You've Been LIED to About Watercolor Painting...

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Hi there!
In today's demo I'm exposing the LIES told about watercolor painting, and what you "have to" do to get the results you want.
Any rule is a lie and a scam.
The point of watercolor painting is often missed by many.
Watercolor is a living and breathing process.
It's more about the NOW than it is about the plan or result.
Hope you enjoy this one, and thank you for watching! 🙏
- Liron
Reference photo:
www.wetcanvas.com/reflib-arch...
Navigation:
00:00 - Are Watercolor Mistakes Permanent?
00:21 - "Technique" Demo
01:49 - Before & After
03:26 - Watercolor LIES
05:55 - Most Miss the POINT of Watercolor
06:29 - Full Direct Demo
15:15 - Editing as You Paint
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* Please note this disclosure - Links to Amazon and other websites may be affiliate links. This means I make a small commission if you buy through them (and you pay the same price, of course).
My recommendations are always based on my own personal experience ^_^
#watercolor #painting

[@DazzlingAction]

I think we all needed this reminder. We all need more water.

[@LironYan]

😁 Thank you, very happy this is useful

[@arich20]

😂😂😂 yes!

[@ibdense]

Trippy. You are right. I’ve always heard people talk about how unforgiving watercolor is. Thanks for this quickie.

[@LironYan]

You got it! 🙏😊 Thank you for watching

[@Sylvia_Morris3861]

My god. This is a real real lesson for watercolourists. Thank you so much

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much! 😁

[@followyourbrush]

Water is one of our most important tools! Thanks

[@LironYan]

Indeed (:

[@rmuller366]

Amazing! Every time I read comments from oil and acrylic artists there is this whining about how unadjustable watercolor is and you’ve just showed us it’s NOT. Brilliant Liron! Thanks for this demo. Blessings my friend! 💗Rita

[@sakuracyanide]

Liron is a magician :) but in all seriousness I only found Liron recently and the few tips I got from his videos helped me more personally than any of the other videos I have seen over the last couple of years. Thank you Liron

[@LironYan]

Oh thank you so so much 🙏😊 And welcome aboard!

[@dandfawesome3611]

This is really helpful. I’m a beginner and tend to give up once it goes wrong but there is hope to save it now!

[@filkatin]

Thank you :) Today was a hard day. And your video and comments on the painting process were inspiring. Especially "people think I'm done. I'm done. I'm out of the game. No, you're not" and "not a problem, I'm gonna over here", "nothing is ever lost", "there is a lot you can do, to keep making changes, to keep making improvements", "you keep going". )))) It's almost the philosophy of life. You made this day much better. At least for me )))

[@LironYan]

Oh so happy to hear 🙏😊 Thank you so much! Your comment made my day!

[@marlenerose2386]

thanks, I'm starting to paint with watercolor after 20 yr. hiatus. thanks for the memory reminder.

[@MB-kf3yx]

Thank you for showing how to make adjustments in color and value when painting. So helpful!

[@LironYan]

Thank you for watching! (: This opens up endless possibilities

[@dfblake7]

Thank you so much Liron! I discovered an ability to draw and paint at age 60 and just used instinct and whatever colours I had, and it all seemed to come together somehow, or not! My point is, I realised that often, even the worst 'disaster' can usually be redeemed...however because i was lacking a tonne of expertise I assumed I was doing it all wrong! This affirmed that I'm on the right track! Thank you.

[@arich20]

Congratulations! I relate to this, but I'm 35. I had no idea I could be in visual arts, it was a huge shock when I found out! May you truly enjoy your process, and I will be thinking of you from afar as I develop my skills as well.

[@user-xt4ot5hb5s]

Thank you for the demo, Liron. Really appreciate you sharing your love of watercolour.

