4 Watercolour Myths That Might Be Messing Up Your Art (And What You Should Do Instead)

March 31, 2025

So, you’ve followed all the “right” steps…
But why does your painting still not look how you imagined?

Chances are, you’re following advice that sounds helpful—but just isn’t true.

Yep. Some of those popular watercolour tips?
They might be the very things holding you back.

In this post, we’re breaking down 4 common watercolour myths—and showing you better ways to paint with more confidence and color.

Let’s clear things up.

Myth #1: “Start Light and Layer Slowly”

You’ve probably heard, “Start with really light colours and add more layers little by little.”
Sure, that can work sometimes. But being too careful often makes your painting look flat or dull.

Try this instead:

Start with midtones, and leave the light parts (your highlights) unpainted.
Later, you can darken shadows if you need to—but your colours will stay bold and fresh.

Myth #2: “You Can’t Fix Mistakes in Watercolour”

Ever felt like one wrong stroke ruins everything?
That’s not true.

Try these fixes:

Lifting: Use a damp brush or tissue to gently dab off extra paint.
Scrubbing: Use a stiff brush with clean water to scrub and lighten an area.
Magic Eraser Trick: Yep—the one you use for cleaning! Dampen a small piece and gently rub the dried paint. It can help erase it like magic.

Mistakes happen. Good thing watercolour gives you more chances than you think.

Myth #3: “Always Use a Lot of Water”

Water is key in watercolour—but using too much can cause problems:

Your colours look too light or washed out
Paint bleeds and spreads everywhere
Your paper warps and buckles

Try this instead:

Learn how to use 3 water levels:

Dry brush – for textured, scratchy strokes
Damp brush – for soft blends and control
Wet-on-wet – for dreamy, soft edges (just watch out for puddles!

Once you understand how much water to use, painting becomes way easier.

Myth #4: “You Have to Be Born with Talent”

Nope. Not even close.

Most great watercolour artists didn’t just “have it” from the start.
They practiced. A lot.

Remember this:

You don’t need natural talent—you need time, effort, and curiosity.
Every artist starts as a beginner (yes, even the ones you admire).
The more you paint, the better you’ll get. Simple as that.

Bonus: A Trick You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

There’s a clever little trick we shared in the video version of this post and once you try it, you’ll never look at watercolour the same way again.

It helps keep your colors bold and clean, without overworking them or turning them muddy.

🎥 Prefer watching instead of reading?

This blog post was adapted from our YouTube video:
The BIGGEST Watercolour Myths… And Why They’re Holding You Back

Watch the myths get debunked on screen—and see the bonus painting hack in action.

👉 Watch the video on YouTube

Final Thoughts

You don’t need perfect tools. You don’t need to be “born with it.”
And you definitely don’t need to follow outdated rules that slow you down.

You just need the right mindset—and the courage to keep going, even when it gets messy.

That’s how real artists grow.

You’ve got this!