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New to watercolor? I’ve got you covered!
If you are completely new to watercolor, look no further, this post is for you! I am going to walk you through everything you need to know as a beginner in watercolor. We will talk about supplies and basic techniques to give you the information you need to know to start your journey to becoming a professional artist.
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Alright! Let’s get to the art supplies!
List of Contents:
Supplies
- Watercolor paper
- Round Paintbrush
- Flat paintbrush
- Watercolor paint
- Washi/Painters tape
- Two cups of water
- Paper towel
Techniques
- Wet on dry
- Wet on wet
If you would like to see all the art supplies I recommend, check out, “My Supplies” page. Click HERE to check it out!
Supplies
Paint
Watercolor paint is very different from oils and acrylics due to the fact that it is water based. To activate watercolor paint you must add water to it. The amount of water you add to the paint will affect the vibrancy and thickness of the paint. The more water you use the more transparent the paint will become.
Another way it differs from oils and acrylics is that you will have to work from light to dark rather than the reverse. You will need the foresight to know where you want your highlights to go. Once you put a dark layer down it will be almost impossible to get the highlights back.
The fluidity of watercolor paint is so relaxing. You can not fully control where the paint will go or what it will do. No painting will ever look identical when using watercolor, but that is part of what makes using this medium so fun!
Paper
You may think to yourself what is so important about the paper you will use? With watercolor, the paper you use will make all the difference in the world. The type of paper will determine the success or failure of the painting. Let’s dive in a little deeper so you can understand why this is the case.
There are three types of watercolor paper to choose from. Each type will give a different effect on your painting. The three types are Rough, Hot Press, and Cold Press watercolor paper.
Rough watercolor paper will have a lot of texture on the page. This specific type of paper would be good for those who do a lot of loose watercolor paintings. Hot Press watercolor paper has a smooth look to it. Hot Press paper will help bring out the detail in a painting. Cold Press watercolor paper has a texture that is somewhere in the middle of rough and hot press paper. All three options are great choices, it all depending on your preference and style.
Another important aspect to pay attention to is the weight of the paper. I would not recommend using watercolor paper that has a weight lower than 140 lb. paper. If you use watercolor paper that is under 140 lb. your paper will wave on you. Trust me, you do not want this to happen. Luckily, 140 lb. paper is not hard to find, and there are many brands that are reasonably priced.
Brushes
Watercolor brushes come in all shapes and sizes. As a beginner, you do not need to buy all the different types of brushes there are. Round brushes and a large flat brush are great to have if you are just starting out. You do not need to go out and buy the most expensive brushes at your local art store. You can easily go on amazon and order a decent set for around $10 and make an amazing painting with great control. However, when buying brushes make sure the brush will not loose hair and shed into your painting.
Paper Towel
I know what you’re thinking, it is important to have some paper towel? Yes, yes it is! Paper towel will be your best friend in the midst of a painting. Paper towel is used for absorbing extra water off your brush, picking up little mistakes, and absorbing unwanted water that may have pooled on your painting or might have flicked off your brush accidentally. There has not been one painting I’ve done where I have not used my paper towel.
Two Glasses of Water
You may be asking yourself right now, why two glasses of water instead of one? Using two glasses of water will make a big difference in how your paint will look. As you clean your brush off you are going to muddy your water with all the different colors of paint you are using. If you use that same glass of water to activate your paint, your paint will also come out muddied. With two glasses of water one will be used to clean your brush and the other will be used to activate your paint with.
Techniques
Wet on Dry
The wet on dry technique is when you paint on dry paper, or over already dried paint. This is the easiest technique out of the two. It is a great technique, especially to begin with. Here is a link to one of my tutorials where we put the wet on dry technique into practice.
Wet on Wet
The wet on wet technique is when you are painting on a wet piece of paper or onto wet paint that has already been placed on your canvas. This technique can cause colors to blend beautifully together. When you use this technique you have to be careful not to use too much water or to overwork your paper.
Overworking your paper is when you paint over one area too many times. When your painting becomes overworked your paper will peel or tear.
This technique may seem hard at first, but practicing is the best way to get this technique right. The more you practice you will be able to figure out the correct water paint ratio. If you would like to give this technique a try, check out this tutorial.
I Hope You Learned Something New!
I hope you enjoyed learning the basics of watercolor with me. It is very important to know about the supplies and techniques before jumping into tutorials. Be sure to follow me on Instagram @reflectingcreation and Pinterest for updates, sneak peeks, and some fun behind the scenes stuff. Also, leave a comment below if you have any more questions about watercolor.