Watercolor Painting For Beginners | By Award Winning Artist

Let me show you 2 ways to sketch the activities with almost perfect accuracy, in under 2 minutes!

"Why can't I find the link to download the resource materials?"

"I click on it but nothing happens?"

"Where are the templates and handouts?"

This quick video solves all of the questions above in case you find yourself in the same situation later on!

"I'll only invest in better materials when I get better in painting." Does that sound familiar? Well, not all materials are designed to manage and handle water. I'm going to break down what those materials are and show you the difference between good quality and sub par materials, then recommend something decent that won't break the bank.

Have a look at your watercolor paper. Does it say "watercolor" anywhere on the front? Well, if it does, watch this video anyway because not all watercolor papers are made the same. In this video, you will learn 5 important things about the paper you have which will affect the way you paint, even if the one you bought says "watercolor".

Other instructors recommend using student grade pigments to start with. "We are just students, learning how to paint, so it only makes sense to use student grade pigments!" I will not only tell you why I don't recommend it, but also show you why.

There are so many brushes to choose from and the prices could get quite hefty. In this video, you will learn what a cheap, mid-range and premium one looks like, how they differ, what to look for, and the 3 "decent" brushes (yep, only 3) I recommend to start with. 

Seriously? Is there actually anything important to know about palettes? When painting with watercolors, definitely.

Do you have questions already? Watch this quick video to see if it falls in any of the 4 major ones that I will be flashing on screen and have a quick idea about how I plan to answer them.

If you've watched online videos and tutorials and wished that some instructors showed their water supply (so you can see how much water they're adding) well, to be honest, it really won't help. What you will learn in this lecture, will.

Now that you know what the 4 Strengths are, the next thing you will learn is how to use them so you can paint with more confidence and certainty.

Sit back and relax as I demonstrate a quick painting using the 4 Strengths. What you will see is an example of what a fresh, translucent painting looks like.

Can these 4 Strengths really help? Let me show you how far I can take a painting using these 4 Strengths.

I encourage you to paint the leaf without any instruction first. That will be your first challenge. If you decide to take on this challenge, set it aside then watch the next section. You'll see and experience what I mean.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. What if I told you that the shortest distance between staring at a blank paper and actually painting on it are only 4 dots, would you give it a try?

When your puddles are drying up, let me show you how to get them back up to Strength.

You will learn how to do a basic wash using Strength 1.

Now you know, you cannot un-know! Give it another try using Strength 2.

Are you getting the hang of it? Here's one more, this time using Strength 3.

Did yours turn out the same? If not, these tips might help.

Now let's begin with an actual activity. You will see what Strength 1 and 2 could produce when painted together, this time, with some color!

Just watch me do a quick demonstration of a baby jellyfish applying everything we've learned so far. Enjoy!

Now you've got a pretty good idea what the entire process looks like, let's start with the activity, painting the head of the jellyfish!

Let's finish it off the painting with the tentacles now!

Here are a few reminders, tips to deal with the common challenges of mixing your puddles and targeting your Strengths.

"I keep mixing and mixing but I can't seem to get darker with my colors." This next activity involves Strengths 2 and 3, helping you get your colors darker. I will show you how I do it, then you do as I do.

You will learn the colors I use and how I prepare my puddles and Strenghts.

You will be applying everything you've learned so far, just painting his little head.

Turtles have flippers and tails don't they?

A different color will be painted for the shell, but you will be using the same Strengths, Strength 2 and 3.

Watch how quickly the turtle comes together once the shell is painted in!

We're almost done! Now we decorate, starting with his face!

Finally, let's add some design to the shell. Let me show you first and give you a quick tip before you do. Feel free to make your own shell design!

"My paintings don't look patchy but it looks all washed out." Having a combination of Strengths is the solution. You will get even more practice in this next activity. We'll be using 3 Strengths this time. Strengths 1 + 2 + 3.

Let's use 3 different colors for this Seahorse and see what we can mix out of them!

Now your puddles are ready, let's start painting!

Breathe easy, now, the fun part. The icing on the cake!

Here's a quick tip on painting smooth curves to achieve graceful and clean edges. It is all in your hands!

Watch the videos as much as you want! You have just learned the core skills and understanding of water. This is crucial to learning more techniques. Practice as much as you want and whenever you're ready, the next animals will be waiting for you in my Watercolor Starters.

Do you want to practice more? Apply everything you learned from simple washes to glazing with more fun templates you can purchase at an affordable price for Udemy students!

Can you honestly say that you've noticed a shift (big or small) in the way you thought about or painted with watercolors?