Total Beginner? Got the Watercolor Blues? Two Top Tips to Blast Your Block and Get You Going Again!

[@annehebert6959]

I really enjoy your videos. You are probably one of the best "teachers' out there on KZbin. You don't just teach about painting a "subject" - you delve into other things like painters block, colour mixing, limited palettes, etc. While I do enjoy the odd "art haul" - I really like that you don't do those. And I so enjoy listening to your voice - so calming & reassuring. Thank you to you and Tamsin - you are appreciated .

[@cathyhaynes2700]

I agree!

[@millydaisy29]

That is a great tutorial because I can’t draw and by using your ideas it doesn’t matter. I am just going to enjoy myself. Thanks so much 👍

[@millydaisy29]

Thanks to you, Diane I feel wonderful because I was able to use your ideas to be creative with no pressure to draw objects. I wish I could post a photo of my doodle to show you!

[@KatherinePedroza-vz5eb]

What a little treat at the end of the video. Thanks Tamzin in letting us into your Mum's garden to see the bees at work. The simple things in life...❤

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

So nice of you to say, Katherine, we’ll try to do more of that this spring (when it finally arrives!)

[@fireflye10]

I love how you help us have fun while we become uninhibited when we paint.

[@anncorsaro224]

Thank you for these ideas. I think the “blocks” come when we try to be perfect with our art. At least, that’s how it is with me. Love your beautiful animals, by the way. Your hens are just gorgeous! All your critters are obviously well taken care of👍❤️

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

I think you're right, it's true of me for sure. Thanks for your kind words about the critters!

[@StephanieBeal-xz7lw]

Thank you for allowing and encouraging nonsensical moments.

[@delphinewood7519]

You had me laughing all the way through. I’m looking forward to trying this technique with different shapes and with lines. I’d be very interested in more tutorials like this. But your roosters are my favorite 🥰🙏💙💙🌵🌵🌵🌵🌵

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Have fun! More of this type will be coming for sure!

[@MariaMartinez-jb3zn]

Hi Diane…I did your posies and swirls in a vase, last night and it was so fun and easy❣️ I felt the color blobs of colors on green stalks was blah but once I put in swirls of white gel and metallic acrylic pen, it was beautiful! Whatever felt undone was covered with swirls ☝🏽 Genius! 🙏🏽🙋🏻‍♀️👍🏽Mia

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

It's quite amazing what a white pen can do isn't it!

[@debhalld9794]

Gosh, I feel better after hearing you say you have painter's block every day... me, too!!! Actually motivates me to "just get on with it"😁

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Yep, I find picking up a brush is what gets me started! And it doesn’t matter if I don’t do anything worthwhile - what does that mean anyway? My latest little effort of the three birds was provoked by seeing a meme somewhere on the Internet which said Paint a bird every day - keeps depression away! So I painted a bird! Again!!❤️😂❤️

[@millydaisy29]

Thanks to you Diane, I feel wonderful because your ideas meant I could create something that I am happy with, even though I have no drawing skills. I wish that I could post a photo to show you.

[@judywickum1952]

The bees sure do love the purple flowers!

[@gailhicks6547]

Because of you and your videos I am starting to get paint on to paper. I was terrified of messing up and chucking it all……watching you turn simple lines into interesting “Whatever’s”. is inspirational. Thank you.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

That’s great to hear, and I hope you enjoy much painting soon!

[@JoyAloha709]

Loved so much to see the animals and the trees at the beginning!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thank you!

[@ReneeW59]

This looks like fun! I loved the intro showing your animals and the end too. It looks beautiful there!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Have a go at this Renee if you are a bit blocked.

