Want to Instantly Improve in Watercolor Painting? ▶︎ Stop doing these 3 things!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

▶︎Free Video Lesson: 7 Secrets of Fresh, Powerful Painting www.learntopaintwatercolor.com/7secrets

[@sisterwrath1773]

So, painting watercolor it's an strategy game. A hunting for the right colors and shapes. I'm guilty for wanting to see the final product too quickly. Thank you Matt, these are priceless tips!

[@tintincruz8660]

Not really the "right colors and shapes". A watercolor painting can look good even with just a single color. It's all about the values. 80 percent of heavy lifting in paintings are done with values.

[@friedricengravy6646]

Watercolor can b what ever u find exploring the medium.

[@franhodges9959]

I have watched numerous tutorials of yours and you are the best teacher I have seen. You cover everything, explain options, and even show here how things can be achieved and do all of that with a calm voice. I am very grateful having come across your videos and can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge. Sincerely, Fran

[@dianemcgregor6171]

Two brushes! ready with different colours..and slow down!...and decide what is the essential essence of the scene. Thank you...needed these particular three today!

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You are so welcome!

[@barbaragemin5117]

Point 2and 3 are me all over, especially including everything from the reference. Thanks Matthew. What I’d love to see is a photo reference of yours and how you decide what to include, leave out or modify. Perhaps you’ve already done a similar video. Another one with another photo would be so useful.

[@carterb43]

Your best paintings are ahead of you. I’m making a sign with this quote to put above my art table. Thank you!

[@Sueevans152326]

Great advice. I struggle to avoid copying reference photos, but now, thanks to you, I will focus on the essence, slow down and take a step back. The free video was spot on👍

[@ev3332]

i just love your street scenes- so ordinary yet so extraordinary!

[@arreltidwell7118]

Such wonderful advice for the newbie in watercolor. One of the hardest struggles for me is to “let the fear go”, so that I can actually begin the painting. For the longest time I would watch KZbin video, after video, and never pick up the brush. I am slowly learning to enjoy the process and not be so hung-up on the fear of not appreciating the final artwork. I am seeing little improvements with each attempt. 😁

[@janrpascal]

Matt, your tips are priceless. You are bringing up things many videos, books, and instructors ignore. Thank you!

[@dessyedeeclark1144]

I would wholly agree. The one class I took in person felt very rushed, often I was one of the last to finish each day. Others did two practice paintings in the time I had only done one half of one. But in the end, I came home and have finished them at my pace, to my liking.

[@librenonlibre]

Your teaching style is as warm and generous as it is game-changing. Once again, thank you so much for teaching.

[@maryannegunter115]

Started teaching myself how to WC paint, 4 years ago; mostly by watching tutorials such as this. I'm constantly learning new things and my paintings are improving. Thank you for this lesson, hope to see more of you!

[@MickeyC321]

Lol “Buy two of them”. Spot on. Thank you.

[@toffylikesgames]

It is SO true that it's hard to slow down, wanting the painting to look like something faster. But it definitely pays off pausing and allowing each step to happen naturally. All the difference in the world!

[@rosalindball7534]

Omg - just watched this Matthew - I did exactly all these things this morning with a watercolour painting - had to bin it !!!! Thanks so much - your advice is so valuable and you have a nice calming voice and your paintings are beautiful. Ros - UK

[@MS-bw1fj]

Great tips. I always struggle with landscapes of mountains, the series of mountains from foreground to distant and all the tones and different greens! I would love a tutorial on that as it would be so useful for many paintings. Great video! I must stop copying photos so literally! Thanks 🙏

[@heatherh3457]

I love the idea of 'interpreting' a scene. You have helped me see the value of taking the essence of what speaks to us from a scene , then presenting it in such a way that maximizes this expression to our audience . At first I found it quite shocking to see how 'enhanced' some artist's works are from the original scene, yet they produce a beautiful vision to bring joy. Joyce Hicks is a master at this. Thank you Mathew . I love your teaching style that really drives home how to approach art, not just watercolour

[@sanzoy]

This is super helpful. And somehow listening to you calms my nerves and quiet my anxieties and leads me to think strategically. Thank you.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

So glad to hear that!

