Let me know which one of these tips you found the most useful, and try this video next for faster improvement: How to Get Better at Art (FAST!) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q75mZ9x4ssyziWQ.html

The tip I found the most useful was "finish it", even if I feel it's a lost cause, because then I shall learn some of the finishing techniques.

I love all the tips especially the drying one! One thing I have learnt is to have a small watercolour sketch book and practice all tips in that I.e trees, lots of different ones. Not actually making a painting but just practicing so when I need trees in a proper painting I can draw on the examples (and mistakes) in the sketchbook- helps me anyway! Keep up the good work Michele.

Great tips! To your bonus tip: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett

I needed to hear about letting things dry completely before going on, and finishing paintings instead of tossing them away when disappointed with them

Oh my goodness..I finally found my person😊 my teacher! 😊 Over a year ago, I decided to start a new hobby, watercoloring. I’ve watched so many videos, and what I realized after watching yours, others would be painting a whole picture, but they weren’t thorough enough for me. You sit and speak to all of us. You show examples of what you’re teaching us, but you aren’t painting something we have to follow. Almost everything you said, I have been doing. To small of a brush, not allowing the paper to fully dry and so much more. I’m sure I was so in-tuned with what they were saying and doing, like grabbing the correct amount of paint, water, things like that , it was hard to focus. I absolutely love your style. Michelle, yours is the correct way of teaching. I do remember someone mentioned to never touch the paper and about erasing pencil lines. Forever instilled in my mind 😊 It’s the “finish” topic you mentioned at the end. I’m a perfectionist, and I’ve painted (I think) 4 paintings in a year. Yes it’s true. I never would finish them because in my mind they weren’t good enough and they were completely ruined. What I did do is, I didn’t throw anything out, I put all unfinished pieces in a folder for a year. Just last week I pulled it out to have a look. They were quite good actually. So please if anyone reads this comment, I hope that you will take with you, my suggestion, to put your paintings up, and have a look at them later. You will definitely be surprised. My motto Patience, Patience, Patience. That motto took awhile to accept but I finally did💕😊 Happy painting family. 🎨🖌 Blessings from “across the pond” x

I have never painted or drawn anything other than stick figures and kiddie cats, so at 73 I decided I want to learn how. I purchased more supplies than I need and decided to check out youtube instruction videos. Big mistake! I found your channel and now I'm worried that I will now spend all my time watching your videos rather than trying to paint. Your talking and teaching style is wonderfully friendly supportive and encouraging and your natural psychological approach could/should be applied to teaching absolutely anything. 💕 So now I'm worried that I will never be able to stop watching and jump in 🙄

I splurged on a paint bucket w/2 dividers - 3 containers in 1 bucket! I love it!

"Let your work dry at intervals" is something that I still struggle to do... Thank you for the list :)

Thanks for all your wonderful and useful. Straight and to the point.

Finish the painting tomorrow. All paintings have a hot mess stage . Walking away and coming back later or the next day. Love your videos please keep it up. Stay safe ❤️.

Learning a lot from your tutorials and from all the mistakes I make. But, in the following painting, I see to it that the same mistake is not repeated. Thanks a lot for sharing such invaluable knowledge with us.

I still forget to work from light to dark sometimes and then to let my work dry completely between doing a painting. Theses are some great tips for me to remember. Thanks for sharing this with us.

You are a Wonderful Teacher. I love your KZfaq videos.

You are a good teacher things and tips you makes me think about

I found the 'finish your painting' and 'allow yourself to make mistakes' tips most useful. As a beginner I often feel despair at how my paintings are turning out! I still (struggle to) continue them and at that point I begin to paint looser because I want to move on to a new painting. That looseness has added to how my paintings have turned out in the end and I end up liking them more than I thought I would, even with mistakes :D Your tips are really helpful, thank you!

Thank you Michelle, I was just going to ditch a painting half done, but after watching this video and your 10 mistakes video I have learnt such a lot that I'm going to try and rectify my mistakes. Even if its still not very good, what I've learnt from these 2 videos is instilled in my brain.

