Painting a Watercolour from a Photographic Reference - A Garden Gazebo 

My son Luca is 7 and can’t get enough of your water color lessons, and he’s grown so much in his water coloring skills from watching you! He just woke up and said “mom its Wednesday, Paul Clark has a new video today!” He’s watching now and getting his art supplies ready :)

You do great tutorials, Paul. They're very helpful to me, a beginner. I've followed several of your demonstrations. I think you're one of the best watercolor instructors out there. Thank you! 😊

A master lesson in how to bring a photographic image to life. Gorgeous colours. Thank you for sharing.

Love watching you paint and hearing you think. A suggestion for September: why don't we simply sit in the classroom (or outside) and drink while watching you paint?

This subject poses the greatest challenge for me as an artist. I've found success in replicating other artists' work, but when it comes to using a photo reference, I consistently struggle. I'm puzzled as to why this is the case. Could it be the intricacy captured in a photo? Or perhaps my reliance on the reference inhibits my creativity? How do I determine when to detach from the reference? And when should I decide not to painstakingly replicate every detail? It's baffling to me. Paul, I implore you to create a follow-up video delving into this issue. I'm certain many others, like myself, grapple with this hurdle. Your insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

You made that photo come alive and I like it better than the original photo. Thanks for sharing

Dear Paul, Your tutorial is amazing. You created a beautiful landscape. I went slowly with the painting🤩 because this is the first big picture I painted with your brushes. I love them. I am glad that I have been following you for more than three years now. But I learn something every time. I wish you and Margot the best.🤩

Loved this one, especially as I prepare to paint a commissioned painting (gulp!) of a friends house on the lake. I love your simple approach and would love to paint like you! Thank you so much for providing these helpful tutorials 😊!

This is beautiful, I need to "give it a go"! You're looking tired Paul, I wish you well and thanks for the tutorials x

Paul you are the master mixer of Watercolor. The choice of colors fantastic. Really beautiful, always learn so much. Thanks, Sherry

Paul, Thanks for the note about the availability of this video! Ginny

You work in your washes very nicely! You get a great effect!😊😊😊😊

Excellent tutorial! Period, but emphasizing here regarding those lovely rocks... they're difficult for me. Good help, this! Thanks!

As always it's a great tutorial and really helpful for me because I am the kind you talk about that is trying to put every detail of the picture in my painting. It's really hard to loosen up but your painting is definitely better than the picture. Thank you for helping us!

There is just one thing to say is just fantastic . Mr Clark , Thank you for your Tutorial sir , And your time Bob

This is way up there on my list of favorite Paul Clark tutorials. When I watch them I get into “the zone” and the rest of the world (and all my anxieties) fade away for a while Very therapeutic. I only wish I could do a better job of painting them myself! Thank you for all you give to people all over the world!

great stuff Paul , hope all is well

Thank you. Another excellent vid. I have taken so many reference photos, perhaps now I can get busy with them.

Superb and relaxing. Getting hooked up on exact photo copies is my nemesis! Such great advice to loosen up.

“Don’t become a slave to the photo” might be the best advice I’ve ever heard! Thank you so much for this tutorial. I loved the pop of magenta and then the rocks at the end! Wow! The whole painting is gorgeous!! ❤❤❤ You are the best artist on RU-vid! (Shhh, don’t tell the others I said that.) Sending lots of love and prayers to you and Margot! ❤🙏🏻

Oh woww..i would never dream of even trying to paint this lovely photo..thank you for showing us how to do it.

Well we all relaxed and enjoyed and watched another lovely artwork take shape! Thankyou! ❤ XXX

Wow! Whatta beauty! One of your best acco to me! Thank you so much, will I get tired of watching it again and again!!

My favorite part is when you add the white sparkles at the end!! To me it makes the painting come alive!

So beautiful Paul! ❤

Beautiful❤️

Terrific again thanks Paul. I have a vaguely similar photo I want to paint but didn't know how to start. I might finally be able to paint rocks to look something like realistic now! Thankyou.

Thank you Paul.

Thank you Paul ! Gorgeous video, as usual !

Beautiful as allways, the way you explain every step and decision, i loved every moment of this video. Truly hope to make a good impresion of your beautifull painting. Thank you.

