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Dear Patrons,

As part of my watercolour classes on Patreon, I'm planning to create short tutorials that focus on different watercolour techniques. These tutorials will include exercises to help beginners practice each technique, without the pressure of completing a finished painting.

To ensure that these tutorials and others are as helpful as possible, I need your input. What issues or challenges are you facing when you paint in watercolour? What is holding you back from achieving the results you want?

Instead of suggesting specific subjects, please let me know what you find difficult to master. For instance, if you struggle with wet-on-wet painting, what aspects of this technique trouble you? By sharing your queries and concerns in the comments below, I can compile a list of topics to cover in future tutorials and blog posts.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to hearing from you.

PS: I'll still be making the tutorials with finished paintings.

Comments

Nadine Mclellan

Wet on wet I just can't get it right. Please help 🙂

Heidi Paterson

One thing I have challenges with is deciding how to move my hand/wrist to accomplishing different strokes with the brush and how much pressure to apply. I am really new to this and I have just started using the tutorials.

Karen Valentine

This is a wonderful idea Louise! I was just getting frustrated with something yesterday and wished I could ask what I am doing wrong. My first problem is that I don’t feel like I’m getting a smooth clean edge when working wet on dry. My second problem is when I’m layering colors the send layer never seems to match the first layer in shape on the edges so it winds up looking messy. I try and go slow and match it but it keeps happening.

Paula R

Values, creating a better value transition 👍

Peggy Carstens

I find it hard to get past the ugly stage. I feel like I'm doing it wrong when I'm sure I just need to continue to add details. I just seem to give up before that point.

Patti Matthiessen

My biggest problem is impatience. Doubt you can help with that. Brush strokes and the direction of such strokes is what I think most would be helpful to me. Love your tutorials.

Mae Wheeler

I’m a technology goof 🤦🏼‍♀️

Mae Wheeler

What Nadine said, wet on wet! Thank you!

Mimi

Deciding what colors are needed to match the painting. I find it very hard to figure out all the needed colors to start my painting.

Anji Kauffman

Values! 😭 Depicting value in color, like: WHERE? I can do monotone or black and white, but get color in there, and it's over. Also overcoming paralyzing perfectionism, and self recrimination... Doubt you have a therapy license... 🤣

Diane Hansen

Backgrounds! I’m working on the Seagulls, and I”ve practiced several times the blue background, and I can’t seem to get the paint to flow towards the righthand edge as you did. I live in Florida, and drying time are short to say the least, but I don’t know if I’m not getting the paper wet enough….it looks pretty wet, or if I’m not getting the paint juicy enough. Funny, but I have no trouble with the lefthand side, but the paint does have more water in it. I really like a little color in the background, it grounds whatever object that’s being painted, and I’m quite partial to your freestyle backgrounds.

Lise Dube

Mouillé sur mouillé. Merci

Debra Kellogg

I would love a tutorial on lifting paint and how to use this to create highlights or a negative painting look. And on that note- I could always use more instruction on negative painting.

Lyndsay Newton

There's so much I have to learn :) but the two things sticking out in my mind are 1) details and 2) tonal values. With details, I would like to understand how you decide which details are important to keep and which can be left out, especially when you are creating your outline from your reference photo. With tonal values - I'm just starting to learn this, so it would be nice to understand how you "look" for the tonal values in your reference and how you plan so that you get a nice wide range. I guess I'm also curious (topic 3) as to how you decide when and where to add another color "for interest" so that it blends in with the whole painting and improves it rather than sticks out like a sore thumb. :)

Kamila

I would like to learn how to determine colour of the shadows... thank you

Lindsey Jewell

For me, I'd love help with my values. I always seem to go too dark with my paint, rather than build it up. I'd love some help with that, along with graphite studies to help me with my values.

Turner Atkins

complementary colors. Why they work are don't. I find this confusing at times

Brandis Stracuzzi

Tonal values are sooooo hard for me. I only get it right if I follow yours, never on my own stuff. I print things in black and white, I download them as "notans", I sketch it first to get a sense of the shading, I do two, sometimes three studies and STILL I mess it up. I tried to paint lorikeets for my husband for our anniversary (we honeymooned in the Whitsundays) and it went so wrong Louise. I cried for days. I'm literally afraid to try again. The other thing that drives me crazy is what to paint first. Sometimes you do shadows first and sometimes you do them later and I can never figure out how you decide.

Natalia Kalliton (Kjustenough)

I'd like to know more about wet-on-dry techniques. Another issue I'd like you to address is where to stop and call it a finished painting. How can you tell whether you've overworked your painting? Thank you, Louise! 🎨💕

Monica Miller

I have a hard time figuring out how much water/pigment to have on my brush. Most of the time the amount is too dry and I end up with harsh lines instead of a smooth transition. I have a really hard time tracing my own line drawings. Sometimes they come out fine, other times I don't capture what's there but more (like shadows around the eyes end up becoming part of the eye).

Maria Cromer

How do you know when you should use wet on wet, wet on dry, glazing...

Teri F

I vote for tonal values! 😃

Patrica Clarke

I struggle getting the darks intense enough. Either the under layer shifts or, to avoid that, I am too heavy handed with my initial layer.

Carrie

How to create blooms on purpose for texture. Also any drawing tips or exercises would be great. I would pay extra. Love ya Louise!

colleen

I too struggle with wet on wet. I have watched your tutorial for beginners on wet on wet which is excellent. I find I don’t have enough wetness and the paint doesn’t move or I have too much and the paint floats 😂. I just can’t seem to get it just right and it’s not from the lack of practice.

Pam Stewart

Paint to pigment ratios, please!

Audrey Reed

I have difficulty with dry brush techniques, paint splatters, and color mixing. With the color mixing, I always feel like I am wasting a ton of paint in the brush I am mixing with!

Janet

I'd like to add more depth to my work and make objects look less flat on the page. I'm interested in types of backgrounds and lost edges.

Mark Herrick

How do you begin a painting! From line art, how do you decide where to start?

Hilda Iturriaga

How to substitute colors in painting Thanks

Constance R Hosier

Edges of flowers or animals. Maybe me tend to be hard or uneven.

