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The criticism that made me switch from watercolor to gouache mid-project

Honestly, a local artist at the community center told me my watercolor work looked 'muddy and washed out' after I spent 6 months on a single landscape piece. Tbh, I was mad at first but then realized she was right about my color mixing being too timid. Has anyone else had a harsh comment from a pro that actually made your work better?
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harper_smith
Have you tried adding more water to your gouache to get that watercolor feel while keeping the color strength?
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olivia_morgan8
Used to think harsh critiques were just people being mean, but @harper_smith that water trick is actually what finally clicked for me. I was so stuck on keeping my watercolors "pure" I never realized I could layer gouache like that. That muddy landscape lady was basically telling me what I needed to hear, even if it stung at the time. Now I mix gouache with a wet brush and it's like cheating the system for bold color without the washout.
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