Watercolor Greens - how to mix natural looking greens

Green in nature is life and very soothing to look at. But in painting, it can be a dead color very easily. Let’s talk about it today.
This is a long video because I covered a lot of things =)
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Download the reference photo:
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All the materials I use can be found here:
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Timestamps
0:00 - intro
1:10 - 1- Always mix your greens
1:50 - 2- Look at your greens objectively
2:30 - 3- Find your range of greens
3:38 - Analyze photos
14:40 - Green Mixing Demo
17:12 - Simple Tree Painting
23:41 - Painting demo - Value study
26:00 - Value study - 2nd layer
27:56 - Color painting - Drawing
28:27 - First Wash
29:56 - Second Wash
32:18 - Third Wash
35:13 - Painting reflections

[@Cafewatercolor]

Any other question about watercolor? Let me know here! ☺️

[@Pattymelt415]

What happened to the video you did right after this one? Step by step landscape??? I tried to open it but said not authenticated??

[@Cafewatercolor]

Lola’s Mom it should be up in my channel now

[@lavettelane]

Can this be done in adobe elements??

[@Annsz135]

When you study the value, do you only observe the photo or view? For me, to catch the right value from a real view scene is a challenge. Sometimes I took a photo and then changed it into black and white.

[@Cafewatercolor]

@@lavettelane should be no problem i never tried though

[@barbarawilliams7012]

You have excelled yourself here, Eric. I have just shared this with my online art friends as “the most practical and informative KZbin lesson”. Not only does it guide us through some very important lessons, but it is beautifully presented. During lockdown it is so easy just to watch a whole bunch of ‘demos’ but many of them are little more than looking over someone’s shoulder as they put paint on paper. Very few actively encourage us to strive for improvement by putting great teaching into practice in the way you do. One suggestion - perhaps you could post the tonal value section as an additional lesson in it’s own right - unless someone is specifically looking for help with greens it would be easy to miss it and it is something we all need to know and very few teach. Well done - I am still saving for your course, anticipating it will be of the same quality of tuition and production as these very generous ‘freebies’.

[@umairbutt3470]

Barbara, I couldn't have said it better. I echo your comment here. This video (and many of his other great "freebies") have only further affirmed my decision to take his online course despite the fact that I believe art can only be taught live. He is so far my favourite teacher. Too bad he doesn't live in Canada.

[@northerngardengirl]

Eric, this is brilliant! The use of the computer program really made this so easy to see the different tones of red, yellow, blue comprising the greens. So informative and concise. Your videos are always so relaxing and calming to watch and I always come away so much more informed. Thank you for sharing your gift of art with us! Stay sane, Stay safe and stay lovely!

[@psinglet1963]

Your delivery of "double hate so it hurts me more" is perfect. 😂 Thank you for your videos. I only discovered you a few days ago. I've had instruction in oil painting so I feel comfortable with that but I've only recently (this week) worked up the nerve to try watercolor. I worried it was too unforgiving, and I felt like the process of creating a watercolor painting was the exact opposite of oil. I'm glad I finally worked up the nerve and I'm glad I found your channel Your videos and the quality of your teaching are a huge help.

[@neelofurk576]

Loved it.... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jaswas77]

This is one of the best watercolour channels on KZbin. The quality of your tutorials is amazing. Very clearly explained and you Paint the Paint. Thank you so much! I am excited to try these techniques.

[@Gnomesaying315]

It sure is! The 25 people who disliked it don't know what they are missing.

[@donnatodd4119]

This is a truly eye opening look into the variety of hue, saturation and darkness of a single object (in this case, a tree). I’ve saved this as a reference for color evaluation. What a thorough study!!!

[@pedrocarloslaufferneto4189]

hello, Eric... I'm Pedro, from Brazil... after 40 years away🤫🤫🤫 from tubes, brushes and canson, I'm coming back... I was very happy to find your teachings, mainly in these aspects of avoiding ready-made colors... and yes, mix in your own palette. It helped tremendously. I'm testing my 4 decade tubes, some were dry, a few were still creamy, mixing gum arabic and honey, with distilled water....I think the result is being enough to return...More ahead buy new tubes.

