The Biggest Mistake Beginners Make In Watercolour 

Now I found the solution for the problem of the hard edges I always make when painting watercolour. Then, what I tend to do is to add too much water to recover which just lifts off good dark hues and creates even more hard edges. Those hard edges do put me off painting watercolour because I feel so inadequate. Eventually, I paint every surface even just like kids do. Thank you so much, Karen! You taught me not just how to avoid hard edges, but I can have a hope.

I like both paintings but it's good to know what techniques were used to arrive at the results. The second one is definitely a beautiful starry night, while the first one makes me think of a snowy December night in a smog-filled city.

No one ever tells you what NOT to do and if they do, they don't tell you WHY. I need both of those explanations. This was great!

Can’t believe how letting it dry can make such a difference, I’m a complete beginner so found this very useful. The second picture is so pretty (but I quite liked the “muddy colours” too). Thank you ☺️

When I did a commission I combined both actually. The flatter washed out look I used on the gritty destruction, columns and dirt. The vibrant method I used for all the characters, lighting and magic going on. Pretty nifty!

Finaly someone that understands what beginners struggle with, thank you every much

Despite of the well merged one looking better, I really like the one with hard edges because it gives off those children story book vibes or the Tim Burton art stye vibes, the gothic dreary scenes. This one particularly lit up the scene where the sparrow sees the entire city while travelling in the story 'The Happy Prince' by Oscar Wilde.

Long story short: Let your paint dry. Don't let the water control you, control the water. Those examples really highlighted, how this applies. Thank you 👍

That was a brilliant demonstration of what NOT to do and why. The difference was glaringly obvious when you showed them side by side. I also loved your buildings using the card and tip of the paint tube. Extremely helpful. Thank you.

I think something important to note is that if you're a beginner you'll probably be using the cheaper cellulose paper. It's a LOT easier to lift colours and create back runs on this. Switching to cotton is a little pricier, but the paper cooperates a lot more and makes your life much easier ❤️

I usually work on two paintings at them same time, it helps me to get enough time for paint to dry 😅 I'm very impatient, and that method helped me a lot

Thanks so much Karen. This is the clearest and most definitive description of what happens when you just can't bring yourself to wait. I finally understood about the stirring up of the first wash and creating mud ........ Followed your instructions and created a painting I was pleased with :)

I just want to give my two cents why I think this video is awesome. I love how the mistake you do in the "wrong" picture feels so genuine like someone truly did their best, just... failed. Most "Beginner mistakes" videos I see are good artists pretending to be a grade schooler, deliberatly doing their worst to make a picture look bad. And even though the principles are often sound I don't see how to apply those to my paintings because their their example is *so* bad, even I know not to paint like that. Even I know not to *immediatly* put another layer on absolutely wet paper. Whereas yours, I have definetly been there, panic lifting bleeding colours, trying to safe my picture, never making the conection between that and dull colours. Sorry for the long post

I have this project I've been meaning to start, painting watercolours from photographs of random objects. I haven't started partly because I'm intimidated, but you made it look less complicated. Thank you!

OMG you're a lifesaver!! I'm in high school and had to teach myself watercolour as my art teachers never really covered it, I've been having this exact issue for so long and now I know how to avoid it!! Thank you!!

No questions, I learned more in this video than a year of working with watercolour. I'm beyond stoked to actually have a clear painting

The first one looks like a city, with dark clouds, while the sun tried its best to shine trough the clouds. And it looks like the first snow starts to fall, i love it absolutely. The second one is nice too, looks a bit like an experience with alkohol makers, but not bad. Maybe i just like the darker stuff a bit more xD

Hi Guys, thank you for all of your lovely comments. Just to be clear, I agree with all of you that art is personal and there are no mistakes - beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This tutorial isn't about that though... it is about watercolour techniques and the importance of letting your painting dry, especially if you are a beginner. I try to demonstrate what can happen if you don't allow your painting to dry. It can cause havoc especially if you are a beginner creating muddy colours and cauliflowers/blooms etc. Many beginners loose heart and give up. This tutorial is to help with that ... Hope that makes sense! Thanks for all of the great comments! Very much appreciated ☺

"Reawaken the paint" is a great expression :D The patience required for watercolour is probably the main reason I was never super into it until I discovered watercolour pencils.

