Step-By-Step Lesson for Watercolor Painting- Beginner Guide


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A friend of mine asked me to tell him that he wants to paint watercolor painting and asked me to give some advice. So, as my first blog post on the website, I thought it would be a good idea to write down some useful tips for watercolor painting. “Hello! If you’re interested in watercolor painting, here are some tips to help you get started: Creating a watercolor painting can be a rewarding and relaxing activity. Here’s a step-by-step drawing lesson for beginners to help you get started:

Materials Needed:

Watercolor paint

If you want to create watercolor paintings, surely you need watercolor paints. Among so many Brands you don’t know what to buy. There are two different grades – Professional Grade paint and student Grade paints. We don’t need to mention that a Professional Grade is better quality than a student Grade, even more expensive. You choose the one that best suits you according to your budget and the type of work you plan to do. When it comes to choosing which brands of the best watercolor paint, it largely depends on your needs, preferences, and budget. However, some brands consistently receive high praise for their quality, pigment load, and ease of use. Here are my few top recommendations:

Professional Grade Watercolors:

  1. Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors:
    • Highly regarded for their vibrant colors and smooth application.
    • Extensive range of colors.
    • Long-established brand with a reputation for quality.
  2. Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors:
    • Known for unique and vibrant pigments, including many granulating colors.
    • Extensive range of colors, including many single-pigment paints.
    • High pigment load and excellent transparency.
  3. Sennelier L’Aquarelle Watercolors:
    • Honey-based formula for smooth, rich application.
    • Highly pigmented and vibrant.
    • Excellent for achieving luminous washes.
  4. Schmincke Horadam Aquarell:
    • High-quality pigments with excellent lightfastness.
    • Rewet easily and maintain consistency.
    • Wide range of colors with a focus on professional quality.

Student Grade Watercolors:

  1. Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors:
    • Great for beginners and students due to affordability.
    • Good quality pigments, though not as vibrant or permanent as professional grade.
    • Wide range of colors.
  2. Daler-Rowney Aquafine Watercolors:
    • Good quality at a reasonable price.
    • Decent pigment load and lightfastness.
    • Suitable for beginners and students.
  3. Van Gogh Watercolors:
    • Vibrant colors with good lightfastness.
    • Affordable and good quality for student grade.
    • Easy to rewet and use.

Specialty Watercolors:

  1. Dr. Ph. Martin’s Hydrus Fine Art Watercolor:
    • Liquid watercolors with intense colors.
    • Lightfast and permanent.
    • Great for vibrant washes and detailed work.
  2. Peerless Watercolors:
    • Unique, highly pigmented dry sheets.
    • Portable and easy to use for on-the-go painting.
    • Vibrant and easy to mix.

Watercolor Paper

The other thing that you need is watercolor paper. Selecting the best watercolor paper is crucial for achieving great results in your paintings. The right paper can enhance your techniques and ensure durability and vibrancy in your artwork. Here are some of the top watercolor papers recommended by artists:

Professional Grade Watercolor Paper:

  1. Arches Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: 100% cotton
    • Weight: Available in 140 lb (300 gsm) and 300 lb (640 gsm)
    • Texture: Available in hot press (smooth), cold press (textured), and rough
    • Features: High-quality, durable, excellent water absorption, and retains the vibrancy of pigments. Often considered the gold standard among watercolorists.
  2. Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: 100% cotton
    • Weight: Available in 140 lb (300 gsm) and 300 lb (640 gsm)
    • Texture: Available in hot press, cold press, and rough
    • Features: High-quality, acid-free, and excellent surface strength. Favored for its smooth and uniform texture.
  3. Saunders Waterford Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: 100% cotton
    • Weight: Available in 140 lb (300 gsm) and 300 lb (640 gsm)
    • Texture: Available in hot press, cold press, and rough
    • Features: Acid-free, archival quality, and robust surface. Known for its durability and ability to handle multiple washes.
  4. Strathmore 500 Series Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: 100% cotton
    • Weight: 140 lb (300 gsm)
    • Texture: Cold press
    • Features: Acid-free, excellent for detailed work, and can handle heavy washes. Appreciated for its consistent quality and performance.

