Watercolor succulents // Watercolor Techniques Explained

[@srcworm]

Thank you for mentioning when a previous layer is wet or dry. I watch a lot of painting videos and no one ever does that and it’s important to know, when just learning

[@LouiseDeMasi]

My pleasure. Thank you!

[@denisewells4617]

@@LouiseDeMasi tf

[@lesleyhughes4904]

Stunning paintings. Your step by step tutorials are the best I have seen. I love how you miss nothing out, informing us how you have even wet the paper or left it dry etc. brilliant teaching. Oh and I love your bloopers too! So funny. Thankyou for your inspiration.

[@patti3d]

Love the bloopers! Love your tutorials. Thank you Louise! ❤️

[@karenpierce1905]

I love the blue you mixed for the second succulents. The granulation made the leaves beautiful. Everytime I watch one of your videos you show me something else I can't wait to try. Thank you so much.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

That's so good! Thank you Karen. 💕

[@cindylouwhobohl6983]

Wow! Your succulents are beautiful!

[@rachelparkervarner]

I love the bloopers at the end!

[@andreasmith2673]

I love your paintings and your humorous endings! I always watch all the way through for wonderful, needful chuckles! 😅 Thank you!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Andrea! 😝😘

[@sasmythe9350]

I always love your work. The detail and lighting makes me gasp!

[@begosanchezfotografia9304]

you are a great artist and a very sweet person. Its a pleasure watching your videos.

[@plips71755]

Beautiful!

[@anithas6320]

I adore your paintings. Those succulents were beautiful. thank you for the wonderful videos.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Anita.

[@adleymchenry8622]

Miss Louise, thank you so much! You are very gifted in plant paintings and I liked to see your style with the wet on wet and wet on dry.

[@nydiaroman9714]

It is amazing how you master the watercolor nature's world ! Your skills as painter are a blessing from the Heavenly Artist recreating His work with such precision that it is difficult to differentiate a picture from your water color art work! FANTASTIC LESSON ! THANK YOU LOUISE ! 💜

[@MichelleLevasseur]

I can't say anyone has cared enough to know what my tharts are...:D Here goes : you're adorable lol! I also can't say if I'll ever be putting what I'm learning here to any practical use (no artist here) but I love watching your work. I appreciate the way you work - all of your fussing included - and of course, the finished products are simply gorgeous!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Lol...thank you veru much for your tharts Michelle 😘! 💕

[@Liz-uo4wb]

My dream is to learn to paint succulents like this. I'm new to watercolor, and this is very inspiring ❤

[@janevincent7103]

I agree very much with srcworm-I love that you are very specific in what and how you are doing each segment of your paintings. It helps sooo much. Thanks, Louise. XOXOJane

Your technique of making blues into beautiful greys by adding burnt sienna is everything to me ❤!!! Thank you! Can’t wait to follow your tutorials on Patreon when I get my good quality watercolour paper!! 😍🥰

[@leanncunningham7167]

Yeahhh Louise. I love succulents!!!!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Leann. Me too. I'm not very good at growing them though.

[@omarcazarez714]

As always a wonderful botanical work ¡¡thanks for sharing your experience ¡¡¡ 🖌🌟

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks very much Omar. 😀

[@patriciarapisarda9048]

Hi Louise. Thanks for another great video. I have recently been working on Saunders 300lb hot press paper and found it lovely. I use almost all 300lb paper because it doesn’t need to be stretched and gives nearly the sturdiness of an art board. Jackson’s in the UK is having a great paper sale now. I just stocked up. I enjoy your tutorials very much and with a couple more paintings I plan to have an Australia wall featuring many of your great Patreon tutorials. Thank you so much for all the encouragement and inspiration. Please stay well. Pat

[@chaosinca]

I like Saunders too, but I prefer cold press. I find it a bit softer and beautiful to paint on, but I suspect it's not as resilient as fabriano- I haven't really pushed the limits yet though. I know arches is practical invincible but it feels hard to me which puts me off. Saunders is the cheapest of the three in australia as well- arches is getting really expensive

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you very much Patricia. That's the other paper I have used..... Saunders Waterford. I like it too. I haven't tried the 300lb. Thanks for letting me know about Jacksons sale. I'll go and have a look and see what shipping costs are to Aus. You stay well too. 💕

[@sharonbuckland5282]

I love your bloopers at the end. Great video Thankyou

[@senansubath5367]

Thank you for the demonstration

[@SuperExadidas]

Thank you....great demo.

