Watercolour artists like to fiddle. No, not the musical kind. The poking the bear kind! Where you know you really shouldn’t…but do. The kind that causes cranky, tired, overworked paintings. What to do?
Stop Fiddling!
Watercolour Techniques and Hints
Painting Direct
I chose to Paint Direct, a watercolour technique style that as a general rule, is a safe bet to eliminate ‘fiddling’ and overworking the paintings. It keeps the work fresh and lessens mud.
Also, by choosing to paint the watercolours direct, it allows me to leave more white space and have cleaner colours.
The white space balances out the tonal ratios to create a high key painting. High key is predominantly Light. Low key is mainly Dark/mid tones.
High key paintings evoke a happy lighter, sunnier emotion than the Low key, which are much more somber, duller, darker.
Painting Direct means: that I’m painting directly onto dry paper straight away without dampening it at all.
Edges
Alas, it also means harder edges than you know I like! But, I can always soften up those edges. Later once its totally dry, I merely have to dampen my finger and smudge lightly over the offending sharp edges to soften those edges to an acceptable level. Easy.
Freshness – alla prima
I also painted alla prima… (i.e. all in one go.) Its a term normally used for oils, but its been used for watercolours before as well! And, it does wonders for the no fiddling.
My little painting “Fresh Flowers” emphasises minimalism.
A hint of Zen, East meets West. With a lightness and airy spaciousness thats visually appealing due to the amount of white space I’ve left on the paper.
Quietly joyful, the painting has a spontaneous feel to it that is cheerful and inviting.
Fresh, clean flowers and No fiddling.
One of my reference sources I used as a springboard for my painting.
12 great Hints to Stop Watercolour Fiddling
- set my timer for 5 or 10 minutes for the watercolour painting
- paint a brushstroke – and Leave It alone.
- make each brushstroke count. less is more. stop.
- allot myself a finite number of brushstrokes to use in total. count each one.
- limit my palette, lessens my muddying up my mixes
- be very clear ahead of time, what correction is needed. do only that. stop.
- Two (2) times for successful w/c corrections: bone dry Or shiny wet
- watercolour is Happy when it Flows onto the paper
- watercolour gets Cranky when its scrubbed 3-4 times in the same spot
- watercolour reacts unpleasantly when I willy nilly slap more paint onto it when it is at the wrong stage, i.e. just about dry, but not quite
- beforehand, line up 3 more sheets of paper…that are ‘waiting for me to put paint on them too’
- write these down on a post it & stick to my easel, to glance at while painting
Simplicity
This blossom was a study in simplicity. I’ve used the bare minimum of brushstrokes for its blossom petals and stem, just enough to tell the story and provide light and shade. 10 brushstrokes.
Final Thoughts
For Watercolour Beginners, if you can’t do all 12 of the above listed hints; then, the four watercolour hints to stop fiddling I might suggest are (#4, 5, 7, 8).
Try them, and see how much just those 4 help you!
You’ll be amazed at how the mud, overworking, fiddling, discordance gets eliminated. #11 is one I still always use; as without doing this… I know I will overwork and fiddle.
Enjoy the wonderful watercolour Wednesday flowers!
Alive and fresh! Love this one! And I think some of your tips at least can apply to other mediums as well. Thanks for a great post. ~Rita
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rita, you were quick! thank you and so glad you enjoyed my Wednesday Watercolour post! cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debi once more a wonderful useful tip….don’t fiddle don’t fiddle is one of my motto’s…I’m loving your Page….have a wonderful day….Tricia u
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tricia, hello ! great to see that you are enjoying some of these tips, articles on the website- yay, and Thank You!! Debi
LikeLike
I love painting with watercolor, and fiddling can be a problem, great tips & techniques. The painting is beautiful, fresh not fussy, love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks Jennifer, you are most kind! watercolour can be a ‘tricky-sie’ can’t it?! lol that is probably why we all love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLike
Thank you Debi for the wonderful lesson and tips. Your flower study is proof that your steps do work, exquisite!
