Keeping it simple
- Like all media that one may use, the hardest thing about watercolor is keeping it simple. Study the watercolors of Winslow Homer or Andrew Wyeth to see how their greatness was in the simplicity of how they used watercolor.
- —Guest Jim Meaders
Keep my love for the colors I love
- When I started as a complete novice with classes I was taught that the background must be darker than the object. I love painting flowers like arum lilies, roses, cosmos, to many to mention. My colors are pastel shades, losts of white in flower and background and the background normally a pastel marble effect. I learn't to paint what I love and not follow lessons to the full extent. Now the unexpected happens ever so often with the most amazing results.
- —Guest Ria Harmse
Difficult thing in water colour
- To select different colours in composition like scenery of a market palace, Durga Puja festival, etc.
- —Guest debashish nath
Most difficult thing to me ...
- To me the most difficult thing in watercolor is to create fresh looking, detailed image (whether it's a landscape or portrait) without using pencil outlines. Use squirrel brushes #1 or #2 or bigger. Confidence in drawing helps. What you get - freshness!!!
- —Guest reshanov92
Loosening up
- I am used to a controlled way of painting, so it is a struggle to loosen up and not to worry about the outcome. I still use a basic sketch, but I am learning a lot.
- —Guest ChristineB
Hardest thing to do in watercolor
- One of the hardest things for me is learning how much water should be in my brush and in my paint for different effects. The other is making my colors glow and seem to jump off the page.
- —Guest allikatzart
dealing with the glare in plein air
- My biggest problem is getting enough color on the paper quickly, where you want it in bright sunlight. Looking at the glare of bare paper for long can throw off your whole sense of color and contrast. Starting out with drawing in yellow ochre is a good start becuase it will lift out reasonably well later. Painting in shade is another alternative, but can have its problems also -- color and moving shawdows from light coming through trees, etc. Best for me is to face into the sun at first, angle to paper enough to start in shade of the backboard's own making and working fast. Work flat after you've got a lot of paint down.
- —Guest toddnorg
the Most Difficult Thing in Watercolor
- To visualize a scene in front of you, when you paint out of doors, to make a loose and fresh painting, not to fiddle with all sorts of detail you are capable to see, but suggest more the scene, and let the viewer fill in the rest. When you standing behind the white paper, think what you want to say and express, make a painting plan, and paint with courage as quick as you can, only then you get the happy accidents,and a good loose watercolour, or a total disaster. take the biggest brush you own, and try to finish 80% of the painting with it! good luck Edo
- —Edohannema
The difficulty of watercolour
- The most difficult and challenging thing I found with watercolour is to LEAVE ENOUGH WHITE of the paper. It is the most UNFORGIVING medium as mistakes are not easily rectified and are impossible to cover up. Delyse
- —Guest Delyse Ramos
Watercolor
- I've been painting watercolor for 9 years and the most difficult thing was learning to let go! To paint more looser. I also learned how to save my whites (without masking fluid) and I never use black. Watercolor is hard to learn but once you get it - it's a wonderful medium. And the funny thing is, is that I find painting with oil is harder!!rder!!
- —Guest Lisa
Relax...
- The hardest thing I've had to learn about working with watercolor is actually two-part: 1) You can't start out being an expert, no matter how lucky you are when you start out. Some knowledge (like everything shared above) just comes from experience. 2) Not every painting will be perfect. Sometimes you just have to let them go.
- —paintandink
Student forever
- With practice I'm learning which colors work best together when mixed and which colors make mud or become discordant, both perhaps being the same. I use business card size pieces of watercolor paper to test colors before I start a new painting and it helps keep the mud to a minimum, and they are brighter. When I plan a head on both color and picture design, I can relax and enjoy the journey. I make notes on each card and put into a binder with plastic 3-ring business card holders for future reference. I try to follow a basic rule of not using too many different colors per painting. Sam
- —Guest Sam Mascia
To control the water
- I am a beginner and love the medium, however, I find it is very difficult to know when the paper has the right amount of water and you cad the pigment. I keep trying.........
- —birtemor
watercolor challenges
- Watercolor can be as tightly controllable as any medium or as loose. The greatest challenge is to allow its inherent character without over control or mindless sloppiness. Jon
- —jrjarvis
Overworking the paper and planning
- Unlike oils or acrylics on canvas, you can't overwork the watercolor paper or you'll ruin it. Also saving the white of the paper for the lights is something I forget unless you plan ahead.
- —Guest papaya