[@alisonhendry2928]

Thank you for describing and comparing the two papers as well as using different techniques. I just bought some Fabriano artistico for something different. Used your stretching technique as it is #140 not my usual 300# Arches that I am used to, and it was brilliant. The time spent for the stretch8ng etc is well worth it. When you talked about “ fiddling” and stated that the Fabriano paper would not have allowed it a light bulb went off for me! Thank you! I thought it was ME! I am always fiddling and adding many layers. So good to know that I can blame the paper for a couple of messes lately. 🤣🤣 Your insights help immensely and we are grateful every Friday! As well as Patreon bunch.. thank you for all of your hard work. And the laughs with the bloopers...

[@sharonsegretto5617]

Thank you so much for sharing you're thought process; it's very helpful!

[@tynaheadrick-phipps6768]

I am new to watercolor, but not painting. I really appreciate your explanations of what you do and why. Both of these creations are marvelous 😍👍

[@mamemckee2190]

Thanks so much! Very informative. Your gentle nature allows the technique of the art to be the focus. Vermont subscribed!

[@TheBeverleyann]

You are a Delight ! lessons, tips and smiles in the end . Thank you so so much Louise x

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Beverley. 😘

[@christophernaval1605]

I enjoyed watching your painting tutorials ... Their amazing... I learned a lot tnx...

[@SuzanneLegault]

I love your bold color mixes! I also like your hair like that 😍 And as always, best bloopers ever.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Suzanne. This is my 'I'm over drying my hair all the time' look. 😘

[@don9133]

Your pre-planning and patience always lead to amazing results. There's never the rush to finish. ( At times I am guilty of that.) That is a lesson in its self. I enjoyed how you used the shadows and light resulted in a three-D appearance. The blooper reel as good as always!

[@aremedyproject9569]

My problem is I have a hard time knowing when a painting is done. Maybe it’s that sometimes, when a work is going well, I hate to say it’s done, because that means there’s a loss of something somewhere, or I’m faced with starting another painting. Starting can be hard, so maybe I’m actually just avoiding that. Starting is about two things; having many things I want to paint (and decisions are difficult), and thinking I should be doing more “responsible” things with my time and money. Materials like paper (Arches, Fabriano), and paints (W&N, Daniel Smith’s PrimaTek, Holbein, Schminke) are rather expensive. So I procrastinate, using my physical fatigue and pain (from ongoing cancer treatment side effects and other diseases lol) as an excuse(?). So I often struggle internally about painting instead of just painting lol. Art and life are the same though, aren’t they? Now that I’ve written about it, I think I’ll go paint. Cheers to all from 🇨🇦. May you be well.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

I do too. I think I get to the stage where I fear messing it up if I continue. That's when I ususally stop. Good supplies are expensive which is why I hate it when I do have a failure but I tell myself I'm learning and growing so it's not wasted. I use the back of my failed paintings to try different colours techniques etc. I'm sorry to read you are not well. Take care and I hope painting brings you joy. 😘

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Don. I nearly always look for subjects that are in the sun. I love lots of contrast and I adore cast shadows on things. It definitely makes a difference to the finished painting.

[@jmoss55ish]

So looking forward to paint these!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Janice.

[@viviancattaneo1474]

I always use Arches. I am amazed at your presicion when you paint. This is where I have trouble with my paintings. Thank you again for sharing this.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Vivian. I was once a sign writer. I'd get up on ladders and paint on shop awnings and shop windows. I think that's where my 'pedanticness' comes from. 😝 💕

[@bruceosborne1892]

Very inspiring and beautiful paintings, Louise. Thank you so much.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks very much Bruce. Enjoy your weekend.

[@pragya360]

Outstanding! I simply loved the different techniques you shared. Extremely helpful for an amateur like me. Thank you.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Pragya.

[@xihuitlluna4829]

Wow !! Me encanta !! Saludos desde Monterrey NL México

[@debbiebuttars5598]

Haha! Louise you are the cutest! You have quickly become one of my favorite people. ❤️ Your content is wonderful and just so great to watch. I am an artist and I can’t begin to tell you how much I have learned from you. I’m now frequently adding water drops for the blooms. Thanks a million! 😊❤️

[@junelawniczak3794]

Great video! I've painted a few succulents bc I live in the southwest and I have many cacti in my yard. Can't wait to give these a try. I've done quite a few of your tutorials in the past month or so. My family and friends are quite impressed! Horray!

