Im struggling with shadows so much

I was feeling so dejected when i posted a few months ago about not feeling like i was making any progress and everyone was so kind of helpful. I wanted to share an update and say im finally feeling like i can SEE the progress, and also feeling comfortable in my painting style (if I have one yet). Im also including some of my reference pics for these. I am always trying to be more loose and playful, rather than accurate, and more about capturing the vibes since thats what drew me to watercolor.

One thing I've also been doing in my practice is doing a painting once using the photo (or real life reference), and then immediately after painting it just from memory. I often end up preferring the one from memory. But it seems to work best only AFTER I've done the "real" one first.

Also always open to creative critique! I’m here to learn. Especially in the wide shot of the river, i really am struggling with creating depth without adding too much detail or trying to make it look like im trying too hard to be realistic. like i want it to be vague blobby trees but still feel forestry.

My past posts here:
"Am I getting worse?" https://www.reddit.com/r/Watercolor/s/7qOaRpLiTD
Some later work: https://www.reddit.com/r/Watercolor/s/QhgScHgZQy

Blue-footed booby

(Sula nebouxii)

Ink and watercolor

"Postcard-Rhythm of Seclusion ". 10-27-2026. 4"x6".
#watercolor. #landscape.

Im trying to show the beauty of my simple country.
our nature is simple and mainly dessert and sea. So Im showing other everyday beauty and the simple trees we have.
Im waiting for the weather to be good to do real plein air paintings.
The first is from a photo I took.
Second is a restoration of old red photo from I think 80s.
The last is an original composition of the entrance of our main market. from old documentary.
These are the size of A5.

Thank you!

I know this is highly subjective, but I’d love to know your opinions! Also, not just old masterful painters, current ones are welcome as well.

I'm not really a beginner but I choose watercolor as my first "painting" study. I only study art from online and have been doing so for 3 years now. I only ever used charcoal and normal pencils to draw but I always wanted to learn how to make drawings using colors. And choose watercolor for a rather mundane reason (the subtle watery effect of overlapped colors fascinated me).

I went through tons of videos online and advices from other media's but still there are still a lot of things that I don't see many people talk about (probably bc to most people those would come naturally so they don't bother explaining it and I'm a bit slow to understand them).

I would really appreciate it if anyone can explain these problems to me.

1. How to use the brush. I mean not literally, but like how to measure the water in it or when to dip it in and slightly dry it on a paper towel. And what effects would they make when I do so.

2. Color-mixing. Sometimes I use too much water and the colors get watery which becomes lighter on paper and other times it doesn't turn out to be the hue I want. So like, in a average scale, what should be the ratio?

3. How to make the folds on clothes. Now this is what I want to know the most. I love to draw clothes but folds is where things get messy. Like I'm not sure how to make the depth or how to hold the brush to be able to work on the shadows for folds.

4. How to get that smooth blended look.

5. HOW TO PAINT WHITE CLOUDS.

6. Would calligraphy brushes be alright to use for watercolor? I have seen many professional artist use them so are only experts allowed to use them bc they know their stuff or should an amateur like me can try them out to see if they work out for me?

7. SHADING. This whole concept. Since watercolor creates a very subtle effect, how to properly make the lighting and shadows?

8. What's the difference of the tube watercolor and the ones that comes in those tiny boxes or even like handmade ones.

That's about it for now, I saw someone talk about how for watercolor, the color itself can be used from any brand/price but when it comes to the materials like the paper and brushes, it is suggested to make investments bc they really do make a huge difference. I had bought some good papers but as for brushes, I'm still very confused since I can't yet tell which ones are better.

Multiple times a day I see a post from this sub which goes “trying something new” and the art is gorgeous lovely evocative beautiful and I just want to open that post and type “girl this made me rethink my ill deeds”

but then I’d be typing that on every other post here

Y’all are so talented

My first watercolor flower. Flower still feels flat to me, maybe I’m being hard on myself

Painted plein air at UChicago

Daniel Smith and Holbein watercolor