I prefer left one, ie "wrong" one. Looks more special, unique Unlike those rainbow colors on the right one which is seen too often

I like the mood of the one on the left more.

Many thanks! Now I understand why my pictures often look like the first example image. I've watched so many tutorials, but you're the first to show so explicitly how it can be done differently. The comparison is very instructive. I would like to see many more videos of this kind! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us so generously!

It's been years since I last got to take any actual lessons in watercolours, and I've developed a bit of a dread for them even though I love the technique, so finding your channel was a great refresher! Thank you so much for the video.

I really like the result of the second painting, it's stunning (though I find that the first one has its own kind of charm :) . All in all, thank you so much for the tips, Karen!.

This turned out to be a very much fun exercise, as I painted an imaginary NY Manhattan sky. I added now-gone Twin Towers to a skyline, memorializing them for world peace. You share with us lots of interesting and helpful hints, which I appreciate a lot. Thank you, Karen

This is such an incredible tutorial that really illustrates the beginner mistakes so well. I’m definitely guilty of being impatient, and have learned the hard way to wait and use my hair dryer when necessary. I love the result you got with the correct piece, and love seeing such an accurate and detailed mistaken piece. Thank you so much!

I watched your video mainly because I am NOT experienced in any type of painting with water or oil or acrylic. I will begin with water because I love the Softness in the results. In watching you, I don’t believe I have to be one who draws first because I cannot draw a stick so have held off trying. I will pick up supplies this week and begin my new journey. Thank you for your great instruction.

Guilty as charged! Need to find a way to distract myself from carrying on when the paint isn't yet dry.

Yes I definitely add paint just as the sheen disappears and think I can get away with it. Will be having a go at this and learning 😀

There is no writer wrong, just levels of acceptance. I found your video incredibly helpful.

Excellent tutorial, the difference when it’s done wrong or when it’s done right is so startling! Thank you so much for showing us the right way x

I understand why you favor the one on the right, but I appreciate them both. Initially, I favored the one on the left because it felt more dramatic. Not certain where I stand now, but I see beauty in each.

Today I ventured into watercolor for the first time as an adult. I loved this tutorial it all made so much sense!!! Thank you so much!!

Thank you. One of the best demonstrations I've seen to explain this basic rule of watercolor painting. I am green as grass.

Just started trying to learn from RU-vid, using some of my lovely late mum’s supplies (and wishing so much that I had asked her to teach me when I had the chance 😢) Thank you so much for this, it has explained a great deal as I keep failing with soft blending, and often getting those unwanted hard edges, or lifting off when I don’t want to. I also didn’t know that once dried it was safe to re-wet! So helpful thanks, especially seeing how easily it went wrong and exactly why. I’m going to save this to my library! Also I think you’re using much softer brushes than I am…

REally enjoy your demo of what not to do. I think this is very instructive! Thanks!

I'm a complete begginer with watercolors despite being a 4th year art major in college.. I do know about this but I'm often too short on time to wait until it's completely dry (I don't have a blow dryer) and due to my inexperience with watercolors, I didn't know how much of a difference it really makes and this was extremely helpful and eye-opening to me so I can try harder to manage letting it dry despite being short on time since I now know how it makes a world of difference! Absloutly Loved your painting btw!

Karen, I adore your flowers and landscapes, but the second painting on here may be one of my favorites of yours. Those colors in that sky are stunning, and you make that cityscape look so easy! I will be trying this one!

I struggle with painting nebulas, and as an astronomer, I really want to paint some! Going to retry this technique, now that I am more seasoned as an artist, many thanks to you for improving my skills. I would love to see you do this again using salt or other texture techniques. Maybe paint Orion or the rosette nebula!