Anita C. Paul

My issues are the same as Kelly's and Diana's, which were composition, color choice, tonal values.

Carol Factor

The water on my cold pressed paper dries so fast! I try to paint one section at a time while overlapping each part. But still, I have trouble with this.

Susan Cook

I struggle with wet on wet, getting the painting with right amount of water on the paper as well as the right consistency of water/paint

Yukti Ajawani

Hi Louisw, I will begin by saying how grateful I am to have you as a teacher because everything I know of watercolors today is because of you. I have learnt a great deal but still struggle with white and black subjects. When I attempt them, they tend to look more of purplish or bluish. It would be nice if you could talk about this. Thanks

gina enevold

tips to improve water control

Nancy Kennedy

I have these issues: a) "getting lost in the petals/understanding what I am painting" - I love the botanicals and the detail can be pretty daunting - I have made some pretty serious mistakes painting the wrong stuff in the wrong place. A big project like the Chrysanthemum on your Skillshare site would be an example of where this happens. Not sure you can help me with this -- I have to slow down. b) I need help with shadows and highlights -- for example, I just painted a red orange poppy, and the petal edges had ripples that had a highlight edge and then a soft shadow. Mine look pretty amateurish. It took me a lot of practice to get a rhythm going with keeping my brush at the right wetness that is needed.

Caryn Oxford

I would love to see how you load water onto your brush. Keeping the brush at the right amount of wetness and when to offload some of that water would be something I think I would benefit from.

Anna Hamilton

I also get really lost in complex petals - I try to follow exactly what you do but I feel things go too fast, even though I do stop and start the tutorial. Also, as with the others, getting the right amount of water onto the page and keeping it within the pencil lines is extremely difficult. Sometimes also, the drawings provided don't seem to be quite the same as the one you are using in the tutorial - I feel it all needs to slow down.

Kim Hoffmann

How to develop ‘loose’ backgrounds, say like grasses, that look like grasses without having to paint each blade, and then how the heck to paint these backgrounds around objects without having to use masking fluid. Like a dog and chickens in a grassy field!

Linda Hairs

Would love to know how to paint from my photographs.how much to leave in what to leave out. Really enjoying your lessons.

Mary Carey

How To control the water/paint when I paint.

Art In Freestyle

I love the wet on wet effects but how do I get soft edges? And when painting flesh how do I get smooth transitions in tonal values.

Zoie McIntyre

I am really open to it all. I am so very new to watercolour, so I'm not even sure what problems I have yet, but the things everyone else is saying really resonates for me too. I guess at this early stage the thing I am really struggling with is getting nice smooth painting done. Like someone else mentioned my paint seems to dry so fast I get lines and lots of dark and light spots. Have no idea how to fix that ;)

Natalia Kalliton (Kjustenough)

Louise, I'd also suggest that you'd make a short video where you give your constructive feedback on our, your students', paintings; where our weak and strong points are so far. If you picked just a few paintings from your FB group and give your feedback, that would suffice. It'd give us an understanding of how to see a painting through the eyes of an experienced artist. I'd love my painting to be assessed by you. I'm sure many of us would put hands up. Thank you! 🎨💕

Yvonne Walton

I always have trouble doing feathers on birds or negative painting

Jamie Balmelli

Thank you Louise for your dedication and thoughtfulness as a teacher, we appreciate you! I would love to learn more about how to paint portraits, specifically how to get smooth transitions in tones for a more even/realistic look. I feel like my layers are either too light or too dark and I can’t figure out if I just need a lot more practice because I have unrealistic expectations for how long it should take to master this, or if I’m doing it wrong. I also struggle with knowing what colors to choose and working wet in dry.

Lynne Tanouye

I have a hard time with negative painting. Like with the veins of a leaf petal.

Adriela Sakamoto

I find wet on wet to be a challenge. I almost always end up with ugly washbacks. Thank you for asking!

Sarah Dagostino

I would love a video where we follow you from when you dilute the paints with your brush to when you apply it to the paper. I can never seem to work out how to get the correct watery washes. I have watched your video on paint consistency. I feel like I'd like a slow motion step by step 'How to mix the paint' video! Love your work Louise!

Daurel Carhart

Thank you for making such good tutorials. They must be a lot of work. I would appreciate information on improving edges , such as of petals. When I try to use multiple layers, the edges get wavy and look very amateurish no matter how hard I try to sharpen them.

Julie Westwood

Hi I struggle if I’m not following a tutorial so for example how do you pick your colours ? Is it trial and error , is it just experience ? Or is there something that I am missing?

Julie Westwood

Working loosely I find really difficult I love a loose style when looking at other people’s art but when trying to do it myself I get critical and think that doesn’t even look like a …. And then I hate the painting I’d love to learn how to work loosely and maybe be more experimental

Julie Westwood

Paint consistency I find difficult as well as how to work out should I do layers or just go in with thicker brighter paint I also find colours difficult to see so any tips on how to actually see the correct colours in a photo would be appreciated

Mcfar53

Oh, for me, everything. 🙂 I really mess up the paintings but I guess that's part of the learning process. I have felt like giving up many times but I keep on trying. Luckily some have turned out quite nicely. I love your style but I fail on the simple things. How much water is too much? Not enough? When should your brush be loaded with water? With paint? When and why? What works best for this or that? Examples of techniques from water to mixing, from wet on wet to wet on dry and why. What special effects can be produced by different techniques? There's a lot to break down, I know, but without holding our hands we have a lot to learn as beginners. Also, the pallet. Your paint looks thin and it flows beautifully. Mine? Not so much. I use Winsor & Newton Cotman sketcher's set which flows nicely. It is a limited 12 color set. I couldn't get the red right for the woodpecker. So, I ordered tubes, Arteza 60 color set. I know, I shouldn't have done that. I don't really know the paint to water ratio on it as well. Like, is it just a small dab of paint to water? How thin is too thin? I guess I really need to pay close attention when you add water and paint on your pallet. You do it without thinking and you are so fast. 🙂 You're so talented. It's the basics and you probably have a lot on this. I just have to watch all that you have to offer. Also, is there a way to make the colours vibrant? I mean, really vibrant. Maybe mixing? I've seen brilliant blues and reds. How did they do that? I watched your video on colors you would pick but when I watch your painting videos you have other go-to colors that you use most of the time. What is your pick for most paintings? 6, 8 colors. I could buy the most used in Winsor & Newton professional colors but wow, the cost. What is your highest recommendation for a limited colour selection that could see me through most paintings? What brushes really matter? Thank you for taking the time for us. I really appreciate what you teach.

