STOP Overworking Your Watercolor (10 EASY Tips!)
Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль
In this beginners' watercolor painting tutorial I show you how to avoid overworking by concentrating on basics like tone, color mixing, avoidance of mistakes and more. Use these 10 tips and additional tricks and techniques to improve your paintings.
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:32 100k my subscribers plaque!
1:27 What is overworking, and what isn't it?
4:50 Tip 1 Don't draw too much at the start
7:10 Tip 2 Get elements correct before starting
8:40 Tip 3 Work with a limited palette
15:20 Tip 4 Create interesting darks
16:52 Tip 5 Get your values right first time
20:13 Tip 6 If you are getting lots of drying lines take a step back
21:50 Tip 7 For cleaner adjustments let things dry
24:46 Tip 8 Take regular breaks to assess
26:22 Tip 9 Don't put strong shadows in until the end
29:21 Tip 10 Adjust only tonal contrast at the end
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www.michelewebber.com
• STOP Overworking Your ...
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Do you struggle with overworking your paintings and did this video help? If you enjoyed this try How To Erase Watercolor Mistakes from Paper (100%) next: kzread.info/dash/bejne/mKas0qNmZsWsfMo.html
Adjusting value and overlapping is where a lot of my overworking happens. It's crazy. I've been painting with watercolor every single day for about 4 years, and yet I still have so much to learn before I'll be where I want to be.
Congratulations on receiving your KZread award Michele! It's well deserved. You've one of the best watercolour painting instruction websites I've had the good fortune to come across. And you have such a nice way about you. Many times I've enjoyed a good laugh from your commentary. I've learned sooo much from you since your early on-line days during Covid! I believe that you put 110% into everything you do and it shows. Thank you for generously sharing your vast knowledge and expertise with us. Yet another great video for "fussers" like me.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Sylvia!
@ac1646
Жыл бұрын
I agree 😊 and you've put the compliments so nicely 🤩
Please, I would love a tutorial for the background as well as the flower. I am trying to build my skill with delicate backgrounds and haven't quite found a tutorial that "clicks" for me yet. Thank you so much for all the thought you put into your videos.🌸
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Noted
Hahahahaha!!! Your commentary on the unboxing thing. Hahahaha
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
😁
This is a great video Michele. And yes please do a video on the background and flower too please. Very useful as always. Congratulations again for your plaque. Much continued success Michele. 🥰💕🐶💕🥰
Yes please, a background tutorial to this Magnolia would be lovely. Thank you 💜🌹
I love your channel! I would like to see a tutorial on the flower and the background, please! I need help with both. Thank you for your wonderful instruction!
I am so so guilty of that!!! Can't stop overworking my pieces. Thank you for your help!
A tutorial on the background and flower would be wonderful. I love the choice of reference photo.
I'm a big fan of using thumbnail sketches before and during the process, and it also helps me with decision making and when I'm doubting color selection or something else Also, I'm too lazy to cut out a square, so I use a hole punch all the time, and it is so convenient. But isolating and looking at particular color areas is honestly a game changer for me
yayyy, you are the first art teacher I have found in the beginners' category who has mentioned stepping away and standing the painting up. I discovered this accidentally and oh my gosh what a difference perspective makes. 😃
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
It does!
Again you have reminded me of my 3 greatest adversary. Me, myself and I . Sometimes I get hyper-focused which most often is not good. Its better to step away for a moment or even a day or two. If I don't, I get frustrated and never finish the project. I have paintings I'm doing for a charity auction next month. Working on time sensitive paintings and woodcarvings can lead to bing mistakes and unfinished projects. Thank you for reminding me its okay to take a break and do something other than art. To be honest, I find more inspiration and creative ideas when I doing something completely unrelated to my artwork. 🙃
I’m looking forward to the magnolia tutorial. They’re one of my favourite flowers.
Packed full of fantastic tips! Thank you so much, Michele, you’re a star!
