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# Watercolor Affair

Learn the Art and Techniques of Watercolor Painting

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## Posts

- [Blog](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/blog/) - This blog offers inspiration, tips, and tutorials about painting, drawing, and art topics in general.
- [How to Paint Tomatoes (You’ll Be Amazed How Easy This Is!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-tomatoes/) - In this tutorial I’m going to show you how you can paint these tomatoes in watercolor. And I think you’ll be amazed how easy it is to get satisfying results if you follow this method. You don’t need any experience with watercolor. I’ll show you all the steps from beginning to end. And I’ll even
- [How Do You Draw a Realistic Drawing Step by Step? (EASY!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/realistic-drawing-step-by-step/) - If you’re aiming for realism in your drawing and artwork there are ways to make the process easier by following a few simple steps. In fact you’ll be surprised how convincingly you can convey a subject, if you use this method. I’ll even tell you how to make the initial part of any drawing even
- [Mastering the Value Scale (Guide to Drawing, Making, & Using It in Art)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/value-scale-in-art/) - In real life, light reveals the form of an object. Without light, we cannot see forms. Light enables us to perceive the world around us as shapes that differ in brightness. Artists express lightness or darkness as "values" (or tones). Stronger values are dark. Lighter values are bright… By drawing shapes with the correct values, artists can
- [Neutral Tint Watercolor (All The Answers!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/neutral-tint-watercolor/) - So you've ended up with a tube of grayish-looking paint called "neutral tint." And now you're wondering… "But what the heck is neutral tint?" Why would you need it, and how is it used in painting? This paint name causes quite a bit of confusion for artists. Depending on your chosen brand, there are a
- [The ONE BRUSH Every Watercolor Beginner is Missing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/the-one-brush-every-watercolor-beginner-is-missing/) - If you've ever put down a wash of color that came out too dark… and then just left it, because you didn't know what else to do, this video might change how you approach that problem. Most beginners learn fairly quickly that watercolor is hard to fix. And that's true, up to a point. But
- [This Changed How I Paint Watercolors: Step-by-Step Tutorial to Add Depth](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/step-by-step-watercolor-tutorial-to-add-depth/) - I started painting in watercolor when I was just a teenager - but it wasn’t until decades later that I discovered something I really wish I’d learned sooner. It would’ve saved me so much frustration. This one simple idea completely changed the way I paint. It turned my flat-looking artwork into paintings that had real
- [Why Timing Matters More Than Technique in Watercolor (The Water Cycle)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/why-timing-matters-more-than-technique-in-watercolor-the-water-cycle/) - Do you ever feel like wet-on-wet watercolor puts you in a constant battle with your paper? Too much water, and you get those cauliflower edges blooming where you didn't want them. Too little, and the paper's already too dry — and instead of those soft, diffused blends, you just get hard edges. If that sounds
- [How To Paint Watercolor Cherry Blossom (In 15 Minutes!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-watercolor-cherry-blossom/) - Why does starting a watercolor often feel like the hardest part? I used to sit down, not really know where to begin, then try to paint everything at once… and end up with muddy, messy results. And if no one’s ever shown you how to approach a painting before picking up the brush, you’ll get
- [The #1 Thing Ruining Your Watercolor Brush Strokes](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/the-1-thing-ruining-your-watercolor-brush-strokes/) - Everything about watercolor painting revolves around one thing: water! For example, watercolor paints use a water-soluble binder so the pigments reactivate whenever water is added. Watercolor paper is designed to absorb just the right amount of water, giving you enough working time to enjoy the paint's fluid nature while still holding the pigments in place
- [How to Blend Watercolors (Here's What you NEED to Know!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-blend-watercolors/) - Blending watercolors used to feel like a losing battle - I’d end up with harsh lines and unwanted streaks no matter what I did. It can be very frustrating to endlessly struggle with your brushwork this way! Especially because blending is an often repeated gesture whenever you paint something. In short… You really need this technique
- [Stop Guessing Every Brushstroke: A Clear Step-by-Step Process](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-beginners-a-clear-step-by-step-process/) - Do you ever start a watercolor painting knowing what you want to paint… but then get stuck not knowing what to do next? Maybe you’re not quite sure which technique to use... so you start guessing, moving paint around, or trying to fix things as you go. And before you know it, you end up
- [Is Art a Talent or a Skill? (How to Make Real Progress!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/is-art-a-talent-or-a-skill/) - Here’s a question for you: have you ever wondered if you’re “talented” enough to be an artist? Maybe you look at other people's paintings and think, “Some people are just born with it… and I’m not one of them.” Or maybe you’ve felt that no matter how much you practice, there’s just something missing? Well,
- [Glazing & Layering in Watercolor (Frankenstein Demo)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/glazing-layering-in-watercolor-halloween-demo/) - You know that moment when you finish a watercolor painting and think… “In my head it looked so much better than this!” Don’t worry - we’ve all been there! Maybe you followed all the right steps… but somehow the painting just feels a bit, well, lifeless! That’s exactly the kind of challenge my student Justin
- [How to make a perfect purple with watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-make-a-perfect-purple-with-watercolor/) - ​Have you ever tried to mix a purple color and then think to yourself: “ That doesn’t look right ! ” Purple is one of those tricky colors in watercolor mixing. And to be honest I didn’t always understand why my attempts to make purple turned out so bad. I wondered if it was the
- [Simplifying Watercolor for Beginners (8 Simple Tips)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/simplifying-watercolor-for-beginners-8-simple-tips/) - Does watercolor ever feel so overwhelming, you just don’t know where to start? Maybe you sit down to paint, and before you’ve even begun, your brain’s already juggling too many colors, too many details, and too many decisions. And halfway through, it’s the same problem - everything feels important, and you don’t know what to
- [What is tone in Art – a Watercolorists Guide](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/what-is-tone-in-art-a-watercolorists-guide/) - You’ve probably heard artists talking about “tone” when describing art. When I first started watercolor painting I was a bit confused by all the vocabulary. One of my favorite artists Stan Miller talks a lot about value and tone and describes this as one of the fundamentals of good painting. You might also hear artists
- [How to Clean Watercolor Brushes the Easy Way](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-clean-watercolor-brushes-the-easy-way/) - You can easily spend a small fortune on brushes. So if you want your investment to last, it’s probably a good idea to learn how to clean your watercolor brushes and generally take care of them. With a little care and attention a good brush can last for years. I still use some sable brushes
- [The Dimensions of Color (3 Things You Need To Know)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/the-dimensions-of-color/) - I think you’ll agree… Color is important for artists 🙂 Have you ever sat in front of your watercolor palette, feeling completely unsure about which colors to mix - or how to avoid ending up with a muddy mess? The good news is, there’s a simple, proven system for understanding colors that will help you
- [If I Was Starting Watercolor from Scratch - I’d Do This…](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/if-i-was-starting-watercolor-from-scratch/) - If I had to start learning watercolors all over again this is exactly what I would do to get better, quicker! A lot of beginners get caught up in things that just don’t matter. For example, they obsess over the ‘perfect’ supplies or dive into complicated paintings before learning how to break subjects down into
- [Vegan Watercolor Supplies Made Simple! (Brushes, Paper, and Paints)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/vegan-watercolor/) - Have you ever wondered if your watercolor supplies are secretly... vegan? 🙂 After all… it's just paint, brushes, and paper, right? The surprising truth is, lots of traditional art supplies contain hidden animal-derived ingredients. And animal products have been part of the art world for centuries. This can make it tricky to know what’s lurking
- [Different Colors, Same Pigment  - A Watercolor Paint Mystery](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/different-colors-same-pigment-a-watercolor-paint-mystery/) - I’m a bit of a watercolor boffin! I like to get to the bottom of things. To find the explanation to artistic mysteries. Well, this is one of them. And you’ve probably noticed this yourself if you’ve read your paint labels (You have, haven’t you?!) So… Why is it that some paints all have the
- [Setting up Watercolor Palette Colors like a Pro (A Beginners Guide)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/setting-up-watercolor-palette-colors-like-a-pro-a-beginners-guide/) - Setting up a watercolor palette can be a bit of a brain-teaser, especially when you begin learning watercolors. When I first started painting it took me a while to figure out which colors to use and how to organize them. And over time, I’ve agonized over the best choice of paints to include in my
- [Why Warm & Cool Colors Confuse Artists!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/why-warm-cool-colors-confuse-artists/) - Many discussions about color, color mixing and art in general often refer to “warm” or “cool” colors. But what does this mean? The concept can be tricky and confusing if you don’t get it! People often tell me they struggle with this idea. And because I refer to it so often in various lessons, below
- [How to Compare and Match Paint Colors from Different Brands](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-compare-and-match-paint-colors-from-different-brands/) - A lot of artists ask me how to match their existing paint colors to the ones I recommend. Finding equivalents to another artist's palette of colors can be frustrating, especially if you already have lots of tubes of paints from another brand! This quick guide gives you an easy method for doing that. If you
- [Painting a Robin in Watercolor (3 Techniques!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/painting-a-robin-in-watercolor/) - Have you ever wondered how to paint delicate textures in watercolors, like on this feathery robin - building up the layers to create depth and help bring it to life? In this lesson, I’ll show you step by step how I painted this cute robin. If you’d like to try this for yourself, you can
- [Watercolor Winter Wooly Hats! (Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-winter-wooly-hats/) - In this lesson I’m going to show you how to paint these colorful winter wooly hats in watercolor! (try saying that three times fast!) This is a simple illustrative style of painting that anyone can paint in just a few minutes. But there are a few different techniques and tips that I'll share with you
- [Watercolor Gingerbread Man (Easy Painting!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-gingerbread-man/) - In this lesson I’m going to show you how I painted this gingerbread man in watercolor. This is a fun watercolor painting that I’ll show you how to paint yourself, but it will also show you an interesting example of how watercolor paints can be layered to achieve a desired end result. Layering paints, of
- [Hand Painted Watercolor Christmas Cards (Easy Peasy)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/hand-painted-watercolor-christmas-cards-easy-peasy/) - Did you put up the Christmas tree yet ? Are you ready to mail out those cards ? I think sending hand-painted watercolor cards for Christmas is perhaps one of the best ways to show people your affection for them. It adds a personal touch that's always appreciated. Especially this year, because we probably won’t
- [Halloween Watercolor Bookmarks!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/halloween-watercolor-bookmarks/) - Do you remember the game Pacman? And those little ghosts that chased you all around the board...? Well... that was the inspiration for the first watercolor bookmark painting in this fun little painting series 🙂 I had a lot of fun painting these, I think you will too! I'll be releasing these, one at a
- [Is Perfectionism Ruining Your Art? Do This…](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/perfectionism-in-art/) - Here’s a question for you - Is your biggest struggle trying to make everything perfect? Maybe you hesitate to use that nice sheet of watercolor paper because you’re afraid of messing it up? Or you buy sketchbooks but never draw in them because you don’t want to ruin the pages? Sound familiar? Well… I’ve got
- [Watercolor Supplies Beginners Guide (This is What you Truly Need)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-supplies-beginners/) - I know what you’re thinking… And you’re probably right. I’m a sucker when it comes to buying watercolor supplies ! I’m sure I’ve got far too much stuff. Which is why I’m perhaps in a good position to tell you just what you need, and what you don’t… When you get started with watercolors it’s
- [Which Side of Watercolor Paper to Use (Complete Guide)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/which-side-of-watercolor-paper-to-use-complete-guide/) - Have you ever found yourself wondering which side of watercolor paper to use? Maybe you cut up a large sheet into smaller pieces, and now you’re wondering which was the “right” side to paint on? Or if you’ve removed a sheet from a watercolor block or a pad then you’re facing the same problem… I’ve
- [Synthetic Watercolor Brushes (What You Need to Know!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/synthetic-watercolor-brushes/) - I get a lot of requests for recommended synthetic watercolor brushes. Whether this is because you prefer a vegan-friendly option, or you’re just looking for a cheaper alternative to those expensive sable brushes… Below I’ll explain all the differences you need to know 🙂 You'll learn how synthetic brushes compare to traditional natural hair brushes,
- [Watercolor Pans vs. Tubes (There's a Clear Winner!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-pans-vs-tubes/) - I admit it! I have a favorite :-) You've noticed that watercolor paints come in two different forms: tubes or pans. I'm going to tell you which one I prefer and why… But which should YOU choose? Is there an advantage to using one rather than the other? What an artistic dilemma! In this article, I'll compare these
- [Is This The Perfect Travel Watercolor Palette?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/is-this-the-perfect-travel-watercolor-palette/) - This is a photo of my first ever watercolor palette: I found this in a tiny art store in my home town of Coventry. It was thanks to this that I first discovered watercolor painting. (The art shop doesn’t exist anymore… It was in a street called “Spon Street” full of medieval buildings that survived
- [Best Paper for Watercolor (Expert's Ultimate Guide!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/best-paper-for-watercolor/) - Many artists swear that paper is the most essential part of your watercolor supplies! And I would tend to agree… Paper is the source of light and the foundation for your paint. But paper's quality and handling properties vary enormously depending on the type and brand. This makes choosing paper somewhat confusing. Especially for beginners!
- [How to make a 12 color watercolor wheel](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-make-a-12-color-watercolor-wheel/) - ​I find watercolor mixing fascinating. In my early days as a budding ​artist, I would dive right into a project and rely on intuition and a bit of luck to mix my colors. My art instructor would tell me “learn color mixing before you learn how to paint”. Did I listen ? Nope ! The
- [How to make a watercolor mixing chart step by step](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-mixing-chart-step-by-step/) - You’ve seen them... Right ? Those beautiful looking watercolor charts with a rainbow of fantastic colors. It’s only natural that you want to make one yourself. That’s exactly how I felt when I began my adventure into watercolors. So I looked for a simple tutorial about how to make my own watercolor mixing chart. But
