6 Tips for Handling Large Washes in Watercolor
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
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Hi there! Liron here.
In today's vid I want to share with you 6 tips that will hopefully help you when dealing with large, possible complex washes in watercolor.
One of the strongest characteristics of this medium, unlike gouache, acrylics and oils, is that you actually have to work really fast to get an even and pleasing result.
For that reason. getting large washes to be even and fluid is important.
I divided the tips into the more mental, and then the more practical.
MENTAL
1. Be prepared and know exactly what areas you are going to cover.
This means being aware of where the highlights are, and what are the areas you do NOT wish to paint over.
2. Don't sweat the first wash.
This is all about putting the first wash or any wash that isn't the darkest shadows) into perspective. You can usually correct most things along the way.
If this is the first wash, then many of the mistakes / blossoms won't be noticeable later on.
TECHNICAL / PRACTICAL
1. Work top to bottom & create a strong bead.
Because of the medium's fluidity, it's important to have it working with gravity, from top to bottom.
Also, you want to go over the top a few times with a wet mixture to make sure a proper bead is built.
2. Move downwards in an even, horizontal manner.
This is just a good practice to follow. It will ensure you get even results all across the wash.
3. Use an additional brush for blending, or even for wet-in-wet.
This allows you to keep the paint in the brush you use for the large wash, so you don't have to clean it, dry it, blend and then re-dip it.
It will also be a more economical use of your paint, as you will make the most out of the paint that's already in the brush.
4. Use wet-in-wet.
If an area is still wet, you can continue working on it, adding different colors, and perhaps darker values.
Make sure to have a spray bottle handy. This helps with keeping the wash alive and lengthen its "wet time".
Link to my previous vid on painting even washes: • Watercolor | How to RE...
I hope you find these tips helpful!
Let me know what you think in a comment below - is this a skill you find challenging? Do you struggle with painting large and complex washes?
I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
And I'll see you again in another vid really soon!
- Liron
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My most important thing to do when doing washes is to prepare the paint first because everything will go wrong if you have to interrupt your wash to mix more paint then the color won’t be the same and it will go wrong too. So number one for me...prepare enough paint first and always prepare more than you think you’ll need.
Haha so true! (:
Should have included that as well 😅
This was very helpful, especially bringing down the horizontal bead of paint at the same time.
Thank you 🙏🏼😊 I learned this the hard way 😂 (and still do from time to time)
Another great lesson. You have helped me more than any other artist by watching your videos. Particularly the parts that I have struggled with. Thank you for sharing!
I ruined two paintings because of the exactly the same reasons :) It is very important to use a big brush for really huge washes
Yes I agree.
I used to stay with a smaller brush due to laziness haha (:
I just picked up watercolor again after 8 some years and have been painting small scale and then tried a large wash and completely ruined my painting :/ These tips are super helpful and I'm going to try them today thank you!!
Great tips Liron. The only other things I would add is, 1: Make up more than enough colour to complete the wash (re-mixing in-situ is difficult to colour match and creates a delay in which drying marks may occur) I use a separate deep well daisy palette for this. 2: Choose the right brush or combination of brushes to complete the wash in as few strokes as possible. (It is difficult to obtain a smooth wash while having to constantly "dip-n-dab" a brush that is too small or has poor water holding capacity.
So very true! (:
Mixing enough paint especially is really important. Even more so when you want to use a more or less even mixture for the entire wash.
I wish I had watched this video before I started my recent painting. I have watched your video on how to get an even wash and completely forgot about it. My painting is of a campfire at night. I stupidly started the dark background from the bottom up. The fire, logs and stones look good but the background is a sad mess. I have to go over it again with a darker bluish-black and this time I will start at the top and use the bead method. Love your videos Liron!!!
Haha thank you so much 😊🙏🏼 I get exactly what you’re saying! Don’t forget you can also rotate the paper to get the paint to move and flow in different directions (:
Haha, thank you so much for these tips, though you posted the video *after* I made a random mess of the was in my latest project. Oh well, I still leaned something for next time. :D
My timing was a little off 😛
Thank you 🙏🏼
Been really struggling with this and have watched a couple of your videos that have really made a difference, thank you so much for your hard work x
Super helpful video Liron! The video editing and all ur demos made what u we’re say very easy to follow. & I like that u listed the tips in text at the end.
Thank you 😁🙏🏼 Happy you enjoy! I try to make them as easy to learn from as possible.
Thank you for explaining the importance of the 'bead'. [plus, your enthusiasm is contagious!]
Very good video tonight. Even though I've probably painted longer than your age, it's always good to refresh things in your mind. I still often have trouble keeping the leading edge wet and I tend to work too dry sometimes. Thanks Liron, I needed that !!! 😀
Haha thank you, and it’s amazing you painted longer than I exist 😛
Shalom Liron! So grateful to you for sharing your experience .. toda!
I'd also suggest using a larger brush if working on larger paper. I first learned this technique from watching one of Lindsay Weirich, The Frugal Crafter. She does painting and crafting on her channel and while I enjoy watching her crafting and how she pulls her projects together, I really love her watercolor paintings.
