How to Paint an Abstract Landscape Watercolour

New Watercolour Landscapes for Beginners Course Available Now! 75% off
www.scottswinsonclasses.com/w...
This is a pretty long video but it has a lot of detail in it for those who really would like some help with their watercolours. It has quite a few processes that are good to know and become familiar with if you would like to paint on a larger scale and in this style in watercolour.
Happy Painting!
This was painted on a half sheet of Rives BFK etching paper by Arches, 280gsm, white, 56cm x 38cm
The colours used were:
Yellow Ochre
Raw Umber
Cobalt Blue
Burnt Umber
Mix of Cobalt Blue and Light Red
Mix of Winsor Blue (red shade) and Light Red
The Brushes used were:
2 Inch Hake Brushes x 2
1 Inch Hake Brush
Pure Kolinsky Round Sable
Fan Brush
Rigger Brush
Series 7 Round Sable
Other:
3M Magic Tape
MDF Board
Spray Bottle
Razor Blade
Metal Ruler
Hair Dryer
Tissues
#watercolour
#abstractwatercolour
#largewatercolour
My website where you can buy original artwork: www.scottswinson.com
Instagram: / scottswinson
Facebook: / scottswinsonartist
Tony Smibert’s Books for Sale:
Turners Apprentice: A Watercolour Masterclass: geni.us/TurnersApprentice
Painting Landscapes from your Imagination: geni.us/TrlbvxR
How to Paint Like Turner: geni.us/PaintLikeTurner
How Turner Painted: geni.us/HowTurnerPainted
My Four Most Popular Videos on KZbin:
Large Abstract Watercolour May 2020: • Large Abstract Waterco...
Freely Painted Abstract Landscape with No Plan: • Freely Painted Abstrac...
Large Watercolour Abstract Step by Step: • Large Watercolour Abst...
What to Know When Starting Watercolour (2020): • What to Know When Star...
Paints
Winsor and Newton Artist Quality Tubes:
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/WinsorNewtonCobaltBlue
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/YellowOchreTube
Light Red amazon: geni.us/LightRedTube
Winsor and Newton Cotman Tubes (student quality):
Cobalt Blue amazon: geni.us/cotmancobaltblue
Light Red amazon: geni.us/cotmanlightred
Yellow Ochre amazon: geni.us/cotmanyellowochre
Tape
3M Scotch Magic Tape amazon: geni.us/ScotchMagicTape19mm
3M Scotch Removable Tape amazon: geni.us/ScotchRemovableTape
Brushes
Round Sable - Size 12 round kolinsky sable from amazon: geni.us/SAAKolinskySable
Imitation sable - amazon: geni.us/EscodaRoundSable
Holbein Hake Brushes: geni.us/HolbeinHakeBrushes
Equivalent Hake Brushe 2” amazon: geni.us/WinsorNewtonHake
Nylon Flat Brush amazon: geni.us/NylonFlatBrush
Travel Brush set with covers amazon: geni.us/travelbrushset
Mixing Brushes and other effect brushes amazon: geni.us/HogBristleBrushes
If you just want two hogs bristle brushes then the best thing to do is to head to your local art supplies store and buy them there.
Watercolour Paper
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed pad amazon: geni.us/ArchesPad
Arches 300gsm medium cold pressed block which is glued on the outside so you don’t have to stick it down on a board amazon: geni.us/ArchesWatercolourPaper
Rives BFK etching paper. Probably best to source this from your local store so you can look after the paper and not have it posted unless you are buying a large amount of paper and it will be looked after. There is nothing worse than getting hundreds of sheets all with a indent in them. Having said that you can actually source this paper from amazon:
geni.us/RivesBFK
Some people have been extremely happy with the state of the paper when it arrived (and some not!)
I love this paper it is soft and lights are lifted easily from it.
Equipment Used to Film Each Episode
Camera - Canon 6d mark II with 24-105 lens amazon: geni.us/Canon6dMarkII
Iphone 11: geni.us/iphone11pro256gb
Rode Video Mic Pro amazon: geni.us/RodeVidMicPro
I also use: Rode Wireless Go Mic: geni.us/rodewirelessmic
Aputure LED Lights from amazon: geni.us/apurtureH198light
Aputure LED Lights with stand from amazon: geni.us/aputureledlight
Mac Book Pro for editing: www.apple.com/
Friction arms
Manfrotto friction arm short one amazon: geni.us/ManfrottoMicroFriction
Manfrotto magic arm longer one so my camera can be closer to the page from my overhead rig amazon: geni.us/manfrottofrictionarm
Neewer Friction arms cheaper than manfrotto and good for lighter things like lights from amazon: geni.us/neewerfrictionarm
Hard Drive for storage WD 4TB amazon: geni.us/WDHardDrive
Hard Drive for projects Samsung T5 500GB SSD amazon: geni.us/SamsungT5SSD
Manfrotto Tripod and Video Head amazon: geni.us/ManfrottoTripodHybrid

