Tips for Painting Long Fur in Watercolor // Watercolor Sheltie 🐶

[@Blueskybuffalo]

I love watching art videos and thinking “Where the heck is this person going with this?” And then there’s a moment where it all comes together and everything looks stunning.

[@bluewren65]

I can't believe how detailed your voice over is. I'm pretty sure that if I had to narrate what I was doing, how wet the paper was at each stage I would have totally forgotten by the time I came to do the voice over. Your videos are always so packed with detail. Nothing is left out. Fantastic. The dog looks so much more alive in your painting than in the photograph. In the photo he looks like a generic sheltie, in your painting he looks like a dog full of life and character.

[@Veronicapainted]

You are a joy to watch. Your gentle grace reminds me of everything I love about watercolor.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

What a lovely message. Thank you Veronica. 💕

[@suel4269]

So clever with the dried paints! Thankyou for sharing.

[@KarenmitchellANI]

You make me smile with your bloopers. Thank you for incorporating them, it reminds me that you're human xxx

[@maryalgar8779]

STUNNING! When you said you painted this painting with 3 colours - my reaction was "Wow". I think it's fantastic.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Mary. 💕

[@AnimalArtbyTerraCotta]

Your tricolor sheltie has such expressive brows and eyes! And thanks for sharing your black color mix! I've never used any green to get a black so will enjoy this new blend! 💛💛💛

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you!

[@AnimalArtbyTerraCotta]

@@LouiseDeMasi You're very welcome 😊

[@mousefudge7623]

Enjoyed you showing real life. Thank you stunnung Art.

[@pamelaklawitter1669]

Thanks so much for the lesson. I love the painting and the choice of colour mixing - spectacular! Watching the bloopers at the end of the videos always me laugh - an added bonus! Thank for that 😂 🇨🇦

[@rositsazlatanova1146]

It's a beautiful painting of a beautiful dog, it doesn't look overworked to me.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Rositsa. 💕

[@jaclee6]

The Sheltie looks beautiful! I learned a new tip today from your video by pre-mixing your "black" & blow dry it, so you have enough for most of the painting and can adjust moisture level more easily as you go. thank you!

[@amandasymon4363]

Happy to give this video a like 👍 I concentrated hard throughout in order to learn - I intend to try painting a portrait of my black Labrador tomorrow - fingers crossed 🤞 I will now stop using lamp black as I now fully understand just how much livelier a mixed black is - 🙏 thank you

[@dorisdavidson7849]

Awesome, I love it and you just crack me up with your outtakes 😂😂😂 I hope your husband has healed.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks very much Doris. He's pretty much back to normal now. Thank you!

[@grahamnash9794]

So calming to watch a an expert in action. Brilliant work.

[@changemymind06]

I LOVE the dry pallette idea and how you got different colored blacks! So simple yet genius and I haven't seen anyone else do this. Fantastic work, as always. I am working on a pitbull/vizsla portrait in oils, right now, but I am trying this in watercolor next, thanks to your inspiration!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! Good luck with your painting. 💕

[@MelanCholy2001]

I loved this. I was just doing your eucalyptus leaves because I really like that style but ended up glazing nickel azo over the top to get your look. I'd let my yellow dry all night, but my PY 175 is Schminke, and I have since heard W&N does better (more tinting strength -versus no tinting strength). And the PY 150 worked! My up-close leaves leaf much to be desired. I'm loving it! So I went to this video right afterwards and... did you say what I think you said at 19:55 😂😂😂 I love the dog! The style is so interesting. I've usually done the detail size brushes and try to get the hair in on animals (usually zooming in to focus on some bone structure (because IDK why: I'm learning! I need to know the skeletal stuff to "sell" it as a dog/cat/beast) but this actually looks more like a white shaggy dog than many I've seen (IRL, where the backgrounds are detailed so show the home or yard, I guess commissioned works). Lovely!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Lol- I said- 'start again' 😝. Thank you! 💕

[@judymills873]

Beautiful!

[@melanieopperman6688]

Oooh can't wait to paint along, thank you

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Hope you enjoy it! Thanks Melanie.

[@donna5659]

Fur is challenging for sure! Thank you for sharing!!❤️

[@LouiseDeMasi]

My pleasure. Thank you!

[@gillinacook1477]

Lovely painting. Love the thought process. I enjoy your bloopers at the end of your videos, they make me chuckle 🤭

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Gillina.

[@amyjohnson6816]

I enjoy watching you paint and hearing you talk! Lovely painting!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you so much Amy.

[@christinezeiler]

I love your outtakes. You are enjoyable.

