Learn watercolor painting: Yong Chen's students corner where students and friends exhibits work and share watercolor learning experience

Many of Yong Chen's students have been enjoying the fun and joy of watercolor painting. Some of these students had no prior painting and drawing experience. How did they learn the secrets so quickly, and be able to paint watercolor with confidence? Here are some of their notes to document their true watercolor learning stories.

Watercolor Learning Experience

	Xiao Dan Zhao This new assignment is focus on using two contrast groups of colour to create a painting. Followed by the colour theory that I learned from last class, the contract colours are any two colors which are directly opposite to each other in the colour wheel, such as red and green... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Xiao Dan Zhao This work was focus on how to use one color to paint. Before I took this watercolor class, when I thought about the one color painting, it usually associates with simple, flat and boring. But now I knew that with one color, I could use water to control its value between dark to light, as more water I added, the paler the color would become... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Xiao Dan Zhao First of all, I drew a part of my hose and left a large part of paper keeps white to indicate the snow. And I used the light value of color to paint the garage and the forest that a little far away from the front door. Then, I used the enlarge photo to paint me and my aunt, so I can painted the people’s detail more particular. Generally... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Nicole Brathwaite This is my first time taking a watercolor painting course. When I first began the class I had no idea what to expect, but now that we're half way into the semester, I have no regrets or second thoughts about ever signing up for this class... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Nicole Brathwaite The process of this second project was much different then my first watercolor painting in this course. I feel like I understand the difference between contrast (light and dark). I chose to draw an ice cream cone because it was pretty simple and it would also show a color variation between the ice cream and the cone... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Nicole Brathwaite I feel very strongly about my color choice and placement. My colors came out the way I wanted them to, very bright with a variety of shades. The only complaint I have is choosing a photo with better light quality and using a different angle for the image section with me in it. I wish I could have made myself a little bit larger than I did in the actual image... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Anthony Burgos Other than my inexperience, perhaps my greatest hesitation when first working on this piece was the very loose feel of watercolor. As I stated before, I am used to using pens and pencils; tow mediums which are tight and controlled. The switch to watercolors was a drastic difference as the brush and free flowing movement of the painting took some getting used to... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Anthony Burgos This piece is done in a very loose, flowing, more organic style than I am used to. My usual method of painting involves me heavily layering watercolor paint with small amounts of water, in an almost acrylic kind of style. This drawing on the other hand was done extremely loosely, using a small amount of paint and more water... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Lisa Carson When I started painting my grandfathers face I began to only see lines, in class you showed me that it is not the lines to look for! it is the shapes and shadows then my eye started to see them as I went on painting everyday for about seven days 3-4 hours a day I found that putting the shapes together was like putting a puzzle together... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Lisa Carson My painting of the cat next to the bowl and window was a little frustrating. There was to much going on in the painting. So I simplified it with less things going on outside of the window and toned down the curtain with a deeper color. Then I realised that there was to many colors in the picture there was not a true dominant color and a complimentary color... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Lisa Carson The horse painting was so enjoyable to do. I love the contrast in colors. With the deep back ground that brings out the light and meduim tones of the horse. This painting was one of the easiest I have done so far. When you use less colors, dark and light tones it gives the painter an easier choice as to what to use... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Lisa Carson I think that I should have taken more time and moved the bird more toward the middle of the painting. So now I am not going to only spend 3 or 4 hours on a painting. Time is much better spent when you are taking your time. I love using the blue colors in this painting and trying to make the feathers look real... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Alina Chekhivska My first experience with water colors happened, as far as I remember, around third grade in a high-school, me being about ten years old. Remember we were taught to draw natural-looking green apples with juicy red sides. That was the only experience until now, when I am already 21 years old. I have always been persuaded that water colors are one of the most... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Alina Chekhivska I'd love to describe my experience about one of my recent works, specifically - the drawing of a cozy restaurant with bright yellow walls and blue wooden decoration. The idea of the painting came from the photo image, which I randomly found in the travel magazine. Despite the colors were more mild and brownish, I fell in love with the composition... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Karen Cotrina On the other hand, one of the foundations of watercolor is drawing something that at this current moment I’m having some difficulties. Lucky for me my instructor is one of the best professors I have had. With his patience and passion for his work, he helps me and my classmates to understand and learn this beautiful art... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Consuelo Diaz During my introduction to the medium of watercolor painting. I have been most satisfied, for the new techniques that we have learned as a group during the past four weeks. We have learned about basic techniques with the use of primary colors, we have drawn from observation as well as how to manipulate value, tone, and color... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Chris Harrington Using watercolor for the first time since pre-school has really changed my opinion on it. I had always viewed the paints as soft with a singular emotion, but I had realized that you can obtain a whole spectrum of emotion, what I did get done had presented watercolors challenge... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Chris Harrington The first full color painting I choose to do was a portrait of “The Predator” from said movie. For the sake of minimalism (out of habit), I had only used a few colors to distinguish the creature from the tree and the background. It proved to be a bit of a challenge trying to bring out the details of the predator, while making sure it didn’t blend in with the background and... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Fatuma Hassan My first experience water coloring could not have been better. I learned that all colors originated from three main simple colors yellow, red and blue. I found a new sense of enjoyment for coloring. I was actually having fun and when it was time to clean up I found myself feeling sad. It reminded me of all the times I declared that it was time to clean up and my three year old would pout and cry... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Shineca Jack It was the first time I ever painted anything with such detail, I’ve always liked to draw and did some painting when I was about 5 or 6 years, but nothing more. To begin this assignment, I first sketched the flower which wasn’t hard, then mixed the red paint with lots of water to tone the color down until I got a pink color... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Shineca Jack It took me about three days to complete this painting and I had so much fun doing it. I started painting the chairs first and worked my way to the water and mountains. Showing the details in the mountain such as the trees and buildings were a little harder to do but I managed to pull it off. So finally I did the floor last because it was the easiest, that way I could take the time to enjoy my work even more... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim My first experience of painting house was an exciting experience. Significantly, I learned that painting was about a communication and an expression of my emotions. Painting also has a character. Each person has its own painting styles and expressions. In order for me to paint the first house, I had to put all my heart and effort into it. As I was concentrating on the painting... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Puppy painting: I chose the puppy for my painting because I liked the way the puppy smiled. Of course, the puppy was so lovely, cuddly, and cute. Just looking at the puppy gave anyone to smile and be happy. I learned from the critiques that I need to improve the 3 dimensional impacts... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Fisher man painting: I wanted to paint the fisher man because the picture reminded me of an achievement in life. I felt the joy of accomplishing something. In addition, in future, I would like to ride on a boat and go to deep Ocean and catch a big fishes. I learned from critiques that I needed to be more considering of the color value. I learned that color value was so important to the painting... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Beautiful house painting: The house I painted was a sort of my dream house. Even though I could not able to express of my vision completely, however, I was able to paint nicely as I intended to. Overall, the house looked beautiful and stable. Especially, all the trees and flowers surrounding of the house were very dynamic. I learned from the critiques that in order to make the house distinctive... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Vase flower painting: I chose to paint the vase flower because I liked floral arrangements. In my past, I had some experience in floral designing. Observing flowers refreshes my heart and delights my minds. So, I chose to paint the vase flower arrangement... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Mercedes Benz car painting: I am fond of the Benz car. I worked for the Mercedes Benz car company before when I was in Seoul, Korea. It was a short time experience in the exhibition center, however, the Mercedes Benz had a well management system which I admire, and the company treated the employees very well. Therefore, Mercedes Benz car had a significant meaning for me... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Motor cycle racing man painting: The picture was my room’s wall picture. I was trying to capture the movement and vitality of the motor cycle racing man. Personally, I love an action. In fact, in painting, depicting an action makes a painting alive. I learned from the critiques that it was necessary to focus on main object rather than two... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Bible painting/ little flower in a pot painting: The bible influenced me tremendously in spirit. I liked the lighting of bible picture and the feather. I thought the feather on the bible matched well with the entire painting. And I chose the little flower in a pot because it was good size picture for the little size paper... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Ducks painting (Love): Whenever we love each other, we all want to be together. Two docks were facing each other and it seemed to me that it was representing true love. I learned from the critiques that removing distractions behind the main focal point, the two ducks, could make my painting improved. In addition, removing the details of the water wave made my painting more simplified and organized... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Solar System: I chose to paint the Solar System because Science was one of my favorite subjects to explore. The Solar System always has fascinated me because its systematic forms and movements. As the critique indicated that I did not pay detail attention on precise drawing so that the lines of the Solar System were not evenly drawn. I have learned that in order to have a complete result of painting... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Bunker Hill Community College: Bunker Hill Community College is the place where I explore my potential, dreams, and vision. BHCC allowed me to have an opportunity to expand my knowledge, curiosity, and skills as well. Therefore, my painting was part of expressing my appreciation for BHCC... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Snowy Mountain: The snowy Mountain had very interesting division where the top of the mountain was covered by the snow, and then in contrast with that, the below of the mountain was covered by the green grass. I liked the effect of the contrast... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Wedding painting: I believe that a wedding is the one of the most precious event in human life. Significantly, in tropical weather, the wedding appeared to be more romantic than another place to me. Of course, I want to have a wedding just like the painting in the future... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Pizza painting: Everyone loves pizza! So I thought that it would be so fun to paint the pizza. I love fun stuff. While I was painting, I was getting hungry and I wanted to have a slice of it. I have learned from the critique that I needed to make the background of the pizza darker.... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Youngsun Kim Blue Cup Painting: the blue cup painting was simpler than the other painting I did. It became my painting object due to the interesting writing on the cup. I was written in Chinese and the meaning was encouraging. I learned that I needed to improve the reflection of lighting.... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Shaukia Iftikhar When I start water coloring it’s give me the encouragement that I can do it because once I put the color on the paper it makes it own beauty. Prior to this class I did not had any background on water color neither on painting. Throughout this class I learned how to draw the sketches, how to use... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Shaukia Iftikhar By doing the two color painting I realized the more color we add to the painting the more beautiful painting becomes. This part of the class really makes me think about painting seriously. The more painting I do in this class the more interesting it gets. My self confidence on painting is building and now I think I can do it... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Cheng-Chieh Lin This is my first painting experience by water color. I don't know too much about color, and cannot analyze the value of colors. You could say I am in the kindergarten's level in this area. So I was a little nervous when the first class began. Then I got the first assignment was painting a house in fall season. It was a little bit challenge at first beginning... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Cheng-Chieh Lin This painting has to use the same color, but different values. What's value? It's about the brightness or darkness. Not only a color, but also different colors can be the same value. How to be lighter or darker? Deciding your color, if you cover the same color in the same area, it will become darker and darker; if you get more water into the color, it will be lighter and lighter... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Cheng-Chieh Lin From my picture still have to consider the light source, which part should be lighter, which part should be darker. If light source goes this way, how could I paint the shadow? I still have to resolve this problem. Sculpture is really hard to paint, but I think I will get better, if I keeping practice that again and again, and follow professor Chen's teach... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Cheng-Chieh Lin I started to think about how to use other colors making my subject looks more outstanding. I drew the tire by yellow brown color, and I use some green and blue color to compare it. I hope that I can make the picture more interesting, not just a yellow brown tire. I really like this picture, because I was very successful to let it become outstanding, and impact my eyes... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Cheng-Chieh Lin The last problem is reflection. Reflection problem always made me crazy. I had to consider about the light source. (Where the light comes from?) It doesn’t show very clear light source from the picture. Finally, I solved the problem. I forget all the colors; just consider the values (darker and lighter), then I found out what the light source is coming from... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Kwan Wong Cheung I am taking a watercolor course, because my major requires 3 credits in “Humanities Requirement 6”. I think it is much easier than music or oil painting, so I chose it. Now, I think it is not as easy as I thought, because it is not just coloring the paper. I should consider a lot of things such as values, tones and shadows. I have to learn to mix colors... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Kwan Wong Cheung I chose flowers to paint because I love flowers. I saw so many flowers in my life. When I was young, I saw many different flowers in the vase at my living room because my mother loved flowers. I took so many pictures with the flowers. When I grew up, and I always went with my mother to see flowers show every year. We saw a lot of flowers that came from different countries of the world. Flower could... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Sulian Liang In my painting, I started in the main subject – house. The color of roof, front wall and side wall are the same color, but different value. Roof is heavy, front is middle and the side wall is light because the light from that side. Then the ground almost is the same color, some places I add more red, some places I add more yellow to make it looks like different and concave... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Sulian Liang In my few watercolor paintings, I like the tomato mostly because it looks like still live and the color is almost the same as the nature. I feel satisfy of this painting and I am proud of myself that I can do it like real. I started my painting just with the same color. It looks flat. I don't like it. Then I noticed the light and the shadow... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Sulian Liang When I started painting I know how difficult this painting is. First problem is drawing human body. Especially they are small in this painting. I couldn't paint the face well. Second, there is no reference for this painting. It comes from my brain. So I have to thinking about the colors that how to paint ground, flowers and house fancy... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Ada Mai Water color, I saw this word so many times, but I had never touch water color until I take the Water color class. In my impression, water color is complicated, and is difficult to learn. However, I take the class this semester because I want to know more about water color... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Ada Mai I love spring, so my final project has a nice name “Spring House”. Green is spring’s color, I paint my house to light green; red is flower’s color, so I wear red jacket, and the tree has red leaves. The weather in spring still can feel a bit of cold, but , fortunately we have sunshine... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Ada Mai I am enjoying my water color class. I have studied lot of painting skills from the class. When I can use those skill to paint , I feel proud of my job. I treat my painting as my baby because I spend time and put my heart to create it. I like water color more than before and I really enjoy it... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Phuong Thi Nguyen Painting with my own house, I'm feeling great, because I sue my feeling when I'm painting my own house. When I come in to class, my professor said "hang homework on the wall" everyone is hanging on the wall and my professor gave comment of their houses... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Phuong Thi Nguyen I like this picture of two birds near at the beach. It's look pretty and present of two colors different. I am choosing blue and brow, blue present for the beach and some part of feather is blue and brown. I am using light brown color present for the two birds and big rock near the beach... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Cheryl A Nocera On the first art project which as a house during the fall. I did not do so well. First, I did not do the whole picture in a fall setting which was asked of us. I did the background green and we all know that the sky is not green even if it were summer... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Cheryl A Nocera n this art project I was asked to draw an egg and it started off that way but I got side tracked. I started off drawing an egg and I realized it was bigger than what it should have been. At that point I drew a smaller egg which looked like an egg... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Khadija Barre My first water color was not good i never draw before or did water color in my life before but i love doing water color paint now when i go places i look the paints on the walls. i try to do the same but i know that i can not do the some. i also like my teacher because he said that if you love something you have to try a lot of time nothing comes easy... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Yoon oh Park During 5 weeks, I had great time with a lot of fun to explore the world of watercolor in every class with Professor Yong Chan. I think it was fortunate that I could begin this journey to the art by water color. At first class I practiced color making, which I learned how each color can be mixed together... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Yoon oh Park Now, I am learning about water color, working on current project "Using 1 color drawing". Professor demonstrated this project with diverse water color technique. We can create whatever color what we want by using amount of water. Following professor's instruction, I'm trying to get learn how to adjust water and make proper color... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Michaela Smith Having these new techniques taught to us is a great thing for me as I came to this class not knowing anything about painting with any form of paint. I have never taken any courses in painting or even drawing, thus being able paint, learn how to remove painting and make it darker or lighter... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Phyu Than This class is really good and this is my favorite class. Because this is morning class and I can learn a lot of things about painting. I didn't know about how to mix color and how to get different color from three primary colors. Right now I know how to use three primary colors to mix any other color from these three colors... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Phyu Than In the middle of the semester, I drew one rose bud without background. I only drew one rose bud and I didn’t put anything. My professor Yong discussed my picture. He said to me when he looked at my picture he felt very lonely and my picture was like a scientific picture. I agree that and I accepted his advice... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Phyu Than I would like to try one more rose picture with background. While I drew this rose picture second time I was so excited about the painting. I choose red rose and green background. After I finished my rose picture I compared two pictures. I can see different view and feel different. I feel like my picture is much better than the first picture and it also looks warmer... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Phyu Than I would like to draw and paint about sky and ground together. But I couldn’t draw it. Right now I am taking watercolor class. So there is a chance that I can try my dream. My professor said to us “when you draw a picture the background is very important. If I put some background and such as tree something like that it makes my picture warmer... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Vanessa Wilson When I started Yong Chen's water color class I had a lot of experience drawing and painting with acrylic paint and other mediums but I was very scared to use watercolor because I thought it was too delicate for me, and I thought that it would be difficult to fix my mistakes... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Haipeng Xu One of the most important things in our mind should be how to express light and shadow properly. When we put the color on the picture, we have to pay a lot of attention to the light. Where the light comes from and where should be under the shadow, where should be shined... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Haipeng Xu When I use several colors presenting in a picture, I should make them looking comfortable; and at the same time, I have to make sure the main part jump out from all colors. For example, when I make a picture of fruits, I should pick the main color to underline the fruits I want to emphasis... Continue my watercolor learning experience
	Haipeng Xu It is very important to arrange the position between the building and the figures. In order to make figures jumped out. I decided to put the figures in the closest position to the reviewer. At the meantime, the background becomes the whole building and the garden. It is more nature to have the figure at the road in front of the door of the house... Continue my watercolor learning experience

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