[@tanyafuccio7947]

I feel so fortunate to have "accidentally" ran across your video. I enjoyed it immensely and found it so informative. You use water so fearlessly....☺️

[@k8marlowe]

Fearless is a great word for it.

[@sylviaeder4639]

Very inspiring! Beautiful painting! Great technique!... like your hairstyle, too. 😊

[@HélèneatFrenchscape]

Sobinspiring! Thanks! ❤

[@barbmclean1722]

Lovely! Thanks for sharing!

[@suzannefitzpatrick6404]

Beautiful!!! thank you !

[@debbieborden7651]

Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see more.

[@rebeccavalicoff1581]

Wow! Absolutely mesmerizing!

[@chrismagee5843]

Simply stunning 👍

[@guillebastreannie1964]

I love see you painting and talking! I learn a lot. Thanks a lot!

[@markdonovan1540]

Merry Christmas Scott. I wish you well in 2023 and beyond. You're one of the mist inspiring abstract landscape artists on KZbin. Thank you for all your uploads on your channel.

[@barbarachristensen9034]

I have never seen anyone paint as you...Thank you for teaching us how to be so free with our watercolors. Your use of water both spray bottle and freehand leaves me in AWE. Please repeat the use of the colors you use when adding on, I think this would greatly help your students. USA

[@erinmcdonald9020]

I’ve just discovered your tutorials and I’m watching them all! It’s wonderful to find an artist that I have a similar abstract style and appreciates the beauty of watercolor. Thx!

[@yasminshah1119]

Love your choice of colors

[@paulinegee4083]

This is so gorgeous.

[@krisabshire7588]

You are so kind and sweet, sharing your gift, Scott. Thank you. I agree with "know when to stop". We are not trying to duplicate a photograph. It is enough to *evoke* what the viewers might see themselves through the emotions you express on the paper. ; )

[@elainejarvis1863]

I really really loved that thank you. Always looking for lefties as I make a mess of all my paintings so its nice to see how you do it.

[@susanpotter4688]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHAT A LOVELY EXPERIENCE TO WATCH YOU PAINT!!

[@isabellebouchard5612]

Freedom art never looked so beautifull ! Thank you

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Isabelle! 🙏🙏

[@TheMrSlyxx]

quite fantastic. Interesting turns.

[@beccasbeans]

It's actually magic what you do!

[@therub2191]

Fantastic, great style

[@jackgraff4132]

Wow ...magical ! Thanks from France

[@Richard-ou6uw]

Great tutorial Scott fabulous watercolour painting 👍👍

[@mariellasmith-masters4697]

Fantastic! You make it looks so easy which isn’t the case for most of us but encouraging!

[@emilyadams6194]

I was curious about this video and am amazed at how beautiful it is. It kind of shakes loose with the secret of watercolor. Wonderful video!!