LikeLiked by 2 people
good morning Sharon, thank you for your lovely comments! the steps do work…. when I employ them! lol once again … hiding the ‘watercolours misbehaving’ in the closet 🙂
LikeLike
Words of great wisdom all in one post: less is more – no fiddling – limited palette – make each stroke count – Definitely going to pin this on the studio wall 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
hi Andrew, thank you!! will look forward to hearing from you how (if) it does help; thank you for stopping in 🙂 cheers, Debi
LikeLike
AWESOME advice! the flower is AMAZING!
LikeLiked by 1 person
well, goodness Jodi, you are making me blush 🙂 thanks for that! I must confess, its not really advice, as much as it is ‘Hints’ or TIPS, …. lol anyway, I thank you for your kind comment! cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful advice! I love the paintings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicodemas, good morning! and thank you so much for taking the time out to send me a comment. I appreciate the feedback, it definitely lets me know when a post has gone south or north. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your welcome! And I know exactly what you mean. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a dangerous word, “fiddling” is. 15 years on, Debi, it still echoes in my head. One day I’d like to tell you “there is no such a word in my dictionary”!
LikeLiked by 1 person
that has gotten a big chuckle out of me !
LikeLike
Awesome tips Debi that I’ve taken note of. Thanks for sharing and love seeing your beautiful work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
my pleasure Mary 🙂 you’re very kind, and I thank you for your comments, thoughts, and feedback on my posts and art work! have a lovely day, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
very beautiful paintings and very good tips, as usual, Debi, regards Mitza
LikeLiked by 1 person
hi Mitza, you, are wonderful to say so!! 🙂 Hoping your day is fabulous and creative! cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks a lot, Debi, I’m down in my cellar already for some days in order to produce some jewellery. Will be posted when I made enough. Have a nice day, regards Mitza
LikeLiked by 1 person
oooh….. pretty jewels and gems!! can’t wait!! cheers, Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
just a little patience my dear :))
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL oh, ok…
LikeLike
Artistic watercolors Debi. An authentic and exquisite color. Very dificult for me! Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jacint, muy gracias! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful paintings to go with some excellent advice and tips on how not to fiddle. I love the small panting of the rose (in 10 brush strokes), so simple but incredibly beautiful and elegant 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
that was a lovely way to start my morning! thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome Debi, your painting are a pleasure to see. I’ve always really liked watercolours, and your particular style is excellent. As a photographer of sorts, I take my hat off to all of you true artists, we (the photographers) just point and snap! Lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL… “just point.. and snap” that caused a bit of a chuckle over here 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for blogging about this! So useful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hi Sish, my pleasure! I’m glad to know that some of hints I’ve learned over the years can be of use! Thank you for stopping in and for your comments 🙂 Debi
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very delicate, I love watercolors!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you Maria! 🙂 enjoy your weekend, cheers, Debi
LikeLike
Debi, love love love the first painting in particular! Do you remember which colors you used? I really need to print this and never forget the tips. Great ones!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Laura Thank you very much, its great to ‘see’ you! and yes! I do remember!! I just used 3 – cobalt pb28 permanent rose pv19 and winsor lemon py175 – mixed them to get the colours, purples, green. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Debi!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been missing out..these are absolutely gorgeous ❤
LikeLike
I love what you wrote at the very top of your post….”Watercolour artists like to fiddle. No, not the musical kind. The poking the bear kind! Where you know you really shouldn’t…but do. The kind that causes cranky, tired, overworked paintings.” that part about poking the bear got a chuckle out of me! I am one to fiddle, I need to get it drilled into me because I am a fiddler, in pastel and watercolor! It is disastrous especially in watercolor! thank you for the advice and this post. 🙂
LikeLike
thank you Margaret! glad you liked this post! I laugh when I say, poke the bear…. as its so appropriate. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person