- [The Essential Guide to Watercolor Mixing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/the-essential-guide-to-watercolor-mixing/) - It's exasperating don't you think ? Not knowing how to mix the color you need... When I first started painting I really didn’t understand how to mix watercolors and get exactly the right hue that I needed. I would simply rely on intuition, throw a few pigments together and hope for the best ! Eventually,
- [How to paint a watercolor glazing chart](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-a-watercolor-glazing-chart/) - ​You’ve heard about glazing… Right ? Glazing or layering colors is a fundamental technique in watercolor painting. When you paint, the transparent layers of pigment build up, one on top of the other. This layering of paint modifies the values and the color appearance of the final painting. Yellow glazed with blue will create a
- [How to Make Watercolor Swatches like a Boss](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-make-watercolor-swatches-like-a-boss/) - Painting swatches is an excellent way to compare and get to know the characteristics of your paint. I wanted to learn how to make watercolor swatches in a way that would be a useful reference guide when I’m painting. I’ve seen lots of examples of these, but they all seem to be slightly different. I
- [Black Watercolor (Artists Don’t use Black)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/black-watercolor/) - Using black watercolor paint is a bit of a controversial subject among artists… Some artists passionately argue against using black paint in watercolor altogether. They say things like “Real artists don’t use black”… Others happily accept the use of black paint as a convenient, ready to go color. So what should you do? And who
- [Mixing a Fall Color Palette (Keys to Success)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/mixing-a-fall-color-palette/) - Fall is upon us (again!) Funny how it keeps coming around so quick :-) My neighborhood's autumn colors have inspired me to try out some paint mixes. So I wanted to share some of my favorite color-mixing recipes for fall paintings. There's a unique atmosphere at this time of year. The cool, sometimes foggy mornings.
- [How to use a Color Wheel Like a Pro! (Easy In-Depth Guide)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-use-a-color-wheel-in-depth-guide/) - If you’ve ever looked at one of these things and thought “what the heck do I do with that?” Well… You’re not alone! A color wheel is a very handy tool for artists and designers, but… you’ve got to figure out how to use one first. For a start, you probably need a magnifying glass
- [What Are The TRUE Primary Colors?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/true-primary-colors/) - Most artists have heard the aphorism that red, yellow and blue are all the paints you need to mix any color. You were told these hues constitute the “primary” colors. Maybe it was your art teacher who conveyed this idea during your art classes (perhaps with an air of wisdom and authority?) However, not all
- [Local Color vs Perceived Color in Art](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/local-color-vs-perceived-color-in-art/) - Ever feel like your painting is just not coming together, no matter how hard you try? You spend hours painting and mixing colors, but something still feels off and the results never match your expectations… It can be pretty frustrating! But guess what? It's not about the amount of effort you put in ... it's
- [Easy Easter Watercolor Painting (Wet-on-Wet)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-easter-watercolor-painting/) - Short on time? This may be the quickest Easter watercolor painting you’ll ever try 🙂 This tiny painting lesson is all about painting these cute Easter chicks in watercolor using a wet-on-wet technique. If you’re short on time but really want something to paint, give these a try! Step by step easter watercolor chicks Step
- [How to Start Watercolor Painting – First Steps for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-start-watercolor-painting-first-steps-for-beginners/) - ​Have you ever seen a beautiful piece of watercolor art and thought “I want to paint like that”? Many budding artists hold back because they just don’t know how to start painting in watercolors. I think that’s too bad. Because I believe the joy of creating with watercolors is within anybody’s reach. Some people simply
- [Learning Watercolor (A formula for Success)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/learning-watercolor-a-formula-for-success/) - Painting with watercolors is a tricky skill to learn... Yep… I said it. But notice that I used the word “skill”. A skill is something anyone can learn with some good instruction and enough practice. I say this to dispel the idea that certain people are “talented” while others are not. The only thing that
- [How to Paint Complex Subjects (Surprisingly Easy!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-complex-subjects/) - Often we assume something is difficult to paint, because it looks complicated, so we tend to avoid it. But if you follow the painting process I used for this painting of a mug of hot chocolate, you’ll see that it follows the same basic set of principles I use for simpler looking subjects. So if
- [Valentine Painting Ideas (Easy Step by Step Tutorials!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/valentine-painting-ideas-easy-tutorials/) - It’s that time of year again! And what better way to express your affection for your loved one than by creating a personalized Valentine's painting for them? In this article, I'll show you a few different creative approaches to crafting Valentine-themed paintings. And this assortment of painting ideas features various techniques that can serve as
- [The Golden Rules of Watercolor!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/the-golden-rules-of-watercolor/) - Would you like to know how to improve your watercolor skills to a level that surpasses 99% of beginners? The answer is actually pretty simple… All you have to do is to understand the rules! These rules are what I refer to as “The golden rules of watercolor”. So in this lesson I want to
- [How To Trace A Picture Onto Paper (Easy Way to Copy & Transfer!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-trace-a-picture-onto-paper/) - Transferring an image from a reference onto a sheet of paper can be challenging. And there are several different ways to do it! It can get pretty confusing! I have my own preferred method, but of course, you're not limited to just one technique. Below I'll explain the options available for tracing a picture onto
- [Do You Have to Wet Watercolor Paper Before Painting?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/do-you-have-to-wet-watercolor-paper-before-painting/) - Watercolor is obviously a water-based medium. And water plays an essential role in every painting technique. During the painting process, the paper surface goes through different cycles of wetness. Wet to dry, dry to wet, etc. So it's easy to get confused about when precisely the paper needs dampening, especially for artists new to watercolor
- [This Tip Could Save You a Fortune in Watercolor Paper!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/this-tip-could-save-you-a-fortune-in-watercolor-paper/) - I only realized how valuable this tip was when one of my Masterclass students sent me this comment: This is what Cherryl told me: “I particularly felt like the tip to not draw and erase on my good Arches watercolor paper was advice probably worth the cost of your entire masterclass! Game changer. I am
- [Watercolor Blooms – Turning Mistakes into Success](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-blooms-turning-mistakes-into-success/) - ​When you're a beginner you make mistakes. And mistakes are good because you can learn from them. One of the things watercolor artists sometimes see as a problem is “watercolor blooms”. You’ve probably already seen these unexpected blotches that seem to appear out of nowhere… Right? When I was starting out with watercolors I would
- [Watercolor Color Theory & Design that will Change Your Artwork](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-color-theory-design-that-will-change-your-artwork/) - ​Don’t you think it’s curious? The way certain watercolors provoke emotion, but others fall short of your expectations. Color plays a huge role in successful painting, which is why color theory in watercolor art is a valuable thing to grasp. Understanding colors and how they interact with each other can go a long way to
- [Gifts for Watercolor Artists (What to Get an Artist for Christmas)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/gifts-for-watercolor-artists-what-to-get-an-artist-for-christmas/) - I’ve been scratching my head for several days ! Finding the ideal gifts for everyone is a real brain-teaser. It doesn’t help that whenever you ask people what they would like for Christmas you get the answer “Err… Let me think about it” ! So for all of you struggling to find gift ideas for
- [Watercolor Oak Leaves (When to Use Wet-on-Wet or Wet-on-Dry)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-oak-leaves-when-to-use-wet-on-wet-or-wet-on-dry/) - In this lesson I’ll show you how to paint these oak leaves in watercolor in just a few simple steps. This is another quick and easy watercolor painting, but it’s also a good example to explain when and how to use wet-on-wet vs wet-on-dry painting techniques. Many of you are familiar with these two techniques,
- [How To Paint a Macaron in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-a-macaron-in-watercolor/) - These tasty looking pastries are very popular in France, where I live. In this lesson I'm going to show you how you can paint this macaron in watercolor in just a few simple steps. In all my tutorials I try to simplify the painting process into easy to follow stages so that anyone can try
- [A Solution to Smelly Masking Fluid?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/a-solution-to-smelly-masking-fluid/) - I get quite a few questions about masking fluid. Frankly, it’s something I can’t live without (and once you start using it you probably won’t either!) It’s just so darn useful when you paint in watercolors. But one of the problems with masking fluid is the bad smell. I recently discovered an “aroma-free” liquid masking
- [Watercolor Ghosts (Fun Halloween Painting Tutorial!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-ghosts-fun-halloween-painting-tutorial/) - Ready for some phantom fun?! In this lesson I’m going to show you how to paint this quick and fun watercolor for Halloween! These little watercolor ghosts make a great beginner-friendly tutorial that will help you practice blending and how to manipulate pigments on the paper. I’ll explain the methods I used so you can
- [How to Paint a Mushroom in Watercolor (Cozy Autumn Painting!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-a-mushroom-in-watercolor-cozy-autumn-painting/) - I’m a big fan of mushrooms… But I’m not sure I’d eat this one! Instead, I’m going to show you the step by step process I used for painting this earthy-colored mushroom with a red cap. I’ll describe all the different tools and techniques I used as I go through the painting, so we can
- [What Are Watercolor Pencils? (Best of Both Mediums?)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/what-are-watercolor-pencils/) - I have to admit I was curious… At first, I couldn't see the point of watercolor crayons or pencils. After all… If you want to paint, use paint - and if you're going to draw, use pencils. Right? It seemed like a strange mixture of art mediums, and I couldn't help wondering if they were
- [Watercolor Skin Tone Tutorial: How to Mix Realistic Flesh Colors](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-skin-tone-tutorial-how-to-mix-realistic-flesh-colors/) - I have news for you… People's skin is never just one color. Unfortunately, you can’t just mix one generic skin color and paint the whole of someone's face, and there isn’t just one magic color which suits all situations. The tone of someone’s flesh varies enormously, and depicting this realistically in watercolor needs a basic
- [Secret to Painting Shadows in Watercolor: Tutorial, Tips, Techniques & Colors](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/secret-to-painting-shadows-in-watercolor-tutorial-tips-techniques-colors/) - ​Have you ever tried to paint shadows in watercolor and been disappointed with the result? I remember when I started painting I had problems with shadows. Sometimes the color was totally wrong, the results looked muddy, or they just didn’t look convincing. So how should you paint shade and shadows in watercolors? Painting lifelike and
- [Best Watercolor Paints (A Complete Guide)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/best-watercolor-paints-a-complete-guide/) - Here’s the thing…There are lots of “reviews” about which are the best watercolor paints on the market. But none of them seem to tell you “how” to choose what’s best for your needs. And frankly, most of those reviews seem to have been written by people who probably haven’t picked up a paint brush in
- [Cold Press vs Hot Press watercolor paper – Here’s how to choose !](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/cold-press-vs-hot-press-watercolor-paper-heres-how-to-choose/) - Paper… It’s one of the essential components in watercolor painting. And believe me, when you really get going, you’re going to use a lot of it ! I remember when I started watercolor painting, I went to a huge art store near to where I live. They had an amazing choice of watercolor paper. All
- [Is Tracing Art Bad? (Find Out The Truth!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/is-tracing-art-bad/) - I've come across some artists who are against the idea of using tracing techniques. Personally, I use tracing all the time! But should you consider tracing art as cheating or plagiarism? It's been a subject of debate for many years… But rather than having a fixed view of the morals of tracing, it's important to
- [4 ways to stretch watercolor paper](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/4-ways-to-stretch-watercolor-paper/) - ​You’ve seen it happen… Right ? You lay down a nice watery wash of paint, you settle down to enjoy your painting, and then… It all goes lopsided ! When watercolor paper absorbs liquid, it buckles and deforms, leaving ridges and depressions which make paint flow difficult to control. It’s a nuisance which all watercolor
- [Watercolor Paper Weight Explained (Find Out What’s Best)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-paper-weight-explained/) - There are a bunch of different factors to consider when choosing watercolor paper, and its weight is one of the more important characteristics. But this can be a very confusing topic, even for artists who have been painting for a while. In this article I’ll help you understand how the weight of watercolor paper affects
- [Watercolor Paper Sizing (Explained!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-paper-sizing/) - All watercolor paper is sized. And no… I'm not talking about the dimensions of the sheet :-) As you begin to understand more about your art materials, at some point, you'll come across the topic of sizing. Sizing is a substance that is added to paper to modify its handling properties. Each type and brand
- [Watercolor Paper Sizes (Everything You Need To Know!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-paper-sizes/) - Yes, I know… It can be pretty confusing! It's easy to get lost in all the different formats and sizes of paper for painting with watercolors. It's enough to make your head spin! So below, I'll go over what options are available and answer some of the most common questions about the sizes of watercolor
- [What Should I Paint Today? (Foolproof Way To Find Inspo!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/what-should-i-paint-today/) - It’s not always easy to find inspiration and ideas for new subjects to paint. All artists struggle with this dilemma at some point… So in today's tutorial I want to share a straightforward way of finding ideas for things to paint with very little effort. This can be done anywhere, anytime. And it takes away
- [What is Watercolor Paint? The Things you Should Know](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/what-is-watercolor-paint/) - So you’re ready to make a dent in the world of watercolors. Good for you. I remember the first watercolor paints I used at school when I was a kid. It was a huge pan set. The colored bricks were as big as my hand with rounded edges for safety ! To be honest, the
- [Paynes Grey (Exploring Paint Colors in Depth)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/paynes-grey/) - From time to time I take a closer look at paint colors. In this article I’ll be exploring Payne’s Grey. This is my favorite grey paint. I always have some on my palette ready to go! It’s a convenience mixture, made up of more than one pigment. But I really like the color appearance, and
- [The Secret to Realistic Watercolor Painting](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/the-secret-to-realistic-watercolor-painting/) - This painting started out as a sketch, but after a while I began to think it would make a good example for talking about how to paint realistically with watercolor. In this tutorial I’ll show you the process behind the creation of this watercolor apple. I’ll also show you what you need to focus on
