Just a quick point to all those smartypants below who say there is no such thing as an incorrect way to do something: Incorrect in art is when the result is not wanted and/or the intent is not met. When most people pick up watercolor or any other medium, they expect to paint to the strengths of the medium or what is traditionally expected of watercolor. This man is providing you with instruction in how to meet the common expectation of the medium and need not include a disclaimer that it his opinion on how to use it--that should be self evident.

I realize this is a 2 year old video, but I’m new to watercolor and seeing this was perfect timing and a real game changer for me. Today’s challenge for me was monsterra leaves. I tried 3 times and they just came out blotchy and awkward. The very first one after seeing your tips was incredible! Thank you so much for teaching me what I’m sure will be one of the most important things I’ll ever learn about watercolor painting!! You’re my hero for the day!!!

I love that you acknowledge that sometimes the streaking and splotches CAN actually be a design CHOICE. I have tried to make sure I know how to do a nice smooth wash, but I just love the loose splotchy look and always seam to return to it. I also don’t tape my paper down when I’m working, because I like how it crinkles up after it drys that way. I’m strange. I know, but hay, I do art for myself, not a museum. So... thank you for not insulting something I enjoy just because it’s not the “traditional” way to do things and thanks for the great video. I’m hitting the subscribe button 😊

Great technique showing the wrong way and then the right way, and quick enough in sequence to allow a student brain to stay with the lesson and not to get swamped in details irrelevant to the lesson. I like the way you speak. You are clear and don’t confuse the issues,you make the statements clearly and with useful distincdtions. I like your style.

Great video. I really notice that even with realistic painters that the best underpaintings are flowing and blended using a lot of water. Then, they use small brushes for the details.

I am a long time oil painter and am having difficulty breaking habits that are best for oils. I have learned a lot by watching your videos. You are my kind of teacher.

Thanks Liron! I love that you not only showed WRONG and RIGHT ways but ALSO how to FiX a wrong result to improve it. After years of painting in acrylics I have finally started learning to paint in watercolour to do plein air painting (or "urban sketching") as it is so portable. I love how fast drying it is, yet unlike acrylics the paints in my box are easy to re-hydrate if they dry out in the outdoors. It's been hard learning to do washes and blending instead of my acrylic style. Because i can see and paint better in strong colours i have been afraid for years of learning what i used to think of as "wishy-washy" pale colours, but I have been trying with the help of generous people like you, and already i have been selling my watercolours. Thanks again.

as an oil painter this is super helpful!! I was doing most of the mistakes you pointed out ahaha and never realized it! TYSM for the tips

Very nice technique. Love that you show 2 ways to do the same painting to get a feel of how to approach painting avocados. Thanks for sharing !

Paused in the middle of the video to try the techniques with my own reference, and it made me create a great piece of my own with the help of this and the blending technique video. Thanks to you, I've found a confidence in finally doing watercolor! I even added some pencil to emphasize detail.

I appreciate your wonderful teaching style. I love your examples. I often can't figure out what it is that I'm not understanding that makes my beginner paintings so frustrating for me. Every video that I've seen from you has a fantastic explanation with a visual that I can really learn from. Also your positive enthusiasm and love of art and what you do is contagious and inspiring! Thank you!

I generally work on smaller pieces of paper, but my go to brush is a size 10 squirrel round brush, I use others for details, but for the base painting that is my brush. I also have a large flat brush for water application.

As a beginner, I found it very useful to actually see how and why different ways of painting lead to different results. Thank you!

“You know what? I’m not going to touch that. I don’t want to ruin it.” Perhaps the most important lesson in watercolor. 😂

Being an oil painter when I tried water color I didn’t even do washes or layers. As I worked my way down the picture it was finished! It was coloring book and terrible!

Thank you. I understand what you are saying. It’s good to remember that watercolour works very well with plenty of water, paint & a larger brush. 😊

Oh thanks for that, you are every right, I was using the watercolors like acrylic paints. This helps a lot.

