Original Watercolor Painting
Do you ever find yourself wandering museums and wishing you could create watercolor masterpieces? If so, you're not alone. The distinctive quality of watercolor paintings have inspired thousands to take up the brush and create. Here are a few tips on how you can create an original watercolor painting.
First, when it comes to making a truly beautiful original watercolor painting, it is essential that you have the right supplies. Don't settle for cheap brushes, paints, or paper, as these will lower the quality of your completed work and may even make it difficult for you to even finish. While the more durable supplies may seem expensive, they do last a lot longer and give better results than plastic paintbrushes or inadequate paper.
Your supplies are indeed one of the most important aspect of making an original watercolor painting. What makes a good paintbrush? The top notch brands are typically made of animal hair bristles, a sturdy metal ferrule, and a durable handle made of lacquered wood or bamboo. You should have several of these, as you will need different shapes to the bristle in order to create different effects. This is why animal hair is so often used?it is durable, absorbent, keeps its shape well, and is flexible. Always be sure to clean and dry your brushes thoroughly, and never, ever leave your brushes standing in water for long periods of time, as this can damage both the bristles and the handle.
Your paints are also an important part of making an original watercolor painting. In most cases, watercolor paints come in two formats: in a tube and in a solid block. Both types have their advantages. Tubed paints are tidier; all you need to do is squeeze out a small amount and then put the cap back on. Its texture makes it ideal for covering large areas with thick, consistent color. Solid block paints, however, are typically arranged on a palate that holds them like ice cubes. You wet your paintbrush and dab the bristles against the block until you have enough paint. While the blocks do dry out when exposed to air, this does allow you to create subtler or more minute brush strokes than if you were to try paint from a tube.
Your paper can also make or break an original watercolor painting. Many who are new to watercoloring wonder why you simply can't use just any type of paper. This is largely because most run-of-the-mill sheets of paper contain high amounts of pH, which in turn results in yellowed, fragile paper over time. Ideal watercolor sketchbooks and pads should have paper with low pH. The texture is also important, from smooth, unblemished hot pressed paper, medium grainy cold pressed paper, or gritty rough paper. All of these textures have their advantages depending on what you would like to paint. Learn more about how to make an original watercolor painting today!