- [Watercolor Glazing Demo (You Need To Know This!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-glazing-demo/) - In this painting I’m going to show you an example of how to paint using a wet on dry technique known to watercolor artist’s as “glazing”. You've probably already heard me talk about glazing in some of my other painting tutorials. Glazing is an essential technique that allows you to build up a painting gradually,
- [Examples of Value in Art (A Visual Guide!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/examples-of-value-in-art/) - The concept of value in art is better understood with a few visual examples. After all, the definition in words can be tricky to understand. Value (also known as tonal value or tones) is: “the relative lightness or darkness of a color”. Ok… Great! A description like that doesn’t exactly help you visualize what value
- [How To Paint A Watercolor Cupcake (In 4 Easy Steps!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-a-watercolor-cupcake-in-steps/) - You can paint this watercolor cupcake in a few easy steps! And you don’t need any skill or experience with watercolors. I’ll explain the exact steps and techniques you need as you follow along. One of the biggest obstacles beginners face is figuring out how to start painting a subject? Detailed and complex looking subjects
- [Is Watercolor Painting Good For Beginners? (You'll Be Surprised!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/is-watercolor-painting-good-for-beginners/) - Are you wondering, "Is this watercolor painting thing for me"? In this article, I'll do my best to put you straight… Yes… Ok… that's the very short answer. But maybe you need a bit more convincing? I'm a fan of watercolor. As you can probably tell from the name of my site :-) So perhaps
- [Simple Watercolor Painting (Easy Method for Beginners)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/simple-watercolor-painting-for-beginners/) - I believe anyone can paint a simple version of any subject in watercolor. It’s just a matter of how you approach it. So in this tutorial I want to share with you an easy technique to help you paint just about ANY complicated object in a simplified way, and achieve fun, good looking results from
- [How to Paint Cherries in Watercolor (My Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-cherries-in-watercolor/) - Have you noticed that sometimes you look at the world in a funny way?! When you become interested in painting, after a while you begin to see things differently. This is what happened to me when I went to the market and noticed these cherries. The first thing I said to myself was “those cherries
- [Watercolor Daffodils (A Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-daffodils-a-step-by-step-tutorial/) - Daffodils… They’re springing up all over the place! And just about every artist I know is painting these things at the moment. So I thought I’d add my own contribution and show you the step by step process I used to paint these watercolor daffodils. In this tutorial I used a variety of techniques which
- [Unmissable Watercolor Techniques (EVERYTHING You Need!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-techniques-for-beginners/) - Welcome to my comprehensive guide to help you understand and master watercolor techniques. To be honest, when I read what other websites are writing about this topic, half of them don't seem to understand what they're talking about! I don't mean to be fussy or seem arrogant, but some of them are incomplete. Others get
- [Watercolor wet on wet vs wet on dry – tutorial, tips & tricks](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-wet-on-wet-vs-wet-on-dry-tutorial-tips-tricks/) - ​To wet or not to wet ? That is the question... Wet on wet and wet on dry are both important parts of any watercolorist’s painting vocabulary. Each technique has its own specific qualities, producing very different and delightful results. When I started watercolor painting I was vaguely aware of these two painting methods. But
- [Complete guide to watercolor wash techniques](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/complete-guide-to-watercolor-wash-techniques/) - ​I knew I shouldn't do it ! I had just laid down a nice graded wash of watercolor for the background of a new painting. But it wasn’t perfectly even. You know what’s it’s like… you often think you can do better. So I went back in with a damp brush to play with the
- [How to use Masking Fluid for Watercolor Painting](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-use-masking-fluid-for-watercolor-painting/) - Ever tried painting a big wash of color around a complex shape ? There are many occasions when you want to preserve the white paper and conserve key features in a composition. This watercolor technique is usually referred to as “reserving whites”. Of course, you can paint around shapes with some intricate brushwork, but often
- [Negative Painting in Watercolor Explained](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/negative-painting-in-watercolor-explained/) - Do you know what negative painting is in watercolor? This is where you nod your head and say… hmmm… yep… sure thing ! Actually, I was pretty confused about this topic. I’d heard about negative painting several times but I wasn’t really sure what was involved. I was curious to learn more, so I delved
- [Watercolor Painting Light to Dark (Watercolor Cookies)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-painting-light-to-dark-watercolor-cookies/) - This site uses cookies ! Get it ? OK… Lame joke. Actually, I painted this watercolor composition of a plate of cookies to demonstrate one of the most frequently used methods of painting with this medium. In watercolors, painting light to dark is the most commonly accepted way to build up a painting. In other
- [Watercolor with Pen (Tips and Tricks for Beginners)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-with-pen-tips-and-tricks-for-beginners/) - It’s one of the most delightful things I’ve ever seen. I recently took a trip to an iconic art store in Paris - The Sennelier Art Store. The watercolor and pen sketch you see here is a result of me playing with the art supplies I picked up ! Below I’ll give you some tips
- [What is Watercolor Glazing (And How to Master it!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/what-is-watercolor-glazing/) - Watercolor glazing is the most fundamental technique you need to understand about this art medium. But don't worry… It's not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, chances are you're already using a glazing technique without even thinking about it :-) A bit of knowledge about this painting method will help you better understand how
- [Lifting Blotting and Erasing Watercolor Paint (Pro Tips!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/lifting-blotting-and-erasing-watercolor/) - In watercolor painting, the lightness comes from the white paper reflecting back through the transparent paint. But let's face it… sometimes there's just too much paint on the paper! For example, you lay down a strong-colored watercolor wash but want certain areas to be lighter. Maybe you need to reveal highlights. And sometimes, there's no
- [Watercolor Dripping (Learn This Easy Technique!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-dripping-learn-this-easy-technique/) - If you think about it, a drip effect is unique to watercolor paints. Other types of paint (think gouache or oils) have a thicker consistency. But watercolor paint is diluted with water, and the colored pigments will flow in the same way water does. So a big wet brush stroke can be encouraged to trickle and drip,
- [Dry Brush Watercolor (Secrets to This Technique!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/dry-brush-watercolor-technique/) - You’ve seen it… You’ve heard about it! Now you want to know what it is and, most importantly, how to do it! A dry brush painting method in watercolor produces fantastic textures and is valuable for certain types of painting effects. But this technique can be tricky to master! In this article, I’ll explain exactly
- [Easy Watercolor Seashells (Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-watercolor-seashells-step-by-step-tutorial/) - Recently, I went to the beach for a quick break. Yep… Lucky me ! It’s a couple of hours drive to the coast, but it was well worth it. And one of my favorite beach activities is picking up shells and stones. Which is why this lesson is about showing you an easy way to
- [Watercolor Terms and Vocabulary (All the Jargon with Illustrations!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-terms-and-vocabulary/) - The wonderful world of watercolor is full of exotic vocabulary. Artists use so much terminology that it's easy to get lost because of the specialized lingo! For example, do you know what "convenience colors" are? What about a "back-run" or a "bead"? And what exactly is "archival paper" anyway? Are you lost yet? I'm not surprised! So to help your aching brain
- [Easier Watercolor Portraits (Get a Better Likeness)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-watercolor-portraits/) - If you want to paint better watercolor portraits then I have a few tips which I think will help transform the way you paint ! Whether you're painting in watercolors or using another art medium, portraits are considered one of the most difficult subjects in art, especially when it comes to getting a good likeness
- [Watercolor Donut Tutorial (Just for Fun!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-donut-tutorial/) - I came across this image of a donut the other day and I thought it would make a great subject for a watercolor painting. It’s bright, colorful, and fun! So this lesson doesn’t have any particular underlying theme about watercolors... It’s just for fun! Also, I think this is a great subject for practicing your
- [Easy Watercolor Valentines (Jammie Dodgers!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-watercolor-valentines-jammie-dodgers/) - I painted this valentines card design in about 10 minutes and in 4 easy steps. And I’m going to show you how you can paint this too by following along with this tutorial. In just 4 easy steps… (Did I already say that?) Yes… 1, 2, 3, 4! And in the end you’ll have a
- [Why you Need Lost and Found (or Hard and Soft) Edges in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/why-you-need-lost-and-found-or-hard-and-soft-edges-in-watercolor/) - I recently painted this watercolor sketch as a way to explain the concept of lost and found edges in watercolors. This is mostly a fancy name for “hard and soft edges”. But in art, “lost edges” are a special type of soft edge where two adjacent shapes appear to combine to become one big shape.
- [How to layer watercolors beautifully](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-layer-watercolors-beautifully/) - Frustrating isn’t it? Like a lot of new watercolorists, I didn’t understand about layering paint. When I started painting I would use too much water and fuss over the wet paint with my brush. I remember enthusiastically painting layer upon layer of paint until the end result looked murky and overworked! Have you ever found
- [Can you use watercolor on canvas ?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/can-you-use-watercolor-on-canvas/) - ​You know what ? Watercolor paper isn’t the only surface you can paint on ! Yep… That’s right ! In fact one of the most common questions I see asked by artists is: “Can you use watercolor on canvas” ? The quick answer is “yes”. But of course it’s slightly more complicated than that. There
- [20 Ways to fix watercolor mistakes](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/20-ways-to-fix-watercolor-mistakes/) - Watercolor painting looks so simple. A well executed watercolor can be painted with a few quick brush strokes. Good artists make it look so easy, but as a beginner I remember running into a lot of stumbling blocks and ending up wondering what I’d done wrong ! Of course, with practice you develop better technique.
- [How to make watercolor pans](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-make-watercolor-pans/) - At some stage in your pursuit of watercolor art you will want to make your own watercolor pans. Watercolors in pan format are an excellent option with a heap of benefits. They’re convenient, easy to use, portable. And in my opinion if you make your own pans they are more economical than the ready-made alternative
- [Watercolor Bowl Still Life Painting (Do This In 4 Steps!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-bowl-still-life-painting-in-4-steps/) - This demonstration is a simple still life sketch of a bowl painted in watercolor. I enjoy still life paintings of everyday objects. They’re easy and quick to set up in any environment. And I think painting isolated objects like this is a great way to practice and improve your skills without being overwhelmed by the
- [Painting 12 Drummers Drumming in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-12-drummers-drumming-in-watercolor/) - This is it! The last day in the Christmas watercolor painting challenge! If you made it this far give yourself a well deserved pat on the back! Thank you for following this challenge. I trust these paintings provided you with a bit of creative fun and relaxation during the holidays as well as a brief
- [11 Pipers Piping in Watercolor (Step by Step Lesson)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/11-pipers-piping-in-watercolor-step-by-step-lesson/) - Nearly there! You have reached day number 11 in the painting series for my “12 days of Christmas” challenge. Can you imagine eleven pipers piping? Together with the drummers, the dancers and the leaping lords, the festivities must have been great fun! I’ve heard it suggested that the pipers in this verse could be yet
- [Painting 10 Lords A-Leaping in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-10-lords-a-leaping-in-watercolor/) - I’m glad you're still here! Day ten in this series of themed watercolor paintings is “10 lords a-leaping”! Now things really are getting out of hand! After all that dancing, the crowd is getting bigger and jumping around! There are various theories about the original intention of the “12 days of Christmas” rhyme. Most historians
- [How to Paint Nine Ladies Dancing in 4 Steps](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-nine-ladies-dancing-in-4-steps/) - We’re up to day number nine in this painting series. Today’s prompt is “nine ladies dancing”. In the 12 days of Christmas rhyme, it’s said that the religious meaning of this verse is the fruits of the Holy Spirit as described in Galatians. This includes virtues such as love, kindness, joy and goodness… And Christmastime
- [Eight Maids A-Milking in Watercolor Tutorial](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-eight-maids-a-milking-in-watercolor/) - Hello again! The eighth day of this watercolor painting challenge (based on the “twelve days of Christmas”) is “eight maids-a-milking”. This is the first time the subjects move away from the theme of birds. So what does this mean? The religious symbolism of the eight milking maids are said to represent the eight beatitudes found
- [How to Paint Seven Swans A-Swimming (Step by Step)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-seven-swans-a-swimming/) - Welcome to day number 7 of the “12 days of Christmas” painting challenge. Today’s prompt, of course, is “seven swans a-swimming”. Swans are often associated with grace and beauty. In fact they look so fabulous that in the middle ages they became rather a status symbol! Owning a swan was an honor for the rich
- [12 Days of Christmas Watercolor Painting Challenge!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/12-days-of-christmas-watercolor-painting-challenge/) - Do you want to get your creative juices flowing over Christmas? This year I’m sharing a series of painting lessons based on the theme “The 12 days of Christmas”. Have you got the song running through your head yet? Sorry about that… You’ll probably be singing it all day long! This will be a fun
- [Watercolor Painting of Six Geese A-Laying (Step by Step)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-six-geese-a-laying-in-watercolor/) - Today's exercise is number 6 in the painting series inspired by the “12 days of Christmas”. If you made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back :-) You’re half way through! You’ve probably noticed that a good proportion of the subjects in this song are about birds. In fact you can count
- [How to Paint a Picture of a Partridge in a Pear Tree! (Super Easy)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-a-picture-of-a-partridge-in-a-pear-tree/) - This is the first tutorial in the “12 days of Christmas” painting series. These are intended to be relaxing and fun exercises to keep your creativity flowing during the holiday period. And yes… There will be 12 paintings in total. But I’m sure you’ll manage because I’ve made all of the watercolors in this series
- [How to Paint 5 Golden Rings in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-5-golden-rings-in-watercolor/) - Welcome to day five of this watercolor painting challenge (or just a bit of creative fun for xmas!) As you’ve probably guessed the overarching theme is the “12 days of Christmas” and this lesson shows you how to paint a composition of “five golden rings”. Did you ever find it odd that the song suddenly
