How Do You Choose Colours for a Watercolour Painting?

Sometimes when you're looking at a reference photo, it can be hard to figure out exactly what colour you're seeing. Is that shadow a grey? A purple? A cool green?

When I’m unsure, I open the image in Photoshop and use the eyedropper tool to grab the colour I’m trying to identify. Then I paste it onto a blank canvas so I can see it on its own, without being influenced by the surrounding colours. It really helps to isolate the colour and understand what’s actually there.

This is especially handy if you’re trying to figure out subtle tones in a shadow, fur, or petal - areas where the colours can be more complex than they first appear.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi30 May 2025Technical Guides, TechniquesComment

What Makes a Good Reference Photo for Watercolour Painting?

A strong painting needs a focal point - something that draws the viewer’s eye and gives the composition a sense of purpose. So when you’re choosing a photo, ask yourself: What is the star of the show?

It might be the eye of an animal, the curve of a petal, or the way the light hits a glass bottle, that fills you with inspiration. But there has to be something that grabs you. If a photo is too evenly detailed across the whole image, it can be difficult to know what to focus on in your painting.

Personally, I often find myself drawn to reference photos that have a bit of drama - a close-up angle, an expressive pose, or a little sparkle of light that adds interest. Once I’ve identified that focal point, I build the rest of the surrounding composition, supporting it rather than competing with it.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi27 May 2025Technical Guides, Techniques, Artistic growthComment

Watercolour Edges: Taming the Wobbly and Avoiding the Ugly

A big part of how your edges behave comes down to one simple but powerful thing: your water-to-paint ratio. If your brush is loaded with too much water, the pigment will pool and drift unpredictably. If it’s too dry, you’ll get scratchy, uneven marks.

The sweet spot lies in understanding the relationship between water and pigment - how they dance together on the page.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi29 April 2025Technical Guides, Techniques Comments

The Subtle Art of Painting White Flowers in Watercolour

One of the biggest challenges in painting white objects is maintaining soft edges, especially in areas where light gradually transitions into shadow. To achieve this, I use a damp brush to soften the edges of my shadows immediately after applying them. This technique helps the transitions look seamless and natural.

Watercolour Subjects, Watercolour How toLouise De Masi10 April 2025Technical Guides, Subject MatterComment

How to Mix Vibrant Violet

These days I almost always mix my own violets because it helps me stick to a limited palette, which naturally creates better colour harmony across the whole painting. I also paint wet on wet a lot, and there's something beautiful about watching the pigments separate on the paper when you mix violet yourself - especially with granulating colours like Ultramarine.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi3 April 2025Tutorial, Technical Guides Comments

Hydrangea Watercolour Painting

There’s something so beautiful about the hydrangea flower - the full, delicate blooms, the shifting colours, and the way they fill a space with softness. I have a few hydrangea bushes growing in my garden, and when they’re in bloom, I always feel inspired to bring them indoors and start painting. This watercolour hydrangea piece came together after I popped a few freshly cut stems into a glass vase and decided it was the perfect moment for painting flowers.

Following a Step-by-Step Watercolour Tutorial as a Student

I’ve learned the hard way that Louise’s first layers always look way darker in the video than they actually are. Determined to remember this, I mix a watery paint.

I’ve also learned that if your paper is too wet and your paint is too watery, the pigment will migrate to the edges, leaving behind an unwanted harsh line. So, keeping all this in mind, I put paint on the paper—only to immediately want to quit.

Watercolour Tidelines

Tidelines are a common challenge in your watercolour journey, but they don’t have to be a frustration. Whether you embrace them as part of the painting’s texture or correct them with care, every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve your technique. With practice, you’ll gain more control while still allowing watercolour to do what it does best - flow naturally.

Louise De Masi10 March 2025 Comments

Choosing the Right Watercolour Brush

If I had to choose just one brush to take with me to a deserted island (assuming there’s watercolour paper on this island, of course), it would be a round brush. These brushes are the workhorses of watercolour painting, and for good reason. With their tapered shape and pointed tip, they offer an incredible range of mark-making possibilities.

You can create everything from whisper-thin lines to broad, sweeping strokes - all with a single brush! The trick is to adjust the pressure: light pressure for fine details, and heavier pressure for broader strokes. Round brushes are fantastic for general painting, detailed work, and fluid line variation. If you’re just starting out, investing in a high-quality round brush with a fine point will serve you well for years to come. Trust me, this is one brush you don’t want to be without!