Thanks for this. I teach watercolor classes and it is helpful for me to see how you explain and show people how not to do it first and then how to do it better. I sometimes have a hard time getting that across to people.

I recently went from loose oil painting to watercolor. Needless to say I am over working my watetcolors. I will learn though, your videos are helping!

Good lesson on how to “fix” a painting too.

i actually painted avocados in watercolor and acrylic separately. def gonna try this method!

Very inspiring. I love these quick painting exercises that are easy to follow.

having come from oil painting it toke some time to change the way I paint to get the feel of watercolour and some times I drop back into a oil frame of mind when i am painting, TFS

Nice demo in technique and Value! Thank you! Value does all the work and color takes all the credit! yes larger brush is best!

Good lesson. I think that if someone is going to use that patchier look, they had best do it enough so that it is a deliberate style for that piece. I recently looked at a nice work by Nitin (whom you just interviewed), he used a very slightly different colour to offset a distant tall building from the background sky. The edge was distinct, but the look was very smooth and even within each separate part.

Every video I watch of yours is 'exceptionally' helpful and I gain more knowledge and understanding of watercolor! Please make more...! THANK YOU! You are inspirational.

the "bad" one was actually a little better from the start

Very helpful and I liked the way you demonstrated both ways of doing it and explaining the differences. Thank you.

Useful. At the moment it’s hot and drying much quicker, so much easier for the ‘bad’wash to appear. Can see I need more water now, same as the garden.😃

Lion, this video helped me understand what I may be doing wrong. Many people have advised me to do wet on wet more than not. That really does not work as well for me. Wet on dry gives me more control. I have been an oil painter for over 50 years and now that I am retired have started several new mediums, pastels, acryrlic and watercolor. Each one is very different. The basic skills are still used and since I learned a more traditional way of doing oils, I am pretty well schooled. Your explanation of each medium was especailly helpful. I wonder if there are several artists that have encountered the "unlearning" part. I worry that when I return to oils, it will effect the quality of work in that medium that I have acheived or perhaps new knowledge will enhance it.

Thanks, Liron! Super helpful! 👍

I really appreciate your help! Your ideas are great!! Thank you, I think you are already helping me even though I’m a real beginner. 💐

Fascinating. Can't wait to go back into previous attempts. Thank you

Thanks Liron, I found this very helpful!

Good teacher - love that you hit evert single problem that is possible, especially when beginning! Pretty much past this one but ALWAYS happy for reminders. Thank you 👍🙏✌️

I’m new to watercolor and am not an artist- this has helped tremendously- Thank you!

I really hesitate to use a bigger paintbrush, as I don't have a steady hand, and I tend to go over the lines. I can see why this would limit me, and why my brushstrokes are a little untidy! Great demo, though, thanks! ☺

Hi Liron, I've only just watched this and I was fascinated by your video, it taught me a lot. I'm a real beginner but love love love the translucency of watercolour and just as you said, it has taken me a long time to adapt from oils and acrylics (which I did at art lessons years and years ago). My style is very loose, and I notice even on the looser example on the right, that your style is much more accurate, and also the 2 stages, which I've not done yet! I envy your talent but cannot achieve that just now. I'm more of a loose watercolour artist, but I also love your style and you are very clearly a very accomplished artist. Thank you so much for sharing this, it's really helped me.

Great demo! I always have to remind myself not to keep messing with the washes after I put them down

I only watched two of your films. They concerned the basics. They helped me a lot. I am grateful for the information. :)

thank you for this brilliant video, Liron. when I started experimenting with watercolour (coming from oil) I definitely did treat watercolour like oil! still improving my watercolour game, this demonstration is of great help, thank you! :)

"I may do a good job of it accidentally" ROFL!

This is brilliant! THANKS

You’re a really good teacher and I always enjoy your art!

Thanks, Liron. I think I get so concerned about moving quickly that I ignore the basic wash technique and forget to soften the edges. I often find I don’t use enough water to keep the edges with a bead, so I can keep moving forward.