[@rgporter1957]

What a wonderful idea, Diane! I'm such a novice at painting and drawing, I'm very skittish about trusting myself and letting go of my inner critic. I drew a great deal in my youth, but have long forgotten my lack of inhibition from those days. I'm interested in the "neuro" method you spoke of, can't recall the proper name. I've seen it done in a couple of places and it looks very therapeutic and freeing. Do you have a lesson about it? The other question I have, and this sounds so very naive, I understand about two cos of water, one for cleaning and one for the fresh. But when you are off camera and swishing your brush about, coming back with a clean brush, I'm never sure how much water to load in the brush and how wet to make the paint. I usually end up with a swap of color or a muddy mess because I've daubed into another color. Do you have a very basic tutorial on the proper techniques for all this? I'm sorry to put all this here, but it all occurred to me again as I watched this tutorial. Thank you so much for everything you provide here. I'm a very happy new subscriber and patron. 💗

[@dlg7551]

Diane, you are such an inspiration. I love listening to your stories and adventures, while watching you paint. You paint with such freedom and with such a carefree spirit. We learn so much. We have lots of quail in Arizona. I'd love to watch you paint one. Thank you for the time you give us. It is most appreciated.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thanks Deborah, I really appreciate your feedback and appreciation! So glad you are enjoying the videos!!

[@catherinestrange7859]

Thank you for the stress relief. I love the paintings, but also love the nature scenes!

[@greshnadibble3754]

Love this idea to beat the blank paper.. mostly I have a problem of what to paint first ... My dear husband suggested the hall walls yesterday 😂

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thank you so much 😊 That reminds me of my Dad, who when I used as a child to ask "what shall I draw Dad?" used to say helpfully "Draw breath!"

[@greshnadibble3754]

@@DianeAntoneStudio what a very sensible Dad you had 🙂 as taking the time to draw breath often solves problems. ( Sadly I don't think my husband was joking as I saw a pot of emulsion go past 🤣)

[@houn2dogood]

I love your videos! Informative and entertaining! You do such beautiful work! Thank you for sharing 💕

[@dotmorton4540]

Dot from UK All I'm going to say is brilliant. It's beautiful, thank you. Lots of love from the UK, Dot x.

[@dianestedman3828]

thank you for letting us see the flowers and the bees

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Any time!

[@tracienichols6739]

Thank you for the sounds of nature, quite lovely. Thank you again for the relaxing art. 😎

[@susanvanschuyver7900]

Great exercise! Non judgemental. Love that.

[@khabsamum6074]

Thank you for this. I have after 40 plus years just started to get back into watercolour and ended up spending a vary happy hour playing with pens and paints. Looking forward to watching your past videos and excited for what is to come

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

So glad for you!!! Welcome to my world!!! ❤️

[@katpaints]

So fun! I am not at all a beginner and yet, that business of wanting to paint and nothing coming to mind - in spite of flowers blooming everywhere - often needs assistance! This is fun! And what is that beautiful blue flower at the end??? Stunning!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Ah Kathleen that flowering shrub is Ceanothus or California Lilac, a kind of buckthorn. Very attractive to bees and hoverflies! Thanks for the supportive comments, glad you found it interesting!

[@7409gigi]

I truly enjoy your videos! You bring serenity and calming to my home whenever I watch/listen to them! Your home is so lovely and I enjoy your animals and flower gardens too! Thank you Diane, you are a treasure!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

I'm so glad! Thanks so much Brenda x

[@Angie-pl3uw]

I think those are precious. They do make lovely bookmarks; you can add a background color and a pretty ribbon. Then you’ve got one of a kind little "joys of art" which I’ll bet someone just might buy. Thanks, Diane.

[@edithtsacle5257]

Thank you so much for your great ideas, Diane. I loved your video, complete with your animals, the great common sense (that I hadn't thought of) suggestions, the demo, your soothing voice and the grand-finale with your flowers and bees! 'just wonderful!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thanks so much Edith, that's such a nice thing to say. Keep enjoying the videos!

[@gerardbradshaw5644]

hi Diane you do cheer me up when I,m feeling a bit lost so thanks,😊 and the doodles look great

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

I'm so glad! Thanks for sharing and I hope you are feeling good today x

[@pennygreenfield8418]

That was so good to watch. A wonderful way to paint. I always feel overwhelmed by a piece of white paper and this would help me to 'let go'. Thank you very much.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@anitadavidson1266]

This looked like such a mindless (in a good way) approach to having a play - no pressure fun. Hopefully that inner critic we have inside can be quiet and simply enjoy the process too. I’ve been jumping around your older videos as I only discovered you around Nov ‘22. Looks like I have much to watch and hopefully be kickstarted into non judgemental play 😻

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Hi Anita and welcome to the channel! So glad you found us and are enjoying the videos! There is a lot (over 600 videos) to discover, and we have something for every mood, every occasion I think! Happy non-judgmental playtime coming up for you!

