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1.3) Watercolor Basics For Beginners (Patreon)

Published:
2025-11-06 22:05:14
Edited:
2026-02-12 23:06:25
Imported:
2026-08
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Content

Just starting out with watercolor? This is the perfect place to begin!In this easy beginner lesson, I’ll walk you through the basics from choosing your materials to learning how to control your brush and water. At the end, I’ll also show you how to fix the most common watercolor mistakes beginners make.

CHAPTERS:

00:00-02:25 Introduction and context of lesson

02:25-34:30 Watercolor Materials In-Depth

34:30-55:45 Exercise: Watercolor Process In-Depth

55:45-1:04:50 Exercise: Color Value

1:04:50-1:11:00 Common Problems

1:11:00-1:11:25 Summary

SUPPORT FILES: Please download the high resolution templates below.

MATERIALS: Uni-Ball Eye (aka Vision) Micro 0.5mm / Princeton Aqua Elite Round 10 / Princeton Aqua Elite Round 12 / Baohong Watercolor Paper 300gsm 100% Cotton 7’x5’ /  Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor 16 Pan Set Black & White in this set replaced by Purple Lake & Yellow Ochre. (In the US, Baohong paper is sometimes renamed 'Meeden'. ) (Amazon Affiliate links above earn me a tiny commission at no extra cost to you!)

Colors Used: Cadmium Yellow Hue/Cadmium Red Hue/Ultramarine/Viridian Hue

👇PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE REFERENCES AND TEMPLATE FILES BELOW👇

Files

Comments

Kerstin

Wow. This tutorial is so useful. And so well explained. Thank you a lot Scottie 🧡

Monica D Franks

Great video! 🎨 I had no idea what the cauliflower effect was until I saw it in action… turns out I’ve been unintentionally perfecting it all along 😂. It’s funny how the brush and paper can totally change the outcome… like the paint’s got its own little personality! 😅 Thanks for explaining it so clearly… I’ll definitely be paying more attention next time I paint! 🌿

RUTH KOLODNEY

Excellent post. It clarified so much. For your next basica class, I’d be interested in learning about warm and cold colors, supplementary and contrasting colors. Thank you!

Noe de Casas

Nice tutorial! I have a question about watercolour brands. Would it be a bad idea to use several brands in the same painting? I’m using Van Gogh watercolours and I wonder if I could buy Cotman’s purple lake as Van Gogh’s doesn’t seem to have an equivalent. I’m getting along with making my own mix though, what takes me to my next question: what do you think about using a restricted colour palette? I heard a lot lately that it’s good for a beginner and that you learn better by having only a bunch of colours and learning to mix them.

Elly

Thank you Scottie, such a cool guideline. I especially found the part with the paper very interesting. I'm contemplating buying a block of 300gsm 100% cotton paper and just sew it together to make my own sketchbook, as I much prefer to have all of my sketches in one book :)

Jose S�nchez

Clear, simple, and to-the-point tutorial, I loved it, thank you so much!

Lorna Graham

A great tutorial Scottie. This made me realise that I am not using enough paint in my palette and I didn’t realise you could refill the pans with the tubes. Good to see how to look after brushes too. Very well explained 🙌

Maria Gonzalez

Amazing tutorial!!! Even though I have a few Baohong WC blocks, I am not using them because 'I don't want to waste good paper just experimenting' and I am using some cellulose watecolor sketchbooks. Even though they are 300 gsm, I can see more cauliflowers since I started using them. I think I will start using my Baohong paper now and leave those cellulose sketchbooks for sketching practice without watercolor. That was the first gold nugget, the second one was: I was finally able to actually see how the different consistencies look like and to see through the color value at the bottom of the well in the palette!!! THANK YOU for this!!!

Jean Green

I am so happy you made this video. I had no idea that the paper made such a difference. I just ordered one on Etsy. Going it will help

Cathy Amato

I thanks Scottie. I cauliflower a lot. Thanks for explaining the process and tips.

dave

Watched this and practiced and not surprisingly I learned a lot. Especially the little details that I’ve been trying to pick up by watching the main tutorials, but not quite getting it until elaborated on by Scotty. Practiced on arches 100% cotton paper, Cancun 140 pound paper, (but not cotton paper, and water color canvas, which I got as a freebie, and had never used before, and frankly had never heard . But I finally appreciated the advantages of 100% cotton paper after going through the practice exercises. Will be hard for me to use anything else from now on, except for maybe practicing. Looking forward to the next watercolor basic tutorial!

Helen M Sutherland

This was an excellent tutorial. Finally I realise it’s not just me trying to make a puddle of colour. You explained it so well (re oily new palette). Now ,

David G.

Just a quick note about brushes: natural-hair brushes are made from animals who are often killed in the process. Synthetics, like the Princeton ones you recommend, offer excellent performance without that cost. Since all brush tips wear down eventually, choosing synthetics is both kinder and more economical in the long run.

Elizabeth

Great tutorial. Was fun to do the exercises.

Anna

So so helpful! 😃

Lori Smith

LOVED THIS ONE! Helped to cement it into my pea brain. Thank you!