Unlearning is soooo hard!! You helped a lot

I know it is not much, but I think it’s worth a comment (you know, to show my support ecc ecc): I’ve NEVER understood how to play with watercolor in a more aware way...until I saw a couple of your videos. Thank you, because I still not know anything about this charming medium, but at least now I think I know a bit more about *how to think* about them (sorry for my english!). So, thank you, really. You definitely deserve viewers support! 🤓❤️

You touched on a lot of good points! Thanks.

Thank you very much! I am a beginner and I learn soooo much from your videos!

Helpful video, particularly advice to use the correct size brush. Also appreciated the instructor's comment about painting with watercolor in ways similar to other mediums, ie. acrylics. I believe that is a mistake I have made. Looking forward to more videos from Liron!

i wish i had a video like this when i was fifteen and first attempted water colors. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what i was doing wrong. It was so disheartening i actually gave it up for a few years until i was around twenty and needed a more 'mobile' paint medium since i was doing a lot of moving about. I now know what my mistakes were starting out, but still, videos like this would have been a massive help for tiny me. there are thousands of how to videos, not so many of common mistakes made and how to fix them.

Fabulous !! Thank you for sharing.

You are a super teacher ...you help me so much thankyou

this.is.what.i.neededdd. Thank youLiron-kun!

Very helpful video - thanks!

Thank you for this. I am trying to improve my watercolor technique and this helped a lot! You rocked that avocado! 🥑And don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with your speech. 😉

Well explained and exampled....

Just what I was doing: too small a brush, not enough paint. Thanks for the advice !

Thank you! Very accurate explanation! Could you tell me how you decided to drop the shadow behind the seed? Because on the photo it was so light but your painting looked more 3D!

Thanks man :) You are cool, I enjoy your videos!

7 minutes in and I'm feeling very called out lmffaoooo

omg you are incredible. Thank you so much for explaining it all.

Gosh. You’re such a handsome guy

Very interesting; I think that once you know how to do it the right way, it is hard to do it the wrong way.

Great demo Liron! I do agree though! I prefer the texture that you got with the "DON'T" but the vibrancy in the "DO". I have a few tricks myself when it comes to getting a smoother wash. I dampen the paper with water that has a bit of oz gall in it, It really helps the paint to flow a lot easier. The most important thing though is the paper. Watercolours is one if not the only medium that the paper you choose can make or break your painting. It takes a bit of experimenting to find the one that works best for your style or technique.

My inexperience contributes greatly to streakiness because I need too much time to make decisions. This time of year with high humidity works in my favor! Question: how do you achieve the "sparkle" of watercolor which requires leaving white space when you do such complete washes? I only know after the fact that I forgot to do it... again!!

Im so glad I found your videos

Thanks, great video!

As a beginner, I definitely do the contour painting 🥴. I outline and then fill in. I’ll try to be more mindful of that next time I practice

Thank you

👏 Thanks, I'll be checking out your other videos too! 💜 😍 🌹

Although 4 yrs old, STILL a great video. My view of 'mistake' is when my intentional goal for the medium is not met and the outcome displeases me for one or 2 reasons: 1) because I cannot consider it a 'happy accident' (ala Bob Ross) OR 2) I cannot recover my goal with adaptations and skilled correction techniques. As a weaver, one can weave 'tapestry' on many types of looms, eg my rigid heddle loom, but there are specially designed tapestry looms uniquely built for this type of weaving. Learning to weave a 'balanced' plain weave did not prevent me from later experimentation with other weave structures.

