I think you are right about practicing something over and over-when I try that, often my best illustration turns out to be the first one I did. I feel like the spontaneous nature of the first try, is lost in the repetition. I don’t get to paint everyday, and usually I notice I paint better after I’ve skipped a day. For me, this means all the time I’m away from the paints, and the painting process is turning over and over in my mind, and eventually shows up as a refreshed outlook and a better result. I love your style, your approach, and your finished product-I’m inspired to loosen up even more. Thanks for the excellent instruction.

Agree 100%! Practice makes progress. Perfection should never be considered with watercolor imho. The medium is super fluid for a reason. Sit back, relax and watch this medium do its magic. I don’t paint everyday and never have the entire 5 years I’ve been at this. I read a comment by an artist once that said the space in time between paintings is just as important as the paintings themselves. My exact philosophy. Blessings dear one.

@brushmovement

2 ай бұрын

Thank u for sharing that! Yes space is as important as the practice! Very wise words.

Thank you for this video Jillian. Spraying the paper and letting the ink flow as it will is so fun. I liked your negative space that ended up looking like white flowers. It was a quick satisfying session.

@brushmovement

2 ай бұрын

Oh yes I love spraying the paper lately! I think it gives a new fun effect where some parts have water and some don't:) I love playing with white space. Thank u for noticing and so glad u had a good art making session!

I sometimes fall in that trap too- of thinking I must get out and paint something or I will not become good at it- then I realized if my heart wasn't into it that day, my work suffers more- so yes, it is better to think of what you want to achieve , and perfection is just not doable and it takes the fun out of it- good advice :)

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

So well said ❤ I have days like these too!!

Beautiful thoughts AND painting! For me at this new-to-painting stage, I do like the act of repetition. More so to find the connection between what my hands are doing, and the result it creates. If I only do something ONCE, I'm not sure whether I like (or dislike) it because of the brush stroke, the brush itself, the paint consistency, etc. It's all so new, so I find that the repetition helps me learn how to achieve what I'd like to see. I also feel like the repetition sort of takes the need for perfection away because I can be like "dont sweat it, this is one of several" 😂 That being said, I can see what you're saying about focusing on the practice itself rather than the desired (unrealistic) outcome of perfection.

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Makes so much sense. Thank you for sharing about how the stage in your journey matters with the practice! In the beginning I definitely did a lot more repetitive mark making and then the stage I am at now I feel like doing repetition doesn't work for me anymore and I work more on expansion and self expression ❤

With my practice, I'm working on just showing up for practice and trying the things I've been having trouble with. I am a beginner so I am working to get the foundations down. I think with each time that I show up for practice, I may learn something new or have a concept that I didn't understand click. The perfection trap is very real.

@brushmovement

2 ай бұрын

The perfection

This is beautiful. I think it's all about the mindset. If you make it a job/practice that might be stressful. If you just sit down to paint out of pleasure, happiness and the willingness to create something, I believe you will get better results. Great video as always, thank you for sharing.

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

You are right that mindset is everything and sets the stage for what we choose to do ❤

Thank you for sharing, Jillian. My practice is more like experimentation. I like testing out things. So whenever I paint, usually it's because there is something that I want to explore.

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

I love this perspective. To test and experiment! Constantly wondering ;)

I believe it’s more about developing your style through practice… thanks for making this video to make me think about this!

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

I like ur definition

Really wonderful piece! I really love the combination of all the abstract shapes and small delicate details and also how you use the negative painting. I really love this one!!!

I relate to everything you said and this is what is stopping me from going back to watercolor, but listening to you, my urge to just grab my brush and build a relationship with it and get to know my paint without the need to get perfect results is increasing alot,thank you jillian ❤

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Yes!! Time to grab some brushes!!