Completely & understood ‘Hoovering’ but had not heard that expression before 😃 fun

Big thanks from Istanbul,Turkey... You know what..you're great . To be honest started watercolor painting 5 months ago..watched dozens of videos..I ve learned lots of things but your tips .. now every mistake I make.... have sense..thank you again

Love your positive attitude, especially about finishing the painting even if you’ve made mistakes-we learn best by making those mistakes!

Just found you. Can't wait to watch more.

Letting you know that you are in my thoughts & prayers Michele❣ I wish you all the best my Dear. As I've said, I appreciate your videos SO very much! You are part of what helps make my terminal cancer bearable. Really. GOD bless & love to yo❣ 😁 ~Kathie from Lebanon,Tennessee

Your advise to tell yourself make mistakes it just what I needed to hear!

I love your channel! I am a beginner and I’m learning so much. Watching your tutorials/tips over and over and taking notes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Thank you so much. All of these tips...very helpful.

The most useful point I found in this video was to use a large enough brush. I’ve found since watching that I can use some bigger brushes even for my little Christmas card scenes. I was wondering if you have heard of people using bookbinders glue, or even white PVA to coat the edges of watercolour pads and so turn them into blocks? The edges have to be tightly clamped so that no glue gets onto any of the surfaces. I’ve seen videos of this and it seems to work well. Now that I have my gummed kraft tape on the way, I will be mostly stretching my paper but it might be of interest to others. The point about reds, purples and pinks possibly running even after being completely dry was particularly interesting. After I saw this video the first time I watched another KZfaq artist run into this problem!

I stop myself from overworking my paintings by having at least 2 - 3 pieces at different stages. So, I walk away easily from each one to let drying take place.

Great tips. I really needed to hear to use enough water, and don’t paste it on like acrylic 🙂

Love your tutorials Michele

A kneaded eraser is a valuable tool. It's less damaging to the sizing of the paper than regular erasers. You can shape it to a teardrop shape for different sized erasing areas. You can shape it like a cylinder and roll it across the drawing to remove excess pencil so it shows through less under the painting and colours don't mix with the graphite. To clean it, it just needs to be kneaded.

This video was very useful, thank you for sharing.

Hiya Michele! Hope you are doing all right! Thank you for the tips. I first tried watercolor in 7th grade, and there we mostly did wet in wet horizon painting, with lots of water and paint flowing everywhere!! 😓 I have had trouble with watercolors for many years, because I was kinda "taught" that a painting is done very fast!🤔 I am glad to find out it is not so, because I felt so unsecure about my ability to paint! I thought for years that "I cant paint at all".😫😫 I now know that patience is the name when aquarelle is the game! I am working on a painting of a stone bridge over some body of water, loosely based on such a bridge where I grew up. 🥴I am experimenting! ☺It gives me joy !🥳🥳 I have decided that in 2022 I am diving into it,🤓 and will hold a brush everyday. 🤓What I do with it will very much depend on which videos I watch and want to try out, techniques and tricks.😎 I have a goal: Make a lot of mistakes (allowing myself to), and play a lot, just to try stuff out.🤪 I hope my painting will evolve! If it does, I have many thanks to you for it! I love to create, and my hands itch when I watch videos about paint and drawing. Colors are the closest I get to p0rn 🤣🤣🤣! (Artist joke!!!! ) But again, THANK you for sharing your vast experience and for teaching me how to think when I paint or draw. You are so good explaining it all! 🥲 Lots of hugs 🤗from Norway, Katla Dragon 🐉

👌 bonus tip

Thank you for all your wonderful videos.

Another fabulous video!

Great Video as always...❤

thank you so much Michele, I think Ill get thru as many of your videos as I can and try and glean as much info as I can and then actually start something. there is so much to know!!!

I think kneaded erasers are optimum for clean erasing. I have used a 2" house painting brush to clean away other erasings.

Loved this! I particularly like the "Finish it" and the "Let it dry". I often lack the patience with the process or myself to do either. The entire video was very helpful. Thank you.

I'm actually watching your "50k Subscribers!..." video on my TV. 💜 ~Kathie from Lebanon,Tennessee

Such good basic information. Thank you.