[@woutsebastiaan]

Oh man! Using photoshop color picker to explain greens is GENIUS! Thanks for this, I love how you are able to explain these things so rational and logical.

[@dougjonnaebel5704]

Using photoshop to explain warm, cool and hue! This. Is. Brilliant! Thank you so much!

[@leetzannaroyalla9068]

My mother taught me by having me look through a white cardboard square with a hole cut in it . That way I only saw the colors, not the subject. You would be surprised at how many colors are in a persons face.I know you are speaking of only greens but it works for every color doesn't it? I love watching you and listening to you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and feelings.

[@mskhartwatercolourwithmisu8598]

Tha's a really good idea.

[@julianat1939]

Hello Mr Lin it's Juliana from Melbourne Australia. I'm 72 and I'm just starting to learn watercolour. Thankyou for your segment on greens warm to cold and how to mix them. It is very difficult to get my heard around it I really listened to you. I was painting black out of a tube for shadows. Thankyou.🌹

[@Ha-ps9hj]

I am so mesmerized by the reflections and the lilypads. It's like organized chaos. Absolutely beautiful.

[@davidmccullough6600]

I am a beginner, only started painting a month ago. Your videos have been helpful to me, but this is one that I didn't realize how much I needed. I have been struggling with the greens in the floral and landscapes I have attempted and now I understand why. Thank you so much for what you do. I appreciate your calm tone and peaceful demeanor

[@watrgrl2]

I love how you get me thinking about assumptions I make that are affecting how I use color. You’re a gifted teacher!

[@edzejandehaan9265]

Saw an interesting doc once about color perception. It was stated that humans are very good at seeing variations in green color, more than other colors. Would explain why green is more difficult to get right. Great tutorials btw!

[@No_sauce_All_spice]

This video deserves millions of likes ❤️

[@terrichien9266]

I like the approach using computer to explain color. It make sense to me for non-art major. I have better understanding when I mix various green. Thanks.

[@juliadean2473]

That's a lovely, beautiful painting! Thank you for your extremely helpful and informative explanation of the complexity of painting green things😊

[@wilmawernick9242]

Thank you for your various tutorials; I have watched several of them and have more on my list yet to watch. You are a good teacher. Your training must have been in the excellent range in my opinion.

[@fzghandour]

Thanks for great education, even sap green from different companies is so variable!

[@katherinelawrence1608]

You make it look so easy! the photoshop demo was a game changer in my understanding of color! thank you!

[@karendurston2528]

I wasn't inspired by the photo but you made a gorgeous painting from it. I liked the idea of using the computer to help distinguish color. Very well done!! Thank you.

[@georgio2]

This gives me confidence to not be too fussy. I can see things in the picture that you didn't seem to paint! The wonder of watercolour.

[@jeanetteabunassar5643]

I am so glad to meet you ,a friend sent me an email of your video on the variation of mixing green colors ,I am hooked ❣️I do oil paint and love pastel painting but water color intimidate me I am a control freak and very detail oriented ,I been struggling to get looser and less details in my work ,getting better . I love your calming voice and your way of explaining so clearly how to paint 🎨 thank you . (3 hours of watching your videos ) enjoyed them all

[@lindajohnston2259]

Eric, I started watercolor painting during the pandemic, and have taken some early classes. I had a little experience with acrilics and watercolor in my 20s, but now, as a retired teacher of 35 years, and mother of grown children, I find your stye of teaching quite engaging as well as consistent with the purpose of each lesson. Thank you so much! I am painting lakes and rivers so much better now. I'm looking forward to more!

