Want to learn watercolor painting? 🎨🖌️Don’t do it alone! Join me and my kind and sweet community for easy tutorials and fun project ideas!
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So glad you found your way here! 😊I’m Chris V., artist, designer, desert dweller, and online creative teacher, at OctopusConnection.com, and my passion is to help others find their way to their creativity through watercolor painting. 🎨🖌️
Join the free watercolor challenge here: octopusconnection.com/the-watercolor-journey-challenge
Click here to learn more about watercolor courses and Skillshare classes: octopusconnection.com/learning-2
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Yes, I also het postcards as souvenirs. They have great composition elements and are eqsy to carry. Great idea for a Skillshare class. I am hopping off over there to see the class
@@berolinastrassmann Postcards are so fun right? 😄 I’m so glad you’re inspired to make some with watercolors, and I look forward to see you in the class. (FYI, my name on Skillshare is Chris V).
I use an IKEA toiletries bag. It has lots of pockets, a mesh section and is abit bigger than A5 size. It fits a sketchbook, my paint box , brushes, a collapsible water cup and much more. Any toiletry bag can be adapted tonthis. I really liked your pouches!
Thanks! I also love Ikea products because they are so functional and nice looking. 👍 I’m already looking at the Ikea website for toiletries bags. 😂 I can never have too many fun things to carry my art supplies. 👌
I so love seeing our artwork from the group, and your kind comments. You have a lovely way of presenting your material. So glad I stumbled on these videos. I wanted to add that another way of kindling some inspiration for me, is if I have the means to get a new tube of paint, or a set of something different to try. It doesn't always require a lot of money, and it can really kick start me into exploring new ways to create. ❤
Hi Joni!! I’m so glad you found your way here too! 😍 And I love your idea of finding inspiration in trying new watercolor supplies. 🎨🖌️ This is definitely a great point. Thanks for sharing, and I’m sure others who read these comments will love this suggestion! 👌
Ah! Very cool. 😊 I’ve been listening and he has a great sound. I’ll have to find the Inspiration song next. 👍 Great share! Thanks for subscribing and so glad you enjoyed the video. 🙏
I’m thinking of using a short phrase instead of a word, if that’s allowed. “Make it Happen” is what I’m thinking of using, because it’s up to me to do exactly that, both personally and in my business.
Hi Julie, yes that totally works! The one word is really just a guideline, but I think with all of this type of thing, we should be free to use our artistic license to alter the guidelines to fit our needs. I love your phrase and the thought behind it! 😊👍Thanks so much for joining the challenge, and I can't wait to see it when you're done!
Great question! I’m actually sharing them in my newsletter. Here’s a link to the Challenge Hub. Scroll down to the steps to join and you’ll see the sign up form directly under. 👍 octopusconnection.com/the-watercolor-journey-challenge
Anabelle!! My apologies I misread your comment before. 🙈 I thought you were talking about the workbook pages. 😜 And you’re right. I can’t find the refills currently either. I know they have been redoing their packaging lately, so I will ask them about these and get back with you. Thanks for your patience!!! 😊🙏
@@octopusconnection Thank you so much! I really love these! So vibrant with a little touch of golden sheen after dry. They’re as good as, or even brighter than some of my more expensive brands. I would love to know what u find out. Thank you for researching it! 🙂
Anabelle, I just found out the refill sheets have been discontinued. 😞 Costs are high, and they weren’t able to continue manufacturing them. I let them know that if they ever start up again to let me know, so I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything!!
Hi there @regnskyer! Yes, I totally thought this too, which is why I didn’t buy into the word of the year idea at first. But I’m learning that it’s all about making this concept work for me as an individual. But that doesn’t mean this is the only word or quote I enjoy all year. I paint lots of others, it’s just that this word is one I keep coming back to for what I need to focus on right now. It’s in the background, like a scaffolding supporting me as I grow into something new. So I try to choose a word that I need or want to spend lots of time with. It can be a challenge, but sticking with it helps me build longevity and learn about this word more deeply than I thought I could. However, you bring up a good point, that none of us should be boxed in, and that if you happen to grow out of your word before the end of the year, and it no longer serves you, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t move on to another one. Feel free to make your own rules so you get the most out of it. I tend to take a while choosing my word so I know I’ve gone deep. It’s not easy, but it’s not meant to be high-pressure either. It’s meant to be a learning experience but it’s not an exact science. So far I’ve chosen words that I’ve benefited from for the entire year, but I’ll be keeping my options open. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 😊🙏 But I hope you give it a shot, with the caveat that you can still love and paint other words and quotes. Here’s a blogpost about this by someone I’ve never heard of. She shares her perspective on this practice which might be helpful. Keep us posted on what you decide! 👍 sarahwayte.com/business/how-to-choose-your-word-of-the-year/#:~:text=Simply%20put%2C%20a%20word%20of,you%20need%20to%20focus%20again.
