THE NO. 1 MISTAKE YOU'RE MAKING WITH WATERCOLOR

Take a look at the two watercolor sketches below. Which green door catches your attention first? What do you notice about how the colors pop? Which sketch has more depth?

There's only one difference between how I painted these two sketches: the use of black watercolor in the sketch on the left. In this post, we’ll focus on why using black watercolor can be a watercolor mistake, how to avoid muddying your shadows with black watercolor, and what to do instead. We’ll also look at how you can use up any black watercolor you already own, without dulling your sketches!

Are you making this common watercolor mistake with black paint?

If so, you’re not alone! Many beginners do it, and it might be flattening your sketch without you realizing it.

Watch the video tutorial below to learn:

• why black paint makes your artwork look muddy,

• what to use instead for beautiful, vibrant shadows,

• my favorite ways to mix dark shadows without dulling your colors, and

• when black watercolor can be useful in your practice.

This is a small change with a huge impact — your paintings will feel more alive, balanced, and full of light!

Made a watercolor mistake with black paint? Here’s how to use it up creatively!

You now know to avoid using black watercolor to muddy your shadows or dull your sketches. But watercolor is expensive, and you don't want to waste it! Especially since so many beginner sets come with a pan of black watercolor.

Here are my favorite ways to use up black watercolor:

• practice new techniques, for example, you could learn how to use a rigger brush to paint tree branches with watercolor! It doesn't matter what color you use for these exercises because the focus is on the quality of the line and the movement of your paintbrush across the page.

  
  

• practice timing exercises, especially if you've recently bought new paper that you need to get familiar with. Check out the timing experiments in this blog post. They're perfect for beginners!

  
  

• create thumbnails or quick value studies. Before you start your main sketch, it's a good idea to identify the darkest areas of your sketch (the shadows) and where you'll leave the paper white for highlights. Doing a quick value study can be a good visual reminder to keep next to you while you're painting your main sketch, especially if you don't plan to follow your reference photo exactly.

  
  

You can also use these tips with any dark color in your palette, as darker colors give you a wider range of values to work with.

These kinds of practices are a great way to get to know colors in your palette that you're not currently using. You might discover your new favorite shadow color or some unexpected granulation!

Have you ever struggled with muddy shadows? What are your favorite colors to mix to create dynamic and interesting shadows? Let me know in the comments below!

Found this post useful? Here’s how you can learn more from me:

Step 1: Subscribe to my Monday newsletters, which include sketching tips, video tutorials and inspiration to improve your confidence and start to develop your own personal style.

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