[@kathysampson826]

Fantastic video!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Kathy.

[@jeancurbishley7361]

Beautiful you make it look so easy

[@ZenTeaNow]

Two different techniques and both so beautiful!

[@meri8746]

So beautiful!!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Meri.

[@laurenfox5684]

RE: your recent video of the iris: (I didn't see where to add a comment): EXCELLENT! I really like SO many of your paintings, and this is another great one! Came out beautifully! And I know Ive said this before, but it needs repeating: you are an excellent teacher!! You really explain each step, telling us if paper is wet/dry, your brush same, how much pigment, etc. I really like watching your videos, THANK YOU FOR DOING THEM FOR US! Lauren

[@chaosinca]

Fabulous as always, thank you Louise 😊

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! ❤️

[@joelmedalle7362]

This is freaking awesome! Can’t wait to try them!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Joel....I'm on it! I've got a couple of cats a kookaburra and a lotus to do first but they are coming!

[@begosanchezfotografia9304]

LOVE the last bits 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@judestf]

Hello thank you very much for the video, I love how you paint and teach see you the next week 😁

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! Yes I will see you next week.

[@judyohart2619]

Thank you for sharing. I changed to hot press Arches paper from cold press. I realized that I need some time to get used to it. I was worried that I messed my painting because I didn’t paint for a month. 😆

[@cynthiakeith6925]

Louise I thoroughly enjoyed this tutorial. I am looking forward to painting this on your Patreon tutorial channel. You produce more tutorials than I can keep up my painting with! Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Cynthia! I'll go and read a book for a while. 😉😘

[@neenabidikar]

Stunning work

[@scrapbooking100]

This were amazing, it’s good to see how you blend/mix your colors. Thanks for sharing see you next week.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! 😘

[@yvonnewhite2996]

Loved watching you paint those pictures I am a newbie to watercolour. I have joined your patreon site and am looking forward to taking part.

[@coloringwithd]

I'll say that I like both paintings and found it interesting, hearing your explanations. Thank you for sharing ♥♥♥

[@WANXDRAWING666]

This paper strong and good for water color. Im used Canson paper for water color painting

[@alexandrasanches2473]

Wonderful!!! Big hug!

[@alfasion77782]

It is so lovely !! Suculents I really liked it!! And you look so beautiful in this video your hair!!!! clothes you look so fresh !! very Nice!! I love your paintings and the way you do it!

[@judybreedlove5348]

Thank you for another informative tutorial. I haven't used many different watercolor paper. I've used Arches almost exclusively since starting my painting journey 10 years ago. It does take a lot of abuse and never pills. I look forward to your weekly videos, and, of course, your outtakes....always a chuckle there.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Judy. I like using Fabriano and also Saunders Waterford but Arches is still my number 1 paper.

[@myrh502]

beautiful! i have a collection of succulents and watching you paint makes me want to try watercolor on arches

[@friedaschnell6887]

I LOVE these paintings! I'm kind of a succulent junkie. I have a "few". 🙄 The ONLY reason I'd live in California, U.S., is because the weather in southern California grows the largest most vibrant colored succulents around. I love your hair! If you hadn't pointed out "tharts" I wouldn't have known that you weren't saying "thoughts ". Regardless, thanks once again for making me lol ! 💜

[@Angela-jy8um]

Such a great video. You're so detailed in your explanation. It's so helpful! Thanks!

[@marylabrec2728]

Thank you for such clear explanations! I need all the help I can get😜

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thanks Mary.

[@artlover8834]

Really great ❤️ thank you thank you 🙏

[@Cendrillon-5962]

Waouh, magnifique, j'adore! Merci pour cette vidéo

[@patriziacathey605]

Thank you for another outstanding learning experience! Fantastic paintings as always!

[@neenabidikar]

Stunning work, thankyou

[@rositsazlatanova1146]

Both are beautiful, I love the colours. ❤️

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Rositsa. 💕

[@andreatorraca8755]

Beautiful

[@elisabethnm4492]

I really like how you paint. I get many incredibly useful tips and techniques from you, and i take your work as a referent :) If you're in your journey of trying new papers, I would recommend to try an incredible german brand called Hahnemühle. They've been producing great paper since 1584... They don't only have a wide range of paper, but all of their papers are vegan (not sized with gelatin). I'm not sure how easy must be to find it in Australia, but if you find it give it a try! Amazing succulentas, thanks for sharing your work and processes :)

[@mg4748]

Thank you for your detailed explanation

[@deederrs]

Beautiful.

