There's this elusive quality that I strive for when I paint: an ease, an impressionistic take on a subject, an artistic rendering of a scene. 

In a word, I want to paint loosely. 

It's this quality that can take a perfectly fine painting and transform it into an intriguing, atmospheric, mesmerizing work of art.

5 Keys to Loosen Up Your Watercolors

Achieving this look of looseness can seem difficult even to describe, much less implement into your watercolor paintings.

But it really comes down to some foundational practices. And you can put these into practice just as well as any other artist. 

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Keep reading to learn how to transform your paintings from tight, literal renderings to loose, impressionistic works of art. 

1. Squint When Looking at Your Watercolor Subject.

This sounds too simple to be true, I know. And maybe it sounds counterintuitive. Don't we want to heighten our senses to observe our watercolor subject with accuracy and insight? 

But when you squint but your perception can actually be heightened. Your awareness of the shapes in front of you come into focus more easily, and it is much easier to accomplish my second piece of advice when learning to paint loosely in watercolor.

2. Find the Large Shapes of Your Watercolor Scene.

Identifying the large shapes of your scene will bring unity to your painting as well as keep everything looking looser.

We are all very good at seeing the little details of a watercolor scene, and we sometimes become too enamored with them. We can be tricked into thinking they are what really make the scene. And, no doubt, they can be gorgeous, but when you fill a painting with all the many details you notice, you often end up with a disjointed, unfocused, and rigidly painted watercolor scene.

However, when you can see create the connected shape of the scene, it will help you to identify the important details that matter to the scene.

Below is a painting of mine, in process. At this point in the painting process, I had just completed my second wash, which is when I typically focus on painting the large, connected shape. Notice how the middle values connect across the painting: the shadow side of the building connects to the shadows on the street which connect to the cars and the shadows underneath them. Similarly, the shape of the trees connect to the buildings. 

This is what I mean when I refer to the connected shape.

We have to train our eye to look for those big connections versus the small little details. We have to keep our eyes out for how all of your subjects are connected and see them as shapes.

When you see things as shapes rather than things, you can actually paint and draw them more accurately.

To illustrate this concept, picture in your mind a house. A car. A coffee mug. A tree. Your brain conjures familiar objects and their shapes quickly and easily. When we go to paint these familiar objects, our mind tends to go into overdrive and fill in gaps that we don't need filled in yet. We end up not seeing the shapes in front of us, but the ones in our minds. 

Unfortunately, this can hinder our painting process.  But if you can train your brain to think of this thing as just another shape, this can really help you simplify and loosen things up in your painting.

3. Determine Your Focal Point and Minimize Other Elements.

The next key is to focus on the simple statement of the scene. This, of course, requires us to determine what the scene is all about.

Ask yourself:

• What it is that drew you to the scene in the first place?
• What matters most to you in the scene?
• Why do you think would make a compelling watercolor?

Maybe your answer is the light on a building, interesting architecture, a specific figure, intriguing shadows, or the grandeur of a building. Whatever it is, define it so that it doesn't get lost. You want whatever it is that lights you up to light up about this painting to do the same for your viewer. 

Throughout the watercolor painting process, work to make this focal point the feature of the painting. Use contrast, edge, and texture to make it stand out. And - this is important - minimize other details around it. Maybe that means softening the background of your painting or  using soft edges on the areas of the scene that aren't as important. Whatever you do, do not allow the main idea of the painting to get lost.  

Remember, if we emphasize everything in our painting, we are emphasizing nothing. When everything in your watercolor has equal value, it tends to get overworked and rigid. For that loose feel, you have to keep your main idea in focus throughout the watercolor painting process. 

4. Know When You Should Put Your Watercolor Brush Down.

The next key to having a loose approach is to know when to stop. The way I think about it is - you want to paint just enough detail until it resembles what it is you're wanting to paint, and then you want to stop. 

A lot of times I see students of mine get a beautiful feel in the first wash, great connections in the second wash, but when it comes to the final wash - adding those darks and details - they flood the painting with unnecessary details. 

This overworking robs your painting from freshness. Instead, we want to strike a balance in our watercolor scene. Some parts can be rendered completely, but others should be left vague. Save that sense of finish and detail for the most important part of your scene.

 5. Step Back From Your Watercolor Painting Periodically.

And the last secret of developing a looser style, is: back away from your watercolor painting often.

During so much of the painting process, we are hovering right over our painting, trying to get it exactly right. We are focusing really intently, and sometimes we can get tunnel vision. We can't see the forest for the trees.  

If you can make a point to periodically take a step back and assess your painting as a whole, you will develop the looseness you want in your watercolors. The more you do this, the less obsessed you will become with those minute details. You'll train yourself to think more about the big picture. 

Bonus Tip for Looser Watercolor Brush Marks

I know I promised you five secrets to loose paintings, but here's another quick one! 

Try holding your watercolor paintbrush a little further back when you paint. Loosen your grip a bit.

Of course, there are times when you need to hold a little bit closer to the bristles to achieve a fine or specific mark. But, during the first couple washes of a watercolor scene, there are times when you can let up a bit for those looser brush marks that lend you that character and interest.

Related Blogs:

Tape-Free Watercolor: Embracing Spontaneity on Paper

How to Loosen Up Your Painting Style

Watercolor's Greatest Advantage