The most prevalent perception about painting with watercolor is that it is one of the easiest as well as the simplest of the arts which only requires a set of paints, a paint-brush, a bowl of water and a surface to paint on. However, much to their surprise, most of the novices discover that this seemingly easy art needs a lot of practice and dedication along with some basic knowledge pertaining to it. Like in all other fields, beginners who try their hand at painting with watercolor often experience pitfalls some of which might ruin the entire look of the painting. In such a situation, it is better to be informed about the possible mistakes which one is likely to encounter and as far as possible try to avoid or rectify them in the best possible manner.

Some of the common watercolor tips for beginners which would not only enable them to avoid mistakes but correct them as well are listed as follows:

• Artists who are new at painting with watercolor, in an attempt to pick up a color, either dip their brush into the bottle or squeeze pain directly onto the paintbrush. The result is a thick coat of paint being applied on paper thus lending a patchy and untidy look to the painting. The proper method of doing this is to first dish out the paint onto the palette, mix it with adequate amount of water and then apply it to the drawing.
• One of the reasons as to why people enjoy painting with watercolor is its unpredictable nature. But again on the flip side this unpredictable nature might impart an unwanted look to the painting. Such a situation can be best salvaged by letting the paint take its own form rather than trying to manipulate its direction of movement.
• As a painter I have faced this problem that after I have applied the paint in a particular area it does not seem perfect. This problem could be faced by a number of painters and it is important to get rid of the paint without damaging the rest of the painting. This could be done by lifting out the paint with a paper towel, an absorbent cloth or a sponge which will readily absorb the paint.
• However, when the same mistake is realized after the paint has begun to dry then it should be allowed to dry completely and then removed with the help of a slightly damp brush and a paper towel.
• While mixing colors one should always use a white palette or a tile as it is the white background which would reveal the true shade of the color as compared to a darker background.
• Likewise, brushes should always be encased in a plastic or a wooden box as opposed to a cloth or a pouch as it would not only keep the tips safe but also prevent the brush from getting damaged.
• If by any chance there is extra water on the picture then this should be removed with a dry brush and under no circumstances should it be scrubbed with a rag.
• Bleeding of paint is a common problem which artists have to learn to deal with while painting with watercolor. It is essential to first contain the source of bleeding by painting it with shellac so that it does spread across the rest of the paint and spoil the texture of the painting.
• One of the worst mistakes which could be made by a novice painter is to resort to using low quality paints. Such paints generally have their limitations and therefore an artist who wishes to really paint well must buy good quality paints. Quality makes a difference while blending two colors as well apart from tact and the amount of water.
• Beginner artists are strongly recommended to start off with simple shapes and designs initially, gain mastery over watercolor tips for beginners and then only move on to more complicated and intricate designs.