that expensive cotton paper- it doesn’t give me talent but even my beginner mistakes look more professional on cotton. I’m not great at anything but, my friends and I joke - while there’s no magic road to skills- it’s practicing and learning- it’s the students and new folks who should get the better supplies not the cheapest beginner or student grade, because you can do a lot of struggling to get a look that a less purpose-tailored more carefully made tool can’t give you. A real pro can make the less purpose-specific student grade look a masterpiece. But I’m a million miles from that. So I got the pricey cotton block for when I’m ready to take my sketchbook work to make a ‘finished’ piece. So worth it.

[@sparksbakery]

Salt! That’s such a great idea for that textural effect ! 😊

[@ashleywright8686]

OMG this came on my YT feed just in the “nick of time”!

[@PENcilitis]

I like using cut up store cards to create stones and boulders by dragging cut shapes across damp paint. Also splattering paint and using a straw to blow puddles of paint to get splashed effects and candles as wax resist barriers... I wouldn't say I'm an expert though, maybe you could include some of these techniques in another of your videos... I learned a LOT from this video...THANK YOU 👍

[@eithnecourtney4854]

Very useful, thank you Kristin❤

[@KavyaCeleste]

Wow this video is so informative and precise. Thank you 🫶🏻

[@Silverbirchtree]

I would love to know how to hold the brush also should I paint the background area first. How to paint a large background area. This would be great if you can clarify this.

[@jeaninerichardson7179]

Awesomeness

[@sandymanning-b5o]

Thank you Kirstin sorry in previous comments I called you Kristin I do apologise. Great video thanks so much 🙌

[@kristinvanleuven]

Kristin is the right way, no worries 💕

[@JaanColorsArt]

Thanks for the informants ❤

[@MistyinFlag]

That was very informative! Thank you! What paint colors would you recommend to start with?

[@loverlyme]

I had no idea the pans were meant to dry fully before using the paints again. Do you do this every time? How do you know when to change out the colours?

[@debrawalters9746]

Can you tell us which of your paintings you’ve use salt on? I’d love to see this technique in use.

[@drkrishnap]

Thank you so much. When to clean brushes in between painting, how thoroughly to clean. Wipe or not. Basically can you show actual full length painting process without any cuts at all.

[@kathiwong587]

This is wonderful. I've been playing with watercolors for a couple of months as someone who has no experience with painting at all. My question is this: how clean do you keep your tray when you are painting? Do you worry about cleaning every little speck off when you are done? Does the old dry paint mix with what you currently put on there?

[@doncrissup5667]

I am interested in painting a relief carving on basswood. Have you any suggestions!

[@loverlyme]

Do you recommend mixing your own colours or prefer to buy a load of different ones?

[@loverlyme]

What type/subject of painting would you recommend to try first, second and third, as a newby?

[@brigittecourtey3364]

Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo très instructive. Pourquoi il m arrive d avoir auréoles ? Je ne trouve pas ça beau. Merci ?💜

[@dianemontgomery2087]

I too am a beginner. My question is… when filling a Meeden pallet like you used in the video, how do you decide which colors go where? Warm one side, cool the other? Random? Yellows, reds, blues, greens?

[@kristinvanleuven]

Great question! I try to put colors together on a loose color wheel so that colors I tend to mix together are near each other. You could always place a little bit of each color on an old plate and see how you prefer it before committing to the palette

[@aliciascott3566]

This sounds so sarcastic, but it’s a legit question… What about my cat? I’m literally two weeks in on learning to paint. My cat is stealing and eating my brushes right out of my hand. She’s drinking from my water cups. I’m okay with the standing on my palette and leaving paw tracks on EVERYTHING because it is so cute. But…Do I get her a set and let her paint? Do I lock her in a different room? I have to paint in my kitchen because I don’t have space for a dedicated studio. I have considered giving up multiple times already over a cat. Watercolor somehow seems to make sense to me but I can’t be in a lifelong battle with her.

[@caroltrujillo5376]

some watercolor paints are toxic, so it’s best that your cat does not drink your paint water. Likewise if she is stepping in your palette and then licking to clean herself, it could make her sick.

[@jcfarrell2652]

It sounds like she's looking for things to do and being in the middle of whatever you're doing gives her what she wants. Can you play with her first then let her know playtime is over, give her a snack/cat chew toy or stick, then gently put her back away from your work space? So everyone is happy, no one eats toxic paint, you don't have to buy more brushes?

[@paulettekinasewich6305]

I am like super newbie- which side of the paper do you paint on? I have cold press - 140lb One side is more textured than the other - does it matter ? Which side ??

[@annenglish2935]

The more textured ... however, I always use both sides unless I want a finished piece to display, then I only paint on the textured side!!! ❤ Happy painting!!!🎉

[@ILoveFountainPens]

Hi, This video of yours m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2fZqo2bd85jb9E that I just watched explains it a bit, but I’d love a video, if possible, that goes into more detail of how to tell if a yellow, red/magenta, blue/cyan is warm or cool. When you described one colour as ‘tomato red’ etc. that was really helpful. I’d love if you could do that for all of the colours, so there’s an easy way to remember or tell them apart. Thanks!

[@hiamgozaine8834]

Hello Kristin My name is Hiam I have no experience with water color painting but I always loved to draw flowers and fruits. I would love to start painting . I always loved water coloring.Any particular advice ?🙏🏻😘

[@Silverbirchtree]

Fantastic introduction- I have been binge watching your videos as I have recently started to paint in watercolour without knowing a thing - I just had an urge to paint - - I have made endless mistakes and was about to give up - you have inspired me again. Now I will restart with some knowledge on how to paint with watercolour and the essential techniques. Thanks so much :)