In ancient Egypt, they painted with a sharpened stick with a piece of camel hair at the end with paints from crushed earth. This was the first watercolor technique, which is already about four thousand years old. Since then, watercolor painting has become firmly established in use in Europe.
The word "watercolor" itself has the Latin root "aqua" - water. Therefore, the main principle of the watercolor painting technique is the degree of wetting of the paper. It is water that gives the transparency of paints, the purity of color and allows you to see the texture of the paper.
For the artist, there is a choice of existing watercolor painting techniques:
- dry watercolor (Italian watercolor);
- wet watercolor (English watercolor);
- combined (mixed) technique;
- watercolor on partially moistened paper.
Dry watercolor (Italian watercolor)
Acquarello - this word sounds musical to the ear. Layers of paint are applied (one, if it is a single-layer watercolor) or several (if it is glazing) on a dry sheet of paper.
"Watercolor is the gentle promise of oil," and this technique is a direct confirmation of this.
The tone of the paint is thicker, the colors are brighter, the strokes are visible as if the drawing was painted in oil. The main difficulty is that if the oil endures everything, the work can be corrected, then it is practically impossible to make mistakes in watercolor. The Italians even have the term “A la Prima”, that is, “in one go”. The picture is painted without stages. With pure, undiluted colors, one must boldly grasp the essence, make a sketch from nature.
Steps of the artist in the technique of watercolor in a dry way:
- drawing a contour drawing, development of shadows;
- watercolor in one layer, or glazing;
- smears are opaque, mosaic, accurate;
- avoid dirty influxes, high speed of work.
From whom to learn the Italian manner: Russian academic painting of the 19th century. For example, "Italian Landscape" by A.A. Ivanov is stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.
Wet watercolor (English watercolor)
The French call this technique "working on water" (travailler dans l'eau, fr.)
A sheet of paper is abundantly wetted with water. In this technique, the main feature is the unpredictability of the result. Even if the artist has correctly calculated the tone and color, the drawing, before it dries completely, may change more than once before taking on the final form. The contours of objects in this technique are vague, the lines smoothly flow into each other and are airy. A picture made in this technique is thought out and imagined by the viewer.
In his book How to Understand Watercolor, writer Tom Hoffmann said: “Watercolor painting is a dialogue between the artist and the viewer, each with their own role. If only one talks, the other will get bored.”
Wet watercolor artist steps:
- adding water to paints;
- mixing paint, no matter where, on the palette or on the sheet;
- wet the sheet abundantly, then smooth it so that there are no irregularities;
- remove excess water from the sheet with a piece of cotton wool so that it stops shining;
- perform the drawing, making extremely precise strokes;
- drying the picture from 2 hours;
- elaboration of foreground elements (if required).
From whom to learn the English manner: from the brilliant English painter William Turner. According to contemporaries, he created four drawings at once in this technique "with amazing, monstrous speed."
Among Russian artists, an example is the drawing by Maximilian Messmacher “View of Cologne Cathedral”.
Mixed media watercolor
Many artists combine several drawing techniques in one work.
Methods of combined (mixed) technique:
- put the first coat of paint on a wet sheet;
- elaboration of plans, creation of the required degree of blurring;
- drying the drawing;
- lay out the next layers of paint in stages;
- elaboration of medium and near plans.
Basic rule of technology: paper is wetted not all, but in the right area (reserve); the pigment is applied to the surface from top to bottom.
The paper may be wetted in fragments. The artist himself decides which plan to work out by creating watercolor stains. With the help of a sponge, excess water must be removed so that water does not seep into those areas that should remain dry according to the artist's intention. Examples of combined technique in the work of the artist Konstantin Kuzema.
The next question for the artist is the creation of colorful layers. There are single-layer and multi-layer techniques (glazing).
Single layer watercolor technique
To paraphrase the famous satirist, one careless move, and at best you get graphics instead of watercolors. The paint is applied in one layer, adjustments cannot be made. The single coat technique can be applied dry-on-dry and wet-on-dry.