[@melindaavila498]

Great advice! I know I am guilty of thinking I have to go fast (I am 77 yo, and if I don't move fast, the paint and paper dry out). So I will follow your advice: plan, plan, pan, wet paper on both sides, have paint on palette, use two brushes (who knew?)

[@jankhambrams]

Wow that third tip really clarifies things and helped boost my confidence. I have a tendency to think I need to be too literal, when really I don't. Heck yeah artistic license!

[@erinmcgrew6093]

I love your explanation of watercolor as painting backwards- I never thought of it that way but it is! You start with your lightest values and layer darker values on top as opposed to other mediums like oil or acrylic where you do the opposite. This is going to change the game for me!

[@jorgekennedypereiracampos4574]

I found it very interesting how your video described much of my solitary learning in watercolor. It felt like you were talking about me. Thank you for the precious video that I am watching this morning in the middle of the Amazon rainforest…in Brazil. Thank you very much.🤙🏻😎🤙🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@siarlp3691]

Just want to say that I fully agree with these really spot on tips, and also really well explained. I love these videos, keep them coming! I have my first exhibition now in a couple of weeks, and I really have found your videos useful in this journey, many thanks.

[@Jacklette]

großartig Matthew. Vielen herzlichen Dank für das tolle Video. Grüße aus München/Germany. Giselle ❤

[@ReinhildeLenaers]

Thank you for the advice. I am new to watercolour and enjoying it so much. With every one of your video's I learn something new every time. I am encouraged to grow as a creator. So thank you again ☺️

[@yeseniaarredondo4016]

As a public school science teacher I love the way you said "Wrong!" and "No!". I've been tortured with dozens of pedagogy seminars on how to correct the students in class without using such words.

[@pattisaunders7386]

Your tutorial videos are the BEST .I have learned so much as a new person to watercolor . Thank you. I am in need of more help in mixing colors and wondered if you could make a video on mixing colors.

[@tonihyler8506]

Excellent reminders! Thanks so much, Matthew.

[@sherrimalone3023]

I’m returning to my watercolor practice after a short break with determination to take off the training wheels. Relying on tutorials exclusively limits my creativity. It’s time to learn to paint from my own references or even my imagination. I have used all 3 suggestions and it’s been a game changer. Thank you so much.

[@krobinson1650]

Thank you for your videos. You are of much help and how you teach can be understood and followed easily.

[@davidmolloy126]

Thanks very much Matthew for another great and inspiring video. Take care. David.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sharonmorelli6056]

Guilty of number 2…..I always want the finished piece, slow down thank you so much🥰

[@k8marlowe]

This has been one of the most constructive videos about watercolor painting I’ve encountered. I’m a new subscriber, and I look forward to catching your other content. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@crisobrador]

Very interesting and useful. Thank you for your time. Regards from Buenos Aires.

[@ageretube3035]

How blessing to encounter with your videos! Thank you 🙏

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad you like them!

[@lisbethjohannsen6613]

That makes so much sense! Thank you !

[@zoeyhumbert3868]

Your so helpful and so additive to watch and so relaxing , you make me want to paint more 😃 thank you ❤️

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Thank you! So glad to hear that. Happy painting!

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Brilliant advice, great video. Thank you very much.

[@rachelturgeon114]

Thank you so much. I just found your channel. Great advice about how to work through a painting.

[@peacefultahitti379]

This is truly a great help!! Thank you, Matthew 💜

[@SKY-qf8qq]

Thank you for the encouragement. Helps a lot

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You are so welcome!

[@mariamalenta6574]

Another great video! Looking forward to practice them

[@CamiloMazorra]

As always thank you for your helpful videos Matthew. Great and simple explanations.

[@amalbaydoun4776]

Please do a video on painting skies

[@ahmedelmansory8672]

Thanks the beautiful presentation of such great fruitful painting tips. Greetings from Egypt

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

You are so welcome!

[@musicomane33]

Grazie M. White!!! Sei davvero molto bravo nelle spiegazioni!!!!!