[@venusreels9953]

I’ve learned more from you…in 2 videos than in a full year with a teacher….thank you..this has been awesome 😎

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Venus! I am so glad! Watercolour can be difficult if you don't understand it! Good luck with your learning! Any questions just ask! Cheers Scott

[@claraedouwesdekker6389]

What a delightful tutorial. Thank you. Love the way you share your thought process, and teach at the same time. Truly gifted artist.❤️🇿🇦

[@CathyJohnson-cq9um]

Never done a watercolor abstract. I love how you do it. I'm excited to try this. I'm used to acrylics, oil crayons, pour painting. Looks great Scott. I and my art c husband ronny love your art. Many thanks for us both Scott. God bless you very a bundantly.

[@JHM30fan]

I just love this. Your work is amazing, such a great style.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi JHM30fan! Thanks! Simple landscape with hopefully a lot of feeling!

[@brendasuppa4239]

Love this it’s so beautiful, I look forward to trying this one

[@ScottSwinson]

Enjoy branda! Hope it all goes well! 👍👍

[@annestarkie4312]

Amazing paintings you create, looks sooo easy. Thank you x

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Anne! Thanks! I do love moody and atmospheric!

[@riffsandpics]

Awesome effect with the light!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! I do love painting light! Cheers Scott

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

I really like the idea of pulling out and off the pigment after re-wetting an area (of the water). Brilliant!

[@ScottSwinson]

Yes it works well and even better if you have used non staining pigments leading up to that point! 👍👍

[@elizabethpears307]

Please don’t apologize for helping a friend!! Lovely work and inspiring!

[@inejapmiddelbos6939]

Thank you for this beautiful art.👍

[@ScottSwinson]

You’re always welcome Ine! 👍🙏

[@artsymargo]

Thank you for tutoring advanced watercolor painting. Very few on YT do that: most are beginner.

[@ticalinda64]

Greetings from Costa Rica. That painting is simply amazing!!!!!

[@osks]

Very nicely done!

[@michellequinnstudios]

Wonderful to watch this!

[@ScottSwinson]

Glad you liked it Michelle! 👍👍

[@helenamelind6401]

Thank you Scott. This one I will give it a try tomorrow. Ita so beautiful.

[@ScottSwinson]

Sounds great Helena! Enjoy! Just make sure you just work with what happens on the page rather than copy my painting! It will be more enjoyable and the end product with be better too! Have fun! 👍

[@debcavan]

Gorgeous, thank you

[@odeadelmar5636]

Bravo de France🇫🇷 C’est magnifique !❤

[@patsymccown2766]

Such a great lesson!!😊

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Patsy! Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kj3dots]

I watch these....love them.....when I paint it is completely different but I know you are teaching me......another fine painting....Thanks!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Kathy! It’s all good if it’s different! Just work on the feeling or atmosphere you want to achieve. That’s the main thing! You will always learn if you keep painting and keep experimenting and then reflecting! Have fun! 👍

[@GayanthiPereraArt]

Really enjoyed watching this piece come to life. Currently trying to learn Watercolour techniques and I find watching your videos really helpful :-)

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Gayanthi! I'm really glad you find the videos helpful! If you need more understanding I have done many more videos around understanding watercolour on Patreon. All of that info will be here in youtube if you sift through all the videos. Happy painting. If you have any questions let me know. Cheers Scott

[@louisscenti3813]

Thank you Scott. Amazing and helpful, as always.

[@ScottSwinson]

No worries Louis! Glad you liked it! 👍

[@Kathydieting]

Hello How are you doing today?

[@lena-ericafredrikssonposte1348]

Best tutorial I ever seen. Love it. I am a bit of a beginner. Tanken you❤

[@lindajordan1030]

Beautiful work

[@ruthkoster2741]

I like it a lot!

[@letslistentobooks894]

Another lovely piece ... also love the music ... :)

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks so much!

[@sarahnorthrop9823]

Beautiful 😊💖

[@heikeborowski4787]

Great work! It's impressing to see, how you work with the water.I could not imagin the result at the beginnend.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Heike! I do love free, loose watercolours! 👍👍

[@wendysamples9156]

When using a lot of water I would also implement the use of rocksalt it causes blooming cool effects.