One of my biggest problems is wanting to be “perfect.” And, this is one reason why I enjoy you so much. I’ve temporarily stopped doing tutorials just so I could spend some time on my own, and not pressuring myself to keep up or try to be like someone else. Don’t get me wrong, I love tutorials, and I think they have a lot of value. I still look at them, but more for ideas than to follow along. Last night I just sat down and played. I thought about how I was holding my brush, how I was making my marks, water vs paint. Nothing I did was “perfect.” In fact, most of it looked pretty bad. However, I was able to see my “mistakes” as something positive. I know that my timing is often off when it comes to how wet my paper vs paint is. I’ll try again to see if I can do better, and maybe I’ll discover something completely different from what I intended.

@brushmovement

2 ай бұрын

I have the same thoughts as you! I personally moved away from providing tutorials on my channel because I felt it was not aligned with how I felt about them and I wanted more for artists to experience and connect to their art instead of what's on a screen. Like you - I see the value in tutorials too but there are limitations that beginners don't see especially in the early days. What u are saying is a reflection of you becoming more intentional as a painter and figuring out your own system of doing things and playing which are such important elements in finding your unique superpower. Excited to be part of your journey Anne!

@annewatman677

2 ай бұрын

@@brushmovement I have to confess that I rejoined your course. However, it is much different than most in that you are encouraging us to explore. I don’t feel as though I’m “copying” you; instead, I’m seeing how you create shapes. I bought that wonderful book you use, “A Color Guide to Flowers.” I look at the photo, and then try to see if I can create shapes that look something like the photo. I’m starting to figure out more and more on my own, but with some guidance and encouragement from you. This is the most fun I’ve had yet with watercolors!

Beautifully said - and painted! I do think we all need to find what works for us. Some people like to paint every single day and it works for them. If I push myself to paint every day, I most often paint something I do not like; as a result it is even harder to paint again next day. I love to paint when I feel like it - and this way I paint almost every day. For the first few years of regular painting I painted mostly for the result. It was very stressful and it was robbing me of my joy of painting. Now I try to focus on the pleasure of painting more than the end result. Perfect paintings can look quite cold to me. As much as I do not like my own imperfection, I do prefer to see imperfect paintings...

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

U r right about the last line u wrote... I too love imperfect paintingsans scribbles. I need to do more of those too! I like reading ur insights. So well said

This is stunning, thank you for sharing with us all ☺☺☺

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Most welcomed. Always happy to see u comment here weekly❤

Excellent advice. I have painted every day tours since entering the world of watercolor two years ago. But I feel that I am stuck in my art. I agree that I have been chasing an outcome that is impossible to achieve.

@sherryfurr9115

4 ай бұрын

Sorry about the typos. I don’t know why there is an option to edit or delete because I cannot get it to do either one?

@love2create62

4 ай бұрын

Hi Sherry, just FYI, I think you can edit comments if you click on those three little dots to the right of your comment. It should give you the option. 😊

@sherryfurr9115

4 ай бұрын

@@love2create62 Thank you. Have you had that work? I have done that multiple times over the last two years and nothing happens when I hit edit or delete? Well I just tried it on this post and it did work this time. Mystery? LOL

Practice leads to growth, not perfection. It leads to unexpected insights, leads the artist in change. I think this is inevitable when there are so many variables, don’t you?

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

That is true ❤ I agree with you

Practice. Well. Right now, my “feed” is full of a lot of things. I think it maybe time to pull out another medium. Practice is self reflection. Practice is play. Room to make a mess. Make mistakes. Scribble all over the paper when you get mad. Then come back and collage over it. Practice is merely refining the instrument that channels our artistic soul when we fully give ourselves to the art.

@kookatsoonjan

4 ай бұрын

think about when you learned to play the piano @ 7 years old to 13 years old...all that REPETITION!...Musicians are CONSTANTLY repeating and repeating...at different speeds...to finally get that muscle memory in their fingers. Painting...may be a bit different in that repetition phase...as it is NOT mathimatical...like music...and there are zillions of variables...though there are variables in music...your are always left...with those BASIC...RULES...CHORD PROGRESSIONS...ECT...WHICH CAN BE LEANEDINTO...AND SWERVED A BIT...but nonetheless...a different kind of practise...I personally have a VERY HARD TIME...painting the SAME scene over and over again...but NOT PROBLEM...REPEATING ENDLESSLY A MUSICAL PHRASE/PIECE ON THE piano...it is different. Piano...can become very freeing...when you just "noodle around"...the same as painting..."noodling" around...though I think with both...noodling is great on it's own...but sometimes...repetition...can be a game changer in both fields...due to that muscle memory thing that just kind of happens...brush work/colour mixing...not necessarily trying to paint the same photograph 10 times!...I am clear...that intuitive painting...with some repetitions...is the best way to grow as an artist in painting...not copying a photo/subject manner...but putting your own twist on it....Janis

