Cross polination --- YESSSS. I hit a wall with my natural science and botanical art a few months ago and kept trying to force my way through... But it wasn't until recently when I started to practice looser techniques and specifically abstracting out for shapes and edges, that I finally had my much needed break through. Such a valuable skill that I think many representational artists tend to ignore, because "abstracting" is almost a dirty word in that niche. But all art is abstraction of some sort, and learning how to do it intentionally helps immensely. As a consequence, I fell in love with the unique challenges of landscapes, and decided to take a divergent path for a while to keep developing these skills :)

I love this. Because I’ve been following yet another KZfaqr (who doesn’t talk) I’ve been watercoloring this same style a lot. He leans toward impressionistic watercolor and I lean toward realism. Many of my 5x7’s look exactly like this, only yours is superior. I think your work is excellent, extremely good. Thank you for all your help.

Detail gene 😂 I’m cursed with it as well. Thank you for all you do. I’ve been enjoying your channel for a very long time.

I like your pictures. Although speed painting is not for me. But you inspire me with your colours.

Loosening my style helps me to let the watercolor create its magic easier. Loose, water, and watercolor creates magic for sure! 🧡💚💜

11-07-2018, okay, I just wanted to say how nice it is to turn off the TV and watch instructional and calm videos. (Giggle on the detail gene) Thanks again, I always learn and often laugh at the same time. It is so needed and I pray more turn off the TV and enjoy life. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Your mention if tight and loose styles is wonderful advice. When i started painting i immediately tried for tight results which in hindsight was a bad idea. these examples of loose pieces done by a typically tight painter are what i now strive to accomplish

Hey Steve, Just a couple specific thoughts struck me specifically on days one, three and five of this challenge, but because you have such a true gift not only in watercolor, but also in how you teach "the mind of watercolor" through your paintings, there are lessons to be learned in all of your tutorials/videos. Your ability to teach from your paintings (and they definitely do not go hand in hand) is just as valuable as your actual paintings as you guide your "minders" through this amazing medium. Days one and three really stuck to what you taught about trees and foliage and not stippling them to death (new to me, but from 2015). The trees/foliage show how much better they actually look when you concentrate on the light, mid and deep tones that naturally occur in trees. Day five also struck a chord as you really captured the "feel" and look of clouds, something I've struggled with quite a bit. I, for one, would LOVE a tutorial on clouds and keeping their ethereal nature. Thanks for sharing and for really inspiring your "minders" as you personally push through and do a drawing/painting daily. It's been a great challenge already in just week one! God bless. P.S. I just purchased "The Complete Watercolorist's Essential Notebook," an item that you have recommended in several of your videos and though it doesn't say this if you just type in the title of the book, but in the description it says "This special 10th-anniversary collection combines two of the best-loved North Light watercolor guides available: The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook AND The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook: Landscapes" for the price of $20.03, so you are getting two books for the price of one! No doubt you'd agree that this is an amazing price for a book of this quality. I think you can safely call it "an encyclopedia of everything watercolor" and believe you have.

I could stare at these all day. I relate to wanting to practice looseness. With your work I really see that looseness and essence of each shape. Yet you still seem to get all the light and shadow information. Amazing.

Loosening up when I’m sketching out in public has really helped me just find a way to have fun and recharge my batteries and just enjoy painting without taking it too seriously, so I totally agree with you on the benefits of it! I’ve loved seeing these on your Instagram, and it’s really cool that you’ve been especially working on dynamic and dramatic lighting-something we all could do with incorporating. Time and time again I learn that dramatic tonal differences really help make a piece look striking and your video is yet another example of the truth in this. Keep it up! Looking forward to the rest of the month!

Doing a 30 in 30 is a 'challenge, and you are so right that it really does something for your painting techniques. I've done the Leslie Saeta 30 day challenge more than once. It keeps you on your toes. Good luck with it Steve , your doing great

Ooooohhh-love the clouds-wow!!!-and the portrait-lots of diversity

I like what you said about loose and tight painters occasionally getting out of their comfort zones... good point to make!

I really enjoy everything you do here on your channel! SO good. These challenge paintings are so sweet. I still LOVE the path one so much, but really enjoy them all. I’m so thankful you teach and share.

Ditto on the loose and tight painter comment! Thanks for sharing your technique! I tend to be a tight painter, so I am looking forward to spending the 30 days this year getting more comfortable with #1 not drawing in with pencil, and #2 molding with more wet into wet washes. I am really looking forward to the challenge (2020) , and I know that I will learning a lot by participating!

I figured out a way to draw people finally! To do this the only way i can is by imaging how the object feels,i can remember in detail how objects feel and then transfer that sensation of touch onto paper. I'm improving and refining how i'm able to do this but its working for me.

Thanks for sharing! Throughly enjoy your style and easy manner of teaching. Such a pleasure.

Awesome, the elk was stunning

Hi, Steve. Well, I began the challenge after being inspired by your video about it. I have done 4 paintings so far using a Fabriano watercolor journal that happens to have 30 pages in it. I have committed to finishing the challenge so that I will complete the journal when it is over. My journal is not Artistico paper, but since I am only using one side of the paper it seems to be taking the color just fine. I am putting on several layers. I have also decided that I will make myself tackle new subjects that I am not accustomed to painting, and to paint looser, but I am really enjoying the change. I have never sketched with a pale watercolor wash or line with a brush, and this is interesting. Thanks for getting me moving!

