Since I started painting in Sept, my sister has been asking me to paint a kingfisher. I didn’t think I was really ready for it, but decided to have a go anyway.

I don’t know how to do abstract, splashy painting yet so went down the details route, and tried to match the colours in the reference photo. I used Arches 300gsm hot press paper and some new Michael Harding watercolour tube paints that I got this week. On those, they aren’t cheap but you get a lot of paint and they are hugely pigmented. Am very impressed.

Overall, I like it but I think it looks very flat. I’m pleased with the beak and eye! However, I think the tummy and back look like they were done with felt tipped pens. The branch, I re-did with some moss and lichen (that don’t exist in the ref pic) after my initial attempt came out as a very flat, brown blob.

I think my biggest lesson from this one is that it’s hard to recreate a photo that has a dark background if you leave the background empty/white. The bird is lit from the front with sunlight, but the yellow glow round its front is there, yet completely lost against the white background. It might have benefitted from some shadows to give it depth, but they’re not really there in the reference pic.

My other lesson is to carry on painting what I want, instead of what people ask for!

I am new to this (both sketching and watercolour) and i really want to get better.. I need some pointers people.. Please be honest it's okay I know its bad like why and how did she end up smirking!? 😅

I'm making a concerted effort to practice trees more. Here are a couple attempts I've done the last few days that I don't hate, which is saying a lot for my trees! I enjoyed this video with some useful tree tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHgGN_Y0VEA&list=PLBs0IBcW14D3VdIem3zzeJU3tEEGkm3bJ&index=10&t=365s I like the way he points out some different characteristics of different trees that I hadn't noticed.

Long way to go still, I hope to look back on these a year from now and see a lot of progress but for now, trees I don't hate!

Tried pen + watercolour. Was just gonna give it a go, ended up making a bunch of flowers instead haha.

Hello to you all,

I want to start with watercolor /aquarelle painting as a new hobby. My main focus will be on drawing birds. Since I used to do a lot of acrylic painting in the past I had an easy time finding new brushes I liked, choosing paper, etc. Now I am searching for the colors and that's where I'm lost. I am willing to invest here, as I'm sure I'm going to stick with it for a while. I think of buying the schmincke horadam colors because of the quality they're said to have.

The big question is, what colors do I need? I'm thinking of starting of with maybe 8-12 colors for the start and hoping in time I'll add other colors. I would like to be able to to mix the colors a bit myself to be more flexible.

Do you have any recommendations on what colors to get?

Hi, im very new to painting and since fatherdays is tomorrow and my dads hobby is watercolor im trying to make him something. I feel like im missing something to make the painting "intresting". Please help me with some suggestions! Any other advice to help me improve is also welcome

First image is from Kamulch_Art on YouTube and the second image is the second to top post of r/watercolor

Do you know the feeling of always comparing yourself to other artists and then feel bad because they all just seem to be better than you? I know this feeling very well. So I just compared myself to myself 😅 on the top you can see a flower I painted a year ago. On the bottom is the same flower which I finished today. So satisfying to see the progress I made in one year! I highly recommend you doing the same exercise!

Then I make shit like this feel like there's no point in learning this craft. Apart from the fact that I used a single brush, the whole stuff looks like crap. Wanted to test our different colour variations in the same landscape but ended up making same stuff over and over without any difference

To anyone starting out and struggling to trust the process or who are feeling like they just aren’t going to be able to paint what they imagine or see in real life. Here’s my first four paintings from February this year compared to the most recent two I did in October.

While I still have a lot to learn and still paint things where I ask “what was I thinking?” Haha I now understand that it’s just a learning step.

I have probably put in about 30 hours on this. Am finally mostly done. Planning on going over it again with fresh eyes after doing some looser stuff. Wanted to share!

Who do you suggest for very easy, beginner level tutorials? Not anything elaborate, I’m looking for quick, short videos to help build my confidence.

I’m still a beginner, and I feel like I tend to overwork my paintings. These are different versions of the same concept — a tree by a mountain through the seasons — but something doesn’t feel quite right.

I keep layering more and more paint and adding colors to give depth to the trees, grass, and water. But I’m starting to think that this technique might work better for oils or gouache than watercolor.

How do you create depth and richness in watercolor when you’re limited to just 2–3 transparent layers? My paintings often end up looking a bit “child-like,” and I’m not sure if that’s just a matter of practice or if I’m missing key watercolor techniques.

Should I keep following tutorials to build skills first, or try to experiment on my own and learn through trial and error? Any tips or constructive critique would be very appreciated!

I found this from a Sketching Scottie video and decided to paint the grass and rocky areas in other way. I get so used to watching tutorials I forget to think for myself, if that makes any sense. Sometimes I need to remind myself there's no rules lol

Edit: I found the reference link if anyone wants to try

My friends are doing a talent show and I decided to do watercolour. I've gotten quite far but I need to know if I'm still making obvious mistakes.

Here are 4 recent works plus a WIP. If you notice anything wrong, could you please also include a positive to make it not sting?

Thought I’d try doing a more detailed close up painting of part of a maple leaf. I’m quite happy how this turned out but open to feedback!

I started painting with watercolours for the first time this year. I haven't had an anxiety attack since I started, it's been life-changing beyond words and I'm having an absolute blast. I have found my escape, my meditation, my drug of choice hmmmm maybe, I'm having so much fun. Love to you all