[@MariaGonzalez-km8rg]

Wow 😍 i love suculents.... In fact, i have many of them at home... Georgous job, as usual 🎨

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Maria!

[@rnee1000]

Love this! Very excited to learn how to paint succulents. As a resident of southern California there are many succulents to paint. I favor Arches paper over all others but Fabriano is a close second.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Renee. I feel the same about the paper.

[@rnee1000]

Louise De Masi it’s amazing how a good paper affects the outcome of a painting.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

@@rnee1000 It certainly is. I used Arches for 9 years and that's all I used. I could never understand why some people would tell me that they couldn't get the previous layer to stay in place when they tried to work over the top of it. I thought it must have been because they weren't waiting for the paper to dry properly. Now I know it was their paper. They weren't using Arches. It was behaving differently to mine.

[@jlm517rocks]

I love watching how you develop each bit, it reminds me of old Kodak commercials from infancy to adult sequences. And... I actually looked up 'tharts' before the bloopers... One article from a Sunday school teacher had me in stitches, and the urban dictionary definition was ... A new take on a familiar activity... Great fun all around.. And i actually thought it meant thoughts-on-art...

[@juliedavies3481]

Wonderful, I never tire of watching your videos thank you for sharing ❤️

[@EmillyJuliett]

Very helpfull! I love your style of painting. Best regards form Poland.

[@mikec1159]

Wow! Beautiful art! Thank you! 😍

[@juliajegousse1877]

Merci beaucoup !

[@K-popmuseum123]

🌷I was happy to see your wonderful video.❤️❤️ I hope you have a good day.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you. I hope you do too.

[@hankcreates]

Spectacular tutorial! I am so glad I have found your channel. Just some good, fair watercolour explanations :0) Keep up the good work! I look forward to learning lots from you.

[@lindalopez5951]

Wow!

[@carolinechurch2837]

Love these Louise, I can’t wait to paint them both, thank you for your great tutorials

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Caroline. 🥰

[@lydiabosley9152]

As for papers, I haven't used/invested in Arches yet, but started with an Arteza 9x12 pad 100% cotton, so far so good, and also bought a pack of Strathmore pre-cut 8 x 10 sheets, also 100% cotton, and have found a couple of journals in all cotton (one W & N, one described as mixed-media but also all-cotton) - I figure as long as I know they're cotton, I should be in the ballpark, right?, but who knows, once I try Arches I may never go back (?!) Oh, also ordered two full-size sheets of Fabriano Artistico, will be trying that out for the first time soon... Loved the succulents, Louise, and look forward to seeing those on Patreon, thanks!

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Lydia! You'll eventually find a paper you a comfortable painting on and you'll love using it.

[@alisonhendry2928]

You won’t go back for sure Lydia....

[@utshamurmu1401]

Lot of techniques to learn. Thank you. You are a great teacher. One thing i like to know, should i stretch the hot press paper ?

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! The same way you stretch cold pressed paper. Nothing changes. My method is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3jManuhes6dqrc

[@utshamurmu1401]

@@LouiseDeMasi thank you mam.

[@ruthkoster4140]

This is so beautiful and I wonder what flower is this?

[@schoonergirl2658]

I've only used Arches 140 pound cold pressed paper and would love to try different brands and weights. Just wish I could trade small pieces with others to try, I might try the local art group to see if they have samples to experiment with. Thank you for your wonderfully informative video.

[@lydiabosley9152]

Good idea about trading papers! We should all seek out nearby fellow students of Louise's... anyone in Oregon, near Newport? I have a number of different papers and would be happy to trade for others...

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you! That sounds like a wonderful idea. I wish I could try more too. It's too expensive to buy paper you're not sure about.