[@LironYan]

Thank you for watching 😊🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@kiddiehauler]

Thank you so much for helping me not be so frightened about watercolor! I have thrown two paintings in the bin because I made mistakes and gave up on them. I really appreciate you! 😀

[@twk8520]

I've worked with every medium started with ink with no white now thats unforgiving .Thank you for the reminder watercolor has some leway most don't realize or forget about.

[@LironYan]

Indeed 😊 Thank you for watching 🙏🏼

[@dessyedeeclark1144]

Fantastic and freeing tutorial. In addition to adding or subtracting water and paint 'at will' (at whim!), you are modelling 'playing through', staying with it rather than freezing or panic withdrawal. Keep it moving!

[@LironYan]

YES! You really hit the crux of it 🙏🏼😊 There was never a need to panic. There was never a “mistake” being made. If you JUST LOOK - you’ll see it’s all in your power (:

[@stephanieh930]

Both your work and your instruction is amazing! Thank you!

[@LironYan]

Thank you Stephanie! 🙏😊

[@ForestParker]

You're a breath of fresh air. Thank you for your ongoing teaching and warm encouragement. What a major difference you make by demonstrating in real time that painting can be highly technical and still relaxed enough--you help a person like me keep breathing while painting, see and feel the joy of it all. What a gift you are to us all as an artist and as a teacher. Thanks again.

[@Rileygirl746]

Lol. You make awesome art with your "disgusting pallet ". I never know how you do it but I love it.

[@christyraeemfinger5740]

You can use a wet cotton round and erase watercolor

[@JessicaSandersArt]

Oh my gosh, Liron! This is wonderful and also so funny! I've known this but never seen anyone clarify it so well!! Love it!!😂❤😂❤

[@LironYan]

Haha thank you Jessica! Very happy to hear 😁🙏

[@hornjan8258]

Thank you Liron, I like your relaxed and playful approach to the medium. That's the right approach for a beginner to gain experience. However, the examples only work if you use a decent paper that doesn't soak up the water immediately.

[@przemekkulesza3242]

Liron, you are exceptional in 2 ways, own distinctive style and always providing a reference photo. :-)

[@cynthiagame435]

I didn’t want this video to stop! Hard to come by...

[@LironYan]

Haha thank you 😁🙏🏼 Much appreciated

[@sylviabailey831]

Beautiful process and product. This was liberating! Thank you.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 🙏😊

[@blackpuma129]

Gotta subscribe immediately! Please bring more of your "heck it's happening" vibe!

[@nancyg6899]

Love this demo! And LOVE your 100 cars book 🎉❤☮️

[@LironYan]

Thank you Nancy! So grateful and happy to hear 🙏😊

[@arich20]

I am learning SO MUCH, thank you! I am going to save up to buy your book. You are really achieving that goal of building courage to create, at least it is having that impact on me. I feel so empowered! 💪 Thank you

[@chrislora8895]

What very helpful tips! Thank you for this video.

[@annwornell7510]

Oh I'm still learning with my watercolour painting, and its so encouraging to see what is possible with your help. 😊

[@janhogan3873]

Thank you for this Demonstration it is soooo meaningful, I never give up on a painting, it can always become something else, it will not be to the purists tast, but it doesn't matter, it is like opening up a surprise package.😄

[@rossthomsonartistaustralia1215]

Wonderful to see how you control watercolour. Thanks for sharing this process.

[@LironYan]

My pleasure 🙏😊

[@colourdriftbyRupsa]

It's so fun to see you paint, you make it look so simple❤

[@LironYan]

Oh thank you so much! 🙏😊

[@teripallotta]

Wow. LOVE this video. Thanks!