- [Painting 4 Calling Birds in 4 Easy Steps](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/painting-4-calling-birds-in-4-easy-steps/) - So you’re still going… huh ? Nice to see your happy smiling face again :-) This is day number 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas painting challenge. The prompt is “4 Calling Birds”. Did you ever wonder what “calling birds” actually are? You would naturally think that “calling” refers to a songbird of some
- [Three French Hens Painting in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/three-french-hens-painting-in-watercolor/) - Welcome to day three in this mini series of watercolor paintings. This is part of a collection of 12 paintings that I made to get people painting during the holiday season! The overall theme is the “12 days of Christmas' - and this is day three. So today's prompt is “three french hens”. I had
- [How to paint Two Turtle Doves in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-two-turtle-doves-in-watercolor/) - Welcome to day two of my “12 days of Christmas” painting challenge! This is a fun and easy-to-do painting for artists of any level. This series of 12 paintings are being released on a daily basis to give you some creative activity over the holiday period. Think of it as a way to stimulate your
- [Beginners guide how to use watercolor paint tubes](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/beginners-guide-how-to-use-watercolor-paint-tubes/) - It’s a simple question… Right ? And the answer probably seems obvious to more experienced watercolor artists. I remember when I was learning about watercolor painting, I wasn’t sure how other artists used tubes of paint. I found it quite mysterious how to handle paint in this form. And the more I thought about it
- [Watercolor Practice Exercise (Do you Think YOU Can do This?)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-practice-exercise-do-you-think-you-can-do-this/) - This is going to be tricky! Some of you might not like me very much after you try this watercolor practice exercise… I can see people pulling their hair out in frustration already. This tutorial will allow you to practice all of the different watercolor wash techniques, plus your brush control. It means combining a
- [Why is Watercolor so Hard? (And What To Do About It!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/why-is-watercolor-so-hard-and-what-to-do-about-it/) - If you’ve dabbled with watercolors for a while and you’re starting to think, “this is tricky,”... Well, you’ve discovered what many other watercolor rookies stumble upon. Watercolors are hard! Well, at least that’s what a lot of folks conclude. But what if the characteristics that make watercolor so complex are also the ones that make
- [Watercolor Brush Size Chart Free PDF!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-brush-size-chart/) - Confused about watercolor brush sizes? Watercolor brushes come in a confusingly wide range of sizes, shapes, and materials to choose from. One of the most bewildering characteristics of brushes is their size. What do all those numbers mean? 000 or 3/0 or even 1/64”? Brushes are the tools that you use to communicate your artistic
- [Good Watercolor Brands – Which is Best](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/good-watercolor-brands-which-is-best/) - Looking for good watercolor brands? I know what you’re thinking. There’s a huge choice of watercolors on the market and you haven’t got a clue which are good and which are a waste of time. I was in the same predicament when I started watercolor painting. Choosing the right ​supplies is a big deal -
- [Guide to recommended watercolor palette colors](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/guide-to-recommended-watercolor-palette-colors/) - I hear it all the time! What color paints do you recommend? This is something that I agonized over when I first started painting with watercolors! The choice of paint colors is staggering, especially when you consider watercolor brands like Daniel Smith (they have a huge collection of over 250 paints!) And good quality watercolors
- [All you ever wanted to know about Watercolor Granulation](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-watercolor-granulation/) - ​Have you ever noticed how watercolor paints behave differently ? Some colors produce a smooth even wash, but others seem to have a life of their own, creating amazing textured patterns. When you play around with watercolors for a while you’ll soon notice this interesting aspect of watercolor painting. Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with
- [How to Read Watercolor Labels – A Beginners Tutorial](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-read-watercolor-labels-a-beginners-tutorial/) - ​Beginners often get confused about watercolor paint. I remember when I first started painting I was bewildered by the huge range of hues, the different brands, the fancy names, and all those code numbers on the labels. A basic understanding of how to read this information is a great way to familiarize yourself with watercolors.
- [Are Watercolors Toxic ? (The Truth about Toxic Watercolor Pigments)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/are-watercolors-toxic-the-truth-about-toxic-watercolor-pigments/) - Recently an artist asked me about the toxicity of watercolor paint. It’s true… As artists we should be aware of ecological and health considerations like this. And although I’m not an expert, I thought I could gather together some information to help others interested in this aspect of watercolor painting. So, is your watercolor paint
- [Watercolor Painting Ideas (Super Easy Things to Paint)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-painting-ideas-super-easy-things-to-paint/) - Looking for some simple inspiration ? Below you’ll find some watercolor painting ideas which use very simple wet techniques. What do I mean by “wet techniques” ? In watercolors, the colored pigments are held in suspension by the water you use to dilute the paint. While the surface of the paper is damp, or your
- [4 Essential skills to improve your watercolors](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/4-essential-skills-to-improve-your-watercolors/) - ​So let me guess… You’ve been painting for a while now, but you just don’t seem to be making as much progress as you’d like ? I understand exactly how you feel. Watercolor painting is full of delight, but sometimes you feel like you’re fighting with the paint, trying to make it do what you
- [Simple abstract watercolor painting for beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/simple-abstract-watercolor-painting-for-beginners/) - Fancy trying some abstract watercolor painting ? Good for you. So, let’s talk about ethereality and impermanence… Nope ! Only kidding… Abstract watercolors are a whole lot of fun. And you don’t need to ponder over complicated art concepts to enjoy them. But at the same time, there’s no reason you can’t learn some interesting
- [How to paint watercolor flowers for beginners – Step by step](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-watercolor-flowers-for-beginners-step-by-step/) - Flowers are probably one of the most popular subjects for any artist. There are so many different styles and ways to paint them. From loose and atmospheric to precise botanical illustrations. The choice is huge. A​rtists love to paint flowers in watercolor. I think there’s something about the transparent quality of this medium which lends
- [Easy Watercolor Paintings for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-watercolor-paintings-for-beginners/) - ​Practice makes perfect… Right ? I find that it’s just as true with watercolor painting as it is with anything else. I get a lot of pleasure painting even simple patterns with watercolors. Each time I pick up a brush and start painting I feel like I’m getting to know my paints a little bit
- [How to Paint a Pear in Watercolor – A Beginners Tutorial](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-a-pear-in-watercolor-a-beginners-tutorial/) - I know what you’re thinking. Just another watercolor pear painting… Right ? Overused and not very original ! But pears, like many other fruit and vegetables, are really useful forms for studying some of the fundamentals of watercolor painting. They generally have a very simple shape, so even if your outline sketch isn’t accurate you’ll
- [Easy Watercolor Christmas Cards – Step by Step Tutorial](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-watercolor-christmas-cards-step-by-step-tutorial/) - ​I don’t know about you, but I always seem to write my Christmas cards at the last minute! But this year I really wanted to design and paint some of my own watercolor cards for friends and family. So if you’re looking for inspiration and some guidance how to paint your own merry little cards,
- [What Makes a Good Painting (3 Things you Need to Know)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/what-makes-a-good-painting/) - What is it that makes a painting “good”? I was working on something recently and started thinking about this question… Let me start by saying, this is a practical guide, not a subjective opinion. There are plenty of articles talking about the various components of good art, or what makes a good painting. For example,
- [Monochrome Watercolor Painting: Tutorial & Techniques for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/monochrome-watercolor-painting-tutorial-techniques-for-beginners/) - ​Painting watercolors in monochrome sounds pretty boring… Right? After all, your just painting with one single color. Where’s the fun in that? But what if I told you that this kind of painting is an excellent exercise for improving your watercolor skills, and a very useful tool for analysing a subject you want to paint.
- [3 Easy Ways to Paint Oranges in Watercolor – A Beginners Tutorial](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/3-easy-ways-to-paint-oranges-in-watercolor-a-beginners-tutorial/) - A bit of vitamin C anyone? Oranges are another staple part of any artist’s repertoire. They’re a terrific subject to learn how to paint because of their simple geometric form, but at the same time they provide opportunities to explore light, shade, color, and texture. In short, oranges are a great subject for getting to
- [Watercolor Basics Tutorial for the Absolute Beginner](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-basics-tutorial-for-the-absolute-beginner/) - When you’re an absolute beginner, figuring out the basics of watercolor can be quite daunting. And the problem is, most watercolor artists forget what it was like to be a novice. As a result, many watercolor guides assume a lot of things they think beginners should already know. It can leave you with a lot
- [Painting Magnolia Flowers in Watercolor – a Step by Step Tutorial](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/painting-magnolia-flowers-in-watercolor-a-step-by-step-tutorial/) - ​Spring is upon us again! The early blooming plants are starting to flower. And that makes me want to paint. One of my favorite springtime blooms is the magnolia. Eventually, I’m going to plant one in my garden. But for now, I thought I’d show you one way to portray these beautiful flowers in watercolor.
- [Watercolor Coffee Painting (A Complete  Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-coffee-painting-a-complete-step-by-step-tutorial/) - ​I’ve heard it said that coffee boosts creativity. Whether that's true or not, I thought you might like to join me by following along with this watercolor coffee cup tutorial. I’m always on the lookout for new subjects to paint. The ring stain of coffee on my desktop provided the inspiration for this latest watercolor.
- [Watercolor Fall Leaves (How to paint Autumn Leaves the Easy Way)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-fall-leaves-how-to-paint-autumn-leaves-the-easy-way/) - ​I’d like to show you a simple and effective way to paint autumn watercolor leaves. Fall is just beginning where I live, and the first leaves are starting to drop. The following “watercolor fall leaf compositions” are really simple to paint. I think you’ll find the process surprisingly easy and that it produces some great
- [Why you should Start Sketching in Watercolor (Ideas & Tips for Beginners)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/why-you-should-start-sketching-in-watercolor-ideas-tips-for-beginners/) - ​A watercolor sketch can be defined as an unfinished, unrefined painting, usually made as a rough draft before a finished work of art. Some people see it as part of a process. But I think these simple versions of paintings are a valuable ingredient to successful watercolors. Sketching is a good habit for developing and
- [Winter Watercolor Scene (A Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/winter-watercolor-scene-a-step-by-step-tutorial/) - ​Last week we had our first snowfall. Well… It was more like frozen rain! But it was enough to get me in the mood to paint a winter watercolor scene, which I’d like to share with you below. If you’d like to follow along then you can download my sketch template and transfer it to
- [Why Use a Limited Watercolor Palette? (And which Colors to Choose)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/why-use-a-limited-watercolor-palette-and-which-colors-to-choose/) - A limited palette of watercolors does not have to be limiting! Yes… I’m kind of pleased with myself for that sentence! But it’s true. You’ll be happy to know you don’t need that luxury box set of 80 colors to get fabulous mixing results with watercolors. However, it does take a little bit of care
- [Halloween Watercolor Painting Ideas (Spooky Step by Step Paintings!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/halloween-watercolor-painting-ideas-spooky-step-by-step-paintings/) - The other day my daughter said we should get some pumpkins so we could make jack o’lanterns. I admit, this is probably my favorite activity at Halloween. But this year I decided to extend the fun and do some Halloween watercolor paintings ! You can follow along in the step by step tutorials below… And
- [How to Paint Watercolor Pine Cones (The Easy Way)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-watercolor-pine-cones-the-easy-way/) - The thing about pine cones is they have a very complicated appearance. For this reason they seem like very tricky subjects to paint. In this article I’ll show you how to simplify the process of painting pine cones in watercolor. These prickly little things are a great subject for practicing your painting skills. And where
- [Easy Winter Watercolor Painting Ideas](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-winter-watercolor-painting-ideas/) - Brrr… it’s cold outside ! The coldest season of the year stirs up different emotions for all of us. There are lots of things that I associate with winter, all of which make great subjects for painting. So in this tutorial I’m going to share a few winter watercolor painting ideas which you can also
- [How to Paint Watercolor Roses (From Sketch to Finished Painting)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/how-to-paint-watercolor-roses-from-sketch-to-finished-painting/) - It’s that time of year again. (For those of you who've forgotten, I’m talking about Valentines day!) And I know what a bunch of romantic folks you are, so in this step by step tutorial I’m going to show you how to paint a rose in watercolor. I’ll go over all the details so you
- [Easy Watercolor Koi Fish (Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-watercolor-koi-fish-step-by-step-tutorial/) - In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to paint koi fish in watercolor by building up transparent layers of paint using a glazing technique. One of the amazing characteristics of watercolor is its transparency. When you paint transparent washes of color on top of each other the underlying brush marks remain visible. This
- [Easy Summer Watercolor Idea for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/easy-summer-watercolor-idea-for-beginners/) - Summer is slowly creeping up on us. Perhaps you’re looking forward to lying on a sunny beach underneath a parasol, listening to the wind and the waves… After all this time being stuck inside, I know I am ! In this tutorial I’m going to show you the step by step process for this really
- [10 Easy Watercolor Ideas (Beginner Friendly Tutorials)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/10-easy-watercolor-ideas/) - It’s not always easy to come up with new and unique ideas for painting. Getting started is sometimes one of the most difficult parts of watercolor, especially when you’re a beginner. Blank page syndrome can easily put artists off! So if you just want to paint without having to think too much about the subject,
- [Watercolor Still Life (Beginners Step by Step Tutorial)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/painting-still-life-in-watercolor/) - Did you ever wonder where the tradition of giving oranges at Christmas comes from? Well… There are a few different versions, but one of the stories I seem to remember talks about how an orange represents the Christmas season of giving and sharing. This is because oranges can be split into segments and shared with
- [YOU DON’T NEED MORE WATERCOLOR SUPPLIES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/you-dont-need-more-watercolor-supplies/) - Have you ever found yourself obsessing over watercolor supplies and thinking, “Maybe I just need a better brush… or better paper… and then I’ll finally be able to paint something that actually looks like those beautiful tutorials I keep seeing on Instagram”? Because when I got back into watercolor painting, I fell straight into that