Such a brilliant, thoughtful video ! Thank you...🤩

@brushmovement

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for being here madeline

❤ Thank you Jillian 😊

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Most welcomed❤

Your art is so lovely. Thank you for another insightful video. I really needed to hear this today. :)

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

So glad!! 😀

Thank you Jillian. I think practice is multi layered. It isn't repitition. If your handwriting is poor and you want to improve it is no use practising what you already do. You need to consider other things eg sitting your letter on the line or taking time over your loops, up strokes or down strokes. This might get you to where you want to be. Painting techniques could be something you do repeatedly at first to master things like water control, brushstokes, wet in wet etc. However, I think art practice is much more complicated. I for example need to observe more, light, shadows and then dare to try out what I'm thinking. I also think that you move on from what you think your art is going to be about in the beginning. I really wanted to be able to get a good enough representation of an image or scene at first and if someone was able to tell I'd painted a horse or a tulip I thought I was progressing. Part of it though was not being quite sure where I was progressing to, if that makes sense. So now as well as practising observing and daring I try not to think about progress per say. It's more like a mystery bus trip, destination unknown. It's a more emergent than progress based pursuit perhaps. :)

@karencarlin4886

4 ай бұрын

PS I loved the footage of the children too, how they explore, how they emerge...just think what would happen if you put a leaf in the slot and a lollipop emerged! LOL!

Perfection to me is a result that I like, that’s why it’s so difficult. Great tips, I also agree that just painting a lot doesn’t make you a better painter, you need to feel it and also develop a new look and it takes time, and of course, finding demos like yours which show us some tips and techniques with paint and brush strokes. Thanks for your lovely teachings and painting💖🌷

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Happy to be here too! Thank u!!

This is so lovely and fresh… thank you for sharing! Your mind set regarding perfection and practice is a lovely way to go about making art… and one that I think all artists should embrace while creating! I will keep this in mind when I sit down to paint next time ❤

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Keep painting!! ❤️

Practise does make you better,but taking time to do it ,not in a rush,and drawing a light sketch,or keeping the composition in mind and then starting the painting helps..by the way it’s a beautiful painting ❤

I just found your channel and I love your style

What a wonderful piece of art! Your flowers look so magical! Magical beauty! With all my heart I wish you the most magical energies of inspiration to create your new beauty! With a smile, Mr. Hi! :)

@brushmovement

3 ай бұрын

Thank u so much!! Glad to spread magic 🎩

@MrHiArt

3 ай бұрын

@@brushmovement You are welcome! An ocean of inspiration for you creative soul!

Gorgeous!

Hi Jillian You have inspired me to paint my way! I keep practicing Do you paint to give in the way of cards? Do you spray anything on them to protect Thanks again

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

I spray my originals with fixative to keep the colors vibrant if they will be framed up or sent away as original paintings! You can find matte fixative by krylon. It's helpful!

Thank you for sharing! Where did you get that perfect holder for your watercolor inks?

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Ahh it's actually a pill box... and I love that it has a cover. I know someone who uses an icecube tray with cover which also works!

@britthartart

4 ай бұрын

@@brushmovement Awesome! Thanks for the reply!

Hello. Could you please list the colors you used in this painting?

Where did you get your large pill container for your watercolor inks?

Liebe linda, toll so schön malst du, was für fläschen watercolor benutzt du da, tolke farben. Wo kann man sie beziehen. Eventuell auch in der schweiz. Liebe grüsse,

You can practice, or you can play...

@brushmovement

3 ай бұрын

Hear hear!+

The work is great very nice

@brushmovement

4 ай бұрын

Thank u so much!!