Mcfar53

Oh, that would be nice!

Mcfar53

Yes, slow motion lol. I gotta have that.

DD: Deborah Davies - Artist In My Own Residency

I’m someone who really responds to challenges and need to be encouraged to practice. Not because im lazy but because im sceptical I’ll get better. I’d love a series of lessons say “wet on wet” where im encouraged to do 50,100, 200! The lesson being thatat the end of doing it 50 (100,200) you will see progress.. It can be so disheartening when you start and everything is un-coordinated and lots of stuff does not look great and your technique is all over the place. It would offer a realistic outlook that you need to practice this stuff.

Christine Reynolds

what a terrific idea . I struggle the most with how much water I have on the brush when painting wet on wet plus wet on dry .

Christine Reynolds

….. just want to add that I love your work Louise and I love your videos and I look forward to watching these new videos from you too.

Raii

Hi Louise! First - thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us! Your tutorials are precious and unmatched. Not sure if someone above mentioned already, but I always struggle with shadows! I’d love to learn more!

Kate

Dear Louise, I struggle quite a bit when painting wet in wet. Let's say dark clouds: I am laying one colour down as sky and then I go in with a second colour to form the dark clouds. Either I get spider veins or the paint spreads like crazy. It almost never goes in smoothe 😭 would love to learn that.

Steve Moore

Hi Louise, You are a gifted teacher and I have learned so much from you, though I am still very much a newbie. Thank you so much for inviting us to contribute ideas for additional tutorials! Here are three challenges I'm working on now: 1) When working wet-on-wet, how can I control how far, and how uniformly, pigment flows away from my brush when trying to create soft edges? 2) I have learned that it's generally best to work from lighter to darker areas of watercolor painting and that its best to avoid glazing over colors that lift very easily. Are there other things beginners should be thinking about as we plan our approach to a painting? 3) One of the beauties of watercolor is that it has a mind of its own. How do you find that "sweet spot" where you exercise enough control to produce something recognizable without smothering watercolor's spontaneity by "overworking" the painting?

Pam Pryce

I don’t have problems with techniques, that’s individual style but its what to paint, so I copy paintings which is really sad 🤦🏼‍♀️

Dixie Jaques

I have problems with overworking my paintings. Don’t know when to quit.

Francesca Catlow

Thank you Louise, I have been experiencing a doubting myself period lately. I value your tuition highly. Your YouTube videos inspired me to join you on Patreon. One of the areas I struggle most with is getting the values right. I follow your tutorials and often find that there is too much contrast between values. Is this just mastering the wet on wet technique better or am I using too much pigment? Another skill I struggle with is getting the outlines correct, ie. I wear glasses and find that even using a lamp I seem to have obvious lines on overlays of paint layers. I am sure there is more that I could put on here. I am considering going up a tier too. Thanks again.

Sally Langran

First, I am new to Patreon so haven't explored it fully. What I would like to achieve is the ability to better capture the magical, luminous qualities of watercolour. From devouring your Tips N Tricks videos on general YouTube, I can see that I need to master many things. For example, thin layers of paint, preserving the white of the paper when appropriate, glazing, and no doubt a multitude of other things. Exercises/techniques to help with that would be great to know :). Thank you!

June

I love florals but find it difficult to add a background to fill the empty white space behind the flower

Alice Dean

Hi Louise. I've been using watercolour for 2 years now but still struggle with my edges. They look messy on both cold pressed and hot pressed paper. It happens wet on wet and wet on dry. I try to tidy up while my paper is still damp but they still look untidy. I have a small eradicator brush that I use but I'm still not happy with the result. I also struggle with fine lines such as tiny details like eyelashes or whiskers. Thank you for all your help and advice x

Betty Johnson

Ratio of paint to water in the brush and on the palette. Also, problem

Betty Johnson

Also, paper in a wet in wet drying too quickly.

sandra lemal

I would like à tutorial on the choice of colors, i do not Know the names granulation, transparent, semi transparent, wich colors to mix or superimpose. What colors not to mix together. Also the négative paints look so simple when you paint, something escapes me. I start again and again and without obtaining a sastisfactory result and it remains so difficult for me. Painting leaf details is also very difficult. Thanks for all vidéo, i wish you à Nice day

Christine Ellis

Personally, I prefer to have more tutorials that I can produce a finished painting from. I think you explain the techniques and theory very well as you go along. This is why I follow you on Patreon and I am looking forward to more interesting subjects being painted (no more roses please!). It’s not that I don’t need to know these things but there are plenty of You Tube videos on technique. Just my point of view and I know other people will want other things and you can’t please all the people all the time.

Patrica Clarke

I agree with Christine - really enjoy producing a finished painting from your tutorial. Your explanations as we go along are excellent. Thank you.

Louise De Masi

Thanks Christine. These new tutorials won't be 'instead of'- they will be 'as well as'. I'll still keep making the tutorials with the finished paintings.

Ronelle Visser

How much water is enough and how much too little and when is it just right when painting wet in wet?

Christine Ellis

Thank you Louise. I just get so excited when I see there’s a new Patreon post then so disappointed when I find it’s not a painting. x

Mersina Achele

I know you said not specific subjects but I still struggle with painting water, underwater rocks and waves. Knowing how much water to add to be able to control the paint without producing back runs.

Mersina Achele

What colours to Mix together so you don’t get mud. Especially greens, how to produce clear oranges and knowing why these “problems “ occur

Jean Gursoy

Blending colours, lifting out

Jan Flynn

1) Determining how much water to have on the brush or the paper. 2) What to do to keep the finished painting flat -- how to prevent curling of edges to prepare for framing. 3) Need help understanding how granulation works. Some pigments are very smooth and transparent, and others contain chunks of pigment that make the transitions in blending more difficult. 4) Background first? Background afterward? Thanks, Louise -- I LOVE your patreon videos and your clear, step by step teaching. Hope you have a fabulous day!