Very good tips and very helpful!

Thank you for a very useful segment!

Beautiful job explaining the most obvious, but least practiced to expect to make mistakes and learn from them. Half the fun of learning something new and challenging is the practicing. If it’s not then why do it?

I used to teach students learning English, hence I loved the explanation of "hovering". You are a wonderful teacher. Thanks for sharing.

Excellent tips!

Excellent and informative advice!! Happy to subscribe.

I've been doing photography for 10 years now and realised a few years ago not to bin my failures ... I've discovered what I perceived as my rubbish shots actually lead me in new inventive directions and the final image often receives more praise than my normal shots. I've decided to try watercolours after doing a lot of simulations on my computer but I think the real thing will be much tougher. I liked your comments about always finishing your 'failures' ... we all learn from our mistakes.

My paper always curled when I applied water. A tiny brush is for detail or things in the distance.

Great video and wonderful tips. It's so difficult to fight through that awkward stage of my paintings. I tend to get overwhelmed and not trust my own ability to pull it together, but I know that the smart thing in SO many ways is to see the project through, so I work hard on that. I have found out about myself that with my unfinished stuff I only focus on the flaws and problem areas, and it's a failure on top because it's not finished, while if I finish, even if I didn't manage to salvage it, I have a much easier time identifying details and areas where I did well. I still see the flaws, but they are no longer 100% of my experience, and even if it didn't turn out the way I wanted, the act of finishing something has a calming effect on its own. Sorry, that was a bit long, but I hope this insight may help others than me. Thank you again for a great list!

Very good tips! Thank you, Michele! I just discoverer your channel and am catching up on old ones. Learning a lot.

Thanks so much for all this wonderful information!!! My favorite was the bonus, being a perfectionist, I struggle with getting things done a certain way, that’s both good & bad. I do allow myself to make mistakes without feeling like a failure, finally! I enjoy coloring & painting, it’s so relaxing. Stay well, blessings!!!

Very important and useful Video.

Such a great point about finishing the pieces with mistakes so we'll remember!!

Great information thank you

You have been so helpful

I've only begun painting and started with WC, I find that I overwork things often. I'm enjoying your videos. Thank you!

You made such an important point a out that middle stage when most watercolours look pretty pants, and beginners can get disillusioned. But this is normal - actually my paintings look pretty vague most of the way through, until I start pulling it together near the end. This is part of my process and I only start defining edges and detai very late into the painting. I think there is an expectation and comparison with other media that we should have some exquisitely completed section of our painting that demonstrates our skill as the painting develops. It's that fear of someone looking over your shoulder and saying "what is that?" And even if we do mess up and it's not going quite to plan (which is pretty normal for me)... it can still be brought together and turned into something pleasing. Sometimes we just need to wait a day or so and come back to it with fresh eyes and see what it needs.

Thank you so much for this clear and oh so useful video! I’ve been dabbling with watercolours for a while and often want to give up, but you’ve inspired me to carry on. I think your most valuable tip ( for me, anyway) is about paper stretching. I can rarely afford good quality paper, so my paper is very prone to curling and buckling. I’ve recently been trying to do expressive, semi abstract landscapes, largely wet in wet ( a la the wonderful Karen Rice) but ended up with very bendy paper and a drippy table! Actually, every tip was really helpful! I felt as if you were speaking to me personally! Don’t give up your paintings half way through??! Do people really do that....? 😊 You’ve obviously seen my waste paper bin. Seriously though, thank you again for your clear, sensible and inspirational video. Onwards and upwards!

Very helpful, info thank you

Great video! Thank you.

Thank you. Nice compendium of water coloring points to remember

I believe that your last 2 points are related and the most important in effective learning of watercolors. Many times in the middle of painting i felt that the painting is ruined and I cant get the result I wanted. At those times I mentally prepare myself for failure , I take a day break from painting, and then think about how to salvage and get the best possible result under given circumstance. Allmost every time I was surprised by end result and when people appreciate I realize the importance of staying till end. Every time some learning that has come out of experience ( especially failure) sits in brain and these becomes our skills for future works. Thank you.

