When we first start painting with watercolor, it's easy to believe that better results come from buying better supplies.
A new brush.
A different palette.
Another set of paints.
But over the years, both in my own practice and while teaching thousands of students, I've noticed something interesting.
Most watercolor struggles don't come from the tools.
They come from a few small habits that quietly make painting more difficult than it needs to be.
The good news?
Once you recognize them, they're surprisingly easy to fix.
Here are five watercolor mistakes I see again and again - and what I recommend doing instead.
1. You Mix Beautiful Colors and Never Write Them Down
Have you ever mixed the perfect flower pink, painted happily for an hour, and then realized you had no idea how to recreate that color the next day?
I certainly have.
One of the most valuable habits you can develop as a watercolor artist is recording your favorite color mixtures.
Whenever you discover a color you love, make a small swatch and write down the pigments you used.
It takes only a few seconds, but over time those notes become your own personal color library.
Instead of trying to remember how you mixed that beautiful tulip red or delicate leaf green, you'll have the answer waiting for you.
2. You Test Colors on the Final Painting
Many beginners solve color questions directly on their artwork.
The problem is that watercolor doesn't always give us a second chance.
Before I begin a painting, I almost always create a small color study first.
I test:
Main colors
Shadow colors
Transitions between values
This allows me to make decisions before they reach the final painting.
A few minutes of testing can save hours of corrections later.
Think of it as a conversation with your paints before the real painting begins. In this short lesson, I demonstrate how to make color study pages.
3. You Use Green Straight From the Palette
Green is one of the most common colors in nature.
It's also one of the easiest colors to make look artificial.
Many ready-made greens are much brighter than the greens we actually see outdoors.
When painting leaves, stems, or landscapes, I often prefer mixing my own greens using yellow and blue.
Then I add a tiny touch of red.
That small amount of red softens the intensity and creates a more natural, believable color.
Nature rarely gives us a single green.
It gives us hundreds.
4. You Reach for Pure Black
This one often surprises people.
Many artists automatically use black straight from the tube whenever they need dark values.
But shadows in nature are rarely just black.
They contain subtle color, temperature, life.
One of my favorite dark mixtures combines:
Indigo
Perylene Violet
Transparent Yellow
These are all colors from my Watercolor Collection, and together they create rich, natural darks that feel much more vibrant than using black alone.
The result has depth and harmony while still giving you the strength you need for shadows and contrast.
5. You Throw Away Your Color Mixes After Every Session
Watercolor is a very forgiving medium.
Even your color mixtures can often be saved and reused.
If I've mixed colors I know I'll need again, I simply cover my palette and leave it for the next painting session.
Most watercolor paints reactivate beautifully with water.
Not only does this save paint, but it also helps maintain consistency when working on a painting over several days.
Sometimes the color you worked so hard to mix yesterday is exactly the color you'll need tomorrow.
A Small Change That Makes a Big Difference
None of these mistakes make you a bad artist.
Most watercolor painters have made every one of them at some point, including me.
The goal isn't perfection. It's making the process a little smoother and more enjoyable each time you paint.
The next time you sit down with your brushes, choose just one of these habits to improve. Small changes often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
If you'd like to continue building strong watercolor foundations, you can download my free Watercolor 101 Guide.
It includes 40 lessons on color mixing, tonal values, layering, brush control, supplies, and many other watercolor essentials designed to help you paint with more confidence.
With love,
Kristine 💚
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