I love the idea of a cut out box on white paper to help see value and color. Fantastic idea! Thanks!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
9 ай бұрын
Glad you like it!
Oh yes please. Do offer tutorials on small items and backgrounds. Thank you for your great tips.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Will do!!
I'd love a background tutorial as well as the flower, you already have some great background tutorials but it is something I'm trying to work on this year as I find it a challenge to get a result I'm happy with!
Wow - GREAT tips...that seem CENTRAL to creating effective watercolor paintings. Hearing your self-talk about how you plan colors is extremely helpful! Could you do more of that with some different reference photos? Also, adjusting tonal value at the end...going to keep that in mind, for sure. Thank you!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Yes no problem, I have more planning videos and also more tutorials coming soon :-)
All of those tips are extremely valuable and I loved the section on how you choose your colours. A definite yes from me for the tutorials, flower, leaves and background! Love that sword ❤ it looks like it’s been beautifully crafted. You were the first you tube water colour artist I found on you tube and after a year of watching your tutorials I’ve learnt so much, so a very big thank you 🙏
I’m a newbie and seem to either overwork or give up and hate it before it’s complete - but I laughed when you said to just leave it overnight and look with fresh eyes, as my best work so far, almost ended up in the garbage as I told my husband it was terrible as I left it that night Lo and behold the next morning, when I looked at it, I thought “wow! I love this!”
always fun to watch
Thanks Michele. I mix up puddles of the colors I'm going to use , swatch and let dry. That way I'm not tempted to go into all the pans. I work with full pans mostly unless I'm painting small card sized. I tend to be a brute to my brushes with half pans because I like the biggest brush I can get away with and half pans smoosh them. Yes please the flower and background. 🥰
Yes please background fix ups
Keep the sword! You are so badass!! Love it, and I am so grateful for your videos! You inspire me to dive deeper into watercolor painting! I love it, but need skills, and I feel that you can teach me! Thank you!! Lots of hugs from Norway, Katla Dragon
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Awesome! 🙂
Congratulations !!! ⚔️ 🎉 your videos are so helpful! Thank you.
A background tutorial would be great!
Thank you for Another great video, Think the square cut in white board is a great tip. I would love you to do a video on background.
I'd love to learn more about backgrounds.
Loved all those great tips especially choosing the colors for a painting. I personally could use the background tutorial as well as the flower.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks, just what I need!
This is definitely one of the most useful videos for me that you have done!! Thank you! I am guilty of many of these overworking mistakes You have explained it so well (especially the gum arabic) , now I need to internalize it. 😊
Yes please, to background tutorial and flower tutorial 😊
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Got it!
Thanks so much Michele. These tips really help! Sonja, Namibia.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Glad they're helpful Sonja :)
Great video. Some tips I don't remember you giving before touch on the very things I have trouble with. It never occurred to me that I don't need to do the whole underdrawing before I start painting. Also, I didn't know that pencil marks will erase more easily from paint than from raw paper. I've had a huge problem getting pencil marks off, and these two tips alone will help me greatly. The amount of in-depth info and techniques that your channel offers is something I rarely see on others.Thanks again, you're the best!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
Yes,please, to backgrounds. I tend to leave them off my botanicals because lack confidence, don't want to ruin them.
What good advise. How enjoyable.
This was a wonderful video of how to not overwork your paintings. I definitely still struggle with the tonal contrast sometimes. Mostly when I overworked a painting it has been with drawing everything first before painting or literally just working or scrubbing until the paper tears. Thanks for sharing this video with us. Congratulations again for your KZread award & I love 💕 the sword. Great job with the the sword work at the beginning of the video. Hope you’re enjoying a wonderful weekend with great weather!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Colleen, swords are more reliable than the British weather!
