Can I start watercolor painting without expensive supplies? Yes, you absolutely can start watercolor painting with a minimal and affordable set of supplies. The key is to choose wisely and focus on the essentials that will allow you to learn the foundational techniques.
Embarking on the journey of watercolor painting is an exciting adventure. Many beginners wonder what they need to get started. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to begin your creative exploration with watercolors. From selecting the right watercolor supplies to grasping basic beginner watercolor techniques, we’ll cover it all.
Getting Your Essential Watercolor Supplies
To start your watercolor painting journey, you’ll need a few key items. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety of art supplies available. Focus on the basics, and you’ll be painting in no time.
Paints: Choosing Your Watercolor Paint Sets
Watercolor paint sets come in two main forms: tubes and pans. Both have their advantages for beginners.
- Tube Watercolors: These are concentrated pigments that you squeeze onto a palette. They are often more vibrant and easier to re-activate with water. They are great for larger washes and for mixing custom colors. For beginners, a small set of primary colors (red, blue, yellow) plus a brown and black is a good start. You can mix many other colors from these.
- Pan Watercolors: These are dry, solid cakes of paint in a small container. They are activated by adding water. Pan sets are very portable and convenient for on-the-go painting. They are also generally less messy. A travel set with 12-24 colors is a popular choice for beginners.
When selecting your first watercolor paint sets, look for student-grade paints. These offer good quality at a more affordable price. Brands like Winsor & Newton Cotman, Sakura Koi, and Reeves are excellent starting points.
Paper: Exploring Watercolor Paper Types
The surface you paint on is crucial in watercolor. Watercolor paper types are designed to handle water without buckling or disintegrating. Paper weight and texture play significant roles.
- Weight: Watercolor paper is measured in pounds (lb) or grams per square meter (gsm). A heavier paper is better as it holds more water without warping.
- 140 lb (300 gsm): This is the most common and recommended weight for beginners. It’s sturdy enough for most techniques and resists buckling well.
- 90 lb (190 gsm): This paper is lighter and more prone to buckling. It can be used if you tape your paper down firmly or plan on using minimal water.
- 300 lb (640 gsm): This is very heavy and ideal for wet techniques, but it’s more expensive and might be overkill for a beginner.
- Texture: Paper texture affects how the paint dries and how details look.
- Hot Press: This paper is very smooth. It’s good for detailed work and fine lines, but can be slippery for washes.
- Cold Press: This is the most popular texture for beginners. It has a slight tooth (texture) which helps hold the paint and is versatile for various techniques.
- Rough: This paper has a very pronounced texture, creating interesting effects and granulation. It’s great for landscapes and looser styles.
For your first purchase, a pad of 140 lb (300 gsm) cold press watercolor paper is ideal. This will give you a good balance of performance and ease of use.
Brushes: Selecting the Best Watercolor Brushes
Your brushes are your tools for applying paint. The right brushes can make a big difference. You don’t need a huge collection to start.
- Brush Shapes:
- Round Brushes: These are very versatile. They have a pointed tip that can create fine lines and a belly that can hold a good amount of water for washes. They are great for details, linework, and smaller washes.
- Flat Brushes: These have a flat, squared-off tip. They are excellent for large, even washes and for creating sharp edges.
- Brush Bristles:
- Natural Hair (Sable, Squirrel): These are the most absorbent and hold a lot of water, releasing it smoothly. They are also the most expensive.
- Synthetic Bristles: Modern synthetic brushes can mimic natural hair very well and are a more affordable option. They are a great choice for beginners.
For a beginner set, consider having at least one medium-sized round brush (around size 8 or 10) and one larger flat brush (around 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch). This combination will allow you to practice a range of techniques.
Best watercolor brushes for beginners often include synthetic rounds in various sizes (e.g., a small, medium, and large) and a medium flat brush. Don’t be afraid to start with affordable synthetic brushes; they will still help you learn.
Other Essential Tools
- Palette: This is where you’ll mix your paints. A ceramic plate, a plastic palette with wells, or even a white tile can work.
- Water Containers: You’ll need at least two containers: one for rinsing your brushes and one for clean water to mix with your paints. Old jars or cups will do.
- Paper Towels or Cloth: For drying your brushes and controlling the amount of water on them.
- Masking Tape or Artist’s Tape: To secure your paper to a board or surface, preventing buckling.
- Pencil and Eraser: For light sketching before painting.