Student Grade Watercolor Paper:

  1. Canson XL Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: Wood pulp (not 100% cotton)
    • Weight: 140 lb (300 gsm)
    • Texture: Cold press
    • Features: Affordable, decent quality for practice and learning, and good water absorption. Great for beginners and students.
  2. Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: Wood pulp (not 100% cotton)
    • Weight: 140 lb (300 gsm)
    • Texture: Cold press
    • Features: Affordable, reliable quality, and suitable for student work. Handles wet-on-wet techniques reasonably well.
  3. Fabriano Studio Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: High-quality cellulose (not 100% cotton)
    • Weight: 140 lb (300 gsm)
    • Texture: Cold press
    • Features: Acid-free, economical, and good surface for practice. A good choice for students looking for a step up from basic paper.

Specialty Watercolor Paper:

  1. Hahnemühle Cézanne Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: 100% cotton
    • Weight: 140 lb (300 gsm)
    • Texture: Available in hot press, cold press, and rough
    • Features: Acid-free, excellent texture, and great for detailed work. Known for its robustness and excellent water handling.
  2. Legion Stonehenge Aqua Watercolor Paper:
    • Type: 100% cotton
    • Weight: 140 lb (300 gsm) and 300 lb (640 gsm)
    • Texture: Available in cold press and hot press
    • Features: Bright white surface, excellent for vibrant colors, and handles multiple washes well.

When selecting watercolor paper, consider the following factors:

  • Material: 100% cotton papers are generally superior in quality and durability compared to wood pulp papers.
  • Weight: Heavier papers (300 lb) can handle more water and techniques without warping, while lighter papers (140 lb) are more affordable and versatile for various uses.
  • Texture: Hot press papers are smooth and ideal for detailed work, cold press papers have a moderate texture suitable for most techniques, and rough papers offer a pronounced texture for expressive brushstrokes.

Experimenting with different papers can help you find the one that best suits your style and technique.

  • A set of watercolor brushes (various sizes)
  • A palette for mixing colors
  • A cup of clean water
  • Paper towels or a cloth for blotting
  • Pencil and eraser
  • Masking tape (optional)

Step-by-Step Lesson:

1. Prepare Your Workspace:

  • Set up your watercolor paper on a flat surface or a drawing board. You can tape the edges down with masking tape to keep the paper from warping when wet.
  • Arrange your paints, brushes, water cup, and palette within easy reach.

2. Sketch Your Composition:

  • Lightly sketch your subject on the watercolor paper using a pencil. Avoid pressing too hard, as dark lines can show through the paint.
  • Keep the sketch simple and focus on the basic shapes and outlines.

3. Plan Your Colors:

  • Decide on the colors you’ll use for your painting. It’s helpful to do a few test swatches on a scrap piece of paper to see how the colors look when mixed and dried.
  • Remember that watercolor paints are transparent, so plan for layering and blending colors.

4. Wet-on-Wet Technique:

  • Begin by wetting the area you plan to paint with clean water using a brush. This is known as the wet-on-wet technique.
  • While the paper is still wet, apply the watercolor paint. The colors will spread and blend softly, creating a smooth, flowing effect. This technique is great for painting skies, backgrounds, or soft edges.

5. Wet-on-Dry Technique:

  • For more defined shapes and lines, use the wet-on-dry technique. Apply watercolor paint directly onto dry paper.
  • This method allows for more control and is useful for adding details and sharp edges.

6. Layering and Building Colors:

  • Watercolor painting is often about building layers. Start with light colors and gradually add darker shades.
  • Allow each layer to dry completely before adding the next to avoid muddying the colors. You can speed up drying with a hairdryer if needed.

7. Creating Texture:

  • Experiment with different brush strokes and techniques to create texture. For example, you can use a dry brush technique by removing excess water from your brush and applying the paint for a rough texture.
  • Splattering paint with a toothbrush or tapping the brush can create interesting speckled effects.

8. Adding Details:

  • Once the base layers are dry, add finer details to your painting. Use a smaller brush for this.
  • Pay attention to highlights and shadows to give your painting depth and dimension.

9. Finishing Touches:

  • Review your painting and make any final adjustments. You might want to add some white highlights using a gel pen or gouache.
  • Remove any masking tape carefully once the painting is completely dry.

10. Clean Up:

  • Clean your brushes thoroughly with water and reshape them before storing.
  • Dispose of any dirty water and wipe down your workspace.

Tips for Success:

  • Practice: The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with how watercolor behaves.
  • Patience: Let layers dry fully before applying new ones to avoid unintended blending.
  • Experiment: Try different techniques and tools to discover your own style.

Enjoy your watercolor painting journey! Each piece you create is a step toward mastering this beautiful and expressive medium.


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