[@claudiehourcau6191]

Hello Scott. C'est très beau😍💓. J adore tes aquarelles. Merci pour ces beaux paysages. Ça fait rêver💭

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Claudie! You are always welcome! I'm glad you like them! I love letting the medium be free on the page! Any questions let me know. Cheers Scott

[@reasonableification]

Lovely!

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks!

[@joellesetia8915]

j'adore votre façon de peindre et le résultat est superbe merci d 'avoir partagé

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks! It is a very moody painting! Glad you liked it! Cheers Scott

[@guizachristiane4824]

Sweet. Perfect. Lovely. Great stuff. Great Art. Thank you for that. You make my day happy and heartwarming...🥰🥰🥰🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺👍👍👍

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Guiza! No worries! Glad you liked it! Some nice movement! 👍👍🙏

[@Karlena_Lewin_Studio]

I painted this and think I nailed it off to paint different ones mm might add a crow love the colour combo many thanks watercolour friend

[@avanellehansen4525]

Excellent! New subscriber.

[@k8marlowe]

I spent some time in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the southern U.S. this week, and had turned out a gorgeous watercolor landscape… until I touched up this and added that, and continued until it was completely ruined. ☹️ Restraint is often the name of the game when painting abstracts. So, you were right to stop when you did. Stunning work, as usual!

[@ScottSwinson]

Yes I have done that lots of times myself! It is hard to know when to stop!

[@jackiepeacock769]

Hi Scott Still doing the beginners course, however, inspired now to do "Lone Pine". My grandfather was an original ANZAC, returned but damaged. This would raise his spirit if he were here. I'm doing it beginner or not! Thanks for the inspiration...

[@justinesimone5343]

Thank you. Remarkable!

[@kerstinsoderberg5023]

Beautiful 🥰 Less is more

[@rebekkabirgirsdottir2137]

So beautiful 😍 and inspiring. Greetings from Gothenburg Sweden

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Rebekka! Thanks! Hope things are good in Gothenburg! Cheers Scott

[@dannicoleman6407]

wowzers!

[@GKganesan]

Excellent! Thank you

[@bogdanplakov3572]

love man, thank you

[@normangale3159]

I love the randomness that abstract watercolour has and even in acrylic where it can be less abstract but Katie Jobling of KZbin fame keeps saying that nature in general is random. The patterns are unique and all different at the same time. I think I will use this to do my first practice with as it ‘abstract’ but yet startling in its representation

[@swap70]

Excellent

[@elizabeththurlow5993]

Beautiful light and love the tree detail. I got a little involved and tried to blow your scrapings off.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Elizabeth! Glad you liked it! Ha that is funny! Imagine if it was with virtual reality goggles! lol

[@GKganesan]

Thank you so much. Educational.

[@Adraganic]

Beautiful.

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Alek! 🙏

[@Kathydieting]

Hello How are you doing today?

[@lindahelliar7021]

Beautiful, reminds me of JWM Turner colours.

[@ScottSwinson]

I give free hugs to anyone who says that! lol Thanks! I do love his work and have studied his paintings over many years! My work is much more simple but aims to have some of that atmosphere is he was amazing at creating!

[@plb991]

Beautiful

[@ScottSwinson]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lillan1960]

I really like Your technique 😁

[@garyhind1231]

So inspirational.. thanks

[@ScottSwinson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@florencedurand4180]

J adore merci

[@socratesthecabdriver]

Your eye looked just fine 😁

[@ScottSwinson]

It was sore and that afternoon I got metal removed that had lodged in the cornea. All good now though! 👍👍

[@fatherburning358]

Brother. I stopped even trying to watercolour, too damn hard. Been having fun with loose acrylics. I love loose painting, its freedom. But this is inspiring. Its like have at it. Im gonna give this a burl and have some fun. Who knows might even be able to sell a painting eh. Definitely going too look at your course if i find im excited by this style. Im anticipating i will. Thankyou for the demonstration. Love the finished product bro. Im in lake macquarie nsw so plenty of beautiful scenery to paint. 👍

[@vickylaw659]

thanks again 🙏，I learned a lot from you 👍👍👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Vicky! All good! 👍👍🙏🙏

[@peggydwyer8187]

beautiful work! new sub!

