Dean Mitchell (Ep.30)
Dean Mitchell works across several media, but we focus in on his watercolor work. In the conversation you’ll discover the importance of seeing abstractly, how Mitchell uses powerful neutrals and why intent is the most important piece of his painting process.
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Learn more about watercolorist Dean Mitchell here:
In this conversation with talk about:
1:19 How did you get started in art?
1:33 How Dean Mitchell found watercolor
1:51 How he taught himself to learn watercolor
2:25 The trickiest part of getting started
2:49 On watercolor
3:31 Looking at other people’s work
5:03 Working through finished paintings or experimenting
6:38 Practicing confidence in watercolor
7:44 Learning to be expressive
10:23 The importance of drawing
12:03 Saying a lot with a little
14:10 Types of paints on his palette
15:41 Trouble mixing
17:13 Watercolor paper
19:49 Know how you paint. Get the paper for the job
21:01 Paper and edge quality
21:40 When paint goes sideways
22:17 Fresh paints vs dried paints
23:07 How many colors do you work with?
25:40 How does Mitchell decide what to paint?
28:54 Seeing things as information
29:53 How he knows will make a good painting
32:01 What he has figured out before he begins
33:16 Thinking about before painting
37:20 How to begin thinking about shapes
41:06 His proces
43:34 How to get really good at painting
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