The Mindset for Learning Watercolour
Watercolour technique matters. But so does how you think about learning, failure, and progress. This page covers the mental side of improving at watercolour—the beliefs and habits that separate artists who get stuck from those who keep growing.
It Doesn't Matter Where You're Starting From
Here's something I genuinely believe: it doesn't matter what age you are, or what skill level you have. You can start being creative at any point in your life. With the right amount of practice and passion, you can get as good as you want to get.
I didn't have formal art education or training. I learned the same way you're learning now—through books, online courses, working with teachers and mentors. In seven or eight years, I developed a style and skill level I'm proud of.
If I can do it, so can you. I genuinely believe that.
Progressive Improvement
My philosophy is all about progressive improvement. Every time you paint, you get a little bit better than the last time. Not dramatically better. Not overnight transformation. Just a little bit better.
That's the mindset shift that matters. You're not trying to paint a masterpiece every session. You're trying to learn one small thing, improve one small skill, understand one technique a little better than before.
Compound those small improvements over weeks and months, and suddenly you're painting at a level you couldn't have imagined when you started.
Consistency Over Intensity
A cornerstone of my philosophy and personal practice is repetition and consistency. I know that's not what people want to hear, but here's the truth: you won't get better at something as challenging as watercolour without putting in the effort.
Once I started painting very consistently—even for short periods, a minimum of fifteen to twenty minutes, maybe half an hour a day—that's when things really clicked.
Every day I do something related to watercolour. An exercise, a small painting, some sketching. Worst case, I clean my palette and rinse my brushes. Just something that connects me to my art practice.
That consistency is how you improve over time.
Review, Then Repeat
Here's a tip that accelerated my learning more than anything else: don't just paint something once and move on. You won't really progress that way. I can almost guarantee it.
After every painting or exercise, think critically about what went well and what you want to improve. Then do it again.
It's when you redo paintings multiple times, really focusing on improving a particular area or skill—that's when you slowly move forwards. And then suddenly, your growth speeds up. It becomes easier and easier.
Be Kind to Yourself
I know it can be frustrating when a painting doesn't turn out how you hoped. But be kind to yourself. Let yourself learn from mistakes.
Those "failed" paintings aren't failures—they're stepping stones. Every single one teaches you something. The artists who improve fastest are the ones who can look at an unsuccessful painting, identify what went wrong, and try again without beating themselves up.
Don't expect perfection every time. Revisit lessons you enjoyed. Practise the key techniques. Because only with patience and practice will you reach a place with watercolour where you can truly enjoy it and express yourself.
Become Your Own Teacher
At some point, you have to be able to assess your own work and make decisions without someone holding your hand. Here are the questions I ask myself when I review my paintings:
- Does this painting have clear depth? Can I see a foreground, middle ground, and background?
- Are my values doing the work? Is there enough contrast between light and dark areas?
- Is there a focal point? Does my eye know where to go? What's the story?
- Have I varied my edges? Are there both hard and soft transitions?
- Is the composition balanced? Or is it too cluttered or too empty?
- What's one thing I'd do differently next time?
Every painting teaches you something. Even the ones that don't turn out how you hoped. Write down what you'd change. Then try it again on the next painting.
Work With What You Have
Another philosophy of mine: work with what you have.
Don't get hung up on materials. I use basic colours—reds, yellows, blues. I use basic brushes—just some round brushes. You can upgrade materials later if you want. But it's not required.
I think about removing barriers to painting. It shouldn't be hard for you to start. Whether you have fifteen minutes or an hour—just work with what you have. It's more valuable to spend time making art than obsessing over having the right equipment.
It's not the equipment that makes the difference. It's you.
The Real Learning Starts After the Tutorial
Finishing a course or tutorial is great. But it's not actually the finish line. That's where the real learning starts.
Now you take what you've learned and apply it to your own subjects, your own favourite places, in your own style. That's both the challenge and the exciting part. You're not just following tutorials anymore. You're making your own creative decisions.
And yes, some paintings will go badly. That's fine. Expected, even. But now you have the skills to figure out why and fix it next time.
That's the difference between someone who's just done a course and someone who's actually improving. It's what you do after the tutorial that matters most.
Keep Painting
So my final bit of advice: keep painting. Be consistent. Be patient with yourself. Don't expect perfection every time.
Now go make some art.