[@bobilaforce8252]

wonderful👍👏👏👏😍

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Bob!

[@lyndasteimer2830]

Love this one your colors jump off the page! Just found you will be watching more! Also love the music you have! I always paint with music!

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Lynda! I used to always paint to music! Not as much these days as I’m recording!!! Lol! Glad you liked the video! 👍👍

[@danyhodiesne1261]

Magnifique

[@ScottSwinson]

Thanks Danny! 👍👍

[@merigiordan1522]

Lovely granulation.

[@eveshaw7673]

Love all your videos, I tried the loose landscape using a card but ended up with a muddy mess....I am a total beginner so unsure if the paper, W&N 300 med, is not good, the paint did not seem to stick when I added the water...anyway I will have a good think and try again.

[@normanmerrill1241]

Nice painting…thanks…

[@ScottSwinson]

No worries Norman! Happy new year! 👍👍

[@agnetahallberg9845]

Very nice to see you paint, relaxing and inspirering. What kind of table do you have...a palette-table😊?

[@amywagreich9042]

Nice

[@triciashaw1973]

Wonderful video, tku so much!! Can you please advise a really good rigger for painting fine tree branches?

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Tricia! It really depends on the size of the paper you are painting and from that the size of the branches in terms of size of rigger. In terms of brands. I really like Winsor and Newton's pure sable range of riggers. They hold a good amount of paint and deliver that to the page over a long brush stroke. Hope that helps! they are not the cheapest though! Cheers Scott

[@triciashaw1973]

Wonderful video, tku so much!! Can you pls advise the best rigger you use … I’m trying to find one that is good for fine tree branches.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Tricia! I just replied above! Hope that helps! Cheers Scott

[@amberdreams_0]

Just found your channel - fascinating to watch how the landscape takes shape almost on it's own at first. The final picture is very Turner-esque and so beautiful. My conclusion after trying loose watercolour like this is that I'm too timid and don't use anywhere near enough colour. PS your hair is quite mad in this vid, made me chuckle.

[@mollab1]

I noticed that you make bowls of watercolors. How do you store them when you finish a painting? Hope to take your class soon.

[@avvatuk1924]

GREAT HAIRDO!))

[@barbriley583]

I’m tired of watching….imma going to take the damn class! See you soon!!!!❤

[@allanpennington]

Could you please do a video on aspect ratio and how it relates to composition for landscape painting. I have bought some Arches 20" x 14" block. Not sure whether this fits into a golden ratio or how it might relate to the rule of thirds. However many great looking landscape photographers are pushing out to 16:9 or even 2:1 aspect ratios to get very impactful looking landscape shots. So is there method in Arches madness when it comes to sizes of their Blocks, pads or single sheets. Is it traditional, is it with composition in mind? Would love to see a video discussion on this subject. Thanks.

[@ScottSwinson]

Hi Allan! I could do a video on the aspect ratios that i find appealing and that have sold quite a bit over the years. It is a pretty individual thing though and there are not really any rules as it depends on what your painting is, the mood you want to create and also of course the wall it might be going to be on. There is no one aspect ratio that is the best. In terms of the blocks they are pretty standard most of the time and potentially boring! If you were looking to create interesting art I would always buy full sheets of paper and then that gives you full freedom in your ratios! Hope that helps! Cheers Scott

[@Tugboat-R-Us]

Hi Scott, I just subscribed to your channel and I love your setup in your studio. I would like to try Hake brushes and was curious if you had any suggestions on what brand and size to start off with? By the way I absolutely love your painting. I absolutely love doing extreme wet. It’s absolutely freeing and there’s something that is truly wonderful about letting the colors do what they want to do and trusting the process

[@swap70]

Your too good

[@Retour-aux-sources]

🤩

[@merigiordan1522]

Really like what you're creating. Please don't lose the granulation.