[@maryspringer1442]

I would love to see you paint more abstract art, I cant get enough of it!

[@ladyinblack1964]

I have total envy of your blues and greens palette! Very yummy!

[@marysharp9635]

this was as you say very meditative. I saw this some time ago and just watched this weeks book marks with the Kuretake graphite paints, which I am going to pick up next week-so excited….I love you or pretty roses and feel quite relaxed about painting 2 different sets of your bookmarks for xmas presents for friends that I have bought books for. so my dear Diane thank you for your inspiration -blessings for a beautiful week ahead for you and yours and all of your beautiful animals in and out of the house and barn 💚🦄💚

[@kristenlapham2368]

Those are really cool!! And what a great warm up exercise. Thanks for sharing!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Glad you like them! Thanks Kristen!

[@dotmorton4540]

Dot from UK Hi again Diane, I've just spent the last couple of hours trying to copy your video. I used a mixed media Canson pad and Jane Davenport Mermaid markers and various pens Posca, signo metallic, a white window marker and a black biro. You could say I threw everything at it, and it ain't half bad, thank you so much for the inspiration much better time spent not on front of mindless TV. I will make more of these. Lots of love Dot x.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Hi Dot from the UK!!! So glad you enjoyed this one and got free and loose with it! That’s what it’s all about, nothings gonna stop you now, go girl!

[@ninaanns7226]

Loved watching u paint these. So simple but so pretty 💕

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thanks so much 😊

[@myrtle4251]

Thank-you for this Diane; I shall give it a try. I loved the whimsical bird family of your previous video, then, later, I saw some bird photographs on the Guardian website which reminded me of them and of your hens. If you scroll to the bottom of their front page you will find the galleries and you will need to click on "+more in pictures" or use "Photography galleries" in the left-hand side-bar to find the correct collection - "Watch the Birdie/Framing our Feathered Friends". Hope you enjoy it.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thanks so much for that Myrtle, wonderful pictures!!!

[@myrtle4251]

@@DianeAntoneStudio Glad you liked them. M.

[@susanorban3059]

Diane I really loved this one!! It's next on my list to do!! Thanks so much!!♥️💐🐝♥️

[@gailliguori3037]

Looks like fun! Good bookmarks for boys!

[@nellkretzschmar4658]

such a peaceful excercise. THank you

[@cindysimons2772]

Happy circles

[@barbramacnair5937]

I really enjoyed this exercise. I also loved seeing your land and animals. It reminded me of our beautiful property in the lower sierras in northern California near Yosemite national park and our animals (5 hens, a rooster and 3 cats). It's lovely to be surrounded by such life, isn't it?

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, it is very special. Do you still have your property ?

[@cathyhaynes2700]

I really like this idea! Simple yet beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thank you! 😊

[@carlapearce4008]

This is just what I need!

[@debbieekes5718]

Thank you. I LOVE this and will be trying.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Wonderful!

[@julieboyle170]

Something so simple but effective. Thank you for the ideas and inspiration.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@lyndeanezjoppp00the93]

Fantastic what you've done with the paint tins ,I need to do the same ! Thank you.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Go for it! It's very liberating!

[@maryannehowell4144]

Amazing! I Have done this sort of thing in the past for painters block and it really works. I love your take on it. Thank you. You have such a relaxing voice really helps me calm down.

[@lyndeanezjoppp00the93]

Thank you, lovely.

[@ruthiepooh86]

Doodling with paint! Great idea.

[@junemaguire5053]

Love these they are so cute.

[@gailmariage5318]

Nice exercise. Thanks.

[@Skinnychelle48]

Super cute!

[@rachealharding4044]

Thank you Diane..brilliant idea with the paints painting the colours, I have to keep looking at my notes for names of colours. Also for the circles.😊

[@steffycrewdson2891]

Great therapy thank you

[@cherie_colours]

I love your video's. They cheer me up. Trying to get out of a rut. Bit blah at the moment. 😒 You're so generous and helpful. 😍

[@vivienneadamson2307]

Thankyou Diane again for a very relaxing tutorial. I think we sometimes overthink things trying to aim for perfection which I feel sometimes makes us get to the stage of not knowing what we want to paint (painters block). Diane did you know you can take the pin out of the mixing palette on your paint boxes leaving you just with the lid. This would help with space on your desk. Thankyou again. xxx

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Hi Vivienne, yes, I had temporarily forgotten about the lid coming off, thanks for reminding me! So glad you enjoyed this video!

