Brilliant, Eric. Thank you. One of my favorite strategies to deal w/ white paper syndrome is to plan on doing each painting at least two times. The way I see it, each sheet of decent watercolor paper has two workable sides for a reason!
I watch for every one of your videos and have recommended your RU-vid channel to my friends. What a great comfort that you deal with how we feel about our art! You hit the nail on the head and have given great tips for beginners on how to start at our own speed and not try to become like the masters all at once. Great teaching! Thank you!
This was incredibly helpful. The level of instruction was just right - not too easy, not too hard. I'm working on my own version right now. Thank you, teacher Eric!
Thanks so much, Eric. This is so helpful. I am a beginner and I have heard so many artists say that if you practice on cheap paper, you're not really practicing. It is refreshing and encouraging to hear you say that it truly is helpful. I have not been trying to create paintings (just working on techniques), for I don't want to use my expensive paper until I feel I am ready. I have to work within my budget, so this video has motivated me to try out this painting on my Canson XL. Looking forward to trying it out tonight!
I always practice on cheap paper first, and have great progress on cotton because of it! Don’t listen to gatekeepers, they are just on a mission to put people down, to elevate themselves. But they’re absolutely wrong! I love Canson, Strathmore and Artists Loft to practice on.
Great tips. Thank you so much. I definitely needed to be reminded to keep it simple. I can draw complicated scenes but struggle to paint them. And I love the soft colours you use.
Happy New Year, Eric! I am so happy I found your videos. I find that your calming approach and beautifully described and demonstrated art makes you the perfect teacher for me! Thank you so much! Yes, I suffer from White Paper syndrome, but I also find myself feeling guilty for watching videos to learn, or practicing drawing before painting. Both are important but....I know it sounds silly.... with all my paints, brushes, and paper I SHOULD be doing rather than learning. I wonder to myself, am I watching because of white paper syndrome, because I am afraid of failure. Or, am I watching because I believe it's better to take the time to learn and master....rather than think I am capable of doing it naturally?... Do I make my 2020 resolution to be a real student...to allow myself to learn without expectations...and allow my process to unfold? Can I stop myself from labeling myself a failure because I spend an afternoon watching and learning?
Jillian Hershberg don’t over think it :) I think it’s important to learn by doing it! For 2020, I will be sharing more practice advice and simple things for you to implement!
I think I am exactly in your shoes! I really appreciated Eric's reply to you. We are definitely overthinking, which in my case is keeping me away from actually painting, which I really do love but get so nervous about and judge myself too harshly. For me, learning not to be upset at a "failed" painting is just as important as mastering the techniques of watercolor. Good luck and have fun in the new year!
I know when I say use cheap paper, many will flinch. But I said cheap paper not poor/bad paper! =) There are some papers that are very cheap and yet very good quality. I have been using the Chinese brand watercolor paper Bao Hong for quite some time now. It is a lot cheaper than Saunders/Arches and the quality is very good. The only thing is that you can only get it from Aliexpress, and it does take some time for shipping. Also, the size of the paper is a bit different from the western standard. But the shipping is free for most country Check them out here! www.aliexpress.com/item/4000024124090.html I will be doing another video about this paper later =) But I highly recommend this brand. The colors come out vibrant and it is less absorbent than Saunders which means the paint won't dry as fast.
I stumbled onto your videos just a few days ago. Wonderful! As a beginning watercolorist, I find your videos very approachable and inspiring. Thank you!
Oh Eric your videos are so good! I’m so glad to have found you! Only one thing I would say is, in my class I got frustrated by poor wash results and my teacher said it was because of the poor quality of my paper. When I pushed the boat out and got decent paper the results were better and it gave me more confidence.
Moira Stevenson thank you! cheaper paper are for practice :) and there are some decent cheap paper available as well. Look for Bao Hong watercolor paper on AliExpress!
very helpful video. great advice. one thing i do is thumbnail painting. I paint a very small painting, and when i am more confident i move on to a bigger sized paper.
Thank you ! Now I know how to avoid the hard edges that were ruining my paintings. I am enjoying practicing these wet techniques too as they are relaxing.
After watching countless other videos on RU-vid I stumbled upon yours. I have a watched a few of your videos and I am totally blown away! Every question I have you have the answer. I just wanted to thank you for sharing in a clear and concise way. 😊👊🏻
You do such a wonderful job of explaining the so-called “simple” aspects of watercolor! Many other artists assume that everyone already knows the basics or they skip past things that are “automatic” to them. I don’t seem to have “white paper syndrome”, I have almost the opposite. I always cover the whole paper too soon with too dark washes. I would love it if you could do a video with details of how to reserve more whites. Many videos say to do this by just painting around specific or random areas but I don’t seem to be able to do this! Many Thanks, stay safe and please keep creating your wonderful painting videos!
Thank you Eric for your advice being very helpfull. Controlling the amount of water and mixing paints .,allowing painting to dry before painting next layer . Greetings from Hermanus South Africa. Jean Faure- retired Urologist
Yes , As a beginner I always feel very nervous to begin with. And I also keep posting my plans of painting because of fear. The main reason for fear is I'm not good enough in the knowledge of colors and perspective . I'm trying to learn through your videos which are the greatest supporting tool for me.can you please help me through this problem. I'm padmaja from B,lore. INDIA.