## Pages

- [home](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/) - Learn the Art and Techniques of Watercolor Painting. I'm Anthony, and I'm a professional illustrator and artist. In my blog, you'll find lessons and tips about art, painting, and drawing.
- [Day 4 - My Biggest “Aha!” Moment](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/my-biggest-aha-moment/) - My Biggest “Aha!” Moment Learning Watercolors! I want to teach you about the importance of values, or in other words, the light, dark, and mid-tones in your paintings. Once you grasp and apply the notion of values in your paintings it will make a huge difference to the success of your artwork. Values (or “tone”
- [The Hidden Secret to Better Water Control](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/better-water-control/) - The Hidden Secret to Better Water Control Hi! A lot of artists, even experienced ones, try watercolors only to find out it’s trickier than it looks 🙂 So just to reassure you: it’s not you… it’s not a lack of talent… It's just that watercolor has some unique characteristics that need to be learned! Luckily,
- [Day 1 - The Magic Palette Method](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/magic-palette-method/) - The "Magic Palette Method"! In this lesson I'd like to show you how to get the best out of your color mixing and how to make amazing bright color mixes with your watercolors. Not all watercolor paints are the same. You might think that yellow is yellow, and blue is blue. But pigments used in
- [Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners Sale](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-masterclass-for-beginners-sale/) - Paint Watercolors You’ll Truly Love & Feel Proud Of ! + 50% off The Color Mixing Course THIS DEAL ENDS IN : Dear watercolor beginner, If you’ve always dreamed of becoming the kind of artist who can sit down, pick up a brush, and paint something you truly love – without wasting paper, feeling like you’re “doing
- [Patreon](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/patreon/) - About Anthony's Paint & Create Club on Patreon Over time, I’ve developed a way of learning and practising watercolor that I call 'Purposeful Painting'. Practicing matters, but how you practice matters more I think that’s the thing. The secret isn’t simply to practice more. It’s to practice the right way - with intention, and with
- [Student Success](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/student-success/) - Success Stories: ” I’m so happy I stumbled upon your course. You must have put so much work into making it so thorough yet accessible. Thank you!” “I loved this class! Simple, straightforward, and a good path to follow!” “I took your course as an absolute beginner and was amazed by how much I learned.
- [Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-masterclass-for-beginners/) - Paint Watercolors You’ll Truly Love & Feel Proud Of ! Downloadable guides & worksheets – handy references and templates to help you practice. Lifetime access – learn entirely at your own pace. Personal feedback – support directly from me whenever you’re stuck A clear, structured learning path – no more jumping between random tutorials. 02
- [Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners Offer 1 Day](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-masterclass-for-beginners-offer-1-day/) - Paint Watercolors You’ll Truly Love & Feel Proud Of ! Downloadable guides & worksheets – handy references and templates to help you practice. Lifetime access – learn entirely at your own pace. Personal feedback – support directly from me whenever you’re stuck A clear, structured learning path – no more jumping between random tutorials. 02
- [Thank You for Signing Up](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/thank-you-for-signing-up/) - “You’re in – Here’s what happens next” I’ve put together a free PDF that covers all the essential watercolor terms in plain English — alphabetically organised so you can look anything up quickly as you work through your lessons.It’s the reference guide I wish I’d had when I started. What’s coming: Over the next few
- [Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners Offer](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-masterclass-for-beginners-offer/) - Paint Watercolors You’ll Truly Love & Feel Proud Of ! Downloadable guides & worksheets – handy references and templates to help you practice. Lifetime access – learn entirely at your own pace. Personal feedback – support directly from me whenever you’re stuck A clear, structured learning path – no more jumping between random tutorials. 02
- [Day 2B - How Watercolor Glazing Works](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/what-is-glazing/) - How Watercolor Glazing Works If you've ever felt like your watercolors have a mind of their own - paint drifting where you didn't put it, edges going fuzzy, colors bleeding into areas you thought were finished - there's a good chance it's the same thing that was happening to me when I got back into
- [Watercolor Wizard](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-wizard/)
- [Day 0 - How to Choose The Perfect Palette](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/choose-the-perfect-paint-colors/) - How to Choose The Perfect Palette & Save On Supplies This lesson is a big win for several reasons! It'll save you money... It'll improve your color mixing skills faster... You'll be able to produce a huge range of colors from just a handful of paints... Making the right choice will improve your glazing technique...
- [Gift Card](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/gift-card/) - Give the Gift of Watercolor! Watercolor Masterclass Gift Certificate - Christmas & New Year Sale! Looking for a meaningful creative gift? This digital gift certificate gives the recipient full access to the Watercolor Masterclass — a clear, structured course that teaches how to paint watercolors they’ll truly love and feel proud of. Full course value:
- [Shop](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/shop/) - Shop Shop all my courses below: Join over 2,000 artists improving their skills today with the Watercolor Masterclass! Proudly featured in: Watercolor Masterclass Learn to paint with confidence in watercolors… even if you've never picked up a brush in your life ! This course is different! I’ll teach you to master watercolor painting by understanding
- [Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners YT](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-masterclass-for-beginners-yt/) - Paint Watercolors You’ll Truly Love & Feel Proud Of ! INTRODUCTION Before we dive in, you’ll get a clear guide to using the course, and a helpful look at what makes watercolor so different from other paints. You’ll also learn a few “golden rules” that can make all the difference in how you approach your
- [temp sales](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/temp-sales/) - Paint Watercolors You’ll Truly Love & Feel Proud Of! With the Purposeful Painting Method, you’ll quickly grow your skills, paint with confidence, and finally enjoy every brushstroke… without wasting paper, paint, or time. Dear watercolor beginner, If you’ve always dreamed of becoming the kind of artist who can sit down, pick up a brush, and paint
- [Tonal Value Study Generator](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/tonal-value-study-generator/)
- [About Me](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/about-me/) - No fluff. Just watercolor. "I believe anyone can learn watercolor if it’s explained clearly. I teach watercolor in a way that’s simple, clear, and beginner-friendly. No fluff, no skipped steps. I don’t assume previous knowledge, and I always explain the “why” behind the techniques. With straightforward explanations and demonstrations that actually help you improve. Whether
- [Getting Ready to Paint](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/getting-ready-to-paint/) - Getting Ready to Paint (Preparing Your Palette Paints & Brushes) Okay, so let’s start at the very beginning - with the simple act of getting your stuff on the table and ready to paint. Different artists might show various ways of doing this, but in this lesson I’ll show you my own setup and how
- [Day 3 Challenge](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/day-3-challenge/) - Day 3 Challenge: Putting it all Together Welcome to Day 3! So far, you’ve been getting to grips with transparency - through techniques like glazing and negative painting. Today, we’re going to take things a step further by focusing on watercolor’s other key characteristic: how it moves and flows because of water Water control is
- [Day 2 Challenge](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/day-2-challenge/) - Day 2 Challenge : Negative Painting Hello again, and Welcome to Day 2 of my Watercolor Challenge! Yesterday, we looked at two of the most important features of watercolor: it’s water-based… and it’s transparent. We explored how watercolor’s transparency lets you build up color in layers — and how the light shines through those layers,
- [Survey](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/survey/) - Help Shape the Next YouTube Videos! I just hit 1,000,000 views on YouTube (no bribes involved, promise!) and I’d love your input. Whether you’ve been watching since the beginning or are just discovering the channel, your answers will help me create videos you’ll actually want to watch.🙂
- [Day 0 Challenge](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/day-0-challenge/) - Welcome to the Watercolor Challenge ! So… you’ve taken the plunge and joined my watercolor challenge. Now you’re probably wondering what on earth you’ve got yourself into! 🙂 Whether you’re totally new to watercolors or picking up your brushes again after a break - you’re in the right place. This challenge is here to help
- [Day 1 Challenge](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/day-1-challenge/) - Day 1 Challenge : Layering Basics Hello, and Welcome to Day 1 of my Watercolor Challenge! In these challenges, we’re going to paint together — but I’m not just going to show you how to paint. I’m also going to help you understand why many beginners find watercolor tricky to learn. (Why listen to me?)
- [Budget-Friendly Watercolor Supplies](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/budget-friendly-watercolor-supplies/) - Budget-Friendly Watercolor Supplies I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to watercolors so I tend not to count when it comes to paints, paper, etc ! However, watercolor supplies can be expensive, which can lead to a fear of wasting materials, especially if you’re still building your confidence. But the cost of supplies
- [Free Watercolor Lessons](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/free-watercolor-lessons/)
- [Contact Me](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/contact-me/) - If you need to get in touch with me please use the email form below. IMPORTANT: If you do not receive my email replies, please check your spam folder and GMAIL "promotions" tab. IMPORTANT: I also recommend that you whitelist my email address (anthony@watercoloraffair.com). To find out how to do this please read this page... Doing
- [Color Mixing Success](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/color-mixing-success/) - Successful Color Mixing inSeconds Using Color Maps! Hi! This is the guide to effortless color mixing with watercolors. I’ll show you how to quickly and easily mix colors using my simple color maps system. $49US Imagine never struggling with mixing colors ever again… ❌ No More Muddy Colors ❌ No More Overworking ❌ No More Guesswork ❌
- [Color Mixing Success Offer](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/color-mixing-success-offer/) - Successful Color Mixing in Seconds Using Color Maps! Hi! This is the guide to effortless color mixing with watercolors. I’ll show you how to quickly and easily mix colors using my simple color maps system. $​37 US (normal price $49) One-Time Offer! – ​25% Discount! THIS DEAL ENDS IN: Imagine never struggling with mixing colors ever
- [Day 2 - Paint THIS to Improve your Skills & Technique](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/paint-this/) - Paint THIS to Improve your Skills & Technique This is a FREE sample of one of my painting lessons. This might look a bit tricky if you're a beginner, but I'd encourage you to give it a try 🙂 The step by step process will guide you through all the stages of the painting. You
- [Day 3 - Discover the Truth About Watercolors](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/the-truth-about-watercolors/) - Discover the Truth About Watercolors Whether you're completely new or you've been practicing for a while "water control" is one of the biggest struggles for many watercolor artists! Water control starts in the mixing palette, where the amount of water you use plays a crucial role. And because watercolors are transparent, the more water you
- [Secrets to Water Control](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/secrets-to-water-control/)
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- [Watercolor paints](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-paints/) - (Please note: This post may contain the occasional affiliate link, which can help me earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!. You can find the full disclosure here). Choosing the best watercolor paint can be tricky. There’s a huge variety of watercolor paint on the market and the choice can
- [Watercolor Paper](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-paper/) - ​(Please note: This post ​may contain the occasional affiliate link, which can help me earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!. You can find the full disclosure here). ​Watercolor paper is the source of light for your artwork. Good quality paper is fundamental to the joy of painting in watercolor,
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- [Footer](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/?kadence_element=footer) - "Helping you become the watercolor artist you always wanted to be..." DISCOVER THE WATERCOLOR MASTERCLASS
- [Blog Page Archive Layout](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/?kadence_element=blog-archive-layout-2) - dynamic text placeholder December 10, 2024 Have you ever wondered how to paint delicate textures in watercolors, like on this feathery robin – building up the layers to create depth and help bring it to life? In this lesson, I’ll show you step by step how I painted this cute robin. If you’d like to
- [Blog Archive Layout](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/?kadence_element=blog-archive-layout) - dynamic text placeholder December 10, 2024 Have you ever wondered how to paint delicate textures in watercolors, like on this feathery robin – building up the layers to create depth and help bring it to life? In this lesson, I’ll show you step by step how I painted this cute robin. If you’d like to
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## Thrive Apprentice Lesson

