Why is simplifying your painting so hard? The mindset to create a loose painting

Today, I want to share why it is hard to simplify your painting? What mindset do you need to paint a loose painting?
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[@dmjune1]

Your skill as a watercolorist is matched by your innate ability to explain your process, not only in technical terms, but with emotion and feeling as well. Thank you very much for sharing. I find this very helpful.

[@BrianIsbell-si2zz]

Eric, I have been following your demonstrations here on KZbin for some time now. I taught watercolor painting to middle school students a couple decades ago using the Ron Ransom techniques learned from his books and videotapes. I immediately recognized your uncanny ability to teach this difficult medium. Your attitude and approach are exceptionally calm, detailed, and well-paced. Like you, I also have been learning from Andy Evansen's approach to connect the middle value shapes with a wet bead to allow the viewers' eyes to move throughout the lost edges of the painting, and then at the end to very selectively choose what and where to detail in darker found edges to lead them to and to stop them at your focal point(s). This demonstration of yours is amazingly crystal clear at getting across these concepts of Andy's. ! I think you are my favorite watercolor 'guru' of all! Thank you for Cafe Watercolor!

[@lohikarhu734]

even your value study puts across a lot of the scene, like a good B&W photo.

[@danlee5567]

You were able to express in words what I love about paintings. Thank you.

[@bushcraftmindanao9977]

I love the way you simplify the watercolor techniques ❤

[@toxic515]

This video did more for my watercolor technique (I'm about 6 months into learning) than anything else I've watched. I was never able to get that first layer right. You made it so clear! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills.

[@sue6002]

Very helpful Eric. You’re way of teaching is so clear and I really appreciate the lessons. Painting loose is an area I desire, but struggle to achieve. Thanks again. 👩🏻‍🎨🙂

[@abezill4244]

Eric, sometimes I wonder why value study is so important and not a waste of time as your value study is always beautiful.

[@glenda7921]

So helpful Eric. The dark tree on the left just popped!

[@helenmccormick1982]

After 11 months I'm rewatching your video. I enjoy your technique. Your voice removes my anxiety. Thank you.

[@Cafewatercolor]

I am so glad to hear that 🥰

[@kathylarson7601]

This is the best explanation of a value study and subject simplification I’ve ever seen! Thx so much!

[@caroles5258]

Having spent most of my work life in this area, you have really captured the feeling of the place on the sunny day. Such a shame they took down the atmosphere of the area.

[@HalfWarrior]

Hi Eric; it’s so awesome that you could bring back your memories of that time!It seems that the concept of grouping values together would apply to all forms of art and painting;well, simplifying . Thanks for your insights, I always fall in the trap of trying to detail everything too much and most often that ruins the paintings; appreciate your kindness and help for remembering to simplify.

[@pratibhaamin9932]

Eric - this is so helpful - I am intimidated by watercolor and can't seem to jump in - Watching this gives me a lot of encouragement and not stress about getting everything in details like Half Warrior 67 does - so watching this is an awesome post - especially about grouping the values together - it gives me a road map of how I should proceed. I love watching the flow of how you paint and how relaxed it appears - thank you for sharing.

[@angelcmercado2022]

You’re a very good teacher, Eric. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@barbaragemin5117]

This answers exactly my chronic problem- how and where to simplify and connect. You have excellent teaching skills, apart from artistic skills Eric. Yours, Evansen's and Zbucvic's method is similar and produces great results. I get confused between the three stages and add too many darks in the second wash. I’ll watch it again and try and find my own reference to avoid copying you again. Thank you so much for your demos and great explanations.

[@stampinturtles]

Beautiful painting! I just was teaching a class on painting pumpkins and it’s hard to explain the magic of loose watercolor painting. You explained it perfectly! Thank you! I will be sharing this video with my students.

[@MissAdoptaCat]

Such a helpful video 👍🏼. I always start out wanting to paint loosely and always get way too detailed. I will play this over and over as a reminder to myself. Thank you 🙏🏼.

[@CCLinGameOnABC]

I really enjoy how you approached the topic from the psychological cause at the beginning so that I understand why I have the tendency to draw EVERY details. Thank you so much!

[@danasmith5761]

You are a awesome instructor and I enjoy your tutorials, this one was really interesting and helpful. Thanks for sharing .

[@sfos4898]

Wonderful lesson. I will be watching this one many times. Thank you so much!

[@sandradonofrio413]

This the best yet. Very good and clear examples via demo. Nice narration.

[@moneshal8566]

This is astounding and really appreciate how it all came together so well. Thank you for sharing Eric

[@whatifitnt]

Very inspiring... 🤩 your making this simple is much appreciated 💝 Thank you ✨💖💫

[@ttjasi98]

This was such a great lesson to simplify. Thank you Eric!

[@Drumaier]

The painting is great...and the commentary is also great. Trusting the viewer and let them participate in the painting is a concept to remember. Thank you Eric and are those your custom brushes? They look and seem to work 👌👌👌👌

[@rachelm5363]

wow, so beautiful! thank you for sharing. even your value study is impactful to look at and evokes a mood. will definitely be trying this out in the future!