[@donnagreenwood127]

Love how explain the use and mixtures of color

[@mvswaaij]

Top teacher ! Thanks Eric. You made me laugh as well about the "double hate " . XX

[@wilmawernick9242]

I really like your comments about: "Paint the Color of the Light." A very important concept. Thanks.

[@KarenHobson]

I heard him mention that in another video recently and it stunned me. Never looked at it that way before. I've now watched HOURS of watercolor tutorials and no one ever says it so plainly!

[@roguenine2000]

Greetings from Provence…where there are 50 shades of green at any time! This is exactly what I needed tonight. Thank you!

[@rachelchan2215]

This is the third time I watch this video, still enjoy watching. More importantly, learn some more of your beautiful painting! Thanks for your sharing 👍！

[@marionbik2022]

Once again I’ve learned a lot… Where would we be without green in our lives. Thank you

[@SheridansSojourn]

Excellent demo. KZbin suggested your channel to me and it turns out we probably don't live too far apart so your painting of Bloedel, beyond being a delightful a surprise, is especially helpful.

[@signesoonberg8713]

I have always struggeled with the colour green. Thank you Eric showing how to work with the colour green so it can be exciting and not boring!

[@lydiabeinsberger8807]

Hi Eric, thank you so much for all the useful and clear explained video's you share with us. I am learning a lot and you stimulate to try all those things. Please let us enjoy more of these video's in the future !

[@Linda-kf9wf]

Thats a great idea to use photoshop to analyze the colors!! Makes the whole process less daunting Thanks for the tutorial.

[@marylabrec2728]

I'll never look at green the same way again😊

[@Regulus1999]

Hi Eric, I like your video a lot because as an engineer it cleverly explains the many different shades of green that exist from a photo using Photoshop which I never thought to do before. I am very new to watercolour painting and exploring so much on You Tube it is easy to get so confused with different advice. But I like your clear and calm style of presentation. I have made many messes from mixing paints wrongly to get new colours especially green! But now I understand how to get the the cool or the warm shades of green that exist in the photos, which our eyes just do not see! This is magic to me. However, when you speed up the painting at the end I got a little lost with what you were mixing together and why and your colour names are different to what paints I have already. But I think I can practise getting my greens a bit better now, which as someone who lives in, and is a photographer of nature, that is one colour I want to get right. Great job!! Thank you Sally

[@jscook54]

What a fantastic lesson! I have never seen such an excellent discussion and demonstration of the different greens in nature. I “knew” landscape had different green hues, but your video has been so informative and clear. Thank you. I feel like I should be paying tuition.

[@shirleysarradet2052]

Beautiful. Just beginning and I am very old. Anyway, I will just have fun.

[@steadybetty]

Brilliant! I loved the analysis of the greens on Photo Shop. Your pallet is the key to the earth tones. I’ve overused Sap Green and been disappointed. This is the answer I’ve been looking for!

[@hotmonkeyfilms]

So informative. Love mixing all the colors in a spot puddle, warming, cooling, and only adding water when it gets too dry.

[@LavenderDebs]

Green is why I dread landscape. This video is like having a key to unlock the secret of green... and I am on my way to buy a tube of cobalt turquoise. AND practice, practice, practice! THANK YOU! Debs in Everett, WA

[@bonniebishop2755]

Lovely. Thank you for explaining how to mix greens and showing us how you do value studies.

[@williesumlin7892]

I've stayed in Washington State twice very nice there amazing Nature views. Thanks again for another amazing video!

[@watercolourbyshilpi5371]

Waw wonderfull knowledge about mixing of green...thank u Eric

[@patwilson5017]

Your videos have taught me, a newby, so much. Thank you. I always watch to the very end.

[@marilynn3490]

Art School quality of instruction! so happy to find this on KZbin! Greens are easy to understand now. Thank you, Eric!

[@suereynolds5029]

Brilliant video! Using Photoshop makes it all make sense to me - thank you so much Eric.

[@wildgoobsid5]

I love watercolours now thanks to your videos and great teaching method and skills. Thankyou!