Love your kind words for beginners. And the simple instructions. Whether I’m successful at recreating the examples at least I feel I’m had clear demonstrations as to how it should work👍🤗
Not sure why I just stumbled upon this video today, but it is spot on! I've been painting for a few years, but still really struggle at times. This simple composition and review is fantastic! More, please!
Eric, You have given me courage to try and paint a beautiful sunset of my countryhouse. I will try!! Thank you . I enjoy your simple explanations. You make it simple, however I still sweat to do it correctly!!!
Actually Eric, some of those demos feel advanced because the host skips over so many parts. Of course, you can't see what they're doing. However, you hold nothing back. You speak clearly and decisively. The sign of a great teacher. Thank you for all you do. Peace
Eric, this was so helpful! I have two questions. You suggest using cheap paper for practice. Do you have a brand you can recommend? I have been using Arches, and I do worry about wasting that expensive paper. And I have a question about painting a sunset sky. When I add the yellow after laying down a blue wash, it turns green. Can you tell me how to prevent that?
This video has been so helpful Eric, it's just about where I'm at on my watercolour journey; I now know what kind of images to choose to paint at this stage and really practice getting the washes right. Thank you so much!
Not a new painter, but have had to stop due to eye issues, but glad to be back and so much appreciate Eric's remarks and observances that are so very pertinent. Fear of white paper has always been a problem for me, but I am glad to hear a good painter like Eric, so knowledgeable, address this basic problem. Thanx again, Eric!
I am suffering the white paper syndrome until I noted my papers are degummed today..... Thanks so much for sharing the tips. It's really helpful to focus limited things for each wash!
Thanks for comparing it to cooking, because now the first thing I do is to put pan on the stove, oil in, while hitting I chop the onions etc...but it came with experience...I’m coming back to Watercolor and expecting to remember everything, bad thinking lol. I actually also recommend to take a small size paper, A5 works better for me at the moment. (I used to paint on A2)
You said something very true about white paper syndrome which will always been there. We cannot eliminate it, but can reduce it by practical steps as your video mentioned. Psychologically, I am prepare to have wastage. If I brought a stack of good paper. I must prepare about 50% of my paintings will not be satisfactory. Hopefully, over time, I can progressively improve.
Just discovered your videos Eric. By far and away, the clearest demonstration of watercolour technique on RU-vid. I have always struggled with successive washes but your demo has given me much more confidence. One question though, when using blue and yellow in the sky, how do you do a soft transition without getting greens?
Oh yes! I suffer from white paper syndrome too! I will go to my studio and sometimes sit in front of a blank paper for up to an hour! Then all of a sudden, I just start to work and I do not know where I am or why I am....I just go! This is usually when I do my best work! Crazy but true! If at another time, I try to replicate a piece I cannot do it! Why? I think because I was in a different zone at the time! Do you have this kind of experience?
Thanks for your calm and encouraging approach. Your beautiful voice makes a huge difference to how I am able to enjoy and benefit from your classes - you are a pleasure to listen to. I also enjoy the clear way you explain what you're doing, and your choice of subjects is inspiring. Thank you again :)
Beautiful sky. Eric! Obviously not a "happy accident" but the result of lots of practice. Your first wash did not get messed up by the second and third. Is this due to which paints you used? Yes, i have some very good and expensive paper tucked away waiting for me to get good enough to use it.
HA...and here is the video I referenced in my comment on your post of 5/5. Absolutely genius! I haven't been afraid of painting on a clean sheet of paper since. And I am blessed enough to be able to buy 100% cotton (there are deals out there if you look around)
Eric, you have a great site. I am almost 80 and taking up watercolor for the first time. I have been painting in other media for years, but watercolor is very challenging and exciting. Your tips are very helpful and make this journey much easier. You are a ver talented young man, and can teach a old dog like me a lot of new tricks to help me be a better watercolor artist.
Thank you so much for those valuable advices for the beginner like me. My cheap paper dried up pretty fast and didn’t allow me to have the chance to have those soft or beautiful edges and it left the ugly water marks when I applied the next brush or color on it. At times I almost felt like giving up watercolor painting. I am glad that I came across this video of yours! 😃
Thank you so much for your videos they help me a lot about the beginner technique about how to approach to water color and not be discourage. I tried the trees and this lesson, both of them came nicely after following your advice's. Thank you so much, keep helping us.
Thank you for another excellent lesson, Eric. I love your videos - they are so helpful because you explain and show your process very well. One question - did you do this wash on wet paper or dry?
Very helpful for beginners. I have wasted paper and am scared to paint on good paper now. For that reason I am cutting down the size of the paper and trying to do smaller paintings. That makes it worse, as you can’t really get a good clean wash or good details
How do you prevent your wet on wet sunset from turning green where yellow meets blue? How cheap of paper is useful for practice? Your picture, which I loved, seemed to be painted on a fairly heavy piece.
This won't work in every situation, but my solution is to draw on a damaged or used piece of paper. If I like it enough, I will transfer it to a clean piece, but the initial step helps to remove the pressure.
Thank you Eric.. I had been struggling to find the right process to start a water colour painting. Now after watching your few videos l found.. yes.. this is it! (From India)
Oh i was such a a fail at making these dark clouds...now i know how ro do it and yess this fear.. Its about two days m was soo overconfidenr and make 2 bad paintings.. Now as i know m good with misty mountians m going to focus on tjem for a while
I like the idea of letting one wash dry before adding another gives you time to reflect more on your painting. Some cheap papers I don't like but I do use cheap paper a lot and I've gotten some pretty good results.
