Watercolor painting is often a fast-moving activity that can require detailed planning and materials preparation depending on the subject matter. One of my watercolor mentors cautions that painters have approximately 2 minutes to lay in the sky. Another mentor told me that my brush should only touch the paper once when making a mark, no do-overs or take-backs or the painting will look tight and overworked. Next thing you know you are caught up in the dreaded spiral of “fiddling” and have painted all the light and life out of your scene. It’s enough to freeze up any watercolorist when facing a large, white expanse of paper! So while one needs to make decisions and move quickly, which is something I’ve learned to do, there is also a need for patience, which is something I don’t have. Once the paper is wet with paint, the worst thing a watercolorist can do is go back in and fiddle with the brushstrokes they’ve made. If there’s too much water on the brush it will create the dreaded cauliflowers and run backs that just scream, “MISTAKE! MISTAKE!” (Yes, in certain styles of loose and abstract paintings, cauliflowers and run backs can be beautiful!!!!). It’s crucial to put the brush down, walk away, let the painting dry completely. DON’T TOUCH IT!!!. Go fold laundry, chop vegetables for dinner, or take a nap. The best watercolor paintings are a composed of layers of glazing, which let the paint and the water, and the paper interact over time. This continues to be a huge challenge in my own watercolor practice, so take my advice and learn to cultivate a fast-and-slow approach to your own watercolor explorations.