🎨 10 Watercolor Mistakes That Might Be Ruining Your Paintings (And How to Fix Them)

Jul 28

Watercolor can be both magical and maddening. It’s a medium that rewards flow, confidence, and trust—but there are a few silent culprits that can hold us back without us even realizing.

Here are 10 watercolor mistakes I’ve made (and still catch myself making)—plus simple shifts that can make a huge difference in your work. If your a more visual person, I have a video on this here.

1. Low-Quality Paints

🧪 The problem:
Student-grade paints often lack pigment, feel chalky, and can fade over time. They also make color mixing harder and more unpredictable.

🎨 The fix:
Invest in artist-grade paints, even just a few primary colors to start. You'll see an immediate difference in vibrancy and how your paint moves on paper. If you're not ready for a full switch, try upgrading your most-used colors first.

2. Using the Wrong Brushes

🖌️ The problem:
Brushes that are too stiff or that don’t hold enough water will fight you—making it hard to get smooth washes or clean lines.

🎨 The fix:
Look for brushes specifically labeled for watercolor. A good round brush with a fine point and great water-holding capacity can go a long way. Don’t hang onto frayed or cheap brushes out of guilt—they can sabotage your control.

3. Poor-Quality Paper

📄 The problem:
Paper that's too thin, too absorbent, or oddly slick can cause your colors to dull, puddle, or dry with weird textures. Most cheap sketchbooks just aren’t built for real watercolor work.

🎨 The fix:
Use 100% cotton, acid-free watercolor paper if possible. Cold-press paper is a great place to start. If budget’s tight, try good-quality sample packs or buy full sheets and cut them into smaller pieces.

4. Poor Water-to-Pigment Ratio

💧 The problem:
If there's too much water, you get puddles, blossoms, and loss of control. If there's too little, colors feel dry, dull, and hard to blend.

🎨 The fix:
Experiment! Mix on a test area first. Try painting one swatch with watery pigment, one with a creamy consistency, and one that’s thick. Learn how each behaves, and adjust depending on your paper and brush.

5. Overworking the Paper

📉 The problem:
Going over the same area again and again lifts fibers, dulls color, and turns everything into mud.

🎨 The fix:
Know when to stop. Let layers dry. Watercolor rewards letting go and allowing imperfections to live. Leave the fix-it mindset behind—and practice trusting your initial marks.

6. Not Adjusting for Environment

🌦️ The problem:
Humidity, heat, and airflow change how watercolor behaves. What works on a rainy day might not work on a dry summer morning.

🎨 The fix:
Notice the conditions. On humid days, let layers dry longer between glazes. On hot, dry days, mist your paper or re-wet areas when needed. Don’t fight your environment—paint with it.

7. Dirty Water and Palette

🥴 The problem:
Murky water dulls your colors, and a dirty palette causes unintentional mixes that throw off your painting.

🎨 The fix:
Use two water jars—one for rinsing, one for clean water. Wipe out wells before reloading fresh color. Sounds simple, but it makes a huge difference.

8. Lack of Planning (Sometimes)

🗺️ The problem:
Watercolor invites spontaneity—but sometimes lack of planning can mean losing highlights, focal points, or composition clarity.

🎨 The fix:
Pause before you begin. Lightly sketch your composition or use masking fluid where needed. Plan where your whites and lightest values will stay untouched.

9. Fear of Making Mistakes

😰 The problem:
Hesitation and overthinking kill the flow. Being afraid to “mess it up” often leads to rigid, lifeless paintings.

🎨 The fix:
Loosen your grip. Watercolor loves bold, committed strokes. Let go of the need to get it right, and instead focus on experiencing the painting.

10. Painting in Poor Lighting

💡 The problem:
Bad lighting makes it hard to judge values and color temperature. You might think a color is vibrant—until you see it in natural light.

🎨 The fix:
Paint in natural daylight when possible (north-facing windows are ideal), or use neutral white light (5000–6500K, CRI 95+). I’ve linked the one I use in this video.

✨ Bonus: Ignoring the White Space

In watercolor, the untouched paper is as powerful as the painted parts.
In Japan, we call this sense of space “ma” — the gap that gives meaning to the shape. Learn to see the white shapes before you paint around them. They bring your work to life.

Want to Dive Deeper?

💬 What about you?

Which of these watercolor mistakes are you still navigating?
Leave a comment or share your own tip—I’d love to hear.

Miwa Gardner https://MIWAGARDNER.COM