Alecia Collen

Which tutorials are best to watch / follow for negative painting? Thank you and have a wonderful day!

Susi

Hi Louise, Heeeeeellllpppppp ! I don’t know if you have a recipe to solve my problem… I’m never satisfied with my watercolour…🙁… I start and give up before my work is finished …light and shadows, colour Value, edges…nothing works for me right now…😱😱😱😱 I’m really going through an ARTISTIC CRISIS … I’m afraid to start again😢😢😢

Jeanette Schroeder

I struggle w paint consistency or wetness of paint. It would be helpful to see your water and towel to see when you add water to your brush and when you take water off it.

Grace Pak

Color selection based on a reference photo and color mixing. Also, how to select and edit a good reference photo for painting. Thank you!

Grace Pak

P.s. - I saw someone say no more rose tutorials. I just want to say that I personally love painting roses, so this is just a matter of personal preference.

Amanda Ingraham

For me it's knowing how to begin on a painting. If I have a beautiful reference photo, I can get it transferred but then I struggle with where to start. If it's a flower, do I go petal by petal? Do I choose a hue and find all of those and place them down first?

Amanda Ingraham

For wet on wet, I feel pretty comfortable now that I've practiced a lot, but understanding water control is hard without a ton of practice. So you have water on the paper, water on your brush, water in your paint. What are the signs to look for to determine when your paper is drying off to the point you should stop? Is it a sheen? Is it by watching what the paint you're applying is doing? I figured this out with lots of practice but for a long time I didn't understand what caused a bloom and how to avoid it (or the right time to get it if that's what you're after). Same question really for salt. If you put it on too early, nothing. Too late, nothing. How do you find the sweet spot?

Donna Diehl

I’m practicing WOW. I know it takes time and hours of practice. What I’m most curious about at this point is what different techniques can I do while the painting is still wet. Salt sprinkling and blooms yes. But a comprehensive list (and explanations) would be an awesome resource. Thank you for what you do Louise. Keep doing you 😁

Janet Knappier

Shadows - what colors to use and where to place, negative painting especially leaves, leaves in general, blurred backgrounds, bokeh effect. Thanks so much!!!

Kimberley Meendering

I’d love to know more about layering color — glazing etc. also how to choose what to paint first in a landscape scene. Keep the landscape work coming, please (love the botanicals and animals too though)

Lori Lozier

I would love more on negative painting, especially related to backgrounds. Also, blurred backgrounds, bokeh effect, etc. Thank you for asking!

Sibel Philipp

I am still struggling with the right ratio of water to paint. For example: I still have frayed edges. Why? It drives me crazy. Actually, the only question left is about the edges. I do manage to do avoid backruns or blooms or I even manage to implement wet on damp.

Sami Koenig

I have trouble with wet on wet backgrounds, when and how to drop paint. Also, when and how to tell when to add water to create blooms. Thank you.

Lauren Bilek

Water ratios and layering/glazing

Mcfar53

A debate has been going on since the beginning of watercolor about lines. Should you erase your lines before painting? Should you leave the lines visible or barley visible? I've seen beautiful art with and without lines. Is it just a matter of preference or style? Is there a place where it should or shouldn't be in painting? What about watercolor pencils? Are there techniques to this that add to painting?

Sharon Supple

My in-person art teacher tells me I keep “licking” at my paintings and eventually over paint.

Melanie Newberry

Hi Louise, hope all is well. I was watching a video and the lady said when practicing, make it fun and do leaves or petals or shapes. I thought it was a good idea so your practice pages won’t be boring. Even if you goof up. I personally love your roses. When I feel confident enough, I will try one. So many to choose from. It’s one of my goals to paint one of your roses. Thank you for everything!

Mcfar53

I can just imagine watching you rolling your eyes "Ugh". "How many times?"....... I'm just kidding. Seriously, I relieve my stress by joking. No harm meant. I know you've talked about the "Water thing" quite a bit but watching you paint, we don't "see" you paint. If that makes any sense. I do think you teach quite well but even if I am following along with others online it doesn't quite capture what's being done. It's like there are pieces missing throughout the process. One's that are obvious or second nature to an artist but out of sight to a layman. "Magic", if you will. I think part of what we're missing are things maybe we should already know. As simple as it may seem dipping your brush into water, dabbing it on a towel (with and without paint) mixing the paint with the water, in detail, would be great on it's own. Give us a lesson on just Wet on wet. Extending the water past where you want it to flow was valuable to me even though I can still make a mess of it from time to time. The "oops" aren't sinking in. I had a problem with my paper being too wet. Even though there weren't any puddles the paper would probably have hung like a wet rag if I picked it up, lol. I literally soaked it by worrying that it may dry too fast. Oh, and learning about stretching the paper? That was truly a valuable lesson. In reality I guess we just need to practice, practice, practice and practice. I can imagine the hours spent trying to get a simple thing right only because we forgot to "do this not that", not to mention all the paper and paint I would go through (and already have lol). Not saying that's a bad thing. I love drawing and painting.

Miki

The concept of overworking is not clear to me. What is it and how to prevent it? Also, more detail on the wetness of the brush - I realize you can't show everything on screen in a full tutorial, but perhaps a short exercise showing how much water to have in the brush for different techniques. Thank you for all you have taught me so far!

Ana I Marquez

Hi Louise, there are several topics I would like to know more.

Bonnie Kaye

I have an interest in painting animals and would like more tips on how to convey fur.

Ana I Marquez

Selecting the right colors, base on transparency, granulation…. For example what yellow should I pick or the right red

Karen

I’m a new member with intermediate experience. I enjoy your tutorials and would like to apply what you teach to my own photos. I have so many photos to choose from (a traveler here) and I never know which photos to use. How to decide which photos will make the best painting🥴

Teresa Anderson

If you have done one on judging the wetness of your paper by the sheen I have missed it. I would love to see one where you get the paper very wet. Show it looks where you can see the sheen, how paint handles on it, then let it dry a bit and do the same thing. I have a hard time figuring out when it dry enough to manage the spread of the paint properly. Expecially how to tell that by the sheen on the paper.