Best watercolor painter on youtube Thanks for the lesson.

I love your tutorials. I learn so much. Especially like that you remind that we don’t need to match exactly.

Thank you for this video. I struggle with overworking and this tutorial really helps!

Sweet! I'll definitely give it a go. Thank you

So lovely, I'm going to try this one!

It's really touching to hear from people with youngsters wanting to paint. I've got a great niece who wants me to "teach her" to paint. It's hilarious really because I'm so bad - I'm helping her of course even though I'm only one you tube tutorial in front of her:) We now have a saying when things don't go well. It's simply "I blame Paul Clark". It works well in many situations, the cost of living crisis, Santa never came to my house, why has the car broken down again, I think that plant is dead, my friend hates me, the dog ate my picture, I didn't mean to break it...... I blame Paul Clark! Thank you dear Paul Clark!🤥

Oh wow. Just wow. I love this tutorial so much and very excited to give it a go over the weekend. Thank you so much for all your hard work, talent and inspiration and all you share with us.

Isn’t this the way you used to paint back in the day? Very detailed?

Thanks Paul, such a treat watching your videos 😊💛

Thanks for yet another wonderful tutorial! Your videos not only convey your artistic mastery and expertise, but also help to relax. When you frame your pictures, do you use regular or museum glass?

Thanks!

I appreciate the examples of simplification. I get so mired in details, and it just doesn't work. This was wonderful, thank you! On a different topic, seems like some of your added text box overlays aren't showing properly on the video. It's just transparent shadow.

Geart as always. Really love what you do. I have learnt a lot! Just a question. Your Payne´s Grey locks a lot more black compared with mine. I use W&N. You you have an other brand? // Birgitta S

After applying mask and rubbed off you are disturbing the surface of the paper creating a roughness similar to a sweater that gets pills from wear and tear. Then when you paint over it magnifies the paper fiber changes.

Can you teach me how to make pines gray with water colour becouse i have not this colour in my collection

Was the edit at 3:56 a mistake?

Thanks!

Wow Thankyou Paul, I truly feel blessed and honored , that you used our photo. Love the painting. It's beautiful. Every detail you have painted. Even though I stare at this scene everyday , haven't attempted to sketch or paint it. Your painting looks magical. Love love love it. 💖💖💖💖 Especially the way you brought out the rock bed with the bridge. And the shrubs and trees around. Just Beautiful. 💯💯💯🥰🥰🥰💕💕💕 What a treat when I woke up today and went to see what you were going to teach us. Made my day. Thankyou for these lovely , so helpful , detailed Tutorials. 🙏🙏🙏💖 Can't wait till the next one. 💕 Have a wonderful day. 🎉

Wow! I really loved this tutorial. Thank you so much for all you do for the adult watercolor community. I know there are many people out there besides me who benefit by your tutorials.

Lovely. I found the negative painting of the grass really interesting, I have wondered how to get more texture into grassland without overdoing it and this method is perfect. Would it be possible to show us how to paint fur in a future tutorial please ? Thank you so much.

Thank you for continouisly displaying the ukrainian flag! And you picked a matching jumper today 😊

FANDABBYDOZZY Thank You Paul….cant wait to try this one…..I’m a Newbie of couple of weeks and love this Channel…..My Biggest Challenge is actually waiting for the Paint to dry in between Layers, as I’m too impatient and want to crack on with the Loveliness……I must learn not to fiddle either and tie my hands up!!!!! 😂😂😂

Fabulous tutorial! I usually get bogged down with the detail when painting from a photo, so this is great advice and a wonderful painting! Thank you!

I love watching your videos every week I have learnt so much from your tutorials and thoroughly enjoy your teaching methods you make everything so easy to understand thank you😁

1st, thank you, Paul, for being an inspiration to 7 year old Luca. Thank you to his mom for nurturing his talent. Your clear step by step paintings are the best, and offering your sketches is so helpful. Your Wednesday video makes my day. I would like to see how you would change this painting to be in a vertical format. How would the composition be adjusted. Thank you and stay well.