[@crystalheart9]

Thank you for this wonderful watercolor demonstration.🥰

[@fdej51289]

Going to practice it right now. Thanks

[@morgenmachen2400]

Very VERY cool and inspiring message. I wanted to wait until the end to see if Liron mentioned so now I know my comment isn't redundant. I just want to remind other artists to be mindful of your materials if you want to work with this kind of freedom. Make sure you're using brushes that can hold lots of water, and paper with quality internal and external sizing (you can't achieve this on Bee paper for example). Also, if you know you're going to be lifting a lot try to stick with paints that aren't heavily staining (phthalos and quinacridones👀). Be aware of not trying to cover opaque with transparent. These are a few of my thoughts as I watched another helpful upload from one of my favorite KZbinrs 💜

[@LironYan]

Great thought and thank you so so much 😊🙏🏼 Indeed - the materials are very important in the sense of - they have to work WITH YOU rather than against you (:

[@ruthdallas6125]

Wow this video is just so surprising. Thank you!!!!

[@JustDustyB]

Very helpful. Thank you. I'd like to see what to do with dry painting mistakes.

[@trisht5064]

Great demo liron 😊

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😊

[@tassi8925]

Mind blowing! Thank you so much

[@gnostic1955]

Thanks....great help. Well done!

[@sharonmorelli6056]

I learn so much from your videos…..I love them👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@daveowen9481]

Nice! Thanks Liron.

[@Maya7790]

Thank you Liron. 🙂

[@paulah317]

I love it! I did something similar with flowers to paint ala prima and let loose. It was fun, it was not a masterpiece, but I learned to use water to my advantage.

[@LironYan]

That honestly sounds like the best experience watercolor offers! 😁

[@ARTCHILD]

Wonderful thank you.

[@LironYan]

Thank you for watching 🙏🏼❤️

[@ObiMomKenobi13]

Thank you for the lesson.

[@LironYan]

It's my pleasure 🙏😊

[@patlatour2465]

Lovely reference photo to try, 😊 enjoyed your eggplant color mixes.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 🙏😊 Eggplants have very forgiving colors, I should do a full tutorial on just eggplants haha

[@matthewmilburn938]

Thank you so much. I've been apprehensive to really get into watercolor for this very reason. So many pros work the edges of this but never explain this liberty. Maybe they're stuck too, but too good to notice. Really appreciate as I've always loved watercolor paintings. Time to brush up!

[@LironYan]

Thank you ☺️ So glad to hear! I think many pros just don’t understand how much they manipulate it and control it in the subtlest of ways (: They aren’t stuck themselves, but ideologically they are stuck on the whole “freshness” idea and other similar ideas.

[@bordergirl]

Yes! Can you do a video on editing after things are almost dry or already dry

[@victoriagadd6831]

Great tutorial thank you

[@amexjam55]

Wow! As a beginner, this is an eye opener. Thank you for this very instructive tutorial. Please do a video on correcting "mistakes" after the paint is dry. 🙏

[@LironYan]

Will do! It's something I wanted to do for a while. I have a similar video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpyblJ2EgKmgosU But I think a refreshed version would have more insights to it.

[@followyourbrush]

Genius! ❤

[@stampinturtles]

I’m gonna share this with my students!!! I wouldn’t know how to teach this. I just kinda do it. But you explained it perfectly!

[@LironYan]

Thank you Jacqueline 🙏😊

[@virginianapier3955]

Wow! Freedom. I struggle with painting a forest, but I think I’ll see if I can adapt this technique. Thx!!!

[@johnytwo]

Don't paint a forest, paint the colour blobs that make up the forest. But I guess you know that. Anyway, vegetation is hard, cause it needst to be simplified, but retain its specific patterns. Liron has some videos about vegetation.

[@LironYan]

Yes! Honestly this can be applied to anything (: It's simply freedom

[@myrawillis6829]

Thank you!

[@LironYan]

😊🙏🏼

[@voliabrandaolaveneremachad7849]

Thanks!

[@LironYan]

My pleasure 😊

[@kuldas9299]

Very eye opening

[@LironYan]

🙏😊

[@TheAngel818181]

Lovely. I love figs❤

[@toninoantxoa]

Grand máster. Gracias,❤❤❤

[@alspringham]

Love live your approach.Anne B.A.hons .fine art.