Ana I Marquez

Also when you have a flower how to determine the best side if you don’t want to paint it entirely, for example your hydrangea on patreon. Choosing the right side to make it more viasully effective. Composition is very important.

Ana I Marquez

Tips about how to paint metal, the reflections, correct colors to achieve a realistic look

Ana I Marquez

Tips on how to paint detail leaves.

Ana I Marquez

How to make feathers feathery and fluffy

Ana I Marquez

More tips about ocean water, weaves reaching the sand

Karen Erickson

Hi Louise, thank you for reaching out! I enjoy your tutorials very much and your style of teaching. You are my favorite instructor! There are so many things, but my top three that I personally struggle with are: • When looking at a picture or image you would like to paint, how do you choose your colors and keep them limited to under 5? • How do keep your colors vibrant and unmuddied and know when to stop when you are on the brink of overworking your painting? • Fixing mistakes - how to handle the "oops" without ruining your painting by again overfixing? Thank you!

Mcfar53

P.S. Your beginner videos are awesome. Sometimes it just doesn't click when I'm watching a video. It's just me I guess. Have a wonderful day!

ginnie nuckles

thickness of paint to water ratio on a brush when applying to already wet paint so it doesnt just run all over the wet on the paper,, ie. keeping the shading where i want it instead of running all over

Diane Pickett

Technique for different textures; creating depth of field; using lost edge effectively.

Dian

I struggle with the same issues as Christine above, I.e. quantity of colours to be prepared so you don’t run out and then try and match it again and wetness of the brush when softening an edge. Also deciding where to put lost edges. Thank you.

Bonnie Alcott

Hi and thank you for this opportunity to add a request. How do I begin a painting. For example I want to paint a photo of the Santa Barbara courthouse where my brother recently married. It’s a beautiful landscape but not sure how to plan this out. I love your tutorials.

C.J. Westrick

Hi, I'd love to hear how to create a blended background around a detailed drawing. For example, if I have a drawing of daisies and want a blended background without touching the daisy petals, how best to do that. I find my background doesn't blend together well when I do it in smaller sections that allow me to be really careful of not getting water on the petals. Thanks!

Marianne Redding

Painting subjects without them looking pasted on the paper. Backgrounds.

Marla Bonds

Hello Louise, thank you for working to meet the needs of us all, even beginners. Similar to Ms. Westrick, I would love help with creating backgrounds that visually integrate with the subject, and take in the light source, which I also would love help with. This seems small, but I need help with painting eyes that look, well, real.? Thank you again!

Lisa Gordon

I really STILL struggle with blending wet on dry. No matter what I seem to do, I still get either hard edges or whatever I am painting becoming one color instead of a nice blend. I have tried different consistencies of paint, different brushes and I always use 100% cotton watercolor paper, so I am quite stumped.

Nadine Mclellan

It's either cauliflowerered or when I think I did it right as in the seagulls, once it dries it looks grainy. I've tried wetting just certain parts at a time. I'm working w arches and DS paints

Teresa

Do you always work from freshly squeezed-out paint each time? I squeeze paint onto my palette and it dries there. Then I'm spraying it with water to get it wet again but I never have the richness of paint that I see you (and other teachers) have. Can we achieve intense colors when we're working from dried paint on the palette? Or do we need to always squeeze out fresh paint?

Thea Evans

I have same issue as Teresa. Also I struggle with the thickness of paint to water/to paint ratios. I also come unstuck with colour mixing.

Sarah Archbold

I would love some exercises on lost edges. I have watched you, I understand perfectly while watching you. Applying to a finished painting of my own—not so much. I think I don’t “accept what the paint gives me.” I know better, but I still fiddle. Doing some practice exercises without pressure would be such a good plan! Thanks.

Sanctity Johnson

Thank you for asking! I read somewhere once that painting/ putting paint on paper is the last step. I'd like to learn how to plan and prepare for a painting -- framing my shots, which pictures would translate better to a watercolor painting, which details to leave in or out (esp in the pencil outline), which shadows to include, how much detail to include, which colors/ general palette for the specific painting, and general composition. The entire thought and planning process that leads to a finished painting. How do I translate one of my own pictures, or even what I see or imagine into a finished work? To me, painting without your tutorials is the most intimidating. I would have to plan and figure out everything you already have. And I'm not even sure where or how to begin. I guess that's probably all Art 101 stuff, that I've missed out on by never going to art school or taking an art class in college.

Laura Etheridge

Thanks so much for offering this Louise. My nemesis is mixing colors on the paper wet on dry. I just can’t get the proper radio of water to paint. When I put the paint on the paper it looks so watery and the colors are so diluted. I know it should be the milk or cream consistency but I can’t seem to judge how much should I wet the brush. Thanks

Cathy Spohn

Hi Louise I’m very new to watercolor and have trouble with water control and overworking pieces

Tammy McCraw

Composition composition composition! Thank you, Louise—(and I adore your work)!!

Izabela

1. How do you decide what details to paint on your subject and what details to leave? How to simplify a drawing for a painting? 2. I know that you already talked about it in few videos but I struggle with those hard, dark and ugly edges around my washes. It always looks like an outline subject with a darker color. I would like more examples on how to work on it.

Linda Halicki

Hi Louise - I believe you recently mentioned trying synthetic brushes. I would love to see a short video where you evaluated sable vs synthetic brushes.

Jocelyne Kent

As a newbie, it would be so helpful for me to see your water and towel to visually see when you add water to your brush and when you take water off it.

Patricia Douglas

Remembering to leave room for highlights or white areas. And my washes seem to watery when wanting a pale wash. When I adjust, my washes are too pigmented. So water control issues and get a dark outline. I have watched and practiced many times but still have issues with this! Thanks Louise! I also think it may be that I use several different brands of watercolors and they all act a bit different. Oh, can you teach patience? LOL

Christine West

Paint consistency and blending to avoid hard

Christine West

Edges. Sorry missed that word on last comment

Angela Gregory

Hi Louise. I really struggle with composition.

Gail Anderson

H i Louise muted backgrounds and negative painting would be great thanks

Dian

Is there a way of telling from a tube of paint whether a shade is a wam or cool colour. I understand how it moves from cool to warm on the colour wheel but how do you tell from the actual paint? Thank you Louise.