[@rmc9076]

I really love your ability to make water color more appealing to me . I have been a pastelist & oil painter. Always wanted to learn how to somewhat control the water! Your channel gives me hope. Thank you for changing my views on W/C ..

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! It's so much fun to use. 💕

[@Angela-zf8sn]

Beautiful

[@amykenyon9866]

Stunning! Such a wonderful tutorial Louise! Thank you!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thnaks Amy.

[@claudiahowell9508]

All of your studies and the final look great to me!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Claudia. I know how much I struggled. 💕

[@lesleyking2815]

Great video, I’m focusing on mixing my own blacks and painting birds, so this was well timed and really useful, thank you 😊

[@jennyc5132]

Oops sorry I see you did answer all of my questions thanks so much for your time🥰

[@amandastratton8242]

A lovely painting Louise I have a Border Collie so will have to look at him in a different way now an who knows I might try a painting!! Thank you for sharing your work with us

[@LouiseDeMasi]

You should! Thanks Amanda.

[@lydiabosley9152]

I already enjoyed watching the long version earlier 💜💛💚, but I always have to watch the YT ones as well, for the bloopers if nothing else! 😁 Thanks, Louise!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Lol- thanks Lydia. 😘

[@barbarasaunders9504]

Beautiful fur painting on this lovely dog. Thank you. Will try it!❤

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Barbara.

[@christinezeiler]

This painting was beautiful. I do dogs often and you have taught me new techniques.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Christine. I'm glad. 💕

[@lisesheeba4156]

Oh....so beautiful...wow

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Lise.

[@soniasilva1139]

What a beautiful painting. Wow I love it!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Sonia. 💕

[@sandrapinto534]

Beautiful painting! Thank you for sharing, very useful tips!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Sandra.

[@elsbethnietschmann947]

It looks great, I like your style. 🎨

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Elsbeth.

[@watercolourheart]

Thank-you Louise ....I love the simplicity...not simple though!!!

[@togetvj]

I think your paintings are beautiful, as is this one of the Sheltie. I hope one day you will paint a picture of an Afghan Hound. I had two several decades ago and still miss them.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Valerie. 💕

[@patriziacathey605]

Loved every minute!

[@barbararodgz4932]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. Is so beautiful.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Welcome. Thank you Barbara. 😊

[@SuzanneLegault]

Beautiful as always Louise!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Suzanne. 😊

[@nanhunnicutt5329]

I really enjoy your painting style. Learn a lot from you. I love the Vizsla (probably swayed by my vizier Savannah). This one is gorgeous too

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Nan. 💕

[@nidhiramteke3684]

Finally you posted it, loved it..was waiting for this video from so long❤️❤️❤️

[@geraldinelucas3143]

So happy with this one I am two months Patreon and even though I will never reach your level but I love your style. At 81 with weaking eyesight it is a delight and brings me so much joy. Working on the last ear of the Goat now.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank toy Geraldine. I hope it's going well. 💕

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Nidhi.💜

[@nidhiramteke3684]

@@LouiseDeMasi ❤️

[@patti3d]

Have to do this tutorial so I can then paint my daughters dog!

[@janicelancaster3020]

Beautiful love your work 🌸👏

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Janice.

[@kathbiddle-dutton7069]

Beautiful… thanks for the videos 💖

[@chaosinca]

Thank goodness you didn't make him fat and dead looking 🤣🤣 Hands down my favourite blooper to date, thank you so much for including these!! You did a fantastic job on the painting, I think it shows both the watercolour characteristics and your technical ability combined to showcase each other. I really liked the effects, and the colours in your black came out beautiful 💖

[@marquesnazareno7003]

thank you

[@LouiseDeMasi]

You're welcome. 💕

[@shahzadqurashi7728]

Thanks for sharing

[@LouiseDeMasi]

My pleasure Shahzad. Thank you.

[@jennyc5132]

I have watched this one before Louise and no doubt I will watch it several more times...as I have a black & white sheep dog I want to paint. I asked before but you might not have seen it you have so many comments....could you possibly explain or show what you mean by over working as your painting look just fine to me. Thank you....⚘

[@ginadelcarmensaavedrafarfa3211]

Wonderful, thanks you.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you too Gina.

[@raynaprettyman5361]

The background is beautiful. I feel like I always run my paintings trying to do a background. It’s a real struggle for me.

[@07leisr]

I should really pay attention on how you do the wash. I'm really not so confident when I do mine and I end up with very thick fur that shows some texture just as an acrylic paint. 😂 I love your tutorial. Learned a lot from your yt vids. And, oh, I think it's my first anniversary following you this month . 😊

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you and happy anniversary to us! 💕

[@07leisr]

@@LouiseDeMasi 🥂 happy anniversary!