Thank you Liron. I know there is something about my watercolor painting that is frustrating me, but until I saw this video, I didn't know what I was doing wrong. Thank you for pointing it out so clearly. From this I will remember to not worry so much about all the little brush marks (like I did in oils) and to paint more relaxed; and I will remember to use more water with my paint. My problem is how to get it watery enough while still getting strong colors. What is your recommendation?

very informative... thanku!😊💕

Great video. Subbed! A ton of great tips in here, especially for those of us who always have worked with acrylic or oil and try to bring those styles to watercolor... it never works, haha~

One of the best watercolor teachers!!

great video, and commentary. I’m a total beginner with this, but I see what you did here. You used more passion to fix the “wrong way” and that made you focus on fixing it with all your heart, and it became better. Even after the first wash, that person that made the mistake wouldn’t do as you did, keep it wetter to fix it. I’m glad you aren’t a pool shark, you wouldn’t be able to throw a game :-) and I think your focus was on fixing the left one, so you didn’t put all you had into the right hand one. I tried painting tonight, watercolor, and it was terrible. I have a hard time controlling the paint at all, the edges. I see I attempted a way to detailed painting so now am going to look at your videos dedicated to more beginner stuff. Thanks, I keep coming back to your videos. Your commentary is great.

the way you say the word "dark" is giving me chills. what paper are you using ?

thank u

nice and helpful tutorial, Liron. I have problem with green washes in landscapes in particular. Do you have any advice on how not to flatten the whole drawing with wrong hue (value?) greens and keep the layers and air in the drawing?

I think the left one is just a more illustrative approach (except the streakiness) and the right much more painterly. The left one handled details much better because of the dryness, it exudes more control.

Thank you for this video. Very helpful. I have a question. In the second step, when you add a "darker mixture," what do you mean by "darker"? Do you mean the same colors but more saturated, or different colors (and if so, which colors did you use as the "darker mixture." Often when I have tried to add darker colors as a second layer, it ends up looking washed out. I realize that water control might be the issue. But it would help to understand what colors you are choosing. Thanks.

did you put some kind of coating on your palette? i have the same one from mijello, but the water does‘t stay in one place and always gathers up again at one spot again and forms one single drop.

Thank you for this video! I found it very helpful. I’ve been working in acrylic and love it, but I received a very nice set of water color paints and brushes as a gift. I totally understand what you mean by “mistakes”, and I realize that the skill set for water colors is generally very different. I haven’t even picked up a brush yet to begin water color painting , but I feel like your video will help me avoid unwanted results.

i understand better now thanx subsribed x

how to control the water? bcuz sometimes when i use very wet brush, the water blends the colors too much together and damages sharp edges.

This helped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is that appliance/gadget mounted on the wall, behind your right ear, with a pink hose attached from below?

Il video è molto interessante! Vorrei chiedere perchè quando aggiungo scuro nelle zone d'ombra prima che sia asciutto, anziché scurirsi si schiarisce! Forse è colpa del tipo di carta? Uso Saunders Waterford 300 g. grana fine. Grazie

Best Hair cut so far and handsome face 😁

Quick question - When I do my version, the brown of the pit leaks into the green of the avocado and makes a soupy mess of brown green. But I painted them quickly as advised in the video. Am I missing something? When he does it, they barely blend and it looks good!

18:50 That would have been a good opportunity to lay down the brush on it's side and in one brave swoop get the texture at the light to shadow transition. Your finished piece looks more like a painted egg than an avocado. Avocados always has the avocado dimples.

Awesome 👏

I think the paint and the brush and the paper are very important factors to achieve this. I have tried a notebook (195 gram), and that feels really different from a 300 gram paper (less easy to get wrinkles so it would not change the water flow). I have recently bought a natural-synthetic mop size six brush, and it is much better than my synthetic small brush since it could hold more water and the colours dry slower. I know nothing about these when I first start.

Hello! Thank you for this video - An irrelevant to the topic comment but one of my real struggles: How can you soften your shadows on second layer without lifting the bottom layer at all? I understand that I usually tend to press the paper a lot, but no matter how much I try to do it gently, I always remove some colour beneath. Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thank you a lot!!!

Interesting,so when you start a new color next door you do it right away,I have been waiting a bit then doing that with poor results,thanks.

I would like to show you how I illustrate with watercolour. Is it ok to post it here?

What brush are you using?

What easel do you use?

Awesome tip! is this a Mijello mixing palette? where did you buy it?