[@KarenHobson]

This is the best explanation that I've seen yet of how to portray greens in a watercolor. You break it down beautifully and the way you address warm v. cool shades of green and finding the range makes it easy to understand. I am going to watch this several times as I try to master the representation of the greens in nature. Thank you!

[@ShaunakDe]

Love this tutorial so much. Thank you for taking the time to teach this.

[@ThatgirlinSeattle]

Hi Eric, it’s Pam from Bothell. I just discovered your channel last night and I think I’ve watched 10 of your videos so far. You are such a good teacher. I love how you get into the minutia of watercolor paintings. So many other channels just scratch the surface, I have learned so much from your channel just in the last day. I am a newbie to be sure, but I still feel like I’m not lost in the woods when it comes to watercolor painting, like I did before I found your channel.

[@artgugunft]

I was struggling with the nature greens for a long time. It’s helpful:) Thank you for the sharing!

[@sbinnr]

Thank you Eric! This is very helpful to me! I have always struggled with greens, and this gives me a new way to approach them.

[@learntopaintwatercolor]

Eric, you create wonderful content. You also seem very kind and generous with your teaching. Keep up the great work!

[@judyonody7748]

Very helpful, Eric! Thank you for the warm/cool lesson and examples. Beautiful painting!

[@monami7092]

Eric, I learned so much from this video. Thank you for your time and for sharing your wonderful talent.

[@SeanMcColgandude]

As a beginner I definitely have trouble mixing my colors, thanks for the practical tips and demonstrations. I feel like I understand better now

[@kimberlylipscomb5706]

Beautiful painting. Thank you for illustrating your green mixtures. Very helpful.

[@marilynfrench-st.george2365]

Eric, I really enjoyed your “green” tutorial. It has given me confidence to try some more. Your discussion about joining value shapes has given me a lot to think about. THanks

[@neljansen8275]

Beautiful, Eric! You make it look so easy, but that's a good thing for us. It encourages us to try your techniques, many thanks!

[@Wal48]

Very informative, particularly swatching the colours on the computer. Always an eye opener to see what colour it really is! Greens are tricky and I will try to mix my own after your explanation!

[@nancynewlin]

Superb tutorial on greens. Your analysis with Photoshop really did it for me. I must put turquoise on my palette!!

[@joannweber4393]

Thank you so much for explaining and most of all "showing" the different shades of green and how they interact within the picture. For the First Time, I now think I get it! I appreciate your teaching techniques!

[@armdaMan]

Hello there ERIC from deep down across the pond in sunny South Africa, DURBAN to be more precise Been avidly following Your lessons. Covered Clouds and Water. Absolute eye openers for a rookie like me. Most informative and definitely very well presented. Like the way U get profound with relevant and important Technical info so overlooked or disregarded by many of the other Artists. We must record our utmost sincere appreciation for Your taking time to make and share these Videos for the benefit of the rest of the World at large. Truly magnanimous on Your part. Sharing is indeed caring and we can't really thank You enough. Do keep up the good work. Hope we can afford Your lessons some day Once again, THANKS A ZILLION Kind regards ATB TC aRM

[@annevanderwoude9319]

In one word beautiful

[@jeffmoodie6144]

Love the final painting. I keep considering adding a green to my WC palette but just can’t bring myself to. I have two yellows, two blues and a red with a neutral tint and it seems to give me the ranges that I need. I always find it interesting to work with the one puddle/pile of green and just keep massaging it in the direction that I am looking for.

[@davidgreene3809]

Eric, a great lesson and great painting. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@delmar5652]

I have watched all your tutorials and media I use is Acrylics, but after seen you I am going to try watercolors, I love the way you teach them. Thank you so much ❤️😊

[@umairbutt3470]

Eric, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this video. I tried to follow along to get the colours. Being able to see your palette really helps in understanding how to get the colour right. Please do more and more greens and trees. I am trying to practice my trees and want to perfect them.