[@carolineplouffe2327]

Very instructive as always and great advices to follow (or die trying! LOL!). I'm still struggling with the first wash... if I'm too slow, it dries out (even if I'm now watering my paper both sides instead of taping it). On the other side, if I'm doing it once still watery my buildings are fading into the sky or whatever and it looks poorly without definite edges. Seems so easy when I watch you. I guess practive makes perfect!

[@CasparisHelena]

Love your tips. Mine paintings were in need of some more sophistication.I will try it on. Thanks Mathew.

[@corinnemarneffe3286]

Excellent advice. Should watch again and again as constant reminder :-) Thanks!

[@mendyhand3895]

Reference photos get WAY too much attention in the art world. I love photography. So much, that I went to a photography school. But I mainly use references for getting composition right, and for getting my tones right. It’s fun though, to take a really bad photo you’ve taken, and adding in light and shadows…and sometimes a bear! Lol! Your lessons are so great! I’m having to binge watch you again! - Messy Mendy 🖌🙏🏻👩🏻‍🎨

[@christinechandler6310]

Thank you for this terrific advice. Of all the wc YTs I watch this one really helps so much!

[@irenedevalk3282]

Thank you Matthew! So helpful this. And encouraging

[@27Pyth]

Such great advice! Thank you!

[@mogziepayne864]

Great advice Matthew, I so need to practice more and slow down. I’m trying to find my own style and not be a copy cat, but to be freer. This is very helpful thank you 🦋🌺

[@t.fedelis109]

Trovo questo suo video meraviglioso,onesto ed altruista o,istruttivo e dettato dal cuore.complimenti,grazie..

[@leighanncreates]

Thank you so much for these tips! You were able to point out some of my biggest issues right now and I can’t wait to work on them.

[@bettyryan4310]

Great advise! Thank you, Matt!

[@agold1702]

Just signed up; I really appreciate the help and encouragement.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

So glad to hear that!

[@Countrycabin]

Thank you! So glad to have found your channel!

[@amel2784]

I'm just starting watercolor and I can see the hard-won wisdom of your advise and how powerful it can be. I will try to avoid these pitfalls from the beginning. Maybe I'll be more encouraged by the results and keep going. Thank you.

[@lindathaxton1994]

Thank you - so hard to be patient - need to watch this video every week 🙏

[@joshuajeffrey1930]

thank you! great advice! I am going to share it with my art students!

[@ClariceAust]

Thank you; such good advice. I'll try to do my best to follow it. I live in Australia & would like to know how to paint clumps of grasses that you get on the plains.

[@karenjoyce6025]

Brilliant advice and a total game changer for me. Thank you!!

[@chatita9527]

Wow, I am guilty of these aspects mentioned and pointed out by you ... 🤔 Thank you so much! Many greetings from Berlin Germany 👍🤗🇩🇪

[@lindamarsh6711]

I am just starting out with water colour. I’ve always used acrylic before. I’ve subscribed because your voice is calming and your advice makes sense. You may now hear from me about any progress but I’ve bought most of my supplies and will forge ahead with small painting first and go from there. I’d like to leave something behind of me for my children, grand children and my three great grandchildren. My ggrandsons are 15 and 13 and my ggrand daughter is 19 days old. I usually paint my wood working like miniature rocking horses and Christmas ornaments that I draw and cut out and paint in acrylic with lots of blending and miniature decorations on them. The kind that require only a few hairs on the brush but my eye sight isn’t the greatest any more so I’m trying the watercolour on WC paper. God bless, here goes nothing! 🇨🇦🙏🏼😜👍🏻

[@pedrocarloslaufferneto4189]

bom dia , Matt....perfeitos os conselhos, me identifico bastante neles....

[@brucemckenziefraser139]

Some great advice, as always 👍 I particularly agree with interpreting a scene. Indeed, I always try to tell a story in some fashion, to lift an artwork from being merely a representational image.

[@masja1790]

You're an angel! Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻

[@MrsJones-qw2yo]

Very good tutorial! Thank you for these spot on advice!

[@pjs3514]

Thank you. This is some of the best watercolor advice 👏

[@yunzers]

Your videos are so great. Love that painting with the people in it. I am constantly chasing my tail either going too fast or the opposite! Thanks for the excellent advice.

