How to Plan your Painting | Sketching and Painting from a Reference Photo | Etchr Challenge

Hi, Darren from Watercolour Mentor here. This video will help you learn how to turn a reference photo into a watercolour painting. You'll have fun learning how to create different sketches to plan your painting!

This video is for anyone who wants to know the steps and thinking process I take when planning a painting. This is also a complementary video to help anyone who is participating in our group challenge below.

This is the full-length version of this tutorial. View the shortened video here: https://youtu.be/1LqyJAyobaw

𝗘𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆!
Etchr Studio have kindly reached out to sponsor a challenge and giveaway! Win 1 of 3 LIVE mini-workshops featuring professional watercolour artists from around the world. Simply post a watercolour painting related to the theme of "People and Nature" (instructions below)! It could be a painting of a person, an animal, landscape or a person/animal in a landscape. I've kept the theme broad to make it easier for you to find something to paint. Most importantly… have fun! This is a great opportunity to paint something different and learn how to turn reference photos into a painting.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀?
1 of 3 LIVE mini-workshops featuring professional watercolour artists from around the world. These workshops are online, and previous workshop recordings are also available. View your choices here: https://etchrstudio.com/collections/mini-workshops
Free workshop vouchers will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners!

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿?
Important: join our Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/watercolourbeginners) and post a photograph or scan of your entry under the topic "peopleandnature". To add a topic, firstly post your entry. Then, view your post and click the three dots on the top right hand corner. Click "# edit post topics" and type "peopleandnature". Select the tag, and click save. You can also post your entry as a comment below if you are having issues with the above method. If you're stuck, reach out and I will help you.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱?
The challenge starts on the 27/03/21 (if you can see this post, its on!) and ends at 12am, Sunday 4 April (Australian Eastern Daylight Time).

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱?
Winners will be randomly selected from the list of entries under "peopleandnature" at 12am, Sunday 4 April (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). Winners will be published in a group announcement on the same date. I'll send the prize vouchers to you via email or messenger. Good luck!

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► More Free Tutorials - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-P-SvQRGMAeLrBN_bHhl2A/playlists?

𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗘𝗕𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘:
► https://www.watercolourmentor.com/

𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗢𝗡:
► https://www.patreon.com/watercolourmentor

𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔
► Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/watercolourmentor/
► Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/watercolourbeginners/
► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/watercolourmentor/

𝗠𝗬 𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦
► Skillshare - https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/watercolourmentor (Free 2 Week trial through this link)
► Udemy - https://www.udemy.com/user/watercolour-mentor/
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There are affiliate links below. This means that if you click through them, I might receive a commission. It supports my channel without any additional cost to you and allows me to keep producing free content.
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𝗠𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗦 (𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗭𝗢𝗡)

Paper:
► Saunders Waterford Rough Block 300gsm 310 x 410mm (Best for loose landscapes): https://amzn.to/3b2ttn3
► Saunders Waterford Rough Block 300gsm 177 x 254mm: https://amzn.to/34EzFQY
► Saunders Waterford CP Block 300gsm 310 x 410mm (Best all rounder): https://amzn.to/358j5bJ
► Saunders Waterford HP Block 300gsm 310 x 410mm (Best for portraits): https://amzn.to/3905EMc
► Stillman & Birn : Beta Sketchbook 8.25 x 11.75in (A4): https://amzn.to/3b0ZHiA
► Stillman & Birn : Gamma Sketchbook 8.25 x 11.75in (A4): https://amzn.to/3gCD98W
► Moleskine Watercolour Hard Cover Notebook - Plain - Large - Black: https://amzn.to/3lVD2t1
► Winsor & Newton Paper Journal, Cold Pressed 140lb 5x7 (I also have the A4 Australian Version, same paper) https://amzn.to/321Hlek

Paints:
► DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Primary Watercolor Set: https://amzn.to/3jlGD1y
► Schmincke Horadam Aquarell Full-Pan Paint Metal Set, Set of 24 Colors: https://amzn.to/3i820Dd
► Mijello Mission Gold Water Color Palette Set, 36 Colors: https://amzn.to/3jNMGMz
► St. Petersburg Watercolour Ultimate Set/36: https://amzn.to/2QWg5aS
► Winsor & Newton - Cotman Watercolours 12 Half Pan Pocket Box: https://amzn.to/359NnM0

Brushes:
► 3 x Caligraphy Brush Set (wash and large detailing brushes): https://amzn.to/2EKd22z
► Escoda No. 4 KOLINSKY-TAJMYR SABLE (my fine detailing brush): https://amzn.to/33279GD
► Watercolour Sable Round Brush set (various round brushes): https://amzn.to/3i5RWum
► 15 Piece Synthetic Brush set (contains fan/flat brushes): https://amzn.to/3h2btL6