@@octopusconnection I think I get your point, and I thought about for a while (and read the blog), It could be nice to have something to focus back on for inspiration. As you mentioned, I'm one of those who doesn't really do words in art and such, but I can get behind the idea of having it influence my work, it actually kinda fits the theme I had planned for this collection so, I'll do it! Or at least, give it a go, and the exorcise too of course 😊
That is amazing!!😃👍 It will be fun to see what you’ve discovered for yourself and the unique ways you might grow. Don’t forget there’s never any pressure here to do things anyone else’s way. I welcome your honest thoughts, and I hope you’ll tweak this as you need to for your own needs. This is exciting because I know when I try something new, I always learn something, even if it’s just that thing wasn’t for me. So honored to be a part of your creative journey, and I can’t wait to hear where this adventure takes you. 😍
Hi there! I love that “color” is in your social media name. 😃 Yes it can be a challenge to know which of all the beautiful colors to use, but if you just keep painting and practicing color choices will become clearer. It didn’t happen over night for me, but I kept using different color palettes until it started making sense to me. Did you join my Facebook group yet? I’d love to help you more.
So happy to have you here!! 🙂 The Original sets have more of the basic colors that are perfect for color mixing and for any range of painting, so I would start with one of those. They come in the cork pan set (which is colorfast, meaning they won't fade if exposed to daylight over time and more like a traditional paint set). The Colorsheets, (which are the little booklets of flat color squares) aren't colorfast, but most of my artwork is kept in a sketchbook, then photographed for my POD shop or pattern designs, so that works for me. If you're just getting started, I would recommend the Original Pan Set if it's in stock since it will be a lower barrier of learning. Hope that helps and let me know what you ended up getting! 😍👍
@octopusconnection perfect and thank you!! This is crazy, I have just learned how to do seamless patterns on the computer, now I want to learn how to actually paint my own botanical flowers. Literally 2 day ago I just bought some basic watercolor supplies!! Today I saw your videos, just perfect timing!! I'm a creative photographer branching out and am having a blast learning new things! Thanks again, I'm excited!
@colorcreatecamera Oh! Immersion is a course going on right now to learn pattern design. 😄 No worries! Using your paintings for surface design is the best… makes the designs so unique! 😍
Yes, you're right Margaret, and it makes these really unusual! They don't specify on the paint package if they are paints or inks, they just call them watercolors. So technically these are dyes, but for simplicity's sake, I call them watercolor paints when I talk about them because they can be diluted with water to paint with. 👍
Traditional, or "real", watercolors are made with pigments. However, there are some "watercolor paints" that are made with dyes. They wouldn't be considered traditional or "real" watercolor, but they work very similar to watercolors but are made differently. But are still called "watercolors" by the manufacturer and most consumers.
Thanks for asking Melanie! They are a small family owned company in India, so they don’t advertise like a US or European brand would. They have grown by allowing artists to share about how their paints work. But they are real and legitimate, and you can see them on Instagram, RU-vid, and Pinterest @vivivacolors. I talk more about them in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-H3bNLbtYU5g.html Hope that helps!! 😊
Very helpful video, thanks a lot for sharing and taking the time to make and support this kind of environmentally friendly paint maker... looking fwd to trying them
I don't think I could use viveve or whatever the paper dyes are. I have a tiny palette and I can mix pretty much everything easily with the 8 colors I have. It would be annoying flipping through papers imo instead of just dipping into the 8 wells I have.
Most of my students love them, but they’re not for everyone or for every situation. They are perfect for my travel painting projects and for the way my hands move and work. So glad you found the perfect painting set up for you! 😍👌 That’s what it’s all about in the end!
Me too!!! I think all creatives do. This would be the stage where I would get some feedback from another creative person. Someone analytical might send you in the wrong direction, even with the best of intentions. I'm happy to look at some of your work if you like? No judging here! When my students do this, most of the time I find it's absolutely beautiful work. They just can't see it. Seriously, let me know if you want to take me up on it. 👍
Thanks Chris, helpful steps and wishing you all the best for your shop! I feel like i'm very much in the same boat with you. Here's to us both being very focused and consistent!
I made a kit out of an old tin that had chocolates in it. I use small plastic containers to squeeze a dab of each color into. I think they are made for lip gloss, I got them at hobby lobby.
So glad you enjoy it Jutta!! And so glad you’re inspired to maybe try some watercolor painting. It is so soothing and restful. The secret is to not have any expectation, but let the paint work it’s magic. ;-)
It was so helpful to see how you take your watercolors and clean them up in Procreate, Chris. I really appreciate you including this within the fall watercolor challenge lessons. It feels much less intimidating after learning your process.
That is so awesome to hear Elisabeth! That's exactly what I was hoping for. To reduce the intimidation factor with digital tools. I'll be sharing more about this in the coming weeks. ;-)
