Good Basic Watercolor Painting Avoids Disappointment!

By Michael Dale

Having been recently criticized for an incredibly simple 2 stage learn how to paint watercolors course, I have to admit that the critic was absolutely correct...

The course is too simple for a beginner who expects a painting course to show them how to paint landscapes, still-life pictures, portraits and technical subjects. It is far simpler because it was aimed at artists who wanted to learn how to paint without the pressures of learning to draw.

Here are 2 reasons why you should return to basic watercolor painting techniques...

1. It is a good idea to learn how to paint before painting a Mona Lisa

2. It is wonderful when things are going badly wrong to return to basics

Some people are lucky. They never struggle to learn to paint watercolor. It is easy for some to pick up a paint box and brushes and paint a good watercolor landscape without difficulty. They are a fortunate minority.

Alternatively, like you and me, most of us aren't blessed with such talents...

* It isn't so easy to learn how to paint watercolor well

* It can seem almost impossible to paint a good watercolor picture

It is easy to find that every brush mark you make turns into a mess. It is far too easy to create a nightmare of badly mixed colors. You'll find color washes flooding the wrong areas of your painting.

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

* It is a great idea to learn how to get a range of different color intensities and tone from a single color before adding another color to the mix

Like the old saying goes... "It is better to learn to walk before you run"

It is so easy to become disappointed with your watercolor painting. It is easier still for you to look like you have no artistic ideas and talents. Worst of all you can be made to look like you have no painting skills at all.

So, given the choice, which option would you choose?

"Having a deep knowledge of simple and easy basic watercolor painting or... Disappointment and frustration?"