Watercolor Painting Styles: Detailed vs. Loose – Which to Learn?

Prefer to watch this post on YouTube?

WIN 1 YEAR OF SKILLSHARE!

〰️

READ TO BOTTOM!

〰️

WIN 1 YEAR OF SKILLSHARE! 〰️ READ TO BOTTOM! 〰️

The topic of detailed painting versus a loose painting style is kind of a controversial one for me personally. That’s because when I was a young painter, I thought that learning detailed, realistic painting and drawing was the only way to go. I wasn’t very open-minded which is a shame, but I see now that I was painting realism for the wrong reasons. I wasn’t even giving other watercolor techniques or styles a chance, which is a huge shame! 

In the meanwhile, I’ve been able to look at detailed painting in a new way. I don’t use it for the sake of trying to control my environment, or insist that everything must always be done one way. Now, I do detail work for the purpose of losing track of time, getting lost in those beautiful details, and to study how to best capture them with watercolors. Plus, my new philosophy is that if I haven’t actually tried it, I shouldn’t be allowed to judge it.

What I paint and how I paint it has evolved over the years, and I’m so much better for it.

But I didn’t get there quickly by any means. I have evolved over the years, and that’s the reason I tend to try new things a lot these days. I am better for it, and I have grown and expanded my skills so much in the process. I adopted an abstract style for a while, which I’ll be talking about in the future, and then the quick and loose style followed afterwards. It was so freeing to be able to let go and not give into perfectionism.

As an example, I’ve been teaching a series of simple and easy projects on Skillshare to give students that quick win. This is also a low barrier of entry for new painters, and it’s just fun. I also find that quick low-pressure projects can help my students let go of their own perfectionism, and allow us all to embrace self-acceptance with our work. After all, we are our own biggest critics, right?

So that’s why when it was time for me to create a new Skillshare class this month, I took on a topic I don’t normally teach. This time the class topic is painting detailed watercolor art using a series of very simple techniques that achieves a beautiful 3D quality. I worked really hard to simplify the step-by-step to take out the overwhelm that can plague beginner to intermediate watercolor artists.

(If you’re not a Skillshare member, keep reading! I have something for you below.)

The prospect of painting a subject matter in any detail can be really daunting. I seek to eliminate the intimidation factor!

Since my specialty is breaking down difficult topics into simple terms for my students, when planning my latest class, I went to work on how to take a detailed subject matter, and make it easy to paint. Not the most uncomplicated task by any means, but I feel like I’ve accomplished it in the Skillshare class I’m calling Watercolor Techniques: Easy Detailed Step by Step Sunflowers. This class is an easy step-by-step set of videos, showing you how even a beginner can paint one layer at a time to achieve a stunning end result.

Using several shades of similar colors is key to get the right effect in each and every layer. I teach how to select these colors and even give tips for mixing them yourself. For this, I love using my Viviva Colors colorsheets because they hold an array of color shades that I can have at my fingertips. They are easy to paint with and they are 100% sustainable. So I’m being kind to the environment at the same time!

When you're painting, don't be afraid to slow down once in a while and go deeper with your subject matter. Paint a few more shadows and bring up those highlights a little bit more, be patient as you paint each layer, and get lost in the process. These things can be relaxing and put you in a meditative state. This kind of painting is perfect for when you're feeling stressed, and you just need to get away from it all. Projects like this can completely transport you and before you know it, you're feeling much lighter. I have a couple of tips I’ve learned that might help with this.

TIP #1: The secret is to not judge your work too harshly, which is really challenging right? One way to train yourself to do this is to walk away from your finished painting, especially if you’re not happy with it, and don’t look at it for a day or two. Then when you do, look at it from across the room and pretend it’s someone else’s. This is not easy, but if you can do it, it will give a more arm’s distance approach. Try not to be so personally invested if you possibly can, and give your work a chance! You might be surprised at how much better it looks to you.

TIP #2: Another way to go easier on yourself is to not choose the hardest things to paint right away, but instead, challenge yourself a little bit at a time. For example, if you’re working on new techniques, paint an easier subject so the learning curve isn’t so steep. If you’re using known techniques, paint a slightly more difficult subject. I think often we expect so much of ourselves, and it may not be realistic. After all, would you expect a 3rd grader to jump to 5th grade math? I don’t think so. Think of your creative learning in this way too, and give yourself some grace.

This is the very reason why I chose to paint sunflowers to teach these watercolor techniques in this class.

I’m introducing some new techniques to my students, so while sunflowers give us plenty of opportunity to add detail, they’re not very complicated. That gives students a chance to learn the techniques without having to wrestle with difficult shapes, shading, or perspective. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m always going to love that quick and loose painting style and I will use it for years to come. I encourage you to learn it too! But it’s nice to go into another mode and be able to slow down and relax into some deeper, more complex detailed paint and forget the world exists for just a little while. 

I’m so grateful that time and life experiences have reshaped the way I think, and I realize now that art isn’t black and white, as I thought it was when I was young. It’s all pure expression whether you’re the one painting, or you’re the one viewing the art. And expression is a complicated thing, that can evolve along with us. So don’t be surprised if you don’t necessarily like the same things anymore, your favorite color changes, and your usual style loses its appeal. Go with it and see where it takes you. You can stumble onto some really cool things that pull you forward to the next big step in your watercolor journey!

I hope you’ll keep these things in mind and be kind to yourself as you’re creating. You’ll have way more fun, and you might even like your own work better. 

In the meantime, if you haven’t already, try, slowing down and going step-by-step with a slow and detailed project. Relax and get lost in it for a while. Don’t worry about the outcome so much, but focus on what you’re doing in that moment and let go. 

If you need a project idea or some step by step help with this, you’ll love my new Skillshare class, Watercolor Techniques: Easy Detailed Step by Step Sunflowers. I’m currently doing a Giveaway for a 1 Year Skillshare Membership. You could even win!

In case you’re NOT a Skillshare member, I haven’t left you out! Click the link below to join the Giveaway. Once you sign up, you can watch it for free for a limited time, and join the giveaway to win a one year Skillshare membership. Good luck and I can’t wait to see you in the class!