Watercolor Techniques: Simplifying Complex Scenes for Beginners

In this tutorial we will look at how we can capture the atmospheric glow of a sunlit landscape. My goal is to show you how to paint with a minimum of brushstrokes while still achieving a sense of depth and light. In this painting, we'll focus on three main subjects: • Simplifying the Scene: I’ll show you how to see the big shapes so you don't feel like you have to paint every single leaf in the landscape. • Lost and Found Edges: We will look at how using broken and soft edges can help connect the viewer to your painting. • Creating Depth: I’ll demonstrate how to add real distance to your work through the correct use of tones and values. Along the way, I’ll guide you through my process for painting simple sailboats and their reflections, capturing that beautiful, warm afternoon light. I'll also share my tips for using masking fluid and mixing various greens to keep your foreground strong and your background soft. I hope you enjoy this lesson! If you find it helpful, please give the video a like and consider subscribing to the channel to help me out. My Patreon Channel: Patreon.com/joecartwright Materials Used Paper: Quarter sheet, 185 gsm Arches Cold Pressed watercolor paper (Approx. size A3) Watercolor paints, all are Winsor and Newton: French Ultramarine Cobalt Blue Cobalt Turquoise Permanent Rose Scarlet Lake Burnt Sienna Raw Sienna Raw Umber Aureolin Cadmium Yellow Cadmium Orange Brushes: Size 8, 12, and 16 round watercolor brushes Mop brush for wetting the back of the paper Small hog hair fan brush Rigger Other material: Waterproof backing board, I use 6mm thick matt black acrylic, which I purchased off eBay, held at about 20 degrees