Art SuppliesLouise De Masi19 February 2025Daily Practice, Technical Guides Comments

How to Find Your Painting Style

When you watch my tutorials, I want you to think of them as a jumping-off point. Don’t feel like you need to replicate every step exactly. Instead, start experimenting by making small changes. For instance, you could swap out the colours I use and choose a palette that resonates with you.

If I’m painting a bird, maybe you’ll add your own background - a loose wash of colour or some foliage to give it your unique flair. Another idea is to combine techniques or elements from different tutorials to create something entirely your own.

How to Paint Florals in Watercolour

I always begin my floral paintings with a wet-on-wet technique for the initial wash, embracing the unpredictability and softness it brings. This stage is about capturing the ephemeral qualities of petals- their delicacy and the gentle interplay of light and shadow. I wet the paper first, allowing the paint to flow freely, blending seamlessly into the damp surface. Sometimes, I paint each petal individually, while other times I apply a wash over the entire flower at once. It depends on the flower and the level of colour or value variation within each petal.

The Importance of Using a High-Quality Watercolour Journal

I love using watercolour sketchbooks for small studies. They’re perfect for experimenting with colours and working out compositions before committing to a larger painting. These quick studies not only help me refine my ideas but also build my confidence, knowing I’ve tested my approach beforehand. A journal becomes a safe space to explore and make mistakes without pressure.

Master Watercolour Painting with my Online Tutorials

In my videos, I take you behind the scenes of my painting process. You’ll see how I carefully select a subject photo - whether it’s a delicate flower, a majestic animal, or a simple object that tells a story. I explain how to choose colours that bring harmony and life to your paintings, sharing tips on colour mixing that will build your confidence with every palette you create.

I provide a clean and accurate line drawing with each tutorial, ensuring a strong foundation for the painting. No detail is too small, and nothing is hidden. I want you to see and understand every step, from the initial inspiration to the final brushstroke. I share a full video, that lets you recreate the tutorial, while learning all the elements needed to bring your artistic vision to life. Not only that, but I believe in sharing my knowledge openly so that you can learn and grow as an artist.

Motivational, Getting StartedLouise De Masi4 December 2024Artistic growth, Daily PracticeComment

Watercolour Christmas Cards

With patience and practice, these baubles can become stunning centrepieces for your holiday cards.

Creating your own watercolour Christmas cards is a joyful way to celebrate the season and share your creativity with loved ones. Whether you paint a single bauble or an entire festive arrangement, your handmade card is sure to bring a smile to anyone who receives it.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi22 November 2024Tutorial, Technical GuidesComment

Pen and Watercolour

One of the great things about line and wash is its versatility, but choosing the right surface is key to letting both your ink lines and watercolour washes come to life. In my experience, a few surfaces work best, each bringing out different qualities in the technique. Opt for white paper to really let the transparency of your watercolour art supplies shine.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi15 November 2024Technical Guides, Techniques Comments

Exploring Composition in Paintings

You’ve probably heard of the rule of thirds - it’s a common compositional guideline that divides your canvas into a grid of nine equal parts, with two horizontal and two vertical lines. You might’ve noticed this grid when using the camera on your phone. The idea is to place your key elements along these lines or at their intersections to create a more balanced, engaging composition.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi8 November 2024Tutorial, Technical GuidesComment

10 Common Watercolour Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Watercolour’s transparency is what makes it so beautiful, but it’s also where the challenge lies. If you don’t allow each layer to dry completely before adding the next, you can disturb the underlying colours, causing them to mix in ways you didn’t intend. This can lead to muddy colours in your painting, where the vibrancy of the colours is lost.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi3 November 2024Beginner Tips, Technical GuidesComment

Experimenting with Salt in Watercolour Painting

Different types of salt can produce different results. Coarse sea salt, with its larger crystals, tends to create bold, dramatic textures, while table salt results in smaller, more delicate starbursts.

It’s fun experimenting with both to see what kinds of patterns they produce on your watercolour paper.

Watercolour How toLouise De Masi25 October 2024Tutorial, Technical GuidesComment

Watercolour Tips

Watercolour tips and techniques to help you improve your painting skills.