{"id":236,"date":"2026-07-17T17:16:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T21:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/?p=236"},"modified":"2026-07-18T14:33:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T18:33:42","slug":"an-oil-painters-2-year-watercolor-journey-learning-to-let-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/an-oil-painters-2-year-watercolor-journey-learning-to-let-go\/","title":{"rendered":"An Oil Painter&#8217;s 2-Year Watercolor Journey: Learning to Let Go"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend materials<\/em> <em>I personally use or believe are helpful for artists.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Discovering Watercolor<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I thought I&#8217;d share a little backstory on my watercolor journey as an oil painter \u2014 because the two mediums could not be more different, and honestly, watercolor humbled me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"An Oil Painter&amp;apos;s 2-Year Watercolor Journey  | Landscape Watercolor Painting\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fI5QW0fXra8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I started noticing watercolor clips on Instagram and got curious. I&#8217;d been working with oil for a long time, and something about the way the water flowed \u2014 how light and airy the paintings looked \u2014 drew me in. I wanted to try it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I first picked it up about two years ago, fitting it in between oil paintings whenever I wanted a change of pace. Mostly quick sketches, experimenting, and seeing what the medium would do. Like so many people, I learned a lot just by watching watercolor artists on YouTube.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Watercolor Was So Challenging<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I quickly learned is that watercolor is not as forgiving as oil. With oil, you can paint over mistakes, and make adjustments long after the paint has been applied. You can layer lighter colors over darker ones, or even wipe away sections with turpentine and start again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"964\" height=\"568\" src=\"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image.png 964w, https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-768x453.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 964px) 100vw, 964px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With watercolor, every mark matters. It&#8217;s very easy to overwork a painting, especially when you decide to go back in and fix something. Coming from oil, where I&#8217;m used to a certain level of control and precision, letting go was genuinely hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learning to Let Go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are things about watercolor I&#8217;ve come to love. I love watching two colors blend together on the paper creating soft transitions where they meet. Certain pigments are granulating, meaning they separate and settle into the paper in beautiful, unpredictable ways. Add another color or a little more water, and delicate blooms begin to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The color branches out like little trees. That unpredictability&#8230; is something I&#8217;ve learned to watch for and appreciate. It&#8217;s those unexpected moments that keep me coming back to watercolor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"548\" src=\"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-1.png 975w, https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/image-1-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After two years I think I&#8217;m finally starting to get it \u2014 learning to be patient, release the need for control, and stop trying to capture every little detail. I love the challenge of working with something new and watching my own progress over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This piece is a good example of where I am right now with watercolor. I still make many of the same mistakes, but each painting reminds me to let go a little more and enjoy the process of not always being in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"993\" src=\"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/colorado-field-painting-1.jpg\" alt=\"Watercolor painting of a sunny field in Colorado. Blue skies, lush green field and mountains in the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-243\" style=\"width:695px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/colorado-field-painting-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/colorado-field-painting-1-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/colorado-field-painting-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/laurenkatepaintings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/colorado-field-painting-1-768x763.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My Favorite Watercolor Supplies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Paper<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:8px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/click-101824423-13717235?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fitems%2Farches-watercolor-block-79-x-79-rough-140-lb-20-sheets%2F%3Fclicktracking%3Dtrue%26wmcp%3Dpla%26wmcid%3Ditems%26wmckw%3D10020-1355%26country%3Dus%26currency%3Dusd&amp;cjsku=10020-1355\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Arches Watercolor Block &#8211; 7.9&#8243;x 7.9&#8243;, Rough, 140 lb<\/a> &#8211; when I want more texture to show through.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I typically use watercolor blocks for convenience and less buckling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Brushes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:8px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dpbolvw.net\/click-101824423-13717235?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fitems%2Fsilver-brush-atelier-flat-hake-brush-size-20-long-handle%2F%3Fclicktracking%3Dtrue%26wmcp%3Dpla%26wmcid%3Ditems%26wmckw%3D05479-1020%26country%3Dus%26currency%3Dusd&amp;cjsku=05479-1020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Silver Brush Atelier Hake Brush<\/a> for wetting skies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jdoqocy.com\/click-101824423-13717235?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fitems%2Fescoda-ultimo-synthetic-squirrel-brush-mop-size-10%2F%3Fclicktracking%3Dtrue%26wmcp%3Dpla%26wmcid%3Ditems%26wmckw%3D09392-1510%26country%3Dus%26currency%3Dusd&amp;cjsku=09392-1510\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Escoda \u00daltimo Synthetic Squirrel Brush &#8211; Mop 10<\/a> for large washes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tkqlhce.com\/click-101824423-13717235?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dickblick.com%2Fitems%2Fescoda-ultimo-synthetic-squirrel-brush-round-size-6%2F%3Fclicktracking%3Dtrue%26wmcp%3Dpla%26wmcid%3Ditems%26wmckw%3D09392-1206%26country%3Dus%26currency%3Dusd&amp;cjsku=09392-1206\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Escoda \u00daltimo Synthetic Squirrel Brush &#8211; Round 6<\/a> brush for details<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Paints<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.anrdoezrs.net\/click-101824423-13762091\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow\">Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Tubes and Sets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holbein&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Favorite pigments (Manganese Blue, Cobalt, Blue Ultramarine, Thalo yellow green, Burnt Sienna.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>An Oil Painter&#039;s 2-Year Watercolor Journey: Learning to Let Go - Paint &amp; 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