[@blsimba64]

Thank you Liron for sharing these interesting techniques! Very cool. Just have a quick question, what kind of paper did you use in the demo?

[@LironYan]

Thank you! For this demo I used an Arches cold press, 300 gsm paper (:

[@dessyedeeclark1144]

This would be ~ 140 lb

[@95lovi]

I like the way you explain, by niaz who I very much appreciate due to his style. I like your explanation style. But one thing I noticed is like you or the other experts is the speed and speed of thought steering the brush. Water is dynamic it flows and drys so it needs a a dynamic work flow. That’s why, I think, some paintings from others look like drawing by numbers you see that it was painted at a slower speed. This needs much practice. What color mix which brush stroke type how much or little water all in seconds.

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😊 Speed isn’t necessarily something that is achieved through practice (other than the very basic mechanics of watercolor). But rather, it can be achieved very easily, when you know what you’re trying to accomplish with great clarity. In this example, and in a video I’ll release this Tuesday, I know I wanted to explore. And the speed was a mere byproduct of that. Hopefully Tuesday’s video will provide more context 🙏🏼

[@ninner196]

Very true except for Phaloblue- that rhymed -on the sofa😂

[@awesomeblossom1]

Can u do a childrens beginner video for homeschool children?

[@LironYan]

I'll try doing that at some point soon 🙏😊

[@BobStrawn]

Paper is the biggest issue. Cheap watercolor paper is not forgiving. Adjustment on "Acid Free" or "Multimedia" paper will show the truth of the lie. Use a well prepared 100% cotton paper and adjustment is possible. On quality paints there is also a quality labeled as "Staining." If you learn to work with and around that quality, a lot of things become possible. Being Liron also helps. If you are not Liron, this may be a bit harder.

[@LironYan]

Haha 😂 Thank you. Good points

[@CAZZIEK321]

Good quality paper is much more forgiving. You can lift a lot more dry colour from a 300gm paper than a 140grm, as it will take more rubbing.

[@LironYan]

That is true (: Paper is indeed important for these things

[@alisonstrieker4181]

Can I re-wet and layer after the paper is fully dried? I love your tutorials!

[@LironYan]

Yes! It is very possible on good cotton paper (: I have shown it here and there, in some other full painting processes

[@alisonstrieker4181]

@@LironYan thank you! Some of my simplest questions are hard to find answers to, so I really appreciate you replying :)

[@notclagnew]

Is it important to use 100% cotton paper for this to work? Would wood pulp break up too much? Or is the trick in keeping it watery?

[@Isabel_Montss]

Hello, I'm a beginner and just watched for the first time another one of your videos. You were giving advice to not repaint over watery areas just filled, to avoid cauliflower in painting, and to not worry about having a perfect shape ... etc. So wouldn't it (start over from something else) cause it to cauliflower? I mean would it be the ideal or more like something to go for when we have a "problem" or "mistake" ? Thank you in advance and greetings from Brasil :)

[@LironYan]

Great question 🙏😊 Nothing is really a rule to follow - it's more about you getting the result you want. Generally speaking, I find that I can totally get away with this if the paint is wet enough and I work fast enough. But also, even if I go too slow and get cauliflowers - again, this not a rule to follow - it can still look wonderful! Some of the more interesting results I got were when the painting connected perfectly, but the water also did some unexpected things and effects (: Hope that makes sense.

[@buschika]

Which brand has the best Burned Sienna?

[@paul-oram]

What paper are you using for this demo. I think that is also a factor.

[@catherinepaquet1346]

What kind of paper are you using? I would think the paper would make a big bubble

[@LironYan]

This one is Arches cold press (: From a roll

[@joannehopper261]

What kind of paper is that please? It’s holding up remarkably well

[@dessyedeeclark1144]

Arches cold press 300 GSM ~140 lb (Liron answered earlier)

[@TheStugbit]

Liron, let me ask you, in order to correct the work, you need to have a very fine quality paper, right? The ones I have here don't seem to endure such tasks. And in case the paint is already dry, can it be wiped out and modified still?