Beginner's beginner here and all your tips are so useful. I'm stepping back right now to sketch my next little practice project on sketch paper first to ensure I have an initial plan before I pick up a brush. Your recommendation on how to look at the colours is really helpful! I really look forward to seeing the video on painting that magnolia flower bud. Seeing a video on the background would be great too. As for the sword, I admired it sitting on that shelf behind you for a while now. Sorry to hear that it will be moved but understand why. Your comments on unboxing were very amusing (and true). Thanks for all that you share.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
I think I will keep the sword where it is, people seem to like it!
Background yes please!
Hi Michele, thank you so much for all your great painting tips, I really like your videos. So pleasant and informative to watch. Greetings from a very amateur (artist)in Australia 🇦🇺.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!
Both, pretty please! Thank you for the tips.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Since you asked nicely 🙂
That was very helpful, thank you Michele!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for these tips. As always you have great info to share! Have a great day
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Thank you! You too!
Thankyou for this tutorial Michelle, it will be so helpful!!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
yes, do the background video too at the same time
I am trying to build my skill. I do not have any formal training.I would love a tutorial for the background as well as the flower. I overwork trying to bring both elements together.Thanks so much for sharing your gifts.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Noted!
Tip #5, using a cut-out on a white piece of paper is brilliant! Thank you, Michele!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
You are so welcome!
Excellent!
Thank you for your Tipps! Great advices! I would like Videos you mentioned ,leafs,blossoms,backgrounds. Greetings from Germany!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Hello Reni, my ancestors are German :-)
Thank you. I WOULD LOVE short area specific videos. I'm ready. Ive been trying lots of mediums and now I'm back with watercolour, it was really helpful when you went through the colour options for the flower. I use individual pans so I'm selecting the pallet and swatching. I feel it will be part of my process now. Awesome Michelle
Great video video for beginners and experience painter alike. Sometimes it is helpful to go back to basiscs.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
These tips are exactly what I needed to know about as I discover so many problems. I'm three weeks into painting and catching up on your tutorials which are just brilliant - thank you!.
Thank you. I have more trouble with backgrounds, and would like to see a few tutorials about that.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
No problem, I do have some background tutorials on here too, if you have a little search :-)
Congratulations on the plaque. Thanks for another really great video
P.s. would love flower and background 😀
Michelle’s Great Stuff!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Thanks!
Useful tips. I, too, would like to see the background tutorial. 👍Perhaps with a few different looking and/or different colour scheme backgrounds as examples. Also looking forward to the flower tutorial. Peculiarly enough, I seem to struggle with the green stems a lot, after getting nice flower heads or petals. I get the stems aligned just fine (not a drawing issue) but colouring them is a hickup. May just need more practice.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Noted!
thank you
Excellent discussion of a seldom talked about subject. Your videos are always practical, to the point and logically presented. My first go to place for help and information. Looking forward to next week's tutorial!
Very useful tips. Thank you.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
You are welcome!
Excellent video. I love that your advice is immediately applicable to any ongoing painting project. #10 is such an eye-opener. Thank you!
I think overworking is subjective. If the artist loves their work, that’s all that matters.
Love the background!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Janice!
1. Great video! I screenshotted the list of tips so I can refer back to it often. I was so happy to see tip #1 because I had been wondering about this. I would make a great sketch with areas of color change or darker tonal value dotted in, and then after my initial wash, I couldn't see any of it! My biggest challenge is still with, as tip #5 says, getting your values right the 1st time. So I am working on swatching more for comparisons. 2. Yes, plz make a video about backgrounds!! 3. Congrats on the plaque! You sure deserve it! And loved hearing about your sword and seeing a few of the "moves"!! 👍👍
What beautiful eyes. 😍
Thank you. So useful! Yes, also back round would be great!😊
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Ok thanks!
Thank you for your in depth discussion. Your videos are so worth watching and re-watching.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Glad you like them!
Great tips, thank you Michele. Yes, a tutorial on both please and thanks.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
You got it!