Getting Started with Basic Watercolor Techniques
Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to explore some fundamental beginner watercolor techniques. Practice is key, so don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes.
Watercolor Wash Techniques
A wash is a layer of diluted watercolor paint. Mastering washes is fundamental to watercolor painting for beginners.
- Flat Wash: This is an even layer of color. To achieve a flat wash, tilt your paper slightly. Load your brush with paint and water, and move it across the paper in consistent strokes, overlapping each stroke slightly. As you reach the bottom of the stroke, pick up excess paint with a slightly drier brush to avoid a “bloom” or pooling at the edge.
- Graded Wash: This wash transitions from dark to light or from one color to another.
- Light to Dark: Start with a diluted wash and gradually add more pigment to your brush with each subsequent stroke, working downwards.
- Color to Color: Paint a wash of one color, and while it’s still wet, introduce the second color at the edge of the first. Allow them to blend naturally on the paper.
- Variegated Wash: Similar to a graded wash but involves blending multiple colors. Apply washes of different colors side-by-side while they are still wet, allowing them to bleed into each other.
Wet on Wet Watercolor
Wet on wet watercolor involves applying wet paint onto wet paper or applying wet paint onto a wet wash. This technique creates soft, blended edges and luminous colors.
- How to do it:
- Wet an area of your paper with clean water using a clean brush. The paper should be shiny, not pooling with water.
- Load your brush with paint (not too much water) and touch it to the wet area.
- Watch the color spread and bloom outwards. You can tilt the paper to encourage the paint to move.
- What to expect: Colors will blend softly, creating beautiful, diffused effects. This is ideal for skies, backgrounds, and soft natural elements.
Dry Brush Watercolor
Dry brush watercolor involves using a brush with very little water and paint. This technique creates broken lines, texture, and a scratchy effect.
- How to do it:
- Dampen your brush slightly, then load it with a small amount of paint.
- Wipe most of the moisture and paint off onto a paper towel until the brush feels almost dry.
- Lightly drag the brush across the paper’s surface. The bristles will catch the texture of the paper, leaving gaps in the paint.
- What to expect: This technique is perfect for creating textures like grass, wood grain, hair, or rough surfaces.
Watercolor Color Mixing
Watercolor color mixing is a fundamental skill that opens up a vast palette of possibilities. It allows you to create custom hues and achieve more nuanced colors than you would get from pre-mixed sets.
- The Color Wheel: Familiarize yourself with a color wheel. It shows how colors relate to each other.
- Primary Colors: Red, Yellow, Blue. These cannot be created by mixing other colors.
- Secondary Colors: Green (Blue + Yellow), Orange (Red + Yellow), Violet (Red + Blue). These are made by mixing two primary colors.
- Tertiary Colors: Made by mixing a primary and a secondary color.
- Mixing Basics:
- Start with Little Water: Begin by mixing a small amount of color with a little water on your palette.
- Add Pigment Gradually: Gradually add more pigment to achieve the desired intensity.
- Clean Your Brush: Always clean your brush thoroughly between mixing colors to avoid muddying your palette.
- Use a Clean Palette: A clean palette is essential for accurate color mixing.
- Test Your Mix: Before applying a color to your painting, test it on a scrap piece of watercolor paper to see how it dries. Watercolor often dries lighter than it appears when wet.
- Creating Neutrals and Earth Tones: Mixing complementary colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel, like red and green, blue and orange, yellow and violet) will create muted tones, browns, and grays. This is a great way to achieve realistic earth tones.
Watercolor color mixing takes practice, but by experimenting with your primary colors, you’ll soon discover how to create a wide range of beautiful shades.
Practicing Your Skills: Simple Exercises for Beginners
To build confidence and proficiency, engage in simple practice exercises. These will help you get a feel for the paint and paper.
Exercise 1: Color Swatches and Mixing
- Create Swatches: Paint small blocks of each color you have, labeling them with their names.
- Practice Washes: Apply a flat wash, a light-to-dark graded wash, and a color-to-color graded wash with each color.
- Color Mixing:
- Pick two primary colors and mix them. Create a swatch of the mixed color.
- Then, create a graded wash transitioning from one primary color to the other.
- Try mixing a primary color with its complementary color to see the muted results.
Exercise 2: Exploring Textures with Dry Brush
- Dry Brush Lines: Use a round brush with minimal water and paint. Drag it across the paper to create textured lines. Try different pressures and angles.
