Learning to Watercolor

In the summer of my 70th year I learned the importance of taking the time to do a carefully studied sketch. No wonder my sporadic attempts at watercolor in the past have failed. Watercolor requires a lot of thought and planning on the front end. I had to study all the angles and juxtapositions in order to lay out even the first wash of color. Even the colors had to be thought through and noted on the sketch. (Painting in last post.)

I wonder what difference it might have made in my life if I had disciplined more of my "ideas" into careful plans on the front end. Did I have to grow this old before I gained the patience to do this?