Water color artists have a long history, from the time man first painted on the walls of a cave with his finger. This medium has developed a great deal since then and has attracted many admirers for its luminosity and versatility. If you are just beginning your journey, here are some suggestions to help you along the way.
A limited palette of colors is suggested for those who are just beginning. Rather use limited colors and learn how to mix them than confuse the issue with too many. A good brush or two is important. Cheap brushes are not advised as they shed hairs and do not retain their shape. A good brush will hold enough paint and will not have to be constantly reloaded. Other useful items are sponges and paper towels. Preparation is vital as water colors dry quickly and sections of the same tones need to be done at the same time.
Beginners tend to be too tentative when it actually comes to putting the paint on the paper. It is important to create good puddles of paint and to load the brush properly. The only way to learn certain techniques like wet on dry or wet in wet is by experimenting with them yourself. You need to gain an understanding of how washes work and how colors blend together and this only comes with practice.
Beginners need to remember that colors are darker when wet. As they dry they become lighter. If you find that they are too light, you can still remedy this by adding more layers. If colors are too dark, they can be re-wet and some of the color removed.
Simplicity is vital when you are beginning. You will not paint a masterpiece with your first attempt. Rather choose a simple subject and execute it well than something intricate and complicated.
When looking at your subject, you need to ignore all the finer details initially and group similar values together. It is often hard as a beginner to see values as color gets in the way. When making a value study, using the white of the paper as the lightest value and then reducing all the other values to a light, a middle and a dark helps to create a good composition. Colors and details come later.
Once you have decided exactly which areas need to be left white, masking fluid can be used to paint these areas. It is rubbed off once the other darker areas have been painted. An example of this would be a mountain covered with snow. The snow is painted with masking fluid, the darker colors painted in and then the fluid removed to reveal pristine white.
Water color artists are attracted by the light effects and versatility of their medium. Some of them, such as botanical artists, have a precise, controlled style while others have a looser and more impressionistic style. Whatever style you think suits you best, the only way to achieve it is to practice until you grow into it.
A limited palette of colors is suggested for those who are just beginning. Rather use limited colors and learn how to mix them than confuse the issue with too many. A good brush or two is important. Cheap brushes are not advised as they shed hairs and do not retain their shape. A good brush will hold enough paint and will not have to be constantly reloaded. Other useful items are sponges and paper towels. Preparation is vital as water colors dry quickly and sections of the same tones need to be done at the same time.
Beginners tend to be too tentative when it actually comes to putting the paint on the paper. It is important to create good puddles of paint and to load the brush properly. The only way to learn certain techniques like wet on dry or wet in wet is by experimenting with them yourself. You need to gain an understanding of how washes work and how colors blend together and this only comes with practice.
Beginners need to remember that colors are darker when wet. As they dry they become lighter. If you find that they are too light, you can still remedy this by adding more layers. If colors are too dark, they can be re-wet and some of the color removed.
Simplicity is vital when you are beginning. You will not paint a masterpiece with your first attempt. Rather choose a simple subject and execute it well than something intricate and complicated.
When looking at your subject, you need to ignore all the finer details initially and group similar values together. It is often hard as a beginner to see values as color gets in the way. When making a value study, using the white of the paper as the lightest value and then reducing all the other values to a light, a middle and a dark helps to create a good composition. Colors and details come later.
Once you have decided exactly which areas need to be left white, masking fluid can be used to paint these areas. It is rubbed off once the other darker areas have been painted. An example of this would be a mountain covered with snow. The snow is painted with masking fluid, the darker colors painted in and then the fluid removed to reveal pristine white.
Water color artists are attracted by the light effects and versatility of their medium. Some of them, such as botanical artists, have a precise, controlled style while others have a looser and more impressionistic style. Whatever style you think suits you best, the only way to achieve it is to practice until you grow into it.
About the Author:
Discover the works of Anna Gouin by visiting her website at www.annagouin.com as one of the best water color artists around. To see her current work go to http://www.annagouin.com.
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