Ah, the bane of my existence - interpretation of a subject! I so want to do a creative take on the photo, but think too literally. So much of the general public feel that copying a photo is desirable, but it is the equivalent of playing another composer's tune instead of writing your own. The area you masked came out well. When it comes to masking fluid, some artists swear by it, others swear at it! I knew I had a book that mentioned the effect of mask on the paper. (Hey, it's not like I don't have enough art books!) In "Wet-Into-Wet Watercolor", by Gail Speckmann, she addresses this issue. Paraphrasing for brevity, a slight roughening of the paper occurs when removing the mask, especially with a lot of rubbing. It causes the paper to take subsequent color layers unevenly. If one lightly burnishes the area to be masked with the bowl of a spoon, it will flatten the fibers and help with this roughened effect. You have done so very much to help other, so I hope this helps you in some small way. (And justifies my collection of books.)

All of your work is beautiful! However, this one speaks to me. I’ve been painting with both watercolor and acrylics for about 18 months and for some reason I’ve been struggling with water control in my watercolors. Plus, I think I’m going to fast and need to slow down. I forget that it actually takes you about 3 hours to complete a painting rather than the time of the sped up video. I think I’m going to give this one a try.

Paul re the graininess on bridge after mask removal… could be 2 things. Could be a slight residual left from masking in addition to the Arches sizing solution on the paper. Could be a defective paper… lots of blogs out on social media about probs with defective paper since covid - shortage of materials, paper quality issues… suspect its the paper with the slight residual from masking…

Hey, FYI, your periodic showing the painting only cones up as a square shadow. The photo didn't load.

Thank you soooo much for all your effort. Ive been learning so much from all of your videos. 😊 I am wondering from which brand your Paynes Grey is? I like it a lot but all Paynes Grey that I have tried are too blueish for me.

What a gorgeous video, thank you so much for sharing ☺☺☺

merci Paul , magnifique tuto ! ok tout vient de partir la poubelle et pour une fois j'avais réussis un superbe dessin ! demain je recommence mais je décalquerais le dessin ! Je ne sais pas ce qui c'est passé , mais mes verts étaient sales et ne ressemblaient à rien .. vous êtes un super prof , et surtout très joyeux , j'avais essayé de suivre un tuto français , mais le prof faisait tellement de psychothérapie très triste et existentielle qu'il a fini par me casser le moral (lol) . Avec vous même si je loupe beaucoup , au moins vous me remontez le moral ; Je touche aux pinceaux que depuis 6 mois .. j'aime l'aquarelle mais je crois qu'elle ne m'aime pas beaucoup . basta bonne soirée , merci .. et surtout continué a être comme vous êtes . MERCI

hi paul. brian from across the pond. thank you for another fantastic video! it is impressive that you reply to your fans' comments in such a timely and positive manner. i wanted to ask you how do people send you their photos? do you have an email address? i might have some photos in my files that you might like. thanks and keep up the good work!

I was thinking about the grainy wash texture after removing masking fluid. Maybe, in removing the fluid, a little bit of the paper sizing is removed and the grain is slightly raised? I try to flatten the grain by running my thumb nail over the area where the masking fluid was. I think it helps 😊 Thank you for another fabulous watercolour painting lesson.

Wow Happy St Davids Day, I was amazed by your beautiful daffodil!

Hi what brand of Paynes Grey do you use. Mine always looks too blue when I’ve done your tutorials.

This is really lovely and peaceful. It reminds me of your Japanese garden painting and Monet’s garden as well. Thank you for all of the inspiration and encouragement that you give. I would not be sad if you did more of the garden paintings 🪷🎋🌷🌿

Lovely tutorial, Paul. My favorite part is when you add in the darks and shadows. Makes a painting come alive! Cheers! 😄

Beautiful painting, Paul. Yes, it is a habit to try and copy a photo reference to closely. I did that in the early days of my watercolour‘journey’. And it drove me insane!!!!!! Many a ruined painting went in the bin. I absolutely love the misty, distant trees effect. Alas, I’m not that good at this. But i keep watching you and practicing. Hope you’re keeping well.

Oh Paul, that's stunning. I just thought at the beginning 'how is he possibly going to paint that?' Oh me of little faith. The finished painting is so pretty and I am almost tempted to give it a try but am asking myself 'how could I possibly paint that?' Lol. Thanks so much for another great one. Dearbhla.

