Why Painting Loose with Watercolour is so Challenging (and what YOU can do to Improve)

[@NelaDunato]

It's very pleasant to watch your painting process in actual speed. After lots of trial and error, I've found that starting with a tight underpainting of darkest shadows allows me the freedom to let upper layers flow more freely, without losing the delicate human form. (I haven't shared that process yet, so the old videos on my channel don't reflect this!) I use a cool staining pigment (blue or violet) or Inktense so it doesn't lift or mix, but it's not a spontaneous process because it has to dry thoroughly in between. Still, I'm quite content to have found a more comfortable way to paint.

[@drawingsinadrawer]

Yes, I use the under-painting too. It really makes the skin shine! With inktense, though, that I’ve never tried! Nice. I’ll come and see your channel x

[@NelaDunato]

@drawingsinadrawer I saw the artist Tonya Sell use Inktense in a free KZbin workshop on "Karlyn's Gallery" channel, and it blew my mind how I never thought of it myself :D

[@ClamJaneH66]

Gorgeous art work as always Fiona. Thank you for sharing your tips, advice and process with us, it's very much appreciated. 🙏😻

[@louisea966]

fantastic and fantastical as always. thanks Fiona

[@drawingsinadrawer]

Hello, dear Louise. Thank you, you’re fantastic and fantastical too ❤️

[@exnaborrascalvo6315]

Thank, thanks, beatiful your art, relaxing my art

[@drawingsinadrawer]

@@exnaborrascalvo6315 aw that’s so nice

[@rachelturgeon114]

This is so inspiring and such BEAUTIFUL work. I love your channel, just found you. Loose painting can be so intimidating and you have freed me to move in this direction. THANK YOU. looking forward to more of your art.

[@drawingsinadrawer]

@@rachelturgeon114 thank you so much. I try to answer all the questions I had ( some of them I still have!) x

[@jackygann594]

Always enjoy watching your videos, I do find it hard to loosen up, in which I do need to play more without the intention of wanting a finished piece instead just a piece of time to play. ❤

[@drawingsinadrawer]

That’s right. Playing will help you loosen up xx

[@pjlewisful]

inspiring as always

[@drawingsinadrawer]

Thank you so much. Fiona x

[@creativesolutionstoart]

I really think watercolor itself is synonymous with loose lol It’s like trying to tame a wild horse, you can eventually calm it down enough to get on and ride, but it’s still unpredictable… You can wait for it to dry, and then tighten things up in your last layers, but really, it’s always going to be loose :-)

[@rachelturgeon114]

So true about the wild horse I love the analogy.

[@drawingsinadrawer]

@@creativesolutionstoart I love this analogy!

[@drawingsinadrawer]

@@rachelturgeon114 I just said the same exact thing , then read your comment 😊

[@jandurant7502]

Thank you for another beautiful video! You are always so inspiring. In my very limited experience, I have found that my loosest watercolors happen when I don't draw at all, or draw very little. Of course this is just about impossible to do if you are painting portraits. 🥰

[@drawingsinadrawer]

@@jandurant7502 you know Jan, I have actually seen people doing that as a challenge! Could be an idea! ❤️

[@jandurant7502]

@@drawingsinadrawer Now that would be a stretch! 🤭

[@E4Alabbasy]

Thank you for the tips! I'm trying to go loose with my colors as well but butter to take it one thing at a time so I won't get discouraged 😅

[@drawingsinadrawer]

You’re welcome. Try playing with backgrounds as I mention in the video. It helps you loosen up. Fiona x

[@milenamarcocci6320]

Bravissima ❤❤

[@drawingsinadrawer]

@@milenamarcocci6320 grazie ❤️

[@Jw16mosier]

Thank you ☺️ I’m think I’m getting there with the less control approach, now I’m have some trouble f figuring out which paints granulate giving my smooth looseness a rough texture. I don’t like it. I worked on one for three hours and did a final wash and it turned my painting into a very rough un texture, and I lost all the smoothness that I like, I did all the right things I let it dry completely for a day or two, No chance of overworking the paper. Then my final light wash became granulated. I was so disappointed. Thank you for your inspiring words and support your sincerely Ohn❤️🤍💙🖌️

[@jandurant7502]

I have discovered that most paint manufacturers have information that lets you know whether a particular color granulates or not. Look at their color charts online on their websites to find out. Each manufacturer has its own particular key. For example, Winsor & Newton and White Nights have "G" for granulating colors, Daniel Smith has "Y", etc. You could also swatch a color on a scrap piece of watercolor paper, let it dry, and see if it granulates or not. 🙂

[@drawingsinadrawer]

Thank you, Jan. I didn’t know that!

[@drawingsinadrawer]

I know some pigments are more granulating, like ultramarine blue ( though not terribly so) and this will show up on cold pressed paper more than on hot pressed. I would avoid granulating paint when painting the skin. Even though I do sometimes use ultramarine for shadows. Jan’s comment to this thread is very useful to your questions. Fiona x

[@Jw16mosier]

@@jandurant7502 Yes you are correct. And I have used the paint before and it had a very light granulation, but it didn’t seem to bug me before when doing smooth washes. But this time when I use it, I think the mix of the other colors made it granulate more than normal. I was so sad. thank you for your reply.😊

[@LadyJaneG]

QUESTION PLEASE. Do you use reference images at all?

[@drawingsinadrawer]

Always. I need to see where the light and shadow are. I can imagine it, but it’s much better to have a reference. Of course then I play around with it. Very rarely does me portrait look that much like the reference, I only look for likeness if I am doing someone’s portrait. Fiona x

[@pennysmith3803]

Just inspiring. Can I ask what those brushes are. They seem really versatile

[@drawingsinadrawer]

@@pennysmith3803 the short one came in a Lightwish palette ( see video about 128 colours) and had no brand name on it. The first brush was a Princeton ( that one was too floppy), the black ones are a brand called Mandrian . I hope this helps . Fiona x

[@janmariebaldwin1415]

I am a total novice at 52, and really enjoy watching your videos and painting style, so thank you 😊 As part of my learning journey, can I ask, if you let the paint dry between layers, how many times can you go in and add a new layer? I want to add depth but not mush up my paper or muddy what is already there 😊 Thank you 😊

[@drawingsinadrawer]

Hello! I usually use a heat tool ( even a small hair dryer) when I want to speed up the drying process. I’m too impatient to wait for it to “air dry”. Fiona x

[@pjlewisful]

don't give up!

[@drawingsinadrawer]

To avoid mud, try not to use colours that have white in them and try to limit the number of colours you use to 4 or 5 max. A good watercolour paper will take almost countless layers. PS I do not dry between every layer, but when I want to set the painting and move on to the next stage. However, if you’re starting out, you might want to try drying with every layer as it will make things easier. Feel free to reach out! Fiona x

[@janmariebaldwin1415]

@@drawingsinadrawerthank you so very much, that is so helpful, thank you 😊