Practice Makes Perfect
There are stages in an artist's career when a gap is hard to fill with anything meaningful. The need to produce a work of art disappears for a while. Other things fill the gap and we leave the easel aside. Upon return the hand has lost its steadiness and the brain seems to be detached. Constant repetition is not the aim here, but there is a need to pick up the brushes at regular intervals to keep up the momentum. Like driving the car, there is something to be gained in regular use. The nerve can go. Keeping on practicing is the answer to the loss of skill.
One dimension that adds depth to watercolour painting is the amount of pigment on the brush. New artists to this medium are often afraid of adding much pigment in case the finished product is too heavy but that can be a mistake. Although watercolours are noted for heir airy quality, the omission of enough pigment results in a thin wash, and because the drying process allows the paint to fade, the end product is washed out and without the required depth for the painting to work.