I draw with watercolor for years but I didn't know that. Thank you for this tip! I'll try

I like the 'wrong' one most, and I'll tell you why. Good art doesn't just look pretty, but it tells a story. I asked myself, what stories do each of these paintings tell? The 'correct' painting to me, is a peaceful night sky over what could be a futuristic city. It looks still, the temperature perfect to stroll around and stargaze, maybe a bit romantic. The sky is still and completely beautiful, which sets the scene for the city below. The 'mistake' piece is dreary and haphazard, maybe a more industrial city of a past time, filled with conflict and turmoil. There is a darkness consuming the glimmer of yellow hope in the sky, or yellow hope peaking through the clouds suggesting a better future, but which is true? Are the specks of white stars, or snow, or ash of a great destruction? The 'ugly' blobs in the sky draw your eye and reflect the uneasy, ugliness of the city below. We wonder what might be going on down there. If art sparks curiosity, I believe it can be more powerful than art that's just aesthetically pleasing. Did anyone else see something similar in these pieces or am I totally off the mark? :)

Thanks! I have always worked with the assumption that any water on top will dissolve the paint below, no matter how dry - I'm going to have to try your method!

This was so helpful, thank you! I tried following several tutorials and mine would never come out anything like the ones in the videos. I couldn't figure out why, but now I know! I also really appreciate that you actually showed the process of what not to do. It's so much easier for me to understand and remember when I actually see it as opposed to having someone say "don't do that" without much explanation.

Yes this helped a lot! I'm the left painting, I'm looking forward to try to become a better artist, I like watercolor a lot.

I've had such problems with muddiness, I almost gave up all together. Thank you so much for this!

Linda, Thank you for the tips in your tutorial. These were very helpful for a beginner.

Thank you so much for verbalizing this along with awesome close ups. You’re instructions are so helpful to me as I haven’t had an art class in person since middle school (years 6-8 in the US) . All my art skills are being picked up from awesome artists like you, however you are super descriptive compared to most and it really really helps me.

Thanks so much for posting this. As you say it really helps to see it happen as you explain why. Brilliant 👍☕🌼

At first I thought it would be more than just "let your paper completely dry," but the proof is in the pure vibrancy of those colors on the right painting. It just looks spectacular. Thank you. This will level up my novice watercolors as I progress.

I made my first night sky today using the techniques you outlined in this video. Great video! I made my night sky over an active volcanic caldera instead of a city skyline.

This was so helpful, thank you. And using the card at the end - never thought of that! I'm going to try that soon, as well. Awesome.

First one is amazing! It has very distinctive mood, so bold and rebellious!

Honestly, I really like hard edges in watercolor lol That probably just comes down to personal preference. Thank you for the tips, I will definitly use them all :)

What a great tutorial! It was a very informative video for me, I needed that, good timing as I am just a beginner with watercolour. Thank you very much for sharing…

Great demonstration of how this works. The concept of moving paint around the paper (or avoiding doing that) is something to think about, for sure. Tt was remarkable how well you salvaged the first painting. I would have tried to make those round blooms into clouds. It may have made matters worse, though. Have to try the credit card for painting buildings, very cool.

wow i always had problems with this, you've just inspired me to pick watercolor back up

This is where I learned water colors are deceptive and I need to check with the back of my hand for truthfulness. Thank you! I literally grabbed my paints and am waiting for them to properly dry:)

Thank you. This was very informative. This happened to me just yesterday. It will not happen to me again. Best regards, Nancy

Your such a good painter that even the wrong painting still looks great.

Hands down.... this video is single-handedly the most helpful watercolor video I have ever seen! Thank you!!

Many thanks, Karen, for this most enlightening demonstration and explanation of how to achieve desired results when painting watercolor. Watercolor has a life of its own and it is so easy to get unwanted results when you are not aware of how you may be unintentionally causing them. I am so grateful for your expertise and knowledgeable tutorials which have helped me ever so much. Can hardly wait to try using my paint tube to put light in windows. Love it! You are a terrific teacher!

I have never heard such a great description of “making mud” as is in this video! I know I make it a lot, but now I really know why!!! Thanks so much, Karen!

So glad I've found this channel!

i must say i am guilty of thinking paper is dry when it’s not, thanks so much for this great tutorial!

Great demonstration! It’s a great idea to show the wrong one for comparison. Thx so much

This was such a good video! I agree, sometimes we need to see how the mistakes are made. Thank you for this!

This is an incredibly helpful demonstration.

the "wrong" picture looks like it belongs in a manga or comic. I honestly like it a lot.