- [ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO KICKSTART YOUR WATERCOLOR JOURNEY](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/everything-you-need-to-get-started/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Below you’ll find an overview of all the supplies you need to get started with watercolors. I know how frustrating it can be to choose the “best” equipment for painting. This is a “quickstart” guide to help take the confusion out of choosing the right supplies. I go into
- [DEMYSTIFYING WATERCOLOR BRUSHES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-brushes/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Brushes are an essential tool in watercolor painting. After all… Your brush is an extension of your hand. If you want to accurately translate your intentions, then you need the right brushes for the job. In this lesson I’ll teach you all about watercolor brushes and how to choose
- [INTRODUCTION - A CONFIDENT START FOR BEGINNERS!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/introduction-a-confident-start-for-beginners/) - Hello… and welcome to this 7 Day “Watercolor Secrets for Beginners!” course 🙂 My name’s Anthony, and I’ve helped thousands of students learn to paint successfully in watercolor, and…by the end of this course, you’ll be making real progress, faster than you expected. You’ll actually understand how watercolors work, and how to make them work
- [FLAT WASH SKILL DRILLS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/flat-wash-skill-drills/) - In the last lesson you painted a classic flat watercolor-wash. In other words, a smooth, even color all across the sheet of paper. This seems easy in theory – But I appreciate that it’s not always so easy in practice 🙂 Here, we’re going to take that same technique and turn it into a focused
- [EXERCISE: ANALOGOUS COLOR HARMONY MADE SIMPLE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/analogous-color-harmony-exercise/) - In this lesson we’re going to paint using analogous colors. This is a very effective way to use watercolors, because colors that are close to each other on the color wheel tend to mix well, and produce brightly saturated colors. This also means that two wet colors will blend and diffuse beautifully on the page
- [GRADED WASH SKILL DRILLS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/graded-wash-skill-drills/) - In the previous lesson you learned how to paint a graded wash and how to create a smooth transition from dark to light when painting a large shape.Now we’re going to work on that technique in another focused skill drill. Just like before, the goal here isn’t to create finished paintings. The goal is to
- [LET’S PAINT! SEE THE 3 PILLARS IN ACTION](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/lets-paint-see-the-3-pillars-in-action/) - ​​​ In this ​lesson, I’m going to show you how this mushroom painting is built around what I call the “3 Pillars of Watercolor”.​ The water cycle, tonal values, and abstraction & simplification. I’ll walk you through the painting step by step, but more importantly, I’ll point out where each of the three pillars comes
- [YOUR FIRST WATERCOLOR EXPERIMENT](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/your-first-watercolor-experiment/) - Alright so you’ve got your paints, your brushes, and your paper. Perhaps you’ve even rearranged your art supplies a few times until they look nicely set out… And yet somehow, the terrifying question remains: how do you actually begin? Well here’s the good news: you don’t need to begin with a masterpiece. In fact, in
- [GETTING READY TO PAINT](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/getting-ready-to-paint/) - Okay, so let’s start at the very beginning – with the simple act of getting your stuff on the table and ready to paint. Different artists might show various ways of doing this, but in this lesson I’ll show you my own setup and how I get started without overthinking it. By the end, you’ll
- [THE GOLDEN RULES OF WATERCOLOR](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-golden-rules-of-watercolor/) - Now that you’ve seen the main characteristics of watercolor, it’s time to look at what all of this means when you actually start painting. This lesson is simply an overview of the “general rules” watercolor artists tend to follow. But these aren’t skills you need to master today. Think of them as a quick preview
- [THE PERFECT PAINTS FOR BEGINNERS AND BEYOND](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-paints/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Here I’d like to tell you which paints I recommend for getting started with watercolors. I’ll also explain what to look out for when choosing your watercolors in the future. I think it can be overwhelming to start with too many paints in your palette because it can make
- [CHOOSING THE BEST WATERCOLOR PAPER](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-paper/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson I’ll teach you the things you need to understand about watercolor paper, and how you can choose the best kind of paper for your needs. Watercolor paper is a special type of paper which has been specifically designed for use with watercolor paints. Good watercolor paper
- [VALUE STUDY GENERATOR](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/value-study-generator/) - This is a “Tonal Value Study Generator” designed to help you analyze the light and shadow shapes in a reference photograph by simplifying it into a limited number of grayscale values. How to use it: Upload an Image: Drag and drop an image file onto the upload area, or click “Choose a File” to select
- [BEST WAY TO TRANSFER DRAWINGS TO WATERCOLOR PAPER](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/transferring-drawings-to-watercolor-paper/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson I’m going to show you how to transfer drawings to watercolor paper. Most of the time, before you can start painting, you need to draw a sketch outline of your subject on watercolor paper. I’m going to show you what I consider the quickest and simplest
- [LOOK HOW FAR YOU’VE COME!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/share-your-thoughts/) - Enjoying the course? I’d love to hear about your experience! Your feedback helps me improve and inspires others to start their watercolor journey. Take a minute to share your thoughts below – thank you! 😊 Thank you so muchfor sharing! 🙂 Your insights not only help me improve the course but may also inspire future
- [EXERCISE: GLAZING & LAYERING TECHNIQUES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/glazing-layering-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson we’ll look at a practical application of how to paint a simple composition using glazing and layering techniques… Here is an example of a simple watercolor composition which uses glazing. This lively looking fruit composition exploits the transparency of watercolors to make a visually interesting painting.
- [PAINTING DEMO WITH SIMPLIFIED VALUES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/painting-demo-with-simplified-values/) - In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to apply the methods of simplification we discussed in the previous lessons, but this time we’ll be painting in watercolors. You’ll see how simplifying your range of values, working from light to dark, and starting with larger shapes before adding smaller details can make the painting
- [UNDERSTANDING WATERCOLOR STAGES OF WETNESS & FLOW](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-stages-of-wetness-flow/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson An awareness of how water performs on the surface of the paper really helps to understand how to control and anticipate watercolors. In a previous lesson we looked at how the movement of water carries colored pigments from one place to another on the paper. If the water moves on
- [THE KEY TO THE WATER CYCLE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/unraveling-the-mysteries-of-the-water-cycle-2/) - When painting with a wet-on-wet technique, the drying process of paper is continually changing. The “water cycle” is a way to describe the changing moisture level of the paper from wet to dry. Becoming familiar with the water cycle of your paper lets you know when to use your paint for a desired painting effect
- [EXPLORING THE PROPERTIES OF WATER](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-properties-of-water/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Why does watercolor paint behave the way it does? It’s all about the flow of water. In this lesson I want to show you a few examples of how water affects the way your paint behaves. When you know what to expect, you can exploit these virtues to make
- [UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF HUE, CHROMA & VALUE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/hue-chroma-value/) - Achieving a successful painting involves carefully managing the overall composition of colors. For example, There are times when you want nice bright vivid colors, and there are times when you need more subdued or muted tones. But how do you describe these color variations properly? Color theory uses a specialized language to help us to
- [color-mixing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-mixing/) - Easiest Color Mixing Ever! (The Magic Palette Method) Hello and welcome to the next lesson… When I talk to my students or anyone trying to learn watercolors, one of the top frustrations people mention is not knowing how to mix colors properly… For example I get questions about how to “prevent muddy colors” or how
- [Paint](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/paint/) - ​Tips & Tricks: Color temperature can most easily be understood with the help of a color wheel. Warm colors are those that tend towards red and orange, whereas cool colors are those that tend towards blue and green.
- [Brushes](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/brushes/) - When I talk to people about getting started with watercolor painting, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is what kind of brushes to use… And it’s true… It can be an overwhelming minefield with all the different kinds of brushes available! With names like “filbert, flat, mops, fan brushes or even side-loaders”…
- [Supplies](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/supplies/) - If you’re completely new to watercolor painting then you probably have a lot of questions about which supplies you should use to get started… And yes… The choices can be very confusing! In this course I’m going to simplify everything you need to know about watercolor supplies, so you can start painting and learning quicker
- [DEMYSTIFYING COLOR MODELS (RYB, CMY, SPLIT PRIMARY, SECONDARY COLOR WHEEL)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-models/) - Wouldn’t it be great if there was such a thing as an ideal color palette? Every artist aims to have a color palette that’s both simple and versatile. The goal is to use a minimal number of paints while still being able to create a broad variety of mixed colors. You also want to avoid
- [THE BENEFITS OF SIMPLIFIED VALUES, LIGHT TO DARK & BIG TO SMALL](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/easy-water-mixing-tips-2/) - Paint shapes not things The French artist Maurice Denis once said: “A painting is essentially a flat surface covered with colors assembled in a certain order” But how do you turn a complex subject into simple shapes on the paper? This is where artists apply methods of simplification or abstraction – the process of reducing
- [WHAT ARE THE 3 PILLARS OF WATERCOLOR?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/what-are-the-3-pillars-of-watercolor/) - I believe you can get greater satisfaction and improve your painting in quantum leaps if you simply focus on three key elements every time you paint. ​After years of teaching and working with watercolors, I’ve identified these as the essential factors that have allowed me to significantly enhance my artwork and help my students achieve
- [WATERCOLOR WASHES: WHAT EXACTLY IS A WASH?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-washes-what-is-a-wash-anyway/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson All of this module is all about the fundamental watercolor techniques. In the first few lessons I’m going to teach you how to master watercolor wash techniques. Washes can be tricky. But at the end of these lessons you’ll have a full grasp of each technique and how to
- [THE ART OF THE FLAT WASH](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-flat-wash/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson I will show you how to lay down a controlled flat wash. Watercolor artists often talk about “laying down” color when they are painting a large surface of paper. Mastering this technique is a great stepping stone towards overall control. I’m going to guide you step
- [EXERCISE: PRACTICING THE PERFECT FLAT WASH](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/flat-wash-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson This next painting exercise is designed to get you practicing your flat wash technique. The subject is an abstract composition of a sun setting over a landscape of rolling hills. You can download the template for this project below. You can download the Worksheet and Template instructions here… This
- [THE BEAUTY OF THE GRADED WASH](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-graded-wash/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson I’m going to teach you how to paint a graded watercolor wash, or as it’s sometimes referred to, a graduated wash. A graded wash changes in value from dark to light in a smooth and progressive way. This wash method is one step more difficult than
- [EXERCISE: ACHIEVING A SEAMLESS GRADED WASH](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/graded-wash-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson This quick exercise is intended to get you practicing your graded wash painting skills. Blending colors using a graded wash technique is something you’ll find yourself needing to do often with watercolors. For example to create the illusion of shading on curved surfaces you need to be able
- [CREATING STUNNING VARIEGATED WASHES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-variegated-wash/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson This lesson will show you how to execute variegated wash techniques. A variegated wash is where two or more colors are blended together smoothly while the paint is still wet. This blending creates variations in color and tonal value. Like the previous washes, this can be painted using a
- [EXERCISE: MASTERING THE VARIEGATED WASH](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/variegated-wash-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson we’ll look at one common way to use variegated washes in watercolor painting. Variegated washes are an excellent way to apply smooth blends of color to the background of paintings. In this exercise I’ll show you a practical application of this kind of use for variegated
- [CRAFTING YOUR IDEAL WORKSPACE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/setting-up-your-workspace/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson This lesson is designed to help you set up your work space so you have a comfortable working environment when you paint. Over the long run, a well organized workspace will help you develop good painting habits ! The whole of this module, “Watercolor Basics“, is designed to help
- [BONUS EXERCISE: WET-ON-WET CAT PAINTING](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/wet-on-wet-cat-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson we’re going to practice some more wet-on-wet painting techniques. One of my neighbors has a black cat who seems to think my backyard belongs to him. I often see him lying under a tree or even looking through my window. My neighbor’s black cat is the
- [THE ART OF STRETCHING WATERCOLOR PAPER](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/stretching-watercolor-paper/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this bonus lesson I’m giong to show you a quick and easy way to stretch watercolor paper. Watercolor paper can be tricky to handle when it gets wet. Even if you use just a moderate amount of water it just won’t stay flat and has a tendency to
- [HOW TO GET BETTER AT WATERCOLORS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/how-to-get-better-at-watercolors/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson I hope you’ve enjoyed learning and practicing the fundamentals of watercolor painting in this watercolor masterclass. It’s possible you’re wondering what to do next to keep enjoying your watercolors … In this final lesson I’d like to share with you some important tips on how to continue to make
- [EXERCISE: CAPTURING BEAUTIFUL TULIPS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/tulips-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson you will be using a multitude of different techniques in one painting together with some more advanced ideas about composition. Flowers are a very popular subject with watercolor artists. Some people dedicate all of their time just to painting flowers! I chose tulips as the subject
- [EXERCISE: CREATING VIBRANT TOMATOES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-tomatoes-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson we’re going to paint a slightly more challenging still life subject based on this bunch of tomatoes on a vine. Painting fruit or vegetables like this is another great subject to practice because in general they involve fairly simple geometric objects. Tomatoes are like small spheres.
- [EXERCISE: PAINTING PERFECT BOXES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/boxes-painting-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson This is the first lesson of the “putting it all together” module. In this lesson I’m going to show you how to combine a variety of techniques that you learned in the first part of this masterclass. At the same time we’re going to progress to a slightly more
- [EXERCISE: EXPERIMENTING WITH WET ON WET](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/wet-on-wet-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson we will paint a simple watercolor composition so you can develop your wet-on-wet painting techniques. Wet-on-wet is a painting technique which is unique to watercolors. It produces some beautiful gradients and blends of color. But it can be tricky to put into practice. In the previous
- [MASTERING THE ART OF WET ON WET](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/wet-on-wet-techniques/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson we’re going to talk about wet-on-wet painting techniques. The beautiful effects you can achieve with this method of panting are unique to watercolor paints. Painting wet on wet means exactly what it says – you apply wet paint to a wet surface.When you pre-wet the paper
- [REFINING WET ON DRY TECHNIQUES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/wet-on-dry-techniques/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson we’ll take an in-depth look at wet-on-dry watercolor techniques. Probably the most direct and straightforward method of painting in watercolor is wet-on-dry. This technique, not surprisingly, means you apply wet paint to a dry surface. You can either paint onto fresh white paper, or over previous
- [GLAZING & LAYERING FOR DEPTH AND LUMINOSITY](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/glazing-layering-watercolors/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In watercolor painting, glazing is the technical term for layering paint. In this lesson I’m going to teach you all about glazing and how to use this wonderful technique to best effect. Glazing is a painting method which involves building up successive layers of paint on top of each
- [TECHNIQUES FOR PRESERVING WHITES & LIFTING WATERCOLOR](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/preserving-whites-lifting-watercolor/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson I’ll teach you the various techniques used to create white in watercolor painting. Most of the time, the color white in watercolor painting is provided by the whiteness of the paper. I say “most of the time” because there is one popular exception to this rule
- [MASTERING THE RULES OF COLOR MIXING](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-mixing-rules/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson The objective of color mixing is knowing how to match an intended color appearance by combining two or more paints. There are a few basic rules about mixing colors in watercolor, which, when you begin to understand them will make your color mixing skills improve dramatically. As you’ve probably
- [CREATING YOUR WATERCOLOR MIXING CHART](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-mixing-chart/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson One of the easiest ways to start getting to know the mixing range of your paints is to make a watercolor mixing chart. As the name suggests, this is a visual chart which shows the resulting color appearance when you mix two paints together. And it provides a handy
- [EXERCISE: COMPLEMENTARY COLOR HARMONY IN PRACTICE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/complementary-color-harmony-exercise/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson The idea of these exercises is to experiment with color. Making choices about your color palette before you start a painting is a great way to improve your compositions. I’ve chosen to use complementary colors for the first exercise because this is a very simple color scheme using just
- [ACHIEVING COLOR HARMONY IN YOUR ART](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-harmony/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson This lesson is about using color to take your artwork to a new level through the use of color harmonies. When you combining specific colors together in your artwork it’s said to produce a harmonious appearance. Sometimes you can vastly improve your watercolor compositions simply by selecting a specific set
- [THE MAGIC OF COLOR THEORY & THE COLOR WHEEL](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-theory-the-color-wheel/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Color theory is a collection of guidelines for how to use color in art, and the effects of combining specific colors together. The color wheel is an artists best friend when it comes to understanding color. So in this lesson I’ll explain the basics of color theory with the help
- [APPLYING SIMPLIFIED VALUES TO DRAWING](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-benefits-of-simplified-values/) - In this lesson I want to show you how to take the principles of tonal value and simplification (two of the pillars of successful watercolor painting) and apply them to a pencil drawing. I think this will help reinforce everything we’ve learned so far about these key principles, and can be a useful stepping stone
- [WHY VALUES MATTER IN WATERCOLOR](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-importance-of-values/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson The concept of Values is very important to the success of a watercolor painting. Values are also referred to as “tones“. Once you have grasped the idea of values and you start applying it to you own paintings, you’ll see an instant transformation in the quality of your work. In
- [PERFECTING YOUR WATERCOLOR BRUSH STROKES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/watercolor-brush-strokes/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson I’m going to get you to practice using brushes and making brush strokes. The objective is to teach you how to control your brush, to improve your handling skills, and become more familiar with your brush’s range of possibilities. It might seem simple, but handling a
- [BRUSH LOADS AND THE EFFECTS ON BRUSHWORK](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/brush-loads-and-the-effects-on-brushwork-2/)
- [YOUR FIRST STEPS INTO THE WORLD OF WATERCOLOR](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/first-steps-with-watercolor/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson I’m going to show you how to take your first steps with watercolor paints. A lot of artists forget what it was like when they first started using watercolors. Basic gestures repeated hundreds of times become so familiar, artists take them for granted. In this lesson I want to
- [DISCOVERING WATERCOLOR'S UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-characteristics-of-watercolor-2/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Watercolor is unique compared to other types of painting medium. Your control over watercolors can be greatly improved if you understand the paint itself. In this lesson I’ll get you off to a running start by explaining exactly what kind of characteristics you can expect from watercolors! What is
- [HOW TO USE THIS COURSE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/how-to-use-this-course/) - Welcome ! In this video I’ll give you an overview of how this course works and how to navigate around the lessons. When you sign up for the course, you’ll get access to the course homepage. If you need to return to the homepage at any time you can use the breadcrumbs at the top
- [MASTERING THE VALUE SCALE - TOOLS & TIPS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/mastering-the-value-scale/) - In this lesson we’ll go into more depth about value scales, like the one we used in the previous painting exercise to estimate the lightness and darkness of the shapes you paint. I’ll also show you how to make your own value scale in pencil – This is less challenging than using watercolor because adjusting
- [EXTRAS, WORKSHEETS, & HELPFUL TEMPLATES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/extras-worksheets-templates/) - Bonus Material This is where you can find some of the bonus material that accompanies this course. You’ll find worksheets in PDF format that you can download and keep for future reference. My Ultimate Guide to Watercolor Mixing How to mix colors in watercolor is one of the most common difficulties for artists who are
- [ADVANCING YOUR WATERCOLOR SKILLS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/developing-your-watercolor-skills/) - Here’s a quick introduction to this “PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER” module. The lessons you have learned so far have given you a grasp of the many individual methods you can use in watercolor painting. We have looked at things like: How to choose and get the best use out of your watercolor supplies All of
- [INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/introduction-to-the-course/) - Welcome Welcome to the “Successful Color Mixing” course! 🙂 The lessons in this course will help you build the skills to successfully and confidently mix colors in watercolor. This is the most complete guide to mixing colors that I’ve ever created. I’ll show you how to quickly and easily mix colors using my color maps
- [STEP BY STEP COLOR WHEEL](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-wheel-painting-exercise/) - ​ In this lesson I’ll show you the process I use for painting color wheels. The first version is a “traditional” color wheel based on the secondary color palette. When I say “traditional” I mean that I’m using a method that most watercolor artists generally apply, starting with the brightest hues around the outer edge
