Watercolour is One of the Hardest Mediums to Master and Here's Why

Have you heard that watercolor, among all the painting mediums, is often considered one of the hardest to master? The reason behind this challenge lies in the unpredictable component it brings to the canvas - water.

In contrast to acrylics and oil painting, where you can easily cover up "accidents" or "mistakes" by adding another layer, watercolor's transparent and wet nature makes it difficult to correct errors. Those who have experience with watercolor know that the more you try to "fix" it, the more overworked and unbalanced it becomes.

The elusive nature of water is what makes watercolor painting both a challenge and a unique art form. I, too, have grappled with its intricacies, often overworking my paintings and dealing with paper warping. However, with patience and practice, you can learn to harness the magic of water and create stunning works of art.

Let's delve deeper into the complexities of watercolor painting and explore how this unpredictable element can be your greatest ally in the world of art.

Mastering the Art of Water: The Challenge

Watercolor is often described as a dance with water, and it's a dance that can be difficult to lead. The very essence of watercolor is its transparency and fluidity. When water meets pigment on paper, it creates beautiful washes of color, but it also demands careful control.

The key challenge in watercolor is learning to embrace the unpredictable nature of water itself. The water can take on a life of its own, flowing in unexpected directions, bleeding into neighboring areas, and creating soft, subtle gradations of color. For some, this unpredictability can be frustrating, but it's also where the magic happens.

Watercolor: A Symphony of Softness and Dimension

Once you learn to work with water, you'll discover the incredible beauty it can bring to your art. Here are some ways in which the water component in watercolor can transform your painting:

Creating Beautiful Softness: Watercolor's unique ability to create soft edges and transitions makes it perfect for capturing delicate subjects like flowers, skies, and portraits. The ethereal quality of watercolor can convey emotions and atmosphere like no other medium.

Adding Dimension: By varying the amount of water you use and how you apply it, you can create depth and dimension in your paintings. The interplay of light and shadow is brought to life through the subtle shifts in color intensity that watercolor allows.

Contrast with Light and Dark Tones: Watercolor excels at capturing the luminosity of light and the richness of dark shadows. The transparency of the medium enables you to layer colors, achieving intricate tonal variations that give your work depth and realism.

Blends and Bleeds: One of the most captivating aspects of watercolor is its ability to produce beautiful blends and bleeds. The way colors merge and flow into each other can create stunning effects, from sunsets on the horizon to reflections in water.

Embrace the Unpredictable Beauty of Watercolor

In the world of art, watercolor stands as a unique and captivating medium. While it may be challenging to master, the very qualities that make it so can become your greatest assets. Learning to work with water, rather than against it, is the key to unlocking the full potential of watercolor.

As you dive deeper into your watercolor journey, don't be discouraged by the occasional "mistake." Embrace the happy accidents and unexpected nuances that watercolor brings to your work. These moments often lead to the most striking and memorable results.

So, next time you pick up your watercolor brushes, remember that water, with all its unpredictability, is your partner in creating art that is soft, dimensional, and full of contrast and blends. As you become more comfortable with the medium, you'll find that it's the signature of watercolor that sets your work apart and makes it truly magical.

Check out "From Blobs to Blooms", a deep-dive workshop that focuses on building confidence when using "wet on wet" technique as you paint soft florals.

In this 90 minute recorded deep dive workshop we will cover:

Water management - is it possible or just a myth
Finding the paint to water ratio sweet spot
Identifying different water drying stages and maximising it to your advantage
Mindset shifts about using water in your artwork
Troubleshooting common water problems in painting.

This workshop is priced at $34, you can sign up here.

These people have gotten so much value from this deep dive workshop:

"The fact that you don’t hold anything back and your organized from step 1 through all the steps. Your teaching style is very easy to follow. I learned more about water control from you in this workshop than I ever have from all the very expensive workshop/classes I’ve taken."
- Yvonne Sanders

"Jillian's B2B workshop was a game changer for me as she showed me how to use my now favorite brush for loose watercolor florals - the flat brush. Her class was thorough and made me understand all my brushes in a deeper way than I could ever bother discovering myself."
- Crystal Tan

"This was a great first wet on wet exercise for me. I stil need to work on water control but it was a good practice in layering and learning the wet stages. Love you teaching style because you share such practical and valuable tips!"
- Alison

I am excited to share with you everything I know about the way I paint and I can't wait to see you.