[@LironYan]

I think it depends more of the durability of paper rather than its surface. So yes - high quality cotton paper is ideal. But even pulp paper could be very useful, because it’s actually easier to lift once dry. Different papers will have different requirements, but a variety of types could work for this (: Plus, the most important part is when it’s wet. If you know what you’re doing, you won’t have to lift dry paint 99% of the time (: Hope that makes sense!

[@TheStugbit]

@@LironYan hello, Liron. Many thanks for the reply and explanations. I'm struggling quite, quite a lot with watercolor. And I sort of got myself some fine quality expensive papers. I have one of Canson, their sort of premium, one from Windsor and Newton, their standard paper. My watercolors simply don't get good. But I also paint complex subjects. I'm trying to paint Brazilian favelas in watercolor. This is the kind of thing that is difficult to resume with one brush of wet paint. Sometimes my watercolors seemed too plain and wet. Other too overworked. I'm almost giving up to be honest.

[@dessyedeeclark1144]

Don't give up. It's good to reach out

[@e.o.271]

👏👏👏perfect and tPlease add Turkish subtitles to your videos

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😊 If anyone can help with translation I’d be happy to 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@etoileblue]

❤

[@abiegreyvenstein5427]

What if the paint is dry?

[@LironYan]

You can basically flood it with water and dab to make it lighter (: It will usually lift enough, so that you can paint over it and "re-contextualize" the entire painting to work. You'll need a decent paper to do that, but it can work both with cotton and pulp paper. Another option is to mix opaque watercolors and use them like gouache, or simply use gouache or another opaque medium to paint over!

[@abiegreyvenstein5427]

@@LironYan thank you

[@wastedinspiration]

I feel like people get into the mindset of "it's not changeable" because they start off using $h!tty paper. If you're paper is bad, that much water will make it buckle really bad and if you run your brush over it too much it will turn to chowder, but a good, thick cotton paper handles so well and is super forgiving, but that paper is expensive for beginners. Trust me, though, a 20 sheet pack of good Arches paper will go farther than 100 sheets of bad paper.

[@LironYan]

That’s a great point (: The paper really plays a role here. I would say that for some cheaper papers it is still possible. And sometimes even EASIER to erase mistakes (because of how the paper doesn’t really absorb the paint). But if it’s really bad then yes - the paper will give up on you 😂

[@wheeliehunter6937]

I need to go refill my waterbottle...

[@LironYan]

I'm always in a frenzy whenever I discover, in the middle of a wash, that the spray bottle is empty 😁

[@valeriecoopet9897]

When all else fails get out the liquid watercolor paper.

[@terischiech]

They don't call it Water color for nothing.

[@scottenosh4548]

I dont know if you drink, but I bet you're a funny drinker...if you drink lol.

[@triggerfish999]

I think you are overstating that people are being 'lied' to about this. Anyone with more than a tiny bit of knowledge about water color knows it can be lifted out and moved.

[@LironYan]

I think most still underestimate just how malleable watercolor can be (: But yes, the title and thumbnail are why this video has around 14K views instead of 3K 😅 It sometimes feels like my duty to make sure people watch

[@devinmichaelroberts9954]

TO be fair no one is really claiming you cant fix watercolor mistakes when the paint is still wet hahaha. They mean once it sets up and dries all you can really do is maybe overpaint it and change the composition with a dark or a few subtle things. The sentiment is that because its not opaque mistakes cannot be covered in the same way as oil acrylic or gouache.

