Master Watercolor Painting | Macro and Micro Skills

Snapchat: LironYan3

Hi there!

Today I want to talk to you about a concept I've been toying around with lately, that relates to watercolor painting.

I like to call it MICRO and MACRO skills, and today I want to make a distinction between these two.

Micro skills are more technical, and can even revolve around muscle memory. Here are some examples: brush techniques, lifting, glazing, wet-in-wet, water-color ratio and so on.

Macro skills are more high-level, and have to do with work processes and decision making. So for example: how to do the different layers, in what order to work, what color scheme to go with, composition (both the drawing and the different colors), mood and atmosphere, telling a story and so on.

I currently feel like I'm on the verge of becoming very competent with the micro skills. Simultaneously though, I'm coming to realize just how long of a way I still have to go, in terms of the macro skills.

I feel like I still can't tell a good story using my paintings. I feel like many of them still feel fragmented and uneven.

This is something I will soon start to shift my focus towards more.

And this is it!

I hope you enjoyed this video. Let me know in a comment below what you think about this, and where you feel you are at in your watercolor journey.

And I'll see you soon, in the next video (:

- Liron

*** MUSIC CREDITS ***

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0

[rebeccapage]

Yes! Love the way you explained this. My micro skills are intermediate--I can certainly grow them, but I feel comfortable with watercolor. I have and use artist quality tools. Macro skills, my vision still exceeds my skills. I end up painting the same scene at least 2 or 3 times before I'm happy with it. Often I like parts of each painting, and none as a whole.

[leafletleaflet]

I'm a writer and photographer first, so the macro skills come very easily- but I've been trying to tackle seemingly "easy" things (flat washes, gradients, wet on wet) and everything gets muddy where it's not supposed to and sharp where I don't expect it to. Don't underestimate how important technique is!! All your videos are incredibly valuable for me, at least.

[AaronHutson]

hi Liron ! this is an interesting way of breaking down the decisions involved in painting. I've never broken it up like this, but see how it can be useful. what I like to do it so the same painting 2 or 3 times, each time trying different techniques. the same printing in wet in wet versus detailed... using different limited pallets for each version, etc. I find that giving myself constraints really makes it easier to be more creative and "painterly" and break out of the trap of realistic rendering.

[BeckyTregear]

I am pretty much the opposite and find what you've termed "macro skills" to come more easily and naturally, but that "micro skills" are much more difficult because I struggle to focus on perfecting any individual technique at one time - I get too easily bored and distracted! I tend to work on a more "overall" basis in that I learn/figure out techniques together as whole (by trial and error, mostly error, lol), so when I am painting a picture I just make it up as I go along rather than being focused on minute details. I hope to make a more concerted effort to improve specific techniques in 2018 but knowing me I'll last a week then be like "stuff it, I'll just paint a picture and hope it turns out half-decent". It takes all kinds! Love your videos by the way :)

[diannekrogers]

Good concept, Liron! Good observation. Gives me a lot to think about.
I assume drawing is very micro. Off topic, I'm having a problem - I get so frustrated when I put a lot of time into a drawing I'm really happy with
, then feel like I've messed it up with the paint, either color choices or just sloppy work.
I often tend to abandon it rather than trying to salvage some good from it. I just want to paint - I don't want to have to draw it again!
Keep up the good work. I hardly ever miss one of your videos!

[lmdi]

Bingo! you really hit it on this one in particular for me Liron. All through my past with oils, acrylics, pastels, I could dwell on the macro and come closest to my vision. Not so with watercolor where the micro is so closely linked and important to the macro.... so much planning has to go into watercolor.. so much dwelling on the micro.... that it always threatens to destroy the joy of the process... and then, to sit back and view it when the macro doesn't succeed due to being overwhelmed by the micro, well, its very discouraging. I'm still struggling trying different methods and materials.. like paper... to free me. Not sure I said that right but thank you so much for a very clarifying talk.

[JojanVlogt]

Great video! I am very insecure in both my micro and macro skills. I think it is a very good distinction to make.

[sarahconroy]

😊 Do you think it would be helpful if you discussed how one can use them in a watercolour painting to enhance the composition. I mean watercolour pencils. Mary from Toronto

[SoulKeever]

It sounds like you're talking about technical skills vs using the elements of art to create an effective composition. I like to refer to macro skills as "looking at the big picture, " but it's the same idea. Macro skills trump micro skills overall, but mastery of micro skills complements the macro. Creating a composition that communicates your intent can compensate for so-so technique, but technical skill can't compensate for composition that doesn't communicate your intent.

Sometimes composition kicks my butt. But when that happens, I remind myself that they're not all going to be masterpieces, especially when you're working on the fly. After that, you try to do better next time and revise the composition or scrap it altogether and start over.

[Donna_G]

Hi Liron, I have not come across those terms in my art adventure. However, I have encountered them a time or two in the world of photography.

I have my own theory on the world of art, painting, and such; and, that is the fact that everybody is different. The same painting, drawing, or what have you instructional method just will not work for everybody. If we were all cookie cutter people, then a cookie cutter instructional course will work. But, as I stated previously, everybody is different.

I believe color theory is more beneficial than knowing how to draw. But, that does not mean that drawing in some situations is not important. Susie Short introduced me to the split primary color wheel/palette. I have never met her in person; but, know that she used to do instructional workshops for Daniel Smith.

If an artist announces that he or she has learned all there is about art, my guess is that statement may only be true in his/her mind. There seems always to be something to learn.

[lairaklock]

Im the opposite. Know a lot about the process, efficient use of material, etc., but have a serious lack of micro skills. Guess practice is the only solution