[@dessyedeeclark1144]

I'm about to paint my ducks in a pond, using 4-5 reference photos. I have some close ups that capture the birds flapping wings, preening, or digging bugs from the water. Other refs have bigger scene context or show water better. I want to put all this activity in while not skewing my angle of vision or making goofs in the lighting. One photo captures golden light just before sunset. I want to be consistent. A tutorial on this would be wonderful. Meanwhile I plan to write myself notes on this, how to blend or maintain lighting, which ref photo will be my light direction and time of day. Love your suggestions of writing it down ahead of time.

[@cellk6861]

your artwork is lovely 💓, thank you for sharing

[@KimThane]

Just started watching. Looking forward to this video

[@catherinegill2488]

Inspiring! Thank you!

[@marilynjackson5752]

Thank you for you great tips. I am struggling with painting the Sonoran desert, the cacti, the mountains etc. If you could do a demonstration of that it would be great. Thank you again.

[@Itmejessi]

Needed to hear this, thanks! :)

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PurringMyrrh]

Just pausing to say, this is the second vid of yours that Ive seen and Im so stoked! Great info! Also paused to say, the way you say "NO" then slightly smiled when talking about not trying to copy the reference photos about did me in. 😄 It was like a stern but loving "No" from a good friend or family member.

[@armdaMan]

Hello there from South Africa Just discovered Your site on IG Thanks a zillion for Showing and Sharing these very important, useful Tips. They are worth their weight in Gold !!! "Tis much appreciated - immensely. Will check out each of Your other Pearls soonest Keep up the good work ATB TC aRM

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Welcome! So glad you are enjoying the content!

[@andrewpointer7352]

Thank you wise words ile take them on board.

[@shannon8315]

Watching your video a 3rd time to "Ravele's Bolero", it works! I just discovered your video's, very structured, and helpful, thanks.

[@juliorodrigues6929]

Another outstanding video that highlights critical but often overlooked steps in watercolor. Thank you for sharing. Sadly, I have tried your link a few times but I never receive the email access to your video lesson. I will keep trying.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Julio, I’m sorry you didn’t receive the link! Did you look in your junk folder? If it’s not there please email me at [e-mail] and I’ll make sure you get it.

[@juliorodrigues6929]

@@learntopaintwatercolor thank you.

[@elainethompson3845]

Only just found you Matthew in the last few months and so pleased I have. What’s neutral tint please?

[@markdonovan1540]

Excellent tips and tricks, as always. Thank you.

[@pauline3379]

Great tips, thank you 😊

[@sadisu]

Awesome lessons master. You are so good.

[@beebee8018]

I would like more on how to know when to have or have no hard edges. Thank you.

[@jamessaretta8278]

Matthew - great video - I am especially guilty of number 2 LOL

[@adelamcgrew7135]

😅great advice. First time I heard of you, but very informative. Thank you, gracias

[@juliadean2473]

Thank you. Very kind and helpful information. I have trouble choosing my blues especially for the sky - eg which ones is it okay to do a yellow wash near nd not risk it greening.

[@kennethfisher7013]

Have you tried Naples yellow?

[@jbdanard]

Your videos are very inspiring!

[@stevewadley1903]

Really enjoyed that! Thanks!

[@rebeccatompsett3442]

Thank you for your great insight

[@النحلهالرايقهانهار]

شكراً كثيراً لك….انت ملهم بحق…اود سؤالك اذا كان هناك عائد مادي من الرسم بالالوان المائيه….أعني هل يمكن بيعها مثل لوحات الاكريلك والزيت ام هي فقط للمتعه؟

[@Sherlock2022]

Thanks for the video. As to suggestions for further material, how do you go from ‘chocolate box’ style painting to a grittier, urban or industrial style? Thanks again.

[@soniastewart4379]

That was so helpful thank you.

[@forsythia33]

I would love to see some examples painted in real time. All the arts folks do speeded up time lapses, which are necessary and useful, but I'd also like some 'real time' examples.

[@aprilkurtz1589]

Can these tips be applied to tighter paintings? I do let paints mix on the paper, but only when I'm doing a wash, and for distant objects. I like painting in a more detailed way than most watercolorists I've known.

[@ashokkr5599]

Thanks a lot for your lesson