- Mimic Textures: Attempt to paint simple textures like grass, tree bark, or a bristly hedge using the dry brush technique.
Exercise 3: Soft Blends with Wet on Wet
- Wet Paper, Wet Paint: Wet a section of your paper. Drop a few colors onto the wet area and see how they blend.
- Wet Paper, Different Colors: Wet a section of paper and paint a wash of one color. While it’s still wet, add another color at the edge to see how they merge. This is great for skies or hazy backgrounds.
Exercise 4: Creating Gradients with Flat and Graded Washes
- Smooth Flat Wash: Practice creating a large, even flat wash.
- Smooth Graded Wash: Practice a smooth transition from a dark color to white or from one color to another.
Tips for Successful Watercolor Painting
- Work Light to Dark: Watercolor is transparent, so you typically build up color from light to dark. You can lift some color while it’s wet, but it’s hard to paint opaque light colors over dark ones unless you use gouache or opaque watercolors.
- Control Your Water: The amount of water on your brush and paper is key. Experiment to see how different ratios affect the paint.
- Let Layers Dry: If you want distinct layers or sharp edges, allow the previous layer to dry completely before painting over it.
- Don’t Overwork It: Watercolor often looks best when it’s fresh and has a sense of spontaneity. Too much brushing can lift the pigment and make the paint look muddy.
- Embrace Imperfection: Watercolor can be unpredictable, and that’s part of its charm. Don’t aim for absolute perfection; enjoy the process and the unique qualities of the medium.
- Clean Your Brushes: Rinse your brushes thoroughly between colors and at the end of your painting session. This preserves their shape and longevity.
- Tape Your Paper: For larger pieces or if you plan to use a lot of water, taping your watercolor paper to a sturdy board (like MDF or thick cardboard) is essential to prevent buckling. You can use painter’s tape or artist’s tape around the edges.
What to Paint First? Simple Ideas for Beginners
Don’t get stuck wondering what to paint. Start with simple subjects that allow you to practice your techniques.
- Simple Shapes: Paint colored squares, circles, and triangles to practice flat washes and even color.
- Fruit: Apples, oranges, or pears are great subjects for practicing color mixing, shading, and simple form.
- Leaves: Their varied shapes and textures are perfect for practicing dry brush and wet on wet techniques.
- Clouds and Skies: Ideal for practicing wet on wet and graded washes.
- Simple Landscapes: Focus on broad strokes for hills, trees, and skies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best way to store watercolor paints?
Tube watercolors should be squeezed onto your palette and allowed to dry if you want to create pan-like cakes for travel or convenience. Pan sets are already in a solid form and should be kept dry in their case. Store all paints away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
Can I use regular paper for watercolor painting?
No, it’s strongly recommended to use watercolor paper types. Regular paper, like printer paper, is too thin and will likely buckle, tear, or become saturated with water, ruining your painting.
How do I clean my watercolor brushes?
Rinse your brushes in clean water, gently swishing them to remove pigment. Avoid scrubbing the bristles harshly against the bottom of a container. Once most of the paint is out, you can use a bit of mild soap and water. Rinse thoroughly and reshape the bristles with your fingers before letting them air dry, preferably horizontally or hanging down.
How can I achieve lighter colors if I start with dark?
While it’s best to work light to dark, you can lift some color while the paint is still wet or damp using a clean, damp brush or a paper towel. For dark areas, you can also dilute your paint more with water. Opaque white gouache can be used for highlights if absolutely necessary, but it’s generally not considered a pure watercolor technique.
What is the most important beginner watercolor technique to master?
While all techniques are valuable, watercolor wash techniques, particularly flat and graded washes, are foundational. Mastering these allows you to control color, tone, and create smooth transitions, which are essential for many watercolor applications.
Is it better to use tube or pan watercolors?
Both are excellent. Tube watercolors offer more vibrant colors and are easier to mix large amounts for washes. Pan watercolors are more convenient and portable. For watercolor painting for beginners, a small pan set can be very user-friendly.
How much should I spend on watercolor supplies as a beginner?
You don’t need to break the bank. A good student-grade watercolor paint set (12-24 colors), a pad of 140 lb cold press watercolor paper, and a couple of synthetic round brushes can be purchased for a relatively low cost. Focus on quality within your budget, rather than the most expensive options.
By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the beautiful and rewarding world of watercolor painting. Happy painting!