I have to admit that a critic could have been right to say that my simple 2 stage learn how to paint watercolors course was too simple...
It was aimed at artist beginners who wanted to learn to paint without having to learn to draw first. This meant that although they may not be too good at drawing, they could still get started painting. Painting landscapes, still-life painting, portraits and mechanical objects can come later.
There are 2 reasons why you should go back beyond watercolor painting basics...
1. It is a good idea to learn how to paint before painting a Mona Lisa
2. It is a good idea to go back to first principles when your paintings are going wrong
It is true that there are unusually lucky people. When they pick up a box of paints and a brush they can easily paint their first watercolor landscape painting. They never seem to struggle with their art. Such fortunate people are a minority.
Alternatively, most of us aren't blessed with such talents...
* Learning to paint watercolors is hard
* At times it can seem impossible to paint watercolor pictures
It isn't hard to find every brush mark on your painting turns into an awful mess. As you find your watercolor washes flooding uncontrollably, it is easy to create a nightmare of badly blended color.
It doesn't take long for your great art ideas to turn into muddy chaos. And, when things go wrong you are lost. Unless you know what is happening as the watercolor paint sweeps across your sheet of watercolor paper you will never improve...
* You need to see how the color moves where the water carries it
* It is a good thing to know that you will wreck a color wash that isn't fully dried by applying the next wash too soon
* You need to know how to get different color intensity and tone from a single color before you try to add another color to the equation
There is great sense in the old saying... "Don't run before you can walk"
Watercolor painting can quickly convince you that you have no artistic talent. It can make you look like you have no painting skills. It is a shame to become disheartened when your watercolors go wrong.
Which alternative would you choose?
"Having a deep knowledge of simple and easy basic watercolor painting or... Disappointment and frustration?"
It was aimed at artist beginners who wanted to learn to paint without having to learn to draw first. This meant that although they may not be too good at drawing, they could still get started painting. Painting landscapes, still-life painting, portraits and mechanical objects can come later.
There are 2 reasons why you should go back beyond watercolor painting basics...
1. It is a good idea to learn how to paint before painting a Mona Lisa
2. It is a good idea to go back to first principles when your paintings are going wrong
It is true that there are unusually lucky people. When they pick up a box of paints and a brush they can easily paint their first watercolor landscape painting. They never seem to struggle with their art. Such fortunate people are a minority.
Alternatively, most of us aren't blessed with such talents...
* Learning to paint watercolors is hard
* At times it can seem impossible to paint watercolor pictures
It isn't hard to find every brush mark on your painting turns into an awful mess. As you find your watercolor washes flooding uncontrollably, it is easy to create a nightmare of badly blended color.
It doesn't take long for your great art ideas to turn into muddy chaos. And, when things go wrong you are lost. Unless you know what is happening as the watercolor paint sweeps across your sheet of watercolor paper you will never improve...
* You need to see how the color moves where the water carries it
* It is a good thing to know that you will wreck a color wash that isn't fully dried by applying the next wash too soon
* You need to know how to get different color intensity and tone from a single color before you try to add another color to the equation
There is great sense in the old saying... "Don't run before you can walk"
Watercolor painting can quickly convince you that you have no artistic talent. It can make you look like you have no painting skills. It is a shame to become disheartened when your watercolors go wrong.
Which alternative would you choose?
"Having a deep knowledge of simple and easy basic watercolor painting or... Disappointment and frustration?"
About the Author:
Learn to paint watercolors quickly before you shop for a painting course that will only dissatisfy you, and get your free drawing lesson
