How to Paint a Watercolor Picture
Painting with watercolors is typically done with a wet brush on paper. The amount of water used during painting affects how light or dark the area painted will be. An artist must work quickly, since strokes cannot be changed once they've dried. Watercolors work well for painting outdoors because supplies are typically compact and easy to carry.
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Things You'll Need
- Watercolor paper (thick, heavier stock)
- Straight-back chair
- Flat work surface
- Container
- Cold water
- Gum tape
- Damp sponge
- Watercolor starter kit (brushes, pigment cakes)
- Brush container with cold water
- Scrap paper
- Clean rags
- Tape knife
Instructions
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Choosing Supplies
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Choose a thick, heavier watercolor paper to begin. Your paint will take longer to dry, which is important for a beginner who needs more time to work.
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Purchase watercolor brushes. Sable hair brushes hold an appropriate amount of water while they release it gradually as you paint on the paper. Choose a large brush for big areas that take washes -- a small amount of paint mixed with a large amount of water -- and smaller brushes for details. Step-by-step paintings typically specify which size brushes you'll need for a particular painting.
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Purchase watercolor pigments. They come in tubes and cakes. Cakes are typically less expensive and you use less while painting. They are more suitable for beginners. Purchase a starter kit, if available. They come with a standard variety of colors.
Beginning To Paint
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Sit at a table in a well lit room. Use a chair with good back support.
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Stretch the paper. Dip your large paper into a tub of cold, clean water. Hot water can dissolve the paper's sizing -- a finish allowing the paper to accept pigments well. Let the paper sit for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the paper's weight and thickness.
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Remove the paper, and let the excess water evaporate. Center the paper on your table. Apply a strip of gum tape -- using a wet sponge to moisten it -- along each side of the paper. Lightly wipe the paper and tape with a sponge, but do not soak. Allow the paper to dry and stretch.
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Paint a background wash on your paper, if you're using one. This serves as a background color and texture for your overall painting. Use plenty of water.
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Block large subjects and shapes first. If anything is to remain white or lighter in hue, decide now.
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Paint the main subjects, always rinsing and patting your brushes when switching paint colors. Do not rub your brushes, as this can splay the bristles.
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Paint in the small details. Use smaller brushes for this, experimenting with round, flat and fine pointed brushes to create different textures and shapes.
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Build on your painting, adding as much detail, highlights and shadowing as possible. Allow it to dry when finished.
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Remove the painting from the table carefully with a tape knife. Remove the gum tape from the painting.
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Matte or frame your piece.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit watercolor palettes and brush image by egal from Fotolia.com