[@janetalbot6529]

Beautiful!Could you please paint a German shepherd that has different colours in fur.

[@jenniferforeman8007]

Louise can I ask you what Rosemary and Co brushes would be good starter ones to buy please.😃

[@TheDevonArtist]

Louise, it's good to know that it's not just me that has the same issues when facing the camera! LOL I love this portrait and your techniques, very nicely presented as well. Paul :-)

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks so much Paul. I hope you are well. 😁

[@TheDevonArtist]

@@LouiseDeMasi Very well and safe, thank you Louise. :-)

[@artistsheilacurran3877]

Do you have a materials list for your tutorials on Skillshare? I love your tutorials, and I’m learning a lot. I’ve only been painting with watercolor for about a month, but I just sold my first watercolor painting. I’m excited to work at getting better. But I’d like to be prepared with materials , like the colors of paint, since I’m on a fixed income and not sure how long I can subscribe to Skillshare.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Hi Sheila, Congratulations, that's wonderful. With each of my tutorials on Skillshare and Patreon I include a supplies list. They vary for each painting.

[@jennyc5132]

Ah no..you nearly made me choke on my dinner as I watched your bloopers..thanks for the giggle🤭🤗 2 questions if I may Louise, do you have a preference for hot or cold pressed or do you use one or the other in particular situations? Also Ive heard you mention that you dont like the hard edges on your paint but your yellowy background seemed to be all hard edges..did you make them like that for effect and if so what was your reasoning please? Thanks for another brilliant video. If I may say..I thought all (?) 4 of your test paintings looked amazing to me but you said you overworked them all..can you explain what you meant please? Of course I know what overworked means but they looked fine to my eye.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Hi Jenny, Lol- Sorry I nearly made you choke but I'm glad you enjoyed them. I prefer to paint on cold pressed now. I used to paint on mainly hot pressed because I sold a lot of prints but since I've been teaching I prefer cold pressed. I have a video here that might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2ayoZtpeKujbZI When I mention I don't want hard edges forming that's because the area that I'm painting would have soft edges around the shapes rather than hard edges. Sometimes I want hard edges and other times I want soft edges. The hard edges you see on the background are probably the edges of the watercolour blooms that I made. I make them for effect to add interest and texture to the background. I have a video here about watercolour blooms: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIXFoKOEatKfeas I overworked the others in the sense that I struggled with them. I tried things that didn't work and then I had to paint over them to try and correct them and as soon as I start to labour over an area you can see it in the painting. I also wanted to do a few studies so that I could film myself for a tutorial. I didn't feel comfortable enough to film my painting process on the first few because I struggled too much with them and I don't want to teach people my bad habits. Sometimes the paint just flows off the brush and very few errors occur and other times the entire painting is a struggle. It depends on the complexity of the subject but I think most of it depends on my internal dialogue and what I'm thinking when I paint. The studies help me get to a place where my confidence is high when I begin to film.

[@jennyc5132]

@@LouiseDeMasi thanks so much Louise for the explanations Im sorry I keep asking you so many questions. As to not wanting to show us your mistakes, you would be surprised how many of us would appreciate you showing us what went wrong, where and why. I see it written over and over. We all like to think there is still hope for us when people (experts like yourself..and yes we think you are brilliant and would love your tallent), its not about making you feel anything negative or bringing the tall poppy down..its about know8ng no-one is infallible. Thanks for the links I will certainly check them out. Have a great day..and thankyou once again. Sorry to hear your hubby had an accident, although I didnt see how, it must have been difficult to continue with your channels at that stressful time. I hope he's well now or at least on the mend. Take care both of you😊🤗🥰 cheers from WA

[@SarahNewburyArt]

Lovely! - Not fat or dead looking! 😂😊💜

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Lol-😝 thanks Sarah. 🥰

[@lada7539]

👌👌👌

[@natford8271]

Interesting how your paper warps even when it is stretched.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

It's because it's on gatorboard which is soft in the middle. If the water activated tape fails, which it does often, only the staples are holding the paper down and because gatorbaord is soft, the staples struggle to hold it flat. It raises up when it's sopping wet but as soon as it dries again it goes flat ready for me to paint on. I often blast it with the hair dryer to flatten it out again.

[@natford8271]

@@LouiseDeMasi I am going to have to Google what gator board is.

[@alrunahom9521]

👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻super!

[@rickylangthasa2942]

hi ! can you paint a peacock please. i would really love to see it and learn from you.❣️