A beautiful scene and you make it look so easy! Thank you 🙂

Absolutely beautiful!!! I’ve got a question- while letting the colors mingle on the paper for the background trees, was your board tilted ? Thanks! Love your videos! From North Carolina 😊

Good Evening Paul, painting now with watercolor for about 6 months. And I'm happy I found your channel and paint so many pictures with your explanation. Thank you very much. I think about a lesson with you, but I'm from Germany so I have to plan this. Maybe this or next summer (with lot more experience in my backpack) My question I saw your round brush so many times and yours is even round at the top end. For the first time I think about this. Do you cut it on your own or can you buy this sort of brush? My bushes and leaves every time get this sharp edges because of the sharp end. In your tutorials your leaves are much more round and organic. Again. I'm soo happy to learn so much with your videos. Nicolai

Hi I'm from india and i like your watercolor work. Please my request painting of ram mandir. 🙏🙏. Please

I haven't used cobaly blue before and is it supposed to be slightly granulating? I bought one from white nights hoping it could be a replacement to the granulating ultramarine but it is a bit granulating as well and I dont know whether its ok or not- since I couldnt get my hands on the cotman winsor & newton one since we have a limited array of brands here in Romania. Thanks for the tutorial also, its delightful as always!

What ?! It's already Wednesday 😅 ! and I can see this pretty « gloriette » (Gazebo in French) in an explosion of colours. It takes a lot of joy to bring so much life into a painting. Thank you for sharing that too. And those rocks 😍. I tried to paint on my own when you were away but yes, I wanted to paint everything I could see on the photo. So I went back to RU-vid and let the software choose. I found myself watching you paint an old tractor. I never thought it would fascinate me ha ha … and yet ha ha What I like so much about your videos is the mix of techniques. Not just one or two. Each time we review the dry brush, negative painting, wet on wet, and of course there is cobalt blue (I'm practising pronouncing it like you! Which only amuses me ha ha)

Hello Paul, I always enjoy your tutorials very much, they make it possible to paint around with you. My brushes which I bought from your Series are quite as new, though I' painted a lot with them... Thank you

Glad Paul, that even you sometimes copies photos. It's something I really must try and steer clear of. Painting looks great. Liz

Beautiful! Thank you for the reminder of not to be a slave to the photo, I seem to get caught up in it and discouraged. I can’t wait to try!

Once again a fabulous tutorial. I read or saw somewhere that the Masking frays the paper ever so slightly, this causes a bit more roughness or porousness for the paint to tumble into. Thanks for sharing your joy!

Lovely work as always my friend.

Lovely, as always, Paul! I’m glad you did this one. I have a great picture I took on vacation with a pergola on a stream with lots of greenery but didn’t know how to approach all the trees in the picture. This helps me to think about how to do it. 😊 My deepest thanks for all the work you do on these videos!

Sir , do you provide online classes?

Loved it Paul brilliant tutorial thank-you so much already looking forward to next Wednesday

Good morning Paul ❤love it and it was a real treat to see it Wow the colors ❤❤the backgroud❤❤❤ hope to do this soon i use to have a gazebo similar to this one your painting look like à piece of paradise ❤❤❤❤thank you so much

Fabulous as usual Paul! Will be having a go at it 😊

Hey Paul! What say? How goes it?

Great thanks Paul, lovely painting and good advice on painting from photos,which i have taken away with me.😊

Very beautiful picture!

Love this one so much Paul ! Your rocks are amazing and I love the touch of magenta and the pastel that you put in the garden ! thanks so much as always :)

Beautiful, thank you.

Thanks Paul for another brilliant lesson l have learned and still learning so much from you brilliant just brilliant that you make these videos ❤❤

Fantastic painting Paul. Love watching you create and produce the most beautiful paintings! 🤗

It’s very valuable lesson about how to transfer photo in to a painting. I always struggle to do this. Thank you so much ❤🙏

Beautiful I always work from photos but it's hard to edit out all the junk so I really appreciate this

What a beautiful picture! Always a pleasure watching you creating lovely pieces of art! 😍

Like the pavilion & bridge painting, really enjoy seeing your paintings come together! So real! Thanks

Magic, pure and simple! Always a joy to watch what you create. Thank you for sharing your gift! :)

Beautiful 👍

Thank you so much. You are really a very good teacher!