Watercolor Basics For Beginners

Artists agree that watercolor probably one of the versatile painting mediums out there. For beginners, watercolor is the best medium to use because it can give the artist the freedom to create free-style paintings or even realistic and detailed paintings, depending on how he or she uses it.

If you are planning to engage into painting using watercolor, it would be best to have the supplies needed and learn the basics techniques for beginners.

Getting the supplies needed

Before you can start with painting using watercolor, you need supplies. These supplies would enable you to unleash your creativity and paint whatever picture your heart desires.

The basic watercolor painting supplies include pigments and paints. In many stores, watercolor paints come in several forms including cake or moist pan watercolors or tube color sets. It’s up to you which type you would want to experiment with first. Cake watercolors or tube sets usually have a good selection of basic pigments and colors ideal for transparent watercolor painting.

Do not use the white paint that is included in most cake or tube color sets. For starters, pre-packaged watercolor tubes are ideal because these are easy to use. Since you are just a beginner, opt for brand names stating "academic" or "student" grade watercolors because these are cheaper. When you have gained mastery in watercolor painting, you can upgrade to using "artist" grade watercolor supplies which are of better quality but more expensive.

For beginners, it is ideal to choose a balanced palette of cool and warm colors including yellows, reds, greens and blues. Specific pigments include Cadmium Yellow Light, Pthalocyanine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Pthalocycnine Green, Cadmium Red Medium, Hooker's Green, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber.

Brush is also a must. For beginners, one brush may be enough. Choose a good quality of brush and opt for the #8 round red sable watercolor brush. But if you can buy more than one brush, choose those synthetic or synthetic-blend brushes such as the round #4. You can also add the 1" flat which is very useful if you will be doing detailed works.

Paper is also another major consideration. For starters, choose any watercolor block, pad, or loose paper weighing #140 or higher. Experts say that the heavier the paper is, the better output will be produced since there are lesser chances of damping the paper while painting.

You will be needing a watercolor palette. If you are using cake and pan watercolor sets, you need not worry about the palette since these come with built-in-fold out palettes. But if you are using tube watercolor sets, you need a palette to start with. For starters, a flat white dinner plate can be used or a plastic 6-welled palettes that are cheap but durable.

Water is a must for watercolor painting. Since you are just beginning, you can use tap water in a jar, glass, or a small bucket. Two containers with clean water is a must so you can rinse the brush to make it ready in using another color.