Afi Ruel

Right now I'm challenged with paint consistency. Especially with wet on wet.

Lindi Visser

Hi, wet-on-wet and painting darker lines inside. I did the beginner Pansy tutorial but when I drag the darker colour into the lighter one, and lifts the brush, it creates a flower like blop. Exercises for stability in finer details. Thank you for doing this :)

Loren Patafta

Choosing the right size brush. Either too big or too small. Water control, especially wet in wet and all of the above! Thanks Louise you are a fantastic teacher!! Please come down to Melbourne and to a class for us ;)

Jennifer Nicholson

What a great idea, thank you Louise. Among other things already mentioned, I would like to know how to obtain a vibrant smooth finish on my final painting.

Mercedes Sánchez Arauzo

Thank you very much Louse I think it is a great idea and very kind of you, I am still fighting to get proper birds' feathers or hairs in the animals

Danielle Gagnon

J'ai toujours beaucoup de mal à peindre de grandes surfaces en mouillé sur mouillé et même sur papier sec. Mon papier a le temps de sécher et on voit les coups du pinceau. Si je divise en plusieurs surfaces, évidemment ça se voit. Est-ce une question de pinceau? Difficile de prendre un pinceau plus large, s'il y a un peu de détails. Aussi, je ne tends pas mon papier, ça aiderait peut-être puisqu'il aurait été mouillé une première fois.

Robin R McCarthy

This is great news Louise! I have been a patron of yours for some time and no longer use your tutorials as (no offense) but I do not want to paint like you! I want to embrace a looser style of my own, but am having a very difficult time figuring out how to do that. So topics relating to developing your own style and having the ability to create your own paintings would be so valuable to me! Thankyou for your help, you are so talented!

Brenda Layman

Louise, I would love advice on how to know when to make parts of a composition more realistic while leaving other parts looser and more suggestive. I often find myself bogged down in details only to realize that the painting would have been better without them.

Azadeh Olia

Hello dear, One of the things that I find most intimidating is deciding which colors to choose. I must admit that I cheat a bit by finding a painting of yours that is close to what I want and checking out your color choices. Of course, painting hair and feathers is always a challenge when attempting to do an original painting.

colleen

Hi Louise, I think this has been such a great exercise for everyone I know it as been for me. I can relate to almost every post so now I know I’m not alone. ❤️

Frederike Diehr

Thank you for the offer. I hope I can express myself correctly, as English is not my native language. I have difficulties to fill a large area evenly, without the unsightly spots or edges of the new Pinslstriches arise. Small areas work well. With backgrounds that have many corners and edges and many parts that have a large area, the new color almost always creates unsightly edges. The next thing is to choose the right shadow color. When and how do you decide to make an edge in the image hard, or as a soft transition? Kind regards from Germany. Maybe you can also tell something about holding your brushes at different strokes, ie. What angel do you hold it... As you can see, Im closed to be a complete beginner.

Wendy Scarlet

1.- Synthetic Brushes comparison Da vinci Colineo, Princeton Aqua Elite, Escoda Versatil. 2.- A more detail explanation about charging your brush and how to decide that it has the correct amount of water, examples about how don't do it. 3.- How to choose the right brush size. 4.- How to photograph your work. When I take pictures the colors look different than the original painting.

Janet McGrath

Hi, I love your videos and have found them so helpful. I do struggle with basic drawing skills, any exercises or tips would be helpful.

Pam Causey

Louise just keep doing what you do I love the time you take in described what you are doing while you paint. I have been with you for sometime now and love everything you do!

David Molloy

Hiya Louise, What about glazing on order to gently push areas into the background like foliage, and conversely to bring some areas forward with stronger tonsil values, for instance on a flower. XX

Cheri Lee Altemoos

I've been away from Patreon for a while I had a stroke and haven't been able to do stuff or did I want to do anything but I'm so glad that I came back because you have definitely grown in your and your teaching I'm so happy that you're using other colors and other techniques and challenging yourself to what people wants The one thing that I would look for help with is just brush strokes I did the negative painting of the tree again and I can see so many brush marks in there and trying to get it to look right I'm just not doing very well so that will be one thing that I want

Sandy

That’s great. I could use beginner posts.

Peiying

You summarized it so well - these are my top questions/challenges, especially how to choose colors when looking at an image to tackle.

Louise De Masi

I'm so sorry you've been unwell Cheri. I hope you are improving every day now. Thank you for the suggestion. 💖

Sanctity Johnson

One more request, I'd love some more tutorials with vibrant, beautiful and vivid colors. I love your tutorials on the fighting fish, rooster, bright orange/pink tulip. Anything that pops out of the paper. (Any tips on how to keep colors vibrant vs muted and muddy also appreciated). Thank you!

Priscilla Tenzar

Hi Louise and Dom I still struggle with the ratio of water and paper wetness. I can get it right maybe the second time around painting the same subject and following along with your amazing detailed instructions but have trouble mastering the same quality of results on my own. I also know how important it is to paint and draw very regularly and when I do I see the results of my efforts but when I don't have the opportunity to schedule in even just a little art time its like I lose the level of skills that I have previously built up. I have tried to start with warm up exercises this year when I remember to do so. Also I have lots of beautiful marsh scenes in my picture and would really love to learn some techniques on how to paint them so more landscape techniques would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for all you do!!!!

Maria Eadie

Hi Louise thank you for asking. One of my challenges is when I painting wet on wet and apply different colors I end up with mud my colors are not bright.

Maria Eadie

I love the Tiger I have been looking for the tutorial.

Maria Eadie

Sorry I keep pressing the wrong button. Thak you for the tutorials. Looking forward to see the giraffe tutorial. Thank you for everything.

Véronique Kowalewicz

I have been enjoying your graphite drawings videos! I think they are so valuable to watercolour paintings! I have troubles with understanding focal points?

Véronique Kowalewicz

Moi aussi je ne tends pas mon papier et j’ai ce problème 🙈 Je n’ose pas brocher mon précieux papier

Véronique Kowalewicz

I really need help to stop overworking and fussing ahah 😆 But this is more of a confidence problem maybe

Lynn Muster

WOW, what a list Louise!! For me, I’d like to see some videos on how to go from an intermediate painter to an advanced one. I can follow tutorials pretty well, but really have no idea how to look at a photo, conceptualize it, then turn it into a successful painting.

