5 Tips for Beginners in Watercolor
The beginning in the world of watercolor painting can be quite a challenge, especially without someone to guide you on the right materials, techniques, exercises, and more.
You see inspiring pictures, wonder if you could paint something similar, and start looking for the right tools. Unfortunately, you realize there's no one-size-fits-all solution; there's a plethora of brands and products to choose from.
To make your entry into watercolor painting a bit easier, I've put together 5 tips to get you closer to your dream of creating your own artwork.
Of course, this isn't a comprehensive course, but it's a start.
1. High-Quality Watercolor Paints
Painting is like cooking - it's all about the ingredients. While fast food might work in a pinch, a truly great meal requires high-quality ingredients.
The same goes for watercolor painting.
Invest in high-quality watercolor paints to create a vibrant and long-lasting explosion of color on your paper.
Brands like Schmincke, Sennelier, Winsor & Newton, and White Nights offer excellent options.
The brand you choose is somewhat secondary; they are all qualitatively very similar.
Some brands also offer options between student and artist quality. The difference lies in the amount of pigments, affecting the price.
The color intensity and mixability of high-quality watercolor paints will undoubtedly bring you more joy and better results than a set that kids use at school.
2. Good Paper
Let's start with another analogy: imagine you're building a house, and your paper is the foundation. You want it to be strong and reliable, right? It should withstand pressure.
You might remember how paper in art class used to warp when you painted with watercolors. It was too thin. Depending on how much water you use – you'll figure this out over time – your paper needs to be thicker or heavier.
I recommend watercolor paper with at least 300 gsm to avoid waves and deformations. There are also various surface textures: rough, smooth, satin/hot-pressed, influencing how your paintings will look.
Common watercolor papers in botanical art are
Arches Watercolor Paper, 300 gsm, satin;
Saunders Waterford Watercolor, 300 gsm, satin;
Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Paper, 300 gsm, satin.
Other artists also use different papers, but these three are frequently mentioned and are my personal favorites.
3. The Right Brushes
Choosing the right brush is a bit of a science, maybe not that daunting, but it's a very personal decision.
A round brush with a fine tip is always useful. Depending on how detailed you want to paint, miniature brushes might come in handy.
There are synthetic, semi-synthetic, and natural hair brushes.
The choice often depends on personal preference.
I personally like using a Da Vinci Dartana Spin Brush, size 6, with synthetic bristles. Other good brands include Winsor & Newton, KUM, or Rosemary Brushes.
Since the right brush for you depends on factors like how much water you use, the size and detail of your paintings, and how well you control your hand, your brush choice is highly individual.
Don't immediately stock up on all sizes from one brand/model; start with one and see how well you manage with it.
4. Patience
Good things take time, as the saying goes. This holds 100% true for watercolor painting.
Why?
Because it takes time to learn color mixing.
Because it takes time to gauge the water-to-pigment ratio correctly.
Because it takes time for each layer to dry before applying the next glaze.
Because, because, because.
But, it's all the more beautiful when you master these steps, turning your vision into reality. And finally, the focused, calm work will undoubtedly get you in the flow and make you forget about time.
In watercolor painting: no rushing.
5. Practice
This is the crucial part. The previous points are the framework; now, let's get down to business.
Get to know your colors:
Mix colors.
Layer colors.
Figure out the amount of pigment you need.
Paint a color wheel.
Observe the water-to-pigment ratio.
Practice with your brush:
How thin can you paint lines?
How thick can you paint lines?
How long can you paint lines?
Ensure your brush always has a nice tip.
How much pigment/water can the brush hold?
And as mentioned, be patient with yourself. Enjoy the process. Dive into the world of colors and practice without a specific goal.
This is the part where you playfully explore possibilities.
You now have five valuable tips in your repertoire that will help you on your journey.
Remember that painting is not just an artistic adventure but also a journey to yourself.
Enjoy every brushstroke and let your creative soul blossom!