This is such a good tip. I've been struggling with this exact thing, wondering why I can't get any vibrant colours to last. Thank you so much.

i need to say that in art, there are no mistakes. if there's something in a painting that you (i don't mean you, i mean in general) happen to not like, then that doesn't make it a mistake. it just means it's your opinion. there's also a lot of "mistakes" that have turned into something really good, whether it was by a new artist or an older more experienced artist. if that makes sense at all.

Absolutely lovely! Thank you for sharing your art with us and giving us valuable knowledge.

This was such a good tutorial for me! I'm a beginner and need all the direction I can get! You are so good at explaining things and give a list of materials too! I love the way you mix your colors so naturally too. I would like to get better at learning how to make better color combinations.

Thank you very much for this very helpfull video! Greetings from Germany 🙋🏼‍♀️😁

Am I the only one who really likes the first one more? 🙈 I mean they're both beautiful and you're explanation is great! But I honestly like the atmosphere and the effect of the first one more...

Thank you! I'm teaching my first class next month & am watching lots of videos like this to remind myself of what to cover & this is the best one so far. I would not have been able to explain this without your help.

Wonderful tutorial and tips. I love doing galaxy and night skies like this because you get to practice your water control and just have fun with colors :)

Explains a lot. Thank you for a very clear explanation using do's and dont's.

Thank you so much for this wonderful and logical tutorial. I'm a newbie to watercolour and gouache. Now I want to try more work. The muddy colours of your first image were so easy to understand and it was very difficult not to look at those two great splodges after you made it clear why they had occurred. Thank you so very much. I have subscribed and will definitely be back to view your previous tutorials as well.😍

I just bought some water colour paint and brushes And this was so helpful because tonight I'll do my first watercolour painting Thank you so much for helping me out.

Drinking game: take a shot every time Karen says "deceptively dry" :D It's fun!

Wow I actually understood the lesson👏👏👏take a long time for me to learn and understand. Your a great teacher thanks 😊

Great tutorial Karen! I think that all is in practice and more experience gives better results ;) :D thank you for sharing this beautiful tecniques for a night sky and city silhouette :) have a wonderful day! Mary ❤️❤️

Thank you for that demonstration of what not to do. So helpful!

Thank you Karen, I struggle with this…I have been practicing scenes to stop hard edges, your channel helps so much!🌹

Wow, I didn't realize how big the difference between the paintings would be until I saw them side by side! Amazing. Thanks for the lesson!

Thanks Karen, I found that incredibly helpful. So good of you to take the time and effort to put these videos out. Peter

I loved this vid soo much😅 unlike other artists who always make the wrong side as bad as possible, thank u very much now I realized my mistakes I always did while watercolor I now practice a lot and follow ur tutorials it also gives me motivation when I am about to give up and now my art have improved alottt ❤❤❤

SO USEFUL, thank you. I'm still new to all this and it's tricky to allow time for paint to dry during my art group meetings...I must try to have two things on the go at once and/or take a hairdryer!

Brilliant just so straight forward instructions. Thank you

Thanks for this great video. But frankly, I prefer muuuch more the first version. It's good tho to know what to avoid not to have the second one. I mean, it's great to have different perspectives on the creation, different styles etc ;) So, again, video is great, I appreciate it a lot. Thanks ;)

i started watercolor painting this weekend and this is exactly what happened to my paints!! Thank you now i understand!!

There are no mistakes in painting, but only happy accidents. - Bob Ross (paraphrased)

i used to do some basic watercolors as a kid and now im getting back into it before going to college. this was very helpful, thank you! the second one indeed looks very beautiful! 🤍

Thank you Karen. But I am beginning watercolor and my question is : how long is it necessary to be dry ? 1 hour ? 1 day ?

Just found your video.Out of all the lessons I've taken for watercolors, this has never been explained to me. It explains why I always got those edges and muddy colors so....Thank You

Love both paintings, but it's great to know the rules so you can then break them whenever you feel like it :)

I really appreciate you explaining exactly how those mistakes get made and ALSO how to save it! Instead of just throwing the other one out you showed how to salvage it and try and find the light in it, of you will. Helps make the art students/beginners not feel like failures if their painting looks shockingly similar to that one haha! Great video :)

I like the wrong way better.

I think the explanation of "wrong" is soo pretty. 🌌

Beautiful examples and helpful explanations. Thank you !