Espen Torgersen

Thank you Scottie. Regarding the value exercise: would it also work in the opposite direction? Having a dark mix and then keep adding water to get lighter values. Or is it a bigger chance of consistency by doing it like you showed in the video?

Watch It Played

Thanks so so much for this thoughtful primer on using watercolour!

Kevi

Terrific explanation of the basics. Exactly what is needed to begin experimenting and gain experience with some confidence.

Peter

Thanks for this tutorial ... for me it was very valuable. The biggest take away for me was how cauliflowers happen when you leave a blob of watercolor at the bottom and it tries from the top and sucks the color then up. I had this situation several times already and could not find an explanation for it. I found the paper comparison as well very interesting and eye opening :) I would appreciate more such basic tutorials regarding color theory, lighting, perspective etc. ... I am fresh here and did not go through all the tutorials here .... so maybe there are some already around. Many thanks!

Ros B

Many thanks, that’s really clear and helpful. Watercolour is the part I struggle with and have given up on in the past. It’s useful to see where some of my errors come from. I like your realistic approach to what’s worth spending money on!

Rikki Kusy

All of the basics 5 videos was just what I needed to get restarted with watercolor after a long absence. I'm waiting for the supplies to arrive and making it work during these practices with subpar paper and brushes. This has been great for understanding the importance of having the right tools for the outcomes we want with this medium. I really enjoy your explanations and paint along demonstrations.

Barb 3

I was so used to acrylic paint just opening the pot etc, I had no idea of the techniques and know how it took to do a good watercolour painting. You’ve been a big help. Thanks 🙏

Tony N

Hey Scottie, Like I had mention before I'm a newbie to watercolors. On your palette how do you know what pigment is in each well when you remove the wrapper? Do I use a color chart until I'm knowledgeable of the pigments and there location on the palette?

Wendy C

Thank you so much, Scottie! The basics were explained really well. I’d love to hear more about color selection, color mixing, and additional blending techniques. Truly appreciate the tutorials!

Bruno

Great tips! Cauliflower is such a nice name for a not so nice effect! Ahahaha

Sharon Woodhams

This was such an interesting exercise - I had some Spanish water colour paper, cheap but 300gsm, and a slightly lighter weight (270 G) but better quality SeaWhite paper - what a difference between the two! The water was so much more difficult to control on the Spanish paper - it was almost kind of oily and floated on it settling unevenly. On the SeaWhite paper it went on a lot more smoothly, and stayed wet so that I could move it around - a much more even application. Lesson learned there - Thanks for a great demo.

Marta Rivera

Thank you so much Scottie! it was a very good explanation with very good exercises !!! Is a great step by step. Very useful!

monica

Since I've been sketching, aside from the Baohong paper I've been using for a long time, here in Europe I've discovered Hahnemühle Sketchbooks be very good. They're made of cellulose but can withstand many layers. They're amazing and convenient to use outdoors.

Brianna

I'm excited to start now! Thank you this was very motivating.

Diane

Great content in this lesson, thank you!

Sally Bryan

You are a great teacher. Enjoying every section and I just started today!

Paul Ellis

i have seen another artist wetting the paper at the back as well as the surface on which the paper is put to rest. it keeps the paper down and prevents buckling. I am not sure if it will do so for the 'cheaper' papers?

Sherry White

Thanks Scottie! That was very informative and fun to work long with you. Appreciate the tips and tricks!

Sue Kawase

I've been self-studying watercolor for several years. You are an incredible teacher; thank you for taking it slow, and methodical. You have a healthy mix of "You can do this" coupled with how to's for problems we encounter. Very helpful. Thanks!

Manon

I used toothpaste to remove the oil on the palette and it worked well.

Mark

I just joined yesterday and am thoroughly enjoying your skillful presentations. I wanted to let you know that the current 16-pan W-N Cotman paint set you link to seems to have changed up the color set a bit--some different names and some differences in the included hues. I'm going to grab a set anyway and do my best to sort out the differences, but thought you'd want to know (if it's not been mentioned here before). You're the best, Scottie. Carry on!

Robbin Kelly

Thank you for your clear explanations, now I know what caused the cauliflowers when I’m painting. I bought the Baohong watercolor roll (cold pressed) so I hope to,have more success!

Rayna

Thank you so much for the paper demo. I have been following along with any number of painters and sketchers and while most say “get 100% cotton” no one showed me the difference it makes except you. I purchased multiple Stillman & Birn sketchbooks when I was getting started and while I will use them up, I am now wishing I had chosen differently.

Cindy

What a great introduction to watercolor. In years past, I took classes, but ended up frustrated. I learned more in this one hour intro than in all those classes combined. You have such a talent for teaching (as well as sketching, of course!)

Jon Henderson

What a great tutorial Scottie! I am just beginning my sketching and watercolour journey, and so far the introductory course has me nervous and excited in equal measure!

Krista Phelps

Hi Scottie I have taken a couple of urban sketching classes but I haven't learned about water colors, so I am enjoying this video. There is so much I have already learned but I am stuck at 42.00 minutes. The video will not play for me past that time, even if I try to skip ahead. Has anyone else mentioned this?

Krista Phelps

This is just what I needed! I have taken Urban Sketching classes but no one ever teaches how to use water colors. Thank you!