[@AlpayBeler]

@@LouiseDeMasi Ken Bromley supplies Mini Watercolour Paper Starter Pack here in UK, 26 different mostly cotton papers, A4 size, which is really good value for money for less than £13. Thank you for the demo, as per usual, it was excellent. Love the retakes :)

[@debrapetit6876]

Awesome

[@eal7261]

Yet again, another amazing tutorial. ✨ But can we also appreciate her hairstyle? 👩‍🦱 💗

[@neenabidikar]

Want to see the pink rose that you have painted

[@debee254]

Love your videos so much! Have you used Fabriano Artistic soft press by any chance? I just ordered some waiting for it to get here.

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you Debbie. I haven't used it. Let me know what you think of it after you have used it.

[@suzisaintjames]

I know that you usually do a practice piece first, but even on a practice piece, how do you choose the colors. Is it happy accidents or years of experience or do you do some sort of color testing/ experimenting even before the practice piece to get the colors in the ballpark? ❤🌅🌵😷

[@LouiseDeMasi]

I didn't do a practice piece with these two because I've painted so many succulents so I was feeling confident. I think a lot of it is years of practice more than anything else. I worked in acrylic paint for ten years before watercolour and I mixed a lot then. I don't do a lot of mixing with watercolour but sometimes I need to in order to get the colour I want. I don't do any testing. I don't have the patience. I wing it most of the time. 💕

[@lindas.martin2806]

I have worked with Arches cold press for years and really like it, though it might be fun to try the hot press sometime, have you? Thank you for sharing the colors you used on the blue succulent, it is a lovely painting and as I have a lot of succulents I hope to put what I have learned from your video into action.

[@karlasanford293]

Hi Louise and thank you so much as always for your fabulous tutorials and talent! I just tried some 300lb Hahnemuhle Leonardo Rough Watercolor Paper. I too have painted on Arches for years but I do believe I have found the next best thing and much less $$$. Please let me know if you give it a try and what you think. I value your opinion.

[@terri-annberry7730]

Excellent ! Thanks Louise, your tutorials are always so clear. Thanks for giving us the correct pronunciation of Arches which is my favourite. I have just ordered some Baohong paper as I’ve heard it’s very good at keeping colours vibrant. Will feedback !

[@SheXyShellyMarie]

I love my Arches 300 lb cold pressed paper. I figure if I am going to take the time to do a painting, it should be on the best surface I can find.

[@kellybristol5022]

I think your my long lost sister. Lol. You're awesome. Please keep making videos.

[@debbielowrey]

Do you ever do landscapes?

[@awendaawenda8011]

Love fabriano! I find the cost of Arches in canada 9x12 for 12 sheets at $69.00 absolutely ridiculous. Arches in Amazon has raised their prices by 25% while stating that they will not raise prices during COVID. That’s whyIm very happy with Fabriano. Who can afford to spend that kind of money on paper without selling any of your work. Great succulents Louise!

[@Lulis56]

My tharts are that Arches is probably the best! I am however trying the new Fabriano “soft” paper. (140#) I can’t wait for the order to arrive!!! Could I ask which brushes you are using?

[@LouiseDeMasi]

Thank you for your tharts Lulis. I agree. I'm using my Da Vinci Maestros series 35.....my favourite brushes. I hope you like working in the paper when you get it.

[@chiarasola826]

I have a beginner question: how do you understand if the paint is still damp? Do you see a sheen like when the paper is damp? Sometimes for me it's not easy to understand how wet the paint is.

[@Rockymtnbloom]

if the paper is cool to touch, it is still damp.

[@chiarasola826]

@@Rockymtnbloom thank you :)

[@natlisan]

Have you ever tried Saunders Waterford paper? It has quickly become one of my favorite papers as well as Arches. It's a beautiful paper that can take a ton of layers & a fair amount of abuse! It's also a bit more cost effective, in North America anyways! P.S. Beautiful work as always!!!!

[@alisonhendry2928]

I can never find it! Always sold out! I agree it is w9nderful and less expensive!

[@tammyhood5117]

Hello Louise, thank you for this video, it is helping me in my own art! I wonder also if you have any thoughts about "sealing" completed watercolour pieces. I don't, myself, I tell my client's to get their pieces behind glass asap, but I am being asked about sealing the works with great frequency. Do you have any thoughts? I always enjoy your videos. Thank you again! Tammy

[@saratarr2231]

Try Jaquard Dorlands Wax Medium. I’ve been using it in sketchbooks recently. I apply it with a soft cloth or paper towel and dry it with a hair dryer. There are videos on KZbin.

[@tammyhood5117]

That's a great suggestion and I've placed an order for some. Thank you!