my "not - so - ultimate" ultimate guide to: watercolor art

 dear readers,

recently, i had to do an assignment for my communications class informing people about a certain subject, and my subject of choice was watercolor art !! 

i’ve always wanted to learn how to watercolor and create art so i took this assignment as my opening to teach myself something new while also teaching others, and i thought to myself, ‘why does my hard research have to go unnoticed after the assignment has passed’, so i’ve decided to share it to my blog incase anyone out there was also interested in learning about the history, & techniques of watercolor art culture around the world. so here are all the things i learned during my research.

but before we begin i want all of you to close your eyes and imagine colors softly bleeding  together as water guides the paint across the page. that is the magic of watercolor.

1. the history and origins of watercolor art

• has existed around the world since the paleolithic period. some involved vegetable pigments, others used ink or soot.
• became especially popular during the Renaissance in Europe when artists like Albrecht Durer used it for landscapes and botanical studies.
• later on in the 18th century, watercolor paints became popular amongs the mapmakers and engineers who used them for their work
• dates back to ancient egypt (papyrus scrolls) and classical china (painting on silk and paper)
• in Asia, watercolor techniques developed through ink wash painting, known as sumi-e in Japan and shui-mo hua in China
• today, watercolor is a tool for storytelling and self-expression across cultures, used in fashion, design, and even animation.
  
  

2. techniques and tools in watercolor painting

• Van Gogh palettes are really pigmented and easy to work with
• a shimmer palette is very pretty if you like a little sparkling in your painting
• theres also the Prang palette thats very commonly used in schools
• measurement tools come in very handy if you want to draw buildings or a round sun for example
• white gouache is great for adding highlights 
• always have a few brushes for different shapes and sizes
• brushes come in a wide range of numbered sizes
• a natural. brush is made from animal hair (squirrel, pony, ox, weasel, etc.) and a synthetic brush is made from nylon, polyester, or a mix of both
• brush shapes include, rounds, riggers, mops, flats, cat's tongues, filberts, angled, and fan
• waterproof fineline pens for adding outlines

(these choices are going to vary from artist to artist, depending on their style and desired effect)

essential watercolor tips: 

paint should NEVER be thick!! watercolors = "watery” look (translucent)

• you want your painting to look light & translucent
• when paint layer is too heavy, painting tends to look flat / “dimensionless”

when painting try to intentionally leave GAPS, without gaps “objects” will look heavy and boring 

• with intentional gaps, objecys will have the illusion that it’s lighter / more natural !!
• patches can also be a good thing sometimes (achived by adding water).  

ALWAYS mix your paint colors…. ALWAYS!!

• colors straight out of a tube = boring !!! mix them up, have fun, colors will look more realistic that way
• indigo + brown = black!!
• the more water you add, the lighter your colors

watercoloring is ALL about LAYERING colors upon colors

• start with the lightest color
• build it up with a darker color
• few layers later.. finish it off with highlights / shadows!!

basic watercolor techniques: 

wet on dry 

• when you paint directly on dry paper or dry layers of colors
• result: distinct shapes with defined edges

wet on wet

• when you paint on damp paper
• creates a softer effect with seamless edges and transitions between colors
• the wetter the paper, the further the paint will spread out = startburts or bleeding effects with very wet paper

dry brush

• achieved by wiping off the exess water from your brush before painting on a dry surface
• works great for painting texture

flat wash

• to block in a large uniform section with a diluted color on dry paper
• best done quickly with a mop brush to avoid any streaks showing through

graduated wash

• makes a gradient from dark to light
• on dry paper paint a couple rows of a color to start
• then dip your brush in water to dilute the paint
• remove the excess water and paint down the row, smoothing out any streaks as you go for a gradient

 the unpredictability of watercolor is what gives it emotional power, it forces artists to “work with the flow.”

"Watercolor art reminds us that beauty can come from letting go of control, allowing water and color to move freely, just like culture and creativity do around the world."

if you've gotten to the end of this post i hope you enjoyed learning with me about watercolor art and thanks you for sticking around !! 

(most of my information came from tiktok, pinterest and articles so don't quote me on what i've posted and if you're a watercolor artist please correct me on anything and leave some tips!!)

until next time!!

 xoxo, 

         Aryam