- [CHROMA-VALUE CHART (A REVEALING EXERCISE)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/chroma-value-chart-painting-exercise/) - In this lesson I’m going to show you how to make a “chroma-value” mixing chart like this. But what exactly does this chart show us? A “chroma-value” mixing chart shows the variations in both color intensity (chroma) and lightness (value) that can be achieved by blending two paint colors together in different ratios. Each square
- [MIXING SKIN TONES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/mixing-skin-tones/) - I have news for you… People’s skin is never just one color. Unfortunately, you can’t just mix one generic skin color and paint the whole of someone’s face, and there isn’t just one magic color which suits all situations. The tone of someone’s flesh varies enormously, and depicting this realistically in watercolor needs a basic
- [MIXING GRAY BLACK AND NEUTRAL HUES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/mixing-gray-black-and-neutral-hues/) - Using black watercolor paint is a bit of a controversial subject among artists… Some artists passionately argue against using black paint in watercolor altogether. They say things like “Real artists don’t use black”… Others happily accept the use of black paint as a convenient, ready to go color. So what should you do? And who
- [LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ?](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/let-me-know-what-you-think/) - Are you enjoying the Course? Now that you’ve had a chance to try the Watercolor Masterclass, I’d love to hear your feedback! Got a minute to spare? Ok… Great! Please fill in the form below. Your testimonial helps improve my teaching methods and also provides valuable insight for others who are unfamiliar with my work
- [EXTRA MIXING CHALLENGES (BONUS IMAGES)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/extra-mixing-challenges-bonus-images/) - In the resources section below you can download some additional reference images for practicing your color mixing 🙂 These are designed to challenge your mixing skills! Some of the colors in these references are trickier than others… Remember you can change a color’s appearance significantly by diluting the paint for lighter tonal values. Try not
- [INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/introduction-to-the-course-2/) - You’ve probably noticed… Watercolor is a wet medium. The watery nature of watercolor paint presents a challenge for all artists. This leads to frustrations such as watermarks and blooms, streaky washes, uneven blending, too much water or not enough! Not knowing how to control water in the painting process can lead to unexpected results. Which
- [ESSENTIAL MIXING CHARTS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/two-color-mixing-charts/) - Two color mixing charts give you firsthand experience of how two pigments mix and blend together to create new colors. The idea is pretty simple… You gradually mix one paint with another to show the gradient of colors you get when mixing two colors together. This allows you to explore any color combination in more
- [GRANULATION & WATER CONTROL FOR STUNNING EFFECTS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/granulation-water-control-for-stunning-effects/) - Granulating paints produce a beautiful mottled textured appearance – like this: It’s one of the characteristics that make watercolors so unique 🙂 As a quick reminder, watercolor granulation refers to the phenomenon where pigments in watercolor paint separate and settle into uneven patterns as the paint dries. This occurs due to variations in particle sizes
- [THE ART OF LIFTING](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-art-of-lifting/) - In watercolor painting, the lightness comes from the white paper reflecting back through the transparent paint. Sometimes, you lay down a strong-colored watercolor wash but you want certain areas to be lighter. Maybe you need to reveal highlights. Or perhaps there’s no practical way to paint “around” light-toned shapes. And now there’s just too much
- [AVOIDING BLOOMS (OR NOT!)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/avoiding-blooms-or-not/) - Troubleshooting Blooms and Backruns Blooms! Some people call them “cauliflowers”. You might even hear them described as “blossoms”. Others refer to them as “back runs”, or maybe a “flowback”. Whatever term you prefer, they all apply to the same kind of visual effect in watercolor painting. A bloom is a flow mark created when liquid
- [UNDERSTANDING TYPES OF PAPER & HANDLING PROPERTIES WHEN WET](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/understading-types-of-paper-handling-properties-when-wet/) - Different types of paper behave differently when using wet painting techniques. So the type of paper you use in watercolor painting has an influence on the handling properties, particularly when working wet-on-wet. If you’ve been struggling with water control, part of the problem may be the paper you use 🙂 Specifically, the different materials used
- [EASY MIXING TIPS AND PALETTE USE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/easy-water-mixing-tips/) - Sometimes artists over complicate the concept of water-to-paint ratios and paint consistencies… After all, potentially there’s an infinite range of paint consistencies from very light values to extremely dark toned paint mixtures! Simplifying the process of mixing water-to-paint ratios in watercolor painting can significantly enhance your workflow and overall painting experience. By adopting a simplified
- [SECRET TO CHOOSING A GOOD MIXING PALETTE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/secret-to-choosing-a-good-mixing-palette/) - This is a photo of my first watercolor palette: As you can see, it has some funny little mixing wells on the inside flap. The lid serves as a mixing space and is split into two compartments. And it’s useless for mixing watercolors 🙂 Beyond making tiny puddles of color for filling in small shapes
- [SIZE MATTERS - CHOOSING THE RIGHT BRUSH](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/size-matters-choosing-the-perfect-brush/) - There’s a multitude of confusing choices when it comes to watercolor brushes. With names like “flat, round, quill, fan, filbert, mops and riggers” ! No wonder artists get confused 🙂 I’d like to simplify all that for you, and turn your attention to brush size rather than brush types which are designed for special effects.
- [THE DELICATE ART OF WET-ON-WET VS. WET-ON-DRY](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-delicate-art-of-wet-on-wet-vs-wet-on-dry/) - To wet or not to wet ? That is the question… Wet on wet and wet on dry are both important parts of any watercolorist’s painting vocabulary. Each technique has its own specific qualities, producing very different and delightful results. You haven’t really experienced watercolor painting until you venture into both wet in wet and
- [UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF THE WATER CYCLE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/unraveling-the-mysteries-of-the-water-cycle/) - When painting with a wet-on-wet technique, the drying process of paper is continually changing. The “water cycle” is a way to describe the changing moisture level of the paper from wet to dry. Becoming familiar with the water cycle of your paper lets you know when to use your paint for a desired painting effect
- [PAPER BUCKLING - TROUBLESHOOTING & SOLUTIONS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/understanding-paper-buckling-and-beyond/) - Watercolor paper can be tricky to handle when it gets wet. Even if you use just a moderate amount of water it often won’t stay flat and has a tendency to warp and buckle. When watercolor paper absorbs liquid, it buckles and deforms, leaving ridges and depressions which make the paint flow difficult to control.
- [PERFECT WATER-TO-PAINT RATIOS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/perfect-water-to-paint-ratios/) - The term “water-to-paint ratio” may sound fancy, but it’s really just about how much water you mix with the paint. This concept comes into play when you mix your colors on the palette. I see a lot of beginners struggle with this aspect of watercolor painting. But finding the right proportion of water-to-paint is an
- [BRUSH LOADS AND THE EFFECTS ON BRUSHWORK](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/brush-loads-and-the-effects-on-brushwork/) - The term “brush load” refers to how much paint (or water) you have on your brush. And the load on your brush influences the type of brush mark you can create when applying the brush to the paper. Being “aware” of the load on your brush can help control your brush strokes and achieve the
- [TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET STARTED](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/tools-you-need-to-get-started/) - This is a brief guide to the supplies and tools you’ll find useful during this course. None of these are essential apart from the paint colors used for the demonstrations. I will go into more detail about these paint choices later, but you will need a range of the same, or similar paints to produce
- [THE KEY TO MATCHING PAINTS BETWEEN BRANDS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-matching-paints-between-brands/) - A lot of artists ask me how to match their existing paint colors to the ones I recommend. Finding equivalents to another artist’s palette of colors can be frustrating, especially if you already have lots of tubes of paints from another brand! This quick guide gives you an easy method for doing that. If you
- [UNCOVER THE MYSTERIES OF SYNTHETIC VS. NATURAL BRUSHES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/uncover-the-mysteries-of-synthetic-vs-natural-brushes/) - Water control in watercolor painting begins on your brush. But not all watercolor brushes are created equal! These days you have a choice between synthetic or natural hair brushes. Natural hair brushes are the traditional type used by many professional artists. The type of hairs chosen for these kinds of brushes have the ideal properties
- [EASY BROWNS & EARTH HUES (MIXING EXERCISES)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-mixing-exercises-mixing-browns-earth-hues/) - ​ In this lesson we’re going to take a look at mixing browns. Although brown is a common convenience paint color in most artist’s palettes, by using the paints in the secondary color palette, you can mix a wide range of brown tones, along with earthy and neutral hues. So in the following exercises I’ll
- [KEY TO MIXING PURPLES (MIXING EXERCISES)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-mixing-exercises-mixing-purples/) - Purple is another tricky color to mix correctly. There’s a huge range of violet-purple hues that you can mix with just a small and limited palette of colors. But it’s not always obvious how to achieve the specific shade of purple you desire. Different combinations of red and blue pigments can result in vastly different
- [MASTERING TURQUOISE (MIXING EXERCISES)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-mixing-exercises-mixing-turquoise/) - In this lesson I wanted to quickly look at mixing turquoise blue colors. This kind of hue is sometimes difficult to achieve without the correct palette of paint colors. This is one of the advantages of including a color like phthalo green in your paint choices, as in the secondary color palette used in this
- [EXPLORING GREENS (MIXING EXERCISES)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-mixing-exercises-mixing-greens/) - In the following lessons we’re going to do some practical color mixing exercises. Using a series of reference images I’ll show you how to match colors using only the six paints from the secondary color palette. We’ll also use the color map and the two-color mixing charts from the previous lessons as a mixing guide.
- [THE SECRET TO CHOOSING A GOOD COLOR MIXING PALETTE](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/choosing-a-good-color-mixing-palette/) - For the color mixing demonstrations in this course I’ve chosen to use the secondary color palette. At the beginning of this course I gave you my list of recommended paints which only includes six colors. These six colors correspond to the secondary color palette. And I just want to remind you why this was done
- [EXPLORING GAMUT (SAY WHAT?)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/exploring-gamut/) - ​ Gamut is just a fancy way of saying “the complete range of something” You can think of gamut as the “range” of resulting colors you can mix with a particular set of paints. For example, the range of colors you can mix using just two paint colors is pretty limited. So ideally you want
- [MASTERING COLOR TEMPERATURE (WARM & COOL COLORS)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/what-are-warm-and-cool-colors/) - I think one of the first things people struggle with when it comes to color theory is the idea of warm and cool colors. This concept is also referred to as “color temperature“. Colors can be “perceived” as warm or cool. This association stems from certain psychological triggers. For example we associate warm colors with
- [UNVEILING THE TRUTH ABOUT MUD](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/what-is-mud/) - So far, we’ve used a color map to show how to find warm and cool versions of paint colors, and to examine the mixing range, or gamut of a set of pigments. In this lesson we’ll use the color map to explain a concept called “saturation costs”. But as an artist, you probably know “saturation
- [THE PAINTS USED IN THIS COURSE (AND WHY?)](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-paints-used-in-this-course-and-why/) - Now that we’ve covered a few basics about watercolor paints, I want to quickly talk about the paints I’ll be using in this course, and briefly explain why. This isn’t just a random choice? but a carefully considered selection. You’ll understand more about why these are my recommendations as you progress through this course. As
- [THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COLOR WHEEL](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/the-color-wheel/) - Any conversation about color mixing and color theory will usually feature the color wheel. For artists, the color wheel helps us explain two fundamental things: Color relationships Color mixing So in simple terms, a color wheel is like a special tool that artists use to understand and talk about colors. It helps us figure out
- [LOW DOWN ON PIGMENT PROPERTIES](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/pigment-properties/) - To complete our discussion about pigments, let’s take a quick look at some of the characteristics of different types of pigments. From a color mixing point of view, these properties can have subtle effects on your mixing results, so it’s useful to be aware of them. Pigment particles have slightly different shapes, sizes, colors, and
- [COLOR COMES FROM PIGMENTS](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/color-comes-from-pigments/) - To begin this color mixing course I wanted to briefly talk about pigments. After all… pigments are the substances that provide the color in paint. Oddly enough, not many color mixing courses cover this topic… But don’t worry, this won’t get too technical 🙂 And later on you’ll see how an understanding about pigments in
- [Portrait Speed Painting Demo](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/portrait-speed-painting-demo/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Obviously this is a very fast way to view the painting process. But I think this kind of speed painting demo provides a valuable overview of the way a painting builds up from start to finish. It’s a good way to preview the painting before diving into the full-length
- [Worksheets and Guides](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/worksheets-and-notes-2/) - PDF Worksheets This is where you’ll find all the worksheets and printable material for this lesson. The worksheet includes a sketch template which you can use to trace the outline onto watercolor paper (see the lesson on “how to transfer drawings”). You’ll also find any reference images or photos to help you complete the project.
- [Bonus Material](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/bonus-material-2/) - Extra bonuses This is where you can find some of the bonus material that accompanies this course. You’ll find image files and worksheets in PDF format that you can download and keep for future reference (All the download links can be found at the bottom of the page). Watercolor Glossary of Terms Watercolors and art
- [Bonus Introduction Lesson](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/bonus-introduction-lesson-2/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this additional lesson I’ll ​explain more​ ​about the concept of values and also describe the techniques used in the portrait painting process. So before we get into the portrait painting itself I just wanted to go over a couple of things which are important for this lesson. The
- [Full-Length Portrait Painting](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/full-length-portrait-painting/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to paint portraits in watercolor using a number of transparent techniques. The video above shows you the complete painting process from beginning to end. Don’t forget you can also download the sketch template and reference images in the “Worksheets” section,
- [How to transfer drawings](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/how-to-transfer-drawings-2/) - In this lesson I'm going to show you how to transfer drawings to watercolor paper. Most of the time, before you can start painting, you need to draw a sketch outline of your subject on watercolor paper. I'm going to show you what I consider the quickest and simplest methods for doing this.
- [Matching Colors from other Brands](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/matching-colors-from-other-brands-2/) - A lot of artists ask me how to match their existing paint colors to the ones I recommend. This quick guide gives you an easy method for doing that.
- [Supplies Checklist](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/supplies-checklist-2/) - Supplies for this Project This is the complete list of ALL the supplies used to create this painting. If you want more general advice about watercolor supplies, you’ll find a bonus guide in the “Bonuses” section of this course 🙂 The paints listed below are Daniel Smith artist grade watercolor. Don’t worry if you don’t
- [Guide to Watercolor Mixing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/guide-to-watercolor-mixing/) - It’s exasperating don’t you think ? Not knowing how to mix the color you need… When I first started painting I really didn’t understand how to mix watercolors and get exactly the right hue that I needed. I would simply rely on intuition, throw a few pigments together and hope for the best ! Eventually,
- [Speed Painting Demo](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/speed-painting-demo/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson Obviously this is a very fast way to view the painting process. But I think this kind of speed painting demo provides a valuable overview of the way a painting builds up from start to finish. It’s a good way to preview the painting before diving into the full-length
- [Supplies Checklist](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/supplies-checklist/) - Supplies for this Project This is the complete list of ALL the supplies used to create this painting. If you want more general advice about watercolor supplies, you’ll find a bonus guide in the “Bonuses” section of this course 🙂 ​The paints listed below are Daniel Smith artist grade watercolor. Don’t worry if you don’t
- [Matching Colors from other Brands](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/matching-colors-from-other-brands/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson ​A lot of artists ask me how to match their existing paint colors to the ones I recommend. This quick guide gives you an easy method for doing that. If you already have your own favorite brand of paint and you’re wondering how to choose the right colors for
- [Full-Length Koi Fish Painting](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/full-length-koi-fish-painting/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to paint Koi fish in watercolor by building up transparent layers of paint using a glazing technique. The video above shows you the complete painting process from beginning to end. Don’t forget you can also download the sketch template and
- [Worksheets and Guides](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/worksheets-and-notes/) - PDF Worksheets This is where you’ll find all the worksheets and printable material for this lesson. The worksheet includes a sketch template which you can use to trace the outline onto watercolor paper (see the lesson on “how to transfer drawings”). You’ll also find any reference images or photos to help you complete the project.
- [Bonus Introduction Lesson](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/bonus-introduction-lesson/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this additional lesson I’ll give you a more in depth look at things like color mixing, correct techniques, brush handling, etc. Before we get started on the painting itself I just want to give you a few bonus brush handling and color mixing tips. Let’s begin by reviewing
- [Mixing Bright Colors in Watercolor](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/mixing-bright-colors-in-watercolor/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this final lesson I’d like to show you how to get the best out of your color mixing and how to make amazing bright color mixes with your watercolors. Not all watercolor paints are the same. You might think that yellow is yellow, and blue is blue. But
- [Bonus Material](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/bonus-material/) - Extra bonuses This is where you can find some of the bonus material that accompanies this course. You’ll find image files and worksheets in PDF format that you can download and keep for future reference (All the download links can be found at the bottom of the page). Watercolor Glossary of Terms Watercolors and art
- [How to transfer drawings](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/how-to-transfer-drawings/) - What You’ll Learn in this Lesson In this lesson I’m going to show you how to transfer drawings to watercolor paper. Most of the time, before you can start painting, you need to draw a sketch outline of your subject on watercolor paper. I’m going to show you what I consider the quickest and simplest
- [Intro & Proof](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/intro-proof/) - To start with, we’ll take a look at some proof. That way, you’ll see that the recipes in this course actually work (and produce some impressive results) in the real world and aren’t just marketing theory.
- [Scarcity Marketing – Good & Bad Examples](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/scarcity-marketing-good-bad-examples/) - In this lesson, we introduce the concept of scarcity marketing. And very importantly: we look at some examples of how not to do it and the principles for doing it right. Scarcity marketing is tricky in this regard. If you do it right, it’s incredibly powerful. But if you do it wrong, it can cost
- [How to Build Courses With Thrive Apprentice](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/how-to-build-courses-with-thrive-apprentice/) - In this lesson, we introduce the concept of scarcity marketing. And very importantly: we look at some examples of how not to do it and the principles for doing it right. Scarcity marketing is tricky in this regard. If you do it right, it’s incredibly powerful. But if you do it wrong, it can cost
- [How to Build a Digital Product Empire](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/how-to-build-a-digital-product-empire/) - In this lesson, we introduce the concept of scarcity marketing. And very importantly: we look at some examples of how not to do it and the principles for doing it right. Scarcity marketing is tricky in this regard. If you do it right, it’s incredibly powerful. But if you do it wrong, it can cost
- [Behind the Scenes: Our Exact Scarcity Marketing Sequence](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/behind-the-scenes-our-exact-scarcity-marketing-sequence/) - Continuing the theme of keeping it real, in this video we take a look at the exact scarcity marketing sequence we used on one of our product launches. And by exact, I mean: you’ll see the actual emails we sent, the exact timings of when we sent them and the sales results corresponding to them.
- [Two Scarcity Marketing Recipes](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/two-scarcity-marketing-recipes/) - In this short lesson, we introduce two recipes you can apply to your business: the “under the radar” promotion and the classic product launch or sale. You’ll see the exact steps and timings required to make these promotions as effective as possible.
- [Introduction – From Internet Rubbish to Content Marketing Gold](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/introduction-from-internet-rubbish-to-content-marketing-gold/) - Why is it so hard to create engaging content? And what is engaging content actually? Discover what you’ll need to learn in order to make your content marketing efficient
- [Why Most Internet Content Never Sees The Light of Day](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/why-most-internet-content-never-sees-the-light-of-day/) - Over two million blog articles are written every day. And most of them will never be read. Discover why this happens and how to avoid being part of this junkyard of internet rubbish.
- [Mastering Your Technique and Presentation](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/mastering-your-technique-and-presentation/) - Check these 4 things before publishing any content online. If you get one of these wrong, the actual content of your blog will not even matter all that much…
- [Introduction – From Internet Rubbish to Content Marketing Gold](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/introduction-from-internet-rubbish-to-content-marketing-gold-2/) - Why is it so hard to create engaging content? And what is engaging content actually? Discover what you’ll need to learn in order to make your content marketing efficient
- [Introduction – From Internet Rubbish to Content Marketing Gold](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/introduction-from-internet-rubbish-to-content-marketing-gold-3/) - Why is it so hard to create engaging content? And what is engaging content actually? Discover what you’ll need to learn in order to make your content marketing efficient
- [Introduction – From Internet Rubbish to Content Marketing Gold](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/course/introduction-from-internet-rubbish-to-content-marketing-gold-4/) - Why is it so hard to create engaging content? And what is engaging content actually? Discover what you’ll need to learn in order to make your content marketing efficient