Bonnie Williams

I agree with Lynn on looking at a photo and turning it into a successful painting -- I also struggle if I'm trying to do my own thing without following a tutorial that I fall into just coloring with watercolors instead of actually using my paints properly -- Bonnie

Dianne Thomas

Your tutorials are the best!! I struggle with getting the paint to water ratio correct when painting wet on wet.

Libby Padovan

Hi Louise and Dom, I really enjoy watching and trying your tutorials. Also gain a lot from viewing other Patreons work. I also struggle with looking at a picture/photo and working out colours. Wet on Wet is an area I struggle with but practice makes perfect. I have no background in painting or drawing Appreciate the time, effort, information and explanations you put into your tutorials. One day I'll post something I've done. I'm so in love with watercolour.

Trina

Do you always do two paintings Louise? Is the first one a serious attempt or just a type of warm up exercise?

Louise De Masi

Not always Trina. I mainly do a study when I'm not sure how I want the finished painting to look or if I'm not that confident with the subject or the colours. It's always a serious attempt. I know that if the study works out well I can always sell it when I'm finished.

Jennifer Keene

Thanks for asking this question, Louise. I would appreciate tutorials and techniques on how to paint fur. Both positive painting, where you talk about making little flicks with the brush (mine never look as light and natural as yours), and negative painting where you paint the background behind the fur. I tried to paint your Rabbit (https://www.patreon.com/posts/27317525), and the fur in my painting was very chunky. How do you hold your brush? How much pressure do you apply and when? How do you know which direction to make the flicks? Getting some practice tutorials without having to commit to a full painting would be greatly appreciated. I love you're painting style and your teaching style. Thank you for sharing your talents.

Dionne Conrad

Love all of your tutorials! Thanks for giving us great content. I struggle with picking the correct colors. I always tend to try to match the reference picture colors. I love watching the way you paint because I’m trying to be more open to different colors when I paint, even the ones I don’t see.

D. Todd

20 years of painting, and I I still struggle with backgrounds. Backgrounds are my bane. Keep subject as vignette, or add background. Do I paint it first, middle, or last. What color/s. What shape/s. Fuzzy or clear. Partial or full. Light or dark. Work it out in thumbnails, or prelim sketch, or wait to see what "looks' right when subject is done. Argh.

MARIANNE DANHOF

To bring in the light into a painting and to keep white simply white

Katherine S Forney

I agree with D. Todd. Backgrounds are difficult for me as well.

Dee Smith

Hmm,.. How to decide on an illustrative type painting vs a more realistic approach and how can a compromise be found between the two styles. What makes the biggest difference in achieving each style? Is it tone or detail and consistency of the paint. I like that you show mistakes and how you try to correct them or just accept them. I think this is a hard thing for those of us who are fairly new to watercolor. I've only been painting a little over two years. Dee

Robyn Mills

Hi Louise, on reading through the comments and suggestions above I think you probably have enough for a dozen or more tutorials,,, many of which I would find useful. my biggest challenge is taking a photo and transferring it to the paper with minimal strokes…what to look for to include what to ignore… creating shadows and how dark should shadows be … are a few things that would help me. Thank you Robyn

Janicce Chin

My biggest issue is wet on wet, I am using Stonehenge aqua and it doesn't stay wet as long as yours so I compensate by over wetting. Also getting the consistency of paint on the brush right.

Danielle Gagnon

Oui, comme je tiens à avoir du papier 100% coton, évidemment il coûte cher. C'est pourquoi je ne fais pas de très grands formats et je trouve que tendre le papier signifie en gaspiller une partie.

Sherry Be

I’m struggling with color selections and mix.

Kelle Luoma

Shadows. I still struggle with appropriate shadow colors, shadow value, and width. IE are two objects close together or farther apart? Where should the deep shadow end and the penumbra begin? If I change the light source on my photo, or if my photo doesn't have great shadows, how to I put them in? Orange and yellow are the two colours I struggle with the most for shadows.

Lisa Lawson

Hello, I just joined today. I'm reading comments and it's nice to know that I am not alone in the struggle. I have been painting on and off for most of my adult life. I have a lot of technical skill but I still struggle with color and color mixes. I went through a period in my life when most of what I painted was accepted into a gallery and sold. Somehow, I can't get that back. I can't remember why it worked then and not now. It's driving me crazy. I even ask myself if something has changed with my eyesight. I want vibrancy and a sense of light and I just can't get there.

Ed Argenbright

Your help over the last 2 plus years has been of great meaning to me to advance my paiintng skills. I would like more help using the types of paint ie stains, transparents, and opaques. Thanks

Paula von Bestenbostel

She just tackled that area nicely on the wet on wet techniques a dew days ago, did you manage to see it yet? I found the part where she brought a tissue up close and touched the rear of the brush to reduce the amount water on the brush extremely enlightening. I'd normally do it from the tip area, losing my paint in the process great tip Louise and great question from you too.

Paula von Bestenbostel

Hi louise, I'd love some help please on a wash, I'm very new and I think that's what you call it. For example I did your Goose tutorial, loved it by the way, learned lots, but when it came to putting the blue wash (if thats what its called) around the Goose and outward, I had stripes and brush strokes, I couldn't get an even uniformed look of paint colour... apologies if I'm not explaining myself clearly. If you're not sure what I mean, or what I'm talking about, Its okay just ignore my request. 😬 thank you.

Carmen

I would appreciate if you could help me on how choosing the best colors from my palette to recreate the colors from a reference picture. 🌻🌿

Robin Skannal

Hi Louise, I get stuck on too many details and get frustrated with end results of my paintings.

Kay Endsley Art

So many comments! I did not read them through, so hope this is not a repeat. The final darkness that makes a realistic painting POP is my dilemma. I often stop too soon, in fear of adding another paint mark. And then, at other times I added too much. It can be hard to determine when a painting is actually finished.

Ruth Mcintosh

This is a great idea, I find backgrounds quite challenging, specifically avoiding blooms when doing wet in wet.

