Meet the basic principles to paint with watercolor
Watercolors are pigments that, when diluted with water, offer great coverage on paper or canvas, allowing the artist to create various professional or amateur compositions. Its use requires compliance with certain steps to develop the technique properly.
Painting is an ancient art in which a graphic representation of the environment, objects, people, animals, nature, among other real or abstract scenarios, is carried out. To do this, a series of pigments of synthetic or organic origin are used, added to composition and painting techniques such as watercolor, collage, tempera, colored pencils, wax, tempera, acrylics, oils, pastel and the so-called mixed techniques. Likewise, the theory of color and chiaroscuro plays a very important role in the development of the work.
It may seem a bit complex for you to start painting subject to the need to know about these topics. However, once you study them, you will notice that they are quite simple and very useful when capturing the strokes. In this sense, the ideal is that you inform yourself, regardless of whether you have decided to paint out of distraction or really want to head towards the professional world.
Many people choose to start with a pencil technique because it is a little easier to correct mistakes during the development of the composition, but some people prefer watercolors. This is a type of pigment whose basic compound is gum arabic and uses water as a diluent. Precisely for this reason, the finishes obtained with this paint usually offer quite a bit of luminosity, thanks to the effect caused by the contact of the water, the pigment and the white background of the support.
About watercolors
To start painting with watercolors, the first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the product and keep in mind that this is a somewhat complicated pigment to modify. This means that you have to be quite precise with your overlapping strokes.
Regardless of whether it is the best watercolor (in this link you can find some purchase options), its composition consists of a series of agglutinated type pigments, which concentrate a greater amount of color, while gum arabic adds to the watercolor a sticky texture and a quick hardening or drying when in contact with air. In addition, thanks to this ingredient you can easily dissolve the paint with water.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that experts in the art world consider that mastering the watercolor technique could be a bit difficult. However, this should not be an impediment for you, since with a lot of practice and perseverance, everything is possible.
Also, you will be interested to know that watercolors have two presentations that are the tube and the pills. Both have the same composition and offer identical properties and pigmentation benefits. In this sense, everything will depend on the taste of the artist.
How to paint with watercolors?
If you have already decided to start painting with watercolor, then you will need to follow some steps that we detail below.
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Defines the type of composition
It is important that you define the scene that you are going to capture, because in this way you will have an idea of the colors that you are going to need and the types of brushes. In this initial stage, still lifes, also known as still lifes, are very common. It is about grouping some objects, fruits or plants on a table with a fabric background and lighting focused on said elements. In this way, you will obtain various leftovers and overlaps, which are interesting when recreating them.
- Prepare the work area
The work area should be well lit and cool, but not too ventilated, as the watercolors could solidify too quickly. In addition, you will need an easel, a support or surface to paint (usually paper) and a high stool so that you can adopt a correct posture when painting.
In the same way, you will have to have some work tools at hand, such as a couple of small containers with water to clean the brushes and dilute the pigments, a paint palette to mix the watercolors, absorbent paper to dry the brushes and the watercolor set. in tube or pills. Likewise, it is essential that you have a set of brushes with different cuts and sizes, because this will help you to capture strokes with greater precision, depending on the shape of the objects.
- Begin to draw the lines
Once the process of preparing the work area is finished, all that remains is to take the paints and place small amounts on the separators of the palette. The main tones are the primary ones or yellow, blue and red, which cannot be obtained from any combination. However, by mixing them they give rise to secondary colors such as violet, green, orange, which in turn can be combined to create tertiary colors. Also, remember to leave an empty space in the color palette, which will be the designated one for you to mix the pigments.
Next, moisten the bristles of the brush in one of the containers with water, and then impregnate them with the selected pigment. You will need to hold the color palette in one hand and the brush in the other. In addition, it is essential that you keep in mind that you cannot use dry watercolors. It is always necessary to moisten the brush with water. Of course, there will be higher intensity pigments, which require more water as opposed to weak colors.
Regarding the watercolors of tablets, the use of water must be greater, since you need to make a kind of puddle on the pigment so that the brush can be completely soaked with said paint.
To continue, it is necessary to transfer the pigment to the canvas, which means that you will make your first brush stroke. In this sense, you should slide the brush widely, directing it from one side to the other, so that you become familiar with the technique. Also, make sure to adjust the position of the easel beforehand so that the watercolor flows vertically. Thus, it will not accumulate on our work surface.
Remember that the composition made requires a drying time in which you will not be able to touch the support or painted surface or else the pigments will run, damaging the finish of the work. Therefore, the most prudent thing is to wait a period of no less than 30 minutes until the paint dries.