Steve, beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing 😊.

So good! You really seem to have a great understanding of watercolour paint. It just goes where you want it to go. I really love the sky painting.

Another great video. Loved the interview with Lion! That was really terrific and I hope all the folks here will jump over and watch it. Ok, loved the sketches and watched white rabbit s too, they were fun. She’s a little high energy. Expanding, growing, not changing! You go Reese!

So far, so good. I hope you can keep it up. These are beautiful sketches, great colours. It sure looks like lots of fun and a great challenge. By the way, I really enjoyed your interview with Liron. You both kept it so interesting, it was over far too soon. You even managed to get Reese into the conversation, which was nice. I need to do more of this. I am too "tight" and need to loosen up. Thanks for sharing this with us. So nice.

Your trees are fascinating to watch Steve. I've learned a lot.

I hpe to paint as well as you so e day. Too many job obligations this month keeping me out of the challenge, but hope to find time and energy to paint this weekend. Thanks for all your helpful tips and sharing your beautiful art! God bless you!

Saw your interview with Liron. You both had some really good advice for us and had a wonderful interaction yourselves. My two favourite artists really compliment each. Other, Mary from Toronto

I love your miniatures!! I am on a portrait/ miniature kick but a lot slower. I always enjoy your suggestions. Mine might be 15 but I slid over into color pencils, sketching and playing with the graphitints. Your coverage on those gave me a supply buying binge. Thank you from the bottom of my credit card :-)

Gorgeous paintings as always Steve, but I especially love your sky painting... skies inspire me all the time! Would love to see you do something like that more! Great job xx

I enjoyed this series very much. Thank you.

Um, that little "warm up sketch" you created, is more like a masterpiece. I can only wonder what it must feel like to create something that beautiful!

OMG! Loove it! All of it! Amazing!

Thank you for sharing your instructional goal with this challenge. Hope your time will allow to finish it if you desire to. The colors from your new choices seem really great. Allowing the paint to mingle on the trees looks great to me. What I really enjoy is the mini size of your paintings, its not always easy but they really work.

Hi Steve. So many are participating in the challenge, I did not even find your paintings there in the fb group !

Amazing, Steve. Really awesome.

These paintings are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for walking us through it, and for your explanations :)

Good luck with this, I loved the clouds and sketching with a light wash.

Ps 16.11 - todays verse was of great encouragement also. Thanks.

I really enjoyed this look through your first week and the speed painting. This HAS been a fairly rigorous challenge. Every night, I go to bed wondering what-in-the-world I'm going to find to paint the next morning. Great insights on being loose sometimes and also being more tight. I think watercolor is at its best when both approaches are used within a painting to direct the eye and leave a little mystery in some areas. I've really enjoyed your paintings for this challenge and look forward to them each day. Onward!

Nice paintings steve,love the clouds on day 5.Thanks for the tips.😀

I have been in that valley to see the elk. I have photos too so I can paint them I get better. I am learning a lot from u. Thank you

I was wondering how you got the fence in there because of the little coloration on it and thanks for answering that with the demonstration. Well done Steve and congratulations on keeping up with the challenge and your goal to do something a little new with the looseness exercise. I really enjoyed seeing what you've done so far and thanks for sharing that it doesn't always go just right the first go round but you stuck with it like a trooper! Thumbs up!

Love this.

Fabulous once again. Thank you from Dianne in Tassie.

Beautiful work as always!!

Great video Steve! 😁 I always love how your sketchbooks look... presentation and the awesome paintings. One day I hope to have mine looking at least close to good. GOALS! 😃 I just love the elk!! You know what I was thinking while looking at that one. 😉 The giant bull elk sounds magnificent. Hope you are doing well my friend. I can't wait to see what you do for the rest of the month. 🤗 I'm going to try sketching in the lines with wc this Sunday. Thanks for showing that.

I Really love the portraits. Mainly cause I stink at m and love pple who can paint like that lol, maybe someday when one is lucky :)

I absolutely love your technique of surrounding the main focal tree and the shed with very dark leaves. It really made the the objects pop with very few, very well placed brush strokes. For a beginner, could you explain the choice between a rigger and a 2/0 or 3/0 round? I’m completely thrilled to see those beautiful paintings in your book!

Ah, the detailed gene. That explains it.

Beautiful results so far! Keep up the great work. I wish I could have participated but it’s too tough with a 1 year old and my current illustration work.

I'm new to this site. Who is the wonderful artist?

This was fun, you make great points that will keep in mind when I paint! What is a good jellyroll pen?

Sir could u please tell me what tape do u use for the white border.... besides ur paintings are amazing 😍😍

I really like your videos and paintings. Thank you. But would you like to decribe to me about loose and tight painting. I didn't get that. Thank you. ☺

Do you know if water that is left out for a few days will affect the paint

How archival is the white ink? Do you have a favorite brand?

Traced

Can't imagine anything you've created would be less than outstanding be they tight or loosely created but I truly understand striving to keep improving on a method and experimenting. How else can we know what we are capable of if we don't try new things? I'm with you on this, do your thing Steve because whatever you do it's still going to be your style! Nice work on the project, loved seeing them all and am looking forward to more.