Good Tips 1 - Do Not Stir

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Sometimes the best thing you can do in watercolour is leave it alone! In this tutorial I’ll show you why continually stirring and fussing with paint on the paper can quickly lead t o tide marks, lifted colour, uneven drying and even damage to the paper itself. Using a simple orange shape, I’ll demonstrate what happens as a wet wash gradually begins to settle, how to recognise that slightly dangerous stage between wet and dry, and why adding more water or paint at the wrong moment can suddenly make everything much harder to control. I’ll also show you how easy it is to get caught in the trap of trying to “fix” one little area, only to create another problem somewhere else. This is such an important lesson in watercolour: knowing when to stop, let the paint settle and allow the paper to dry. A little patience can make all the difference. Show more