Artist mentioned is Sandrine Maugy.
excellent teaching of essential watercolor tips. Thanks
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
My pleasure 😊
Thanks for another great informational video. Your diction, photography and overall presentation are outstanding. These longer videos are so very helpful. I can still hear Tony Couch (while teaching a workshop) stating, "Paint it as dark as you want the first time!". The part about choosing colors was excellent as we tend to accumulate paint. Many videos on KZread have artists rating pre-filled palettes with a multitude of colors, and the temptation to use too many is ever present. Another KZreadr recently responded ( to my comments) that she feels that artists do better with limitations. And, while risking a sexist comment, it has been my observation that the female artists seem to favor "haul" videos" and large amounts of supplies. (It must be a genetic shopping gene!) This is why I value videos such as these, as I do not want to become a "collector" of supplies. Although it has been said that quantity has a quality all its own! And really, all I need is just a FEW MORE colors . . . .
Great tips, thank you! I really enjoy painting small. It’s a great confidence booster.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
It really is!
@shadowguard3578
Жыл бұрын
@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber 🤩
In a recent watercolor painting, I drew what I considered enough detail. My problem was I decided to 'wing it' on the bushes in the background. Big mistake. Now I plan to rework the painting by adding more lines to show the borders between various areas of green. PS I learned painting from an art instructor who discouraged us from using black to darken colors. I always look for an alternative like umber or brown, even red or blue at times.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Your instructor was right :-) Color opposites or just heavy pigment can also be used.
Enjoyed video found it interesting and informative and helpful will be able to use these techniques for my creative art work..mikelle art mom👩🎨🎨✍🇨🇦🇺🇸💛
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Wonderful!
That was very helpful. Definitely do a background tutorial, and a single object step-by-step.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Noted!
Drawing detail as you go (only if needed) is a great tip! I was wondering how much to draw yesterday on a card I'm making - less drawing would have been great because my 'Sketch & Wash' pencil drawing didn't erase well and definitely didn't wash away as I applied watercolor paint. Fortunately I did watch the rest of this video before 'fixing' it with another layer of paint ;)
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
Love the 🗡️
Flower and background tutorials both please.
Hi Michele, do you think you could do some tips on finding inspiration and creating a composition from them. Also working out what skills you need to execute the composition. I find myself struggling with this process at all stages lol
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely!!
Your humor is hilarious. Along with the cats, especially the Ragdoll, please so more. :) Now, excuse me while I go assault some defenseless watercolor paper with a menacing paint brush.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
haha
Very interesting and I’d appreciate a tutorial on the background as well as the flier please. Looking forward to it ❤
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Noted!
I'd love if you could show me how to do a background video
How'd you know this was my biggest issue today? I'm a month into the medium (I just did a little 6x9 inch using the plastic wrap and salt) and realized today that I was totally overworking this piece. *edit I did the abstract because I was frustrated with the prior painting! * I am still trying to loosen up some, as I've been doing photo-real pencil and pastel. It's not working (yet) as a beginner watercolorist! :) I appreciate what you're teaching.. and I have a zillion of your episodes to catch up on. Sooner or later, I'll get more consistent.
I would really like a back ground lesson i recently ruined a painting stupidly trying to paint the background after I finished the picture
Take breaks so you can see your project with fresh eyes -- check! Let your paint DRY before you try to adjust -- sigh -- check! Limited color palette -- check. Did you get an award from KZread?!! We knew you when... ! Do LOVE the swords btw. :)
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
All youtubers can claim a plaque at 100k subscribers, the next one is for a million, that may take some time/eternity. I have a more beautiful sword but I don't want to trigger some kind of content violation for having weapons on screen!
My grand daughter as a junior in High School in the US has a sword which she got after getting her first black belt. It got bent a little. Suggest how to straighten in. It is both very dull and soft metal. An actual weapon would have a flexible back body and high tensile steel edge. Can get this is one metal these days. In the old days two metals are forged together to achieve this. So you can tell a butter knife is sharper and stronger then the training sword.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Training swords are thin and damage easily. They are meant to 'snap' and make a noise during demonstrations, not sure they can be fixed particularly.
