My history with trying to learn to paint with watercolors is not, no pun intended, a pretty picture. I’m starting my third attempt after two previous miserable failures. All I have to show from my prior attempts are a bunch of old tubes of paint, a bunch of brushes, some watercolor paper and about eighteen “how to” instructional books on watercolor painting. Like most beginners, I was, and to a degree still am, vulnerable to the mistaken theory that if I buy the “right” book or two or ten and if I acquire the “right” supples then surely I will magically become a competent watercolor painter. That’s a path soaked with tears and disappointment.

I’ll save my thoughts about books, classes, videos and other sources of watercolor painting instruction and training for a future post. Art supplies in general are addictive and habit forming. They are increasingly expensive and caution should be exercised before purchasing most of them. Having said that, it is good advice to use professional grade watercolor supplies as opposed to student grade ones. ( There is one area of exception, and that is paint. Artist Grade paint is relatively expensive and experience has shown that students, like myself, unconsciously skimp on putting out enough paint on their palettes. So, to combat this reluctance to using enough paint, it is advised that you use Student Grade paints when starting out and use them freely while you’re learning. You can switch to Artist Grade paints once you are comfortable. )  But not because someone tells you that, but rather after learning the reasons why they make a difference so that you can make informed decisions. Which leads me into a brief discussion on learning about watercolor painting in general. A foundational understanding of the media itself based on the how and the why of things and not just based on a bunch of “do this” or “do that” instructions is essential to success. Watercolor painting is not learned from recipes or simple step by step instructions. Oh, if it were so simple. My first two failed learning attempts can, in general, be attributed to that misconception. My next post will explore a bit more of my early mistakes and missteps. Personal experience is a great teacher, but it’s far less painful to learn from someone else’s experience when possible.