[@inamshaah5307]

Excellent work

[@Annsz135]

Wonderful! Thank you.

[@bjscorpio4041]

Thanks, this was very helpful information.

[@yunzers]

This is brilliant. I found Andy Evenson from your interview with him and enjoyed watching his few videos. His method made sense but your process and description is really helpful. Your such a fantastic teacher and really great watercolor artist. I found John Singer Sargent did this the best. Thanks Eric. I appreciate your sharing your knowledge so much. I’m curious how long did this painting take? I think I rush too much. Also your filming and editing is really, really good.

[@Cafewatercolor]

I didn't exactly time, but probably around an hour and 1/2 to 2 hours

[@Drumaier]

John Singer Sargent is the golden standard for watercolor painting imo. I can't think of anyone who surpasses him.

[@rmkrystal]

Your lecture including concept behind, thougths, drawing technique, hint of interactive action between viewers.... everythIng is just beneficial to me! In addition, your way of talk is soft, persuative and easier to understand for me lIke non-English speaker. Thank you always from Tokyo and I wll be following your instruction for betterment!

[@LisaSDonovan]

Thank you for this video. I find that simplifying shapes is my biggest challenge, and it was so interesting to hear you explain why that is! Your videos are so inspiring, I like to watch one, and then go paint!

[@fredhubbard7210]

This is a very interesting lesson. It makes the usefulness of a value study so clear. I am pretty sure that in the past you recommended an app that blurs and helps with this blocking. Did you? If so.. what was it?

[@SamuelPerez-rs9hm]

Gracias ,muchas gracias...enseñas muy bien,que Dios te bendiga...

[@beatrizdavis1998]

I like your tutorials Eric 🥰

[@1Thedairy]

It’s stunning! Love the way it all came together. Thank you for posting.

[@catherinegill2488]

I love your painting and am so happy that you were able to recreate a lovely memory. As ever your explanation was insightful and easy to follow. Thank you.

[@Tat2TankT]

Yea enjoyed thanks for sharing

[@sundaysunshine2925]

Thank you . This was a very helpful demo

[@helenmccormick1982]

Enjoyed watching your free style technique

[@sharonmcmichael8567]

Excellent and fun!

[@karinart8298]

Thanks!

[@ChristinasArtClasses]

The value study is so useful.

[@Benjaminsmith26733]

I’ve gotten so much from your videos, have a coffee on me!

[@Cafewatercolor]

Thank you so much ☕🥰

[@CCLinGameOnABC]

感謝你如此無私地分享繪畫的知識與技巧，我盡量看完廣告以表支持，另外也想略盡棉薄之力，將自己的專長也分享您以回饋您的付出。聽起來好像很「深」也許philosophical 會比profound更接近您想表達的意思一點點；myopia (n.) or myopic (adj.)也許比shortsighted 貼切一些，或是nearsighted 也勉強，shortsighted這個字有負面的意思。

[@porsupuestostudio8323]

Thank you Eric. About "simplifying", I would like to know how to simplify repetitive objects: for example, I wanted to paint a cart-load of oranges (I ended up painting each orange that is visible but I am sure this is not the way to paint), or a big brick wall with a lot of bricks, etc. Do you have any handy tips for me? Thanks!

[@WediEre6654]

nice!

[@ph7467]

Excellent! What do you call lost edges?

[@MKOHVIDS]

Another helpful video! I am interested in the brushes you use for the first washes of the actual painting. I know from your materials list they are probably Escoda, but could you mention which series and brush size(s) you used here and which is your favorite? Thanks so much, in advance.

[@Cafewatercolor]

This is actually a custom brush fr Craftamo which will be out soon! I will do a video on it once they are available ☺️

[@evelynevelyn107]

I like that you said painting is like reliving the good memory. I have a question. You said to trust the viewer and that it js ok to simplify the painting. I don’t disagree. I just have a question in my mind about who the viewer is. If we do a painting for ourselves, it is ok to really simplify it since it is likely we are the only viewer and our memory can fill in the gaps. If we are doing a painting for say, display or to sell, then is it possible that a painting can be simplified to an extent that is unrecognisable to others? I guess what I’m asking is that is it a fine line of crossing over to over-simplification, and knowing where the line is can come only with experience? Sorry, these are ramblings inside my head that I need to get out there lol.

[@MindyMa]

Eh?! 💖 Nice editing.

[@perfectstorm37]

If your drawing skill is lacking, you cannot do watercolours....It’s as simple as that!

[@marymaltman1753]

What?

[@HalfWarrior]

Try drawing or painting with your non-dominant hand! I have to; as my dominant left hand is paralyzed.(I survived a stroke, but it left my left hand non-functional😞)

[@Cafewatercolor]

Well while I strongly suggest to have a good drawing fundamentals... I think anyone can enjoy painting watercolor 🙂