Sandra Harris

Hi Louise, a couple of things for this beginner please: how do I identify/“see” light and shade values/shapes in plein air painting; also I’m still struggling with the right amount of water for wet on wet. It either pools, or the paint doesn’t move enough. Does the quality of the paper affect this significantly? I use cotton and cellulose mix, and am starting to use 100% cotton. Also, best way to use granulating and non-granulating colours. Thank you so much.

Nellie Mattis

Louise - I have painted in Acrylics but am new to watercolor - I saw a piece on Koi and now can’t find it! Did the wet dry tutorial.

Louise De Masi

Hi Nellie, all of the tutorials are on the index links I gave you. I haven't made a tutorial with koi as the subject. I do have two fish tutorials on the index though.

Jaime George

Hi Louise, I love watching the pre-painting process of thumbnails of composition, value & colour. I struggle with softening my edges. For example, your hydrangea tutorial inspired me & I enjoyed the drawing process & the idea of how to use tech to show value & colour. But I CANNOT figure out how to create the very first petal you painted. I’ll just keep practicing! I also love learning how to glaze in layers. Your paintings are fantastic!!

Nellie Mattis

I am watching every tutorial to get started. Can you explain the different papers? What is cold pressed?

Lily O

I just love learning from you, Louise. Thank you for helping us along. I DO have a question - in many of your first paintings you use the sloping palette with the hard paint on top and what seems a random watery paint at the bottom of the slope. Then you wet the paper, and add two watery colours and behold! They mingle. I get cauliflowers or wash out the first colour. Since you've changed palette to the John Pike? I'm not sure how much water to mix in so I'm still Queen of Cauliflowers! All help appreciated.

Lynn Muster

Hi Louise, I hate to add to your crazy long wish list, but I’d like to see tutorials on mediums and how to use them. Watercolor grounds are of particular interest to me. I saw Daniel Smith’s iridescent gold and it looks just beautiful!

Patty L. Bingaman

I struggle with knowing how much paint to load into the brush, so I blow alot of paintings........... control of water and color is very tricky

Melanie Newberry

Hi Louise. I watch color comparisons of different brands on YouTube all the time. Just for fun. There’s always mentions of these things which confuse me. They are: opaqueness, permanent, granulation, staining, and transparent.

Laura Vasquez

Hi Louise. I've learned so much from you. The thing I struggle with is not taking my background from corner to corner. I also have trouble deciding on lost and found edges. I'm sure there's a video you've already done, but I haven't found them yet. Thank you for your time and sharing.

Elaine Crossley

I’m a newbie to your Patreon. I would love to learn more about lost & found edges and softening (blending) edges.

Cyndi

Graded and variegated washes give me nightmares.

Angelina Ivanova

Hi Louise, I would like to see more information on how to correct watercolor mistakes. Thank you!

Geraldine Hall

Hello Louise! I want to learn how you draw, sketch, trace or use a projector to get your photo on paper ready to paint.

Lynn’s Patreon

How do you get the edges of your projects so clean looking?

Michael Vincent Brothers

I always have trouble putting in a background. I need help with loose washes for backgrounds. Thank you.

Caroline

Hi Louise, the main things are - colour mixing for grey; how to paint water; painting white subjects without overdoing the greys; how to paint sunlight. Many thanks!

Caroline

Me too, knowing which colours to combine without getting mud!

Caroline

Yes. This is a big one. Composition, what to look for etc. You can try cutting a square in a piece of paper and holding over a photo to crop out sections. Another one is to print a pic and draw the main lines on top to see if it works. I am sure Louise has more!

Caroline

Yes. This is a huge one and makes a massive difference to a pic.

Saleemah Ahamed

Hi Louise - I have trouble with softening edges. I noticed that is something you do almost instinctively in your full painting tutorials. I’ve seen your video on softening edges but I couldn’t quite understand how damp your brush should be. Also demonstrating in in a painting vs a color swatch would be great. I’ve practiced a lot and I either get a back wash (brush too wet) or no effect (brush too dry). Another item to add is how to color sculpt with watercolor. How to add shading either with a darker color or complementary colors. A simplified tutorial on that would be great. Thank you!

Jane Riccobena

Hi Louise. I paint a lot of animal portraits , mainly in soft pastel but would like to know how to paint fur effects in watercolour

Hilde Chan

Hi Louise, I am so happy I found your website. Some others were too simple one other one was way over my head. Your tutorials about colors, paper, and water are awesome. I would like some help with painting fur (dogs in particular).

Christine Zeiler

I would like to learn how to paint a sheer white curtain over a window without loosening the under the curtain color and making it bleed through. Yikes!

Donna Riggs

Hi Louise. I would like to better my skills at color mixing, shading, and highlights. I would also like examples of how to fix mistakes and avoid getting "blooms". Thank you for taking the time to share your talents!

Marie Faubion

Hi Louise, this may not be the place to ask this…. Will you paint a YORKIE dog tutorial?

Adrienne Jones

Same here! I have used pastels for a while and comfortable there, but watercolors is a whole other thing.... and I mostly do dog portraits.

Molly MacPherson

Hi Louise, I’d love to learn about composition and creating focal points. I have lots of ideas of what I’d like to paint, but I don’t know how to put it on a page in a pleasing manner. Also choosing a color palette for a project. I really struggle with that. Especially as it has to do with glazing. Thank you!

Doris Dickenson

I have trouble with wet on wet painting. Mine come out all splotchy or you can see the brush marks. I will appreciate your help.

Ankia

Hi Louise, I struggle with water control and especially the ability to blend and move the paint around before it dries out. Especially knowing when to use blending medium, ox Gal, arabica etc.

Leslie Christensen

Hi Louise- I am having trouble going from a sharp edge to smoothing it out further on the fabric, as in the dacshund watercolor

Susan Raskin

me too. And how and when to put in backgrounds. I am truly a beginner.

Trudy

Charging, I can’t seem to do this and achieve a soft blend of one color into another. Maybe my paint consistency is wrong ?

Christine Murphy

Hi Louise I would love to learn how to simplify an animal. You never paint all the detail but what is the thought process in what to leave out.