My painting got loose when I stopped treating water like glue

In my experience, a lot of painters act like water is just there to stick pigment to paper. I was guilty of this too, using tiny sips and painting timid, tight little marks. Then I tried flooding an area with clear water first, before any color touched it. The paint flowed and blended on its own in ways I never could force. Your mileage may vary, but for me, trusting the water to move the color was a big shift. It feels risky at first, like you're losing control. But I think that loss of control is where the magic happens in watercolor. Take this with a grain of salt, but using water as a partner, not just a tool, makes all the difference.