## Thrive Apprentice Chapter

- [Chapter 01](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/chapter/chapter-01/)
- [Scarcity Marketing Secrets](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/chapter/scarcity-marketing-secrets/)

## Thrive Apprentice Assessment

- [module rating](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/assessment/module-rating/)
- [Assessment: Two Scarcity Marketing Recipes](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/assessment/assessment-two-scarcity-marketing-recipes/) - Lorem Ipsum este pur și simplu un text fals al industriei de tipărire și de tipărire. Lorem Ipsum a fost textul fals standard al industriei încă din anii 1500, când o imprimantă necunoscută a luat o bucătărie de tipărire și a amestecat-o pentru a face o carte cu specimene de tipar. A supraviețuit nu numai

## Thrive Apprentice Course Completed

- [Congratulations!](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/complete/congratulations/) - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus tristique ligula sit amet nulla eleifend, nec imperdiet ante semper. Nulla lobortis urna ac massa sagittis, a posuere ipsum commodo. Sed at nisl urna. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Pellentesque laoreet hendrerit metus, at fermentum dui elementum eget.

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## Categories

- [Watercolor for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-for-beginners/) - A series of guides, lessons, and step-by-step tutorials for people getting started with watercolors (and also intermediate artists!)
- [Watercolor mixing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-mixing/) - Lessons and principles about color mixing and color theory.
- [Watercolor Supplies](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-supplies/) - A collection of lessons and guides about different equipment and tools used in watercolor painting.
- [Watercolor Techniques](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-techniques/) - These lessons and tutorials teach about techniques, painting methods, and various watercolor effects.
- [Members Only](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/members-only/)
- [watercolor paper](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-supplies/paper/) - Everything you need to know about watercolor paper.
- [Watercolor Brushes](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-supplies/brushes/) - Lessons, tips, and tutorials about different types of brushes, brush handling, and techniques.
- [Watercolor Paints](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/watercolor-supplies/paints/) - Various articles about how to use and understand paints and pigments.
- [Art Topics](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/art-topics/) - Here you’ll find articles and guides about a variety of art-related topics.
- [Art Challenges](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/art-challenges/)
- [Drawing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/drawing/)
- [Patreons](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/patreons/) - Patreon only content

## Tags

- [watercolor for beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/tag/watercolor-for-beginners/)
- [tips & techniques](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/tag/tips-techniques/)
- [watercolor supplies](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/tag/watercolor-supplies/)
- [color mixing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/tag/color-mixing/)

## Courses

- [Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/watercolor-masterclass-for-beginners/) - Hello, and welcome to the Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners ! ​I’m thrilled to have you here, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the progress you make as you follow this course! I’d like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to help you become a better watercolor artist. The Watercolor Masterclass is designed to transform your watercolors! In this course you’ll discover the exact set of techniques, methods, and art concepts to start painting with confidence in watercolor. These easy-to-follow lessons will increase your skills in a step-by-step process. Little by little, you’ll build up your knowledge and skills, even if you’re starting from absolute zero, and you’ll soon feel much more comfortable and confident with watercolors. This masterclass is packed full of video examples for every technique and skill you need to learn, and you can go over these lessons as many times as you want and work at your own pace. Before we get started, I’d like to give you your first bonus for joining the course! Watercolor has its own unique language, so to help you get off to a flying start, I’ve put together a handy guide to watercolor vocabulary. This guide will help you become familiar with the most important watercolor terms. You can refer to it anytime you like throughout the course. You​ can download the PDF guide here: DOWNLOAD THE WATERCOLOR VOCABULARY GUIDE With that being said, let’s get going ! Click on the link below to START THE COURSE :
- [Thrive Themes - Make More Sales Without Needing More Traffic](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/thrive-themes-make-more-sales-without-needing-more-traffic/) - Learn the most reliable method we’ve ever found, to increase conversion rates.
- [Thrive Themes - From Internet Rubbish to Content Gold](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/thrive-themes-from-internet-rubbish-to-content-gold/) - How to improve your content marketing so you can stand out from all the rubbish content out there
- [Thrive Themes - 22 Tips to Build Your Mailing List Faster](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/thrive-themes-22-tips-to-build-your-mailing-list-faster/) - The Cheat Sheet for Turning Your Website Into a More Effective List Building Machine
- [Thrive Themes - Build a Conversion Focused Website From Scratch](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/thrive-themes-build-a-conversion-focused-website-from-scratch/) - This course will take you from zero to conversion optimized website in 10 steps.
- [Thrive Themes - Multi Step Mastery: Build a Targeted Mailing List](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/thrive-themes-multi-step-mastery-build-a-targeted-mailing-list/) - Discover the 4 most powerful methods to put this new list building strategy to use.
- [Watercolor Koi Fish Members Only](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/watercolor-koi-fish-members-only/) - Welcome ! (Please note: this mini-course is not part of the Masterclass). Hey ! Welcome to this special extended version of my Koi fish watercolor tutorial . You’ll learn the complete step by step process used to paint these delicately patterned Koi fish in the full length edition of the video where you can watch every brush stroke from beginning to end. You’ll also find the text version of this lesson with no ads to disrupt your reading. You can Download the PDF to read later or just keep it for future reference. Other bonus material is available in the “Bonuses” section and you can ask me questions in the comments under every lesson – I will answer you personally ! Enjoy ! Click on the button below to START THE COURSE : Special Member Offer Members who purchase this course also benefit from the following special offer for my watercolor masterclass: MEMBERS ONLY SPECIAL OFFER ! Get 25% Off my Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners. Just use this special discount code when you register: MEMBER-25 Click here to find out more… Special Edition Watercolor Koi Lesson only $14.95 No drawing skills needed ! You get EXCLUSIVE benefits including: LESSONS & RESOURCES: – Extended, Full length, narrated painting video This is the complete, full length video. For artists who like to see every brush stroke and watch the process from start to finish. These in-depth videos are not available anywhere else ! – Speed painting demo An exclusive speed painting demo. These are extremely useful for providing a fast overview of the painting from beginning to end. – Ad-FREE ! Completely advertisement free videos and lessons. – Special bonus lessons ! Additional lessons provide a more in depth look at things like color mixing, correct techniques, brush handling, etc. – Printable PDF version of the lesson A lot of my readers have asked for printable PDF version of my lessons. Course members get a handy printable version of each lesson including text, images and illustrations, and NO ads. – Printable PDF worksheet This includes traceable sketch drawings and reference photos so you have all you need to complete the painting ! – Copy of the Original Painting You’ll get a high-resolution copy of my original painting. – Supplies list Many people ask me what tools I use. For each lesson I’ve complied a list of ALL supplies needed to complete the painting project. – Ask me questions Ask questions directly inside the lessons and I’ll answer them personally! BONUS LESSONS & GUIDES: – Free glossary of watercolor terms – My Complete guide to watercolor supplies – Lesson: How to transfer drawings to watercolor paper – 25% off my Masterclass I offer all members of my lessons a special 25% discount for my foundation course in watercolors MEMBERS ONLY SPECIAL OFFER ! Get 25% Off my Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners. Just use the special discount code after purchase.
- [Easy Watercolor Portraits Members Only](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/easy-watercolor-portraits/) - Welcome ! (Please note: this mini-course is not part of the Masterclass). Hey ! Welcome to this special extended version of my watercolor portraits lesson . You’ll learn the complete step by step process used to paint this portrait in the full length edition of the video where you can watch every brush stroke from beginning to end. You’ll also find the text version of this lesson with no ads to disrupt your reading. You can Download the PDF to read later or just keep it for future reference. Other bonus material is available in the “Bonuses” section and you can ask me questions in the comments under every lesson – I will answer you personally ! Enjoy ! Click on the button below to START THE COURSE : Special Member Offer Members who purchase this course also benefit from the following special offer for my watercolor masterclass: MEMBERS ONLY SPECIAL OFFER ! Get 25% Off my Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners. Just use this special discount code when you register: MEMBER-25 Click here to find out more… Special Edition Watercolor Koi Lesson only $14.95 No drawing skills needed ! You get EXCLUSIVE benefits including: LESSONS & RESOURCES: – Extended, Full length, narrated painting video This is the complete, full length video. For artists who like to see every brush stroke and watch the process from start to finish. These in-depth videos are not available anywhere else ! – Speed painting demo An exclusive speed painting demo. These are extremely useful for providing a fast overview of the painting from beginning to end. – Ad-FREE ! Completely advertisement free videos and lessons. – Special bonus lessons ! Additional lessons provide a more in depth look at things like art concepts, correct techniques, brush handling, etc. – Printable PDF version of the lesson A lot of my readers have asked for printable PDF version of my lessons. Course members get a handy printable version of each lesson including text, images and illustrations, and NO ads. – Printable PDF worksheet This includes traceable sketch drawings and reference photos so you have all you need to complete the painting ! – Copy of the Original Painting You’ll get a high-resolution copy of my original painting. – Supplies list Many people ask me what tools I use. For each lesson I’ve complied a list of ALL supplies needed to complete the painting project. – Ask me questions Ask questions directly inside the lessons and I’ll answer them personally! BONUS LESSONS & GUIDES: – Free glossary of watercolor terms – My Complete guide to watercolor supplies – Lesson: How to transfer drawings to watercolor paper – 25% off my Masterclass I offer all members of my lessons a special 25% discount for my foundation course in watercolors MEMBERS ONLY SPECIAL OFFER ! Get 25% Off my Watercolor Masterclass for Beginners. Just use the special discount code after purchase.
- [Successful Color Mixing in Seconds](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/color-mixing-success/)
- [Secrets to Water Control and Wet-on-Wet](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/secrets-to-water-control/)
- [Easy Watercolor Secrets for Beginners](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/courses/easy-watercolor-secrets-for-beginners/)

## TVO Tags

- [masterclass](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/tvo_tags/masterclass/)
- [successful mixing](https://www.watercoloraffair.com/tvo_tags/successful-mixing/)