I wonder why your ex wasn't enthralled about the sword 😁😁 !! loved this tutorial once again. Thanks. I was experimenting at my last art class using watercolour pencils, had some good results blending with them, better than I have done previously, trying to think of all your tips you gave.!!!!! Thanks again.
Hey Michele, could I ask the name of the botanical book you showed at the beginning? Loved this tutorial 😀
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Sandrine Maugy Colours of Nature, it's a great book 🙂
My half pans have magnets on the bottom, so I can pull them individually. I just have to do it more consistently. 🥴 Thank you for the white paper color comparison. That will help me for sure. Great tips overall 👍
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Happy to help!
i freq use stencils to get me started
Background tutorial would be amazing. I also wonder how botanical techniques can translate to doing city scapes.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
All techniques have multiple uses 😊
there are some really interesting points you explained. thanks 🌸 For me it's a good idea to let the sword at your stage. the youtube "pokal" isn't beautyfull. the sword is a wooden art.
The wooden sword is beautiful right where it is.
Michele could you kindly make a tutorial on shown subject, 🎨 with the foreground & background ⭕ emphasing the essential of color balancing, texture, impact of dark & light hues & values, composing with accurate propotion and blending of colours, *ufff* too much to learn.
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
I am planning some videos featuring actual paintings I am working on, to show the order I apply things, how I plan the colours, and fix mistakes, that sort of thing?
@socialcreature8518
11 ай бұрын
@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber Well that will be great to start with, I understand my wishlist was too long but you are such a wonderful instructor that I got carried away,🤭
I don’t like to erase but drawing I find important, this morning I started flower ( practice ) with watercolour sketching with the colours I later painted, is this a correct method, or would you suggest I stay with lead pencils? Thanks, alsowith all the tips. I made the cardwith square in & didn’t use it yesterday on my rubbish rose, your use of colour matching in this video is one I should have used, thanks!
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
Жыл бұрын
Ah you can do either. I prefer graphite but if watercolor pencils work for you that's great!
@valeriegehling4358
Жыл бұрын
@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber Thank you for info, it kinda worked. Well it looked ok so I may try it again.
Did you do the magnolia blossom?
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
11 ай бұрын
I think I did, have a look in the step by step playlist :-)
Hello. I can't find the book link nor the actual name of the author. Thanks. Edit: Sandrine Maugy?
@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber
8 ай бұрын
Sorry I have hundreds of videos and don't recall what I was referring too, that said I have very few books and Sandrine's book is one of my favorite, so probably, yes!
Hahahaaa... I'm with the one that has a certain reluctance to by you a real sword. Just one step too far with my silly jokes, and my better arf will report me as missing. That might take several years though. I feel as though I'm just here to get under her feet. She wouldn't miss that). Useful hints. Oh yes, a proper good one I've seem before ,but ignored. That little square hole trick. That's a must remember. But I have a different method on knowing when I need to stop. No... It's not needing to pay another visit. (Too much tea you know...) But an actual 'gut feeling' Your tip of going away for a bit help trigger that. When the grey matter kicks in "yeah, that would be nice right there", I get a 'knowing' feeling that makes me stop and think again. To go against that feeling seem utterly wrong. I had an idea where you can stick your little treat from YT. No, not like that, I'm still a gentleman you know. But seeing how you organise your studio, I'd be very wrong. I thought, that as you film from the same position, placing it in that background, over your right shoulder. But that would be out of place, and quite possibly drive you round the bend, So, a little voice in me said, "why not just have an image of as part of the inserts with the cats? Just a thought. Be well nice lady. TTFN
A drawing is a drawing. Drawing to paint over a drawing isn't painting, it's drawing. Although watercolour may need a few lines or shapes, it's not a drawing.