[@shancan6328]

Lovely relaxing setting with sounds and colors of life. Great to relax and play with watercolors without stress. Thank you

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

My pleasure 😊

[@robinsusich4247]

Love it! Great tips

[@mariach46]

So cool! Great ideas and fun exercises. So lovely seeing all the animals out on a sunny day too. Thanks for sharing Diane.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

So welcome Maria!

[@emilyrosenzweig9946]

Love this!!

[@mpetersen2586]

These are so pretty…..they remind me of gem colors….you are so freeing to those of us that suffer from lack of imagination! You give such confidence and “you can do it”….which makes me feel good! BTW, how is your husband?🙏

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Hubby is fine thanks, kind of you to ask, and I’m so glad you enjoyed this video!

[@conniemesce4093]

Great idea! ❤

[@lindaking9222]

Great idea🙂

[@whatifitnt]

Anyone else like to have Diane as their therapist... ? 💝✨💖💫💞

[@pearlchristineclint2590]

Thank you for this, they look so easy to do and the bonus, you can use them as bookmarks.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Absolutely! And lots of variations to do as well!

[@roxannerosecrans4441]

Tutorial is a good practice for experimenting with color! Thanks 👍 and making colors 😃

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

My pleasure 😊

[@bonnieglod2576]

Thank you for the bees! They are inspiring!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thanks Bonnie, really glad you enjoyed them!

[@littlesistercheryliscrafti9099]

Awesome ☺️

[@purfleac]

Fun!

[@betsyulbrich7362]

Thank you Diane….that was fun! ❤️🐝

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@saskiabongers6158]

Thank you for sharing your art and ideas 💜🙏 enjoyed this video very much

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

So glad Saskia!

[@christinecloutier4015]

Lovely

[@patriciacreighton518]

Great tutorial! Thank you!

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@posiesutton2009]

Brilliant!❤️

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Thanks so much, I think you're right!

[@karenaglipay5658]

Thanku

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Ure welcome!

[@margohill3149]

I missed what kind of gold pen you use -- mine get all "blobby" -- can you recommend a brand that is smoother? Thank you! I love these as bookmarks. My friends are big readers, and they love to get bookmarks.

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

Hi Margo, I use a Pentel hybrid gel. Here's a link to a set of white, silver and gold on Amazon which I think is a good choice: amzn.to/3xcEz4k Hope this helps x

[@allisonhollier118]

I watched this and immediately went and put paint to paper. Super fun! Thanks! Ironically, I just organized and re-swatched my paints. Must have been kismet. I also love seeing your little Eden. ☺️ Now what I want to know is how is that the dogs and cats and chickens don’t all chase each other? 😆It’s unfathomable to me to see them all living in harmony…

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

I’m so glad you enjoyed this particular exercise! I thought it was great fun! Regarding the dogs cats and chickens - they do get on pretty well with the exception of one of our dogs who is a little terrier and tends to have a bit of a penchant for chickens! But on the whole everything goes well!

[@allisonhollier118]

@@DianeAntoneStudio I have a Dachshund. I completely understand. LOL 😜

[@cindybarnard8273]

What is the white pen you use?

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

The white pen is this one: Uniball Signo Gel Pens amzn.to/3NPTqJd

[@cindybarnard8273]

@@DianeAntoneStudio I picked up an archival gel pen today and can’t wait to practice 👏👏👏

[@pampusscat4513]

I did something similar for my May doodle challenge. #2022doodlechallengeMay

[@marcsang4529]

💖💘

[@peppamlowe]

love this idea. It kills so many birds with one stone!

[@rayemartineau8644]

👍👍🧡🧡👀👀 8/6/22

[@carolinew302]

I enjoyed this so much. Got so frustrated by my art today, so this was a much needed break. Thank you Diane

[@DianeAntoneStudio]

You are so welcome! Glad these stress busters did their job!

[@watercolorpaintingintheaft9142]

Fun!