[@LironYan]

I should make a video showing how to fix fully dry mistakes then 😏😉

[@BardChords]

It is usually pretty easy to fix mistakes in watercolor, within reason. If you painted with pthalo blue over a space that should have been the white of the eye, you need to use white paint or start over. Other than that, you can usually swing it. Even when doing fairly complex illustration, watercolor is very flexible.Value is more important than color, so you'd be surprised what you can make work. I use more staining pigments, and fewer granulating pigments, and I don't have too much trouble working with mistakes. You have to paint hundreds of paintings, and fix thousands of mistakes, before you get comfortable with this. Use cotton paper, and try rough paper in particular- it's actually great for getting high detail, because you get less bleed for the smallest details, and the texture is really helpful. Some watercolor paints (Like Pyrrol Red, or Venetian red, or many titanium yellows) are so opaque you can just put them on top of other paint and they sit on top of it. These stick out much less than white paint, and so that's also a great way to fix mistakes.

[@devinmichaelroberts9954]

@@BardChords exactly.. thats why i said "like gouache" if you add opaque colors into watercolor you can obviously fix mistakes. The problem is there are two schools of watercolor.. those that are against any opacity and those that are for it. Obviously if you use opaque colors you can absolutely fix mistakes just like in gouache or the other mediums.

[@BardChords]

​@@devinmichaelroberts9954 You ignored most of what I said. I mentioned white paint, but I said that it is easy to fix mistakes without using it, depending on the pigments you are using. Watercolor is pigment carried in gum arabic and water, there are opaque pigments that are not gouache, which have been in use for the entire history of the medium. What you said sounds like reddit lore; there's not two schools of watercolor like you suggest. Plenty of people don't paint with white paint, but they still use opaque pigments. China white paint has a very different appearance than an opaque red. If you want to fix your watercolor paintings without using either, wet your brush and use it to lift the paint on a dry area. Apply a bold pigment and re-draw the contrast in the area, use lines and texture effects to distract from the modified area.

[@rontocknell]

I'm sorry about that. I was at the meeting where we all decided to lie to everybody about watercolour. I did try. I said "But watercolour is water soluble! It's virtually washable". "SHUT UP!" they yelled "This isn't being recorded, is it? We can't let that get out! THE WASHABILITY OF WATERCOLOUR MUST BE SUPPRESSED!" Okay, I'm kidding. What is it with KZbin videos that insist that any opinion other than the video maker's must be a LIE? Obviously, it can't just be a difference of opinion or even an error. No. It must be a deliberate LIE... because we all know conspiracy theories sell. Okay, let's be sensible, shall we? Of course no one has been lying to you. Yes it is possible to lighten colours with water and even paint over errors and so on. No one has ever claimed otherwise. However, the more you try to 'edit' a watercolour and paint over errors, the muddier it becomes. Watercolours are transparent and are at their best when painted in one stroke and allowed to dry. That way, the white of the paper shines through the layer of transparent paint making it seem to glow. You can of course bleed one colour into another and even paint wet-on-wet over another colour. But you have to know what you're doing and it should be used sparingly. Overpainting can be effective in achieving certain results. But, when used to make repeated corrections, the painting becomes dark and muddy... rather like the finished painting in this example. In experienced hands, watercolour is more forgiving than one might imagine. But it takes practice and experience to be able to take liberties. It's best to initially treat watercolour as totally unforgiving. This instills the discipline needed to become expert in the medium. As your ability develops, you can begin to take a few liberties. But, if you really want to be able to make multiple alterations and correction, maybe you should be using oil paints. This is a medium that lets you get away with murder... though hopefully not to the extent that Caravaggio took it. I'm not suggesting that Liron Yanconsky is "lying" to you. He's just expressing his view as I'm expressing mine.

[@Fantazaelia]

The title is obviously clickbait, he doesn’t actually think we’ve been lied too, it’s just to capture the attention of ppl like u and get more engagement from comments.

[@iub.9893]

This is horrid

[@kolkol2058]

learn English grammar...first

[@tassi8925]

Thanks!

[@LironYan]

Thank you for your support 😊🙏🏼