Having been recently criticized for an incredibly simple 2 stage learn how to paint watercolors course, I have to admit that the critic was absolutely correct…

The course is too simple for a beginner who expects a painting course to show them how to paint landscapes, still-life pictures, portraits and technical subjects. It is far simpler because it was aimed at artists who wanted to learn how to paint without the pressures of learning to draw.

Here are 2 reasons why you should return to basic watercolor painting techniques…

1. It is a great idea to learn to paint before you try to paint a picture

2. It is wonderful when things are going badly wrong to return to basics

Some people are lucky. They never struggle to learn to paint watercolor. It is easy for some to pick up a paint box and brushes and paint a good watercolor landscape without difficulty. They are a fortunate minority.

Alternatively, like you and me, most of us aren’t blessed with such talents…

* It isn’t so easy to learn how to paint watercolor well

* At times it can seem impossible to paint watercolor pictures

It is easy to find that every brush mark you make turns into a mess. It is far too easy to create a nightmare of badly mixed colors. You’ll find color washes flooding the wrong areas of your painting.

It doesn’t take long for your great art ideas to turn into muddy chaos. And, when things go wrong you are lost. Unless you know what is happening as the watercolor paint sweeps across your sheet of watercolor paper you will never improve…

* When you look you can see how color is carried by water on watercolor paper

* It is a good thing to know that you will wreck a color wash that isn’t fully dried by applying the next wash too soon

* You need to know how to get different color intensity and tone from a single color before you try to add another color to the equation

As the old saying goes… “Don’t try to run before you can walk”

If you aren’t careful, watercolor painting will rapidly convince you that you haven’t any talent for art. It is a shame to be disillusioned with watercolors that have gone wrong. They can convince you that you can’t paint.

Which do you think is better?

“Having a deep knowledge of simple and easy basic watercolor painting or… Disappointment and frustration?”

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