I agree, post one of your paintings to teh site and join the forum where you will get lots of friendly advice. If we can see what you've done we can help. Don't ever be afraid it's not good enough to post. Everyone was a beginner once upon a time. I also suggest you try to find an art group near you that you can go to. There's nothing like painting and chatting and seeing each others' work to learn. Also I suggest watching the online painting demonstrations. Just type watercolour into You Tube. There are masses.

Suggest that you pose this question on the Forum...?

Finds the Question in Graham'more info...' wants to paint reeds & trees.... Hello I am new I have started doing painting by watercolour. I am having a lot of difficulty doing trees when there is a mass of them especially when there is a house or cottage with trees round it up close. I am also having difficulty doing mass of reed by water. Can you please give me any advice. Many thanks

Hi Graham, I went to the gallery to look at your work but couldn't find it. Sorry I can't comment without seeing your picture, I am a beginner myself.

Hi Graham, I have a real beginner in my arts group. The first thing I did was to ask him to paint a picture, then I could asses the work and see what his problems were. His drawing is fine but I have to teach him about watercolour. The first piece of advice I give to everyone is ~ It's called Watercolour and without water it doesn't work. ~ It's a place to start. Do you have a local art group or club? Even if it's just a social group there's usually help given to newcomers. Look around the LP site, There are step by step painting instructions for projects. Some of them are really informative. Keep painting and good luck.

Hi Graham you don't say exactly what the problem is...but it seems that you are finding the paper is absorbing too quickly...hope I'm right...I'm only newly back to the brushes after many years and I find that most papers don't work as claimed...I had a 300gsm buckle on me...way back then we always stretched paper and if you are using a very wet paint maybe you should use a lighter pater and stretch your it...like you I'm on quite a tight budget and when you get stuck into a piece of work and something dosn't do as claimed it can be very disappointing...there are many wonderful watercolourists on this site so I'm sure you won't be lost for good advise