[@NanaBeth1]

First I love listening to you talk. Your voice so so calm & soothing in the middle of the chaos around us. The video-WOW. I can honestly say I learned more watching this than in the past 6 mos. I've with PS Elements since they first came out. I restore old & damaged photos. YOur use of it in this video finally made color and values something I can understand and use. Thank you so much.

[@peacefultahitti379]

Much thanks, Eric. Your way of teaching is excellent!!! I'm a beginner but I was able to grasp the tutorial quite easy. Now putting it on paper is of course, a different story. ♥️🥰

[@Cmm_art]

Very informative,, I usually use yellow and blue for my greens.. Acrylics paint

[@BarbrajoanOriginals]

This was very helpful. Most painters have trouble with the greens. You did a great job on this, and I’m always so grateful. Thank you. 👩🏻‍🎨

[@sherryphoenix]

One of the most informative videos available in net. Thanks a lot Sir 🙏🙏🌹🌹

[@kbatwe55]

Interesting variations in green tones

[@garyfrederick8419]

thoroughly enjoying your content. Great delivery of the subject matter. Thank you.

[@YantoKiernz]

Thanks for giving this color education

[@MichaelJCahill]

Outstanding lesson. One of your very best as it addresses mixing of colors, which is the trickiest part of watercolors for me. Thank you so much for this. I will be watching it a few more times while mixing my own colors to mimic your methods. Please, please do more lessons like this one. Colors are the hardest part of this process for me and you have no idea how incredibly helpful this video was in helping me gain control of my palette and what it is capable of. Thank you, Eric.

[@patticook]

I absolutely love this video. I do not have knowledge of using photoshop, but what a great tool to build up your colour palette. Wowsers. I love this video!

[@robmcshane6907]

Excellent tutorial Eric...many thanks. Brilliant idea to show the hues and saturation using photoshop....really clarified for me how many colours you can use to achieve the different greens...I am surprised and pleased...my understanding and appreciation stretches again ! :)... now to get it down on paper. Exciting. Thanks again.

[@StanWatt.]

I love this video. Despite the thousands of photos I've taken I never thought to apply this to my painting.

[@aicerg]

This video was amazing and beautiful. I am pretty much obsessed with greens haha so this was perfect, very well presented 💗

[@DavidMiltonJones]

Beautiful painting, Eric. Thank you!

[@vvhar513]

I tried your recipe. It works well! I felt like I can paint tree with style now 😆 thank you so much!

[@anartistpatty8912]

Wow.. It turned out very beautiful painting. Thank you so much.

[@mskhartwatercolourwithmisu8598]

Thank you for the detailed explanations. I really like your value study a lot. That really helps with the color painting. And the explain with a computer program, that too. It really helps. Thank you for sharing.

[@arifsumarna0465]

Woww woww.... very nice n interesting Sir👍👍, full success

[@1fredricka]

one of the best tutorials for greens. Great information and painting. Thank You for the demo

[@jodybailey2845]

Thank you for your mentoring lessons. I appreciate it very much! I also delight in your paintings.

[@qutub-ul-walikhan2459]

The coloring method is very well explained with Adobe photoshop.

[@solar979]

Very helpful, thank you. I really enjoy your work and your beautiful paintings.

[@ivart817]

Great job illustrating this subject! Thank you, well done~

[@sandyhatten111]

Extremely helpful! Thank you, Eric!!

[@bruceosborne1892]

I found this very useful. Thank you Eric.

[@SophieBird07]

Truly amazing!

[@angelinamichelle8474]

This was wonderfully helpful. Thankyou so much for sharing this!

[@oart2472]

You are too skilled in watercolor, you are doing very well, and you are also a very good teacher. Thank you for sharing! 👍!

[@pakulaloola]

I love your videos, and this is the best one yet. You explained this so clearly and concisely. Thank you. i got a lot out of it.

[@wood2be]

Lovely! I love your abstract landscapes!