What I'd Tell My Younger Self About Watercolor

Hey, you — yeah, the version of me still figuring out which end of the brush is the “right” one. I know you’re trying to master watercolor as we chat and you're watching a lot of videos, admiring other artists, wondering if you’ll ever get that kind of flow or looseness in your work.

Here’s what I want you to hear — not as a teacher, but as someone who's walked the same uncertain, paint-stained road.

Draw More. A Lot More.

Before you stress about the perfect brushstroke or paper type, just draw more. It’s the gateway to freedom. It doesn’t have to be pretty or polished — it’s about understanding what you’re looking at. When you draw more, you get familiar with your subjects. When you're familiar, you paint looser.

Don’t Marry a Style — Yet

You’ll fall in love with a hundred different artists. You’ll want to paint just like them. That’s fine. Admire them. Study them. But don’t force yourself to paint like them. Some styles look beautiful but won’t feel natural in your hands — and that’s okay. Explore a little bit of everything. Get messy. Discover how you like to apply paint and interpret the world.

Try Every Brush You Can Get Your Hands On

Don’t limit yourself to the brushes on the “approved” lists. That weird old brush with the frayed edges? It might become your favorite. Flat brushes, bristle brushes, cheap craft store brushes — experiment with all of it.

Keep It Playful

Stop trying to make every painting “good.” Watercolor rewards play, not perfection. The looser you are, the more alive your work feels. Let go of the need to impress — just show up, mix paint, make a mark, see what happens.

Final Thought

Everything you're looking for is on the other side of exploration. So don’t rush it. Keep drawing, keep painting, keep experimenting — and above all, trust your own instincts more than anyone else’s.

You’ve got this.