So happy I found your videos. These tips are great for a beginner like me.

You are so right! I started with acrylics and went to watercolor and used way too much paint!

Good advice!

THANK YOU so very, very much for these these tutorials! Im coming from a background in oils & I've struggled so much learning to paint with watercolours. And YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER!! 🎨💜

Thanks Michele. Great tips! I also will use binder clips to secure the paper down. When the fibers start to expand I can release a clip and stretch the paper flat all around. Sometimes I tape ,sometimes I clip. But you need boards where your clips can meet the paper. I use foam core boards. 22inch by 30 inch board for just a dollar at the dollar store. 😉 Last tip awesome! I would eye roll when people would take three riding lessons then quit. Really!? It takes years not days.🙄

So helpful 😊🌻🍏🖼️🐦

Thank you Michele for sharing! Very informative especially for a beginner as me. Your tutorial definitely will give me a lot knowledge and tips for starting watercolor painting and shape good habits Thank you very much!

Wonderful video. You are so encouraging and at the same time teaching your students and viewers to be realistic and PATIENT with themselves and their progress, and to finish their painting. I found this message to be the best tip. I have taken calligraphy classes for 5 years, and I did not find this quality in my teachers. It really helps with frustration to hear this now and again. THANKS!!!

Top notch video for a complete newbie to painting. I wish you'd been my art teacher at school ... I might have become a famous artist instead of a Mathematician! Getting a small easel for my 67th birthday next week.

I like the tip that we should let the paint glow through the paper!

Great tips. Thank you

great tips

Helpful, thanks

Wonderful videos

Thank you so much for sharing. I love how you explain it is so helpful for a newbie like myself. Lots of encouragement.

All of your videos are brilliant

Another great video....mikelle newyork mom😷🎨✌

Thank you and God bless.Olga

Thank you for your fabulous tips! I am learning now. I figured out on my own to tape down the paper, makes sense! I loved all your tips. I will now have two cups of water by my side and empty often. I will allow the paint to dry. I am presently water coloring tiny stamps by Art Impressions so I can create a scene. I have subscribed so I never miss a video!

Great DOS and DONTS learned a lot.

Hello! Just discovered you via this video on my recommendations. Lovely to find a UK water-colourist, I have subscribed!

I just joined. Very good information. Thank you. I look forward to learning more.

Your stuff really helped! I wish you were my teacher! Thank you! 😁

New sub here. I am going to be spending the rest of my day today, Friday December 12th, binging your channel. Today is not Netflix and Chill, today is Webber and Barbeque some knowledge into my head.

I was wondering why I kept getting brush strokes when swatching paints and now I know because not enough water because the brush is too small? I’m using size 2 Princeton Snap as the swatches are small.

very informative. thank you so much for making this video 😊

Thanks for sharing your talent and with informative videos, greatly appreciated

Nice video! My particular favorite is the water on the brush.

Always great information

Thank you for these excellent tips!

I think my biggest mistake is often fear of failure before I've even begun. It's just paper and a small bit of paint, so there's nothing really to fear, but it's hard for me to get past sometimes. I've gotten better about it, but particularly when there's something that's important to me, I procrastinate starting on it. It makes no sense!

Thank you!

Great tips!

Hello Michelle thank you for you tips , what need to know is how do I stop water marks . I am 75 4 months something I have always wanted to do .

What are the little pots of paint please? Are they ore-watered watercolours?

Why do you like watercolour more than oils? Is it turpentines? Or the vibrancy of watercolour?

Thank you for shareing this hun.. i do have problems when i try to watercolour i always use either to much water or to much colour 🙈 i cant seem to get in between. But to be honest i like strong opaque colour like acyrilics so i think maybe the gwosh will be better for me ..i dont know .i just find water colour to be very difficult. I have a derwent watercolour pallette & that as you know is strong pigment & it permanent when dry so when i go back to it with either a different colour because im trying to ombre or do skin tones i find that the colour previous has already stained the paper n there fore cant be mixed or ombreyed with the next..very frustrating for me...thinkni need to invest in some nice gwosh colours...lol..sorry bout spelling ..hope you are all well 🌻😁