Even though I do understand the concept. I have a hard time feeling how much moisture is in the air. It is really dry most of the time and my watercolor paper dries out so fast and that bead of paint, which I do replenish tends to evaporate before I am ready for it to be gone.
That’s so true. I used to constantly use too small of a brush for large washes as well.
The moisture bit is tricky. Here it’s not too dry, but I did paint in drier areas.
I find that if you load the bead sufficiently (which means more than you think is necessary, in that kind of weather 🌵😛), then it can last for a while.
Liron, you did a good job. Excellent preparation, poised in presentation, and the material you presented was interesting and useful.
Thanks, Liron. So useful tips for a beginner!! Namaste!! ♥️👍
Excellent…good advice…I will keep learning on this..thanks.
Very useful for me as a beginner. Thank you Liron
Nice video Liron! Clear and concise explanation. I’m a big fan of Steve’s channel and yours too. Hope the holidays are good to you.
Thank you (:
The holidays were great.
I hope you have a good one too. I'll post a Christmas related vid on Sunday 😉🎅
im taking an intro to watercolor class and large washes r kicking my butt for assignments but my current assignment already looks better than my past ones lol
Thank you. Good video. I like seeing painting as well as explanation. My brain learns fastest from both. Xx
Happy to hear this works for you 😊🙏🏼 Thank you!
Thanks for this practical video. As a beginner I truly appreciate it.
Very helpful Liron, greetings from Poland! :)
Thank you (:
I hope to visit some day in the near future!
Nice, clear explanation! Thanks.
Thank you 🙏🏼😊
I’ve tried an 18”x12” size and uneven wash is my recurring issue especially for landscape orientation where you need to cover space. I think ample pigment and bigger brush should solve it. But Can you correct Uneven Washes?
Are Watercolor artworks inherently relegated to smaller sizes ? I’m getting this vibe. I’m a noob and feeling my way. It seems acrylics and oils are better for bigger sizes. And unfortunately result in higher priced work. Your thoughts pls.
Thanks so much for your videos, Liron, they are immensely appreciated! Even though I am moving on and progressing, they still help me to reflect what it was that I was trying previously. So it is not making me "advice addicted", you are always an honest practitioner and I am stunned how much you have actually gotten better, congrats! Have you tried any gouache or watercolor/gouache mix? I would be really curious about that. Also ink, not only drawing with ink but actually mixing watercolor and ink (literally or side-by-side).
Very helpful
Like all of your videos and lessons ❤️
Thank you! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Happy to hear
I tried doing a really smooth wash for a background.. But i got the bead stuck in pointy valleys of the drawing 😐.. And i i tilted the paper the other way, and it kinda looked a lil off in those places.. Adding layers kinda helped smoothen things out tho.. So any tips on how to handle pointy areas where the bead can get stuck?
Hmm, did the bead get stuck due to the paper buckling?
If so - that's a real problem. I had that happen to me too in the past.
You may need to switch to a heavier paper, or more heavily secure it using tape 🙂
I hope this helps!
thank you!!
😊🙏🏼
I'm new and trying tomake a portrait. The wash is too dark and uneven. Can I put a light wash on top. I love your video.
😱👻 *Anyone else notice the orb that floats behind his right side @ **2:45**? Spooooooky!* 😝 😁
Haha I definitely haven’t 😂
I have such difficulty with this. I'm on a large 18 by 24 and wondered if the paper just wasn't good enough. What do you recommend for large watercolor paper
I'm looking for a wash for a 22 x 15 work of art
After 3 years I'm still coming back to this video for a reminder to myself
I’m so bad with even washes, this really helps!
I paint watercolor home portraits and have problems with even washes around windows, doors, light fixtures, etc.
Struggling with large washes today and have a bandaid on a cut on the same finger, same hand.
What brush do you use? (The black one)
Silver Black Velvet. I got sizes 8 and 12.
They are really good and affordable.
These came in a three set with a size 4 or 6 - that I barely used - so gave as a gift 🙂
Liron Yanconsky Thanks! I'm really getting into the landscape and building watercolour paintings and needed to step up in terms of brushes. Your videos are really helpful and I'm learning so much from them thank you so much!!
תודה נשמה, הצלת אותי
I would add the water-wet layer FIRST. not sure what is gained by the method of re wetting. can you enlighten me?
I suppose that would depend on what you enjoy the most and how much control you want to have (:
I find that when I wet the paper prior, it sometimes makes my wash too light (too much water for my taste) and makes me lose a lot of control.
What I do like is something in between - I like to spray some water at the paper, to get some parts of it wet and help the paint flow better.
I hope this makes sense (:
That's a good point. it also probably depends on what you are painting!
Your accent sounds portuguese a lot!!!
Haha really?? It sounds like so many different ones 😂😂
blooms not blossoms... but great video, Thanks again Liron
Blooms, blossoms, cauliflowers, it all works for me 😂
Thank you 🙏🏼
Liron Yanconsky I didn’t know there was a difference.
If you google blossom with regard to watercolour you will get posts on blooms.. it's just what most people refer to them as. Liron is always asking for his english to be corrected. A blossom generally is used more for flower.
I can't 😭😭😭
Make sure you follow all the tips and you'll get it! (: