Hello workshoppers. As we enter the 3rd lesson week, once again I want to turn your focus to what spontaneous paintings are primarily for...learning. I've been seeing some nice spontaneous examples in the gallery, but just to reiterate, any new knowledge you've come away with is what's most important. As you go through this workshop please COMMENT and let me and others know: • what skills/techniques have been strengthened and improved? • what new techniques have you learned? • what new watercolor discoveries have been made? This is where the win will be in a workshop like this. If the pictures you end up with are to your liking, that's just a bonus.

I paid attention in the third lesson and used the scattered droplets to move the paint - a great combination of wet and dry surface and joining areas together really made for a lot of unexpected combos etc. I thought turning each piece around in stage one was interesting too. Sometimes a different orientation gave an easier read or better shading etc.

Excellent! Thanks for the input Mary Beth.

All four lessons have been so helpful, Steve. I think the most important thing I've learned that I need to work on is water control. It's too easy (for me!) to flood the paper and end up with a mess. I REALLY enjoy spontaneous painting and I'd like to thank Strathmore for sponsoring these workshop series.

Thanks so much DkD!

The most important thing I have learnt so far from these lessons, is that the exercises make me really FOCUS on what the water colour is doing on paper. To understand the flows and mixing of water and paint. I am not new to water colour but these exercise kind of force me to understand how I am applying the paint as well. I noticed that I need a much gentler touch. I have learned a good way of testing materials. Thank you Steve for helping me understand the magic of water colour more:)

Excellent to hear Lotus! You've landed on one of the chief lessons here.

The idea of segmented spontaneity is brilliant! I've previously tried a painting similar to the one I posted, but with limited success. With practice, this technique will make so many things possible.

Thank you for this lesson about spontaneous painting. What I have learned is to be patient and watch what water color does on its own. Then I’ve learned how to step back and wait till it dries to do the next layer. Before this I was just doing it too soon. Also it’s a lot of fun, thanks Steve,

Thank you so much for this workshop! Spontaneity is the total opposite of how I paint and it’s something I struggle a lot with. This workshop is like opening a door to another world. I have tried the wet on wet method. Technically, I’ve learned to be careful with the wetness of the paper, and the brush because if it’s too watery it will make puddles and mud everything. And I’ve also learned that I need to stop touching everything and just let the watercolor do its thing. This is the most important lesson for me so far, and it doesn’t only apply to watercolors! This method goes beyond painting. And it’s so fun! I can see myself playing with spontaneous painting very often. Thank you again!

Thank you Steve I will be incorporating what I have learnt in this workshop into my water colour paintings and experimenting. Thank you for doing this workshop ,and thank you Strathmore for the opportunity. All the best

Well -- that was fun! I've enjoyed observing pigments merge and mingle -- and doing what they do best. It's then also very exciting to watch objects emerge (with a little help) from the random first washes. I've learned some very valuable techniques to free up my watercolour paintings and to get to know my paints. Who would have thought that there is an art to spritzing and spraying water (my mist bottle is only doing half the job) -- I'm definitely going to experiment with different nozzles. Thank you Steve for a great workshop, I must admit, I actually got a buzz out of watching paint dry . . . ;-)

My pleasure Susanne! Thanks for watching!

I agree with DkD. It's all about the water. I'm practicing in a journal and have to watch for pools of water. Steve's lesson are always informative and fun.

I want to thank you for your course Steve! I never had a positive experience with watercolors. Made lots of mud!LOL! Too much water was a key. I am going to keep practicing with the techniques you presented. I loved my little pine trees...:)