Features of a single-layer watercolor "dry on dry":
- performance literally in one or two touches;
- it is necessary to outline the contours of the drawing in advance;
- choose the colors to use, for the speed of work;
- for colorization, apply shades only on a wet layer;
- more clarity and graphics, less overflow.
Features of watercolor in one layer "wet on dry":
- more overflows, less graphics and clarity;
- apply strokes quickly, until dry, one by one;
- for colorization, have time to add paint when the smear is not yet dry.
A plus in a single-layer technique is the creation of picturesque watercolor overflows. On a dry sheet, it is easier to control the fluidity and outlines of strokes. Contemporary artists often hold master classes and post videos on Youtube. The technique of single-layer watercolor can be seen, for example, at the watercolorist Igor Yurchenko.
Those who tirelessly improve the technique of watercolor should master the multi-layer technique (glazing), in which famous masters work.
Multilayer watercolor technique (glazing)
This watercolor technique can give the green light to realist paintings. Glaze- multi-layer technique, applying watercolor with transparent strokes from lighter to darker, one layer on top of the other.
Features of the multilayer watercolor technique:
- realism of the image: a picture in bright, saturated colors;
- the bottom layer of light and transparent strokes should have time to dry before the next application;
- borders of smears are visible;
- paint does not mix in different layers;
- strokes are done carefully, plans are airy, painting in a soft style;
- you can divide the process into several sessions, perform a large canvas.
Glazed watercolor works look like oil or gouache painting. In order for the work not to have such a drawback, one must be able to work with light, apply glazing thinly and accurately.
Sergey Andriyaka is considered an unsurpassed master of multi-layered watercolors. In addition to creativity, the artist is actively involved in teaching, his work and his students are constantly exhibited.
“Oil painting is like driving a limousine, and watercolor is like driving a Ferrari. Not that respectability and safety, but it's really cool," Croatian watercolorist Josef Zbukvic wittily remarked. What is required in order to write a good watercolor, or "to drive a Ferrari with a breeze" according to the artist? He answers: "Follow the watercolor, or just paint."
To draw, you need brushes, paints, knowledge of technique and special effects. You can draw with a dry (wrung out), semi-dry and wet brush (core or squirrel).
Techniques in multilayer technique are also diverse:
- smears you need to do it according to the principle “the work of the master is afraid”, invent your own technique, making dotted, linear, blurry, figured, continuous and intermittent strokes.
- fill covers most of the picture with one color, used to ensure smooth color transitions.
- laundering- applying no more than three layers of paint, one on top of the other after drying to enhance halftones, prescribing details and shadows. In this way the overall tone is achieved.
- gradient stretch- strokes smoothly pass into each other, each next lighter than the previous one. This is done with the iridescent transition of colors.
- Paint pull- a clean dry brush makes the tone of the stroke lighter, passes over the paper, collecting excess pigment.
- Reservation- that part of the sheet that is left white.
Reservation types:
- « detour"- the name speaks for itself, you need to carefully bypass the right places with a brush. In wet watercolors, you need to leave more space for the reserve due to paint leaks.
- mechanical impact: scratching, masking. Avoid damaging the paper with sharp objects and sharp contrasts. Additional materials: razor, wax crayons, etc.
- paint washout dry cloth or wrung out brush. It is possible to use a palette knife if the paint is dry.
You can create watercolors in the technique of grisaille (monochrome), dichrome (with ocher) and multi-color drawings.
You can also combine coloring materials and create special effects:
- Mixing watercolor with whitewash, gouache, watercolor pencils, ink, pastels. This is no longer a pure technique, but a mixed one. What does it give? - clarity (pencils), shading (pastel), wash (ink), book illustrations (pen), reserve (white), linear strokes (watercolor pencils).
- Special effect " drawing on crumpled paper» gives an amazing effect of chiaroscuro on the folds of paper.
- Special effect with salt: salt crystals are applied to the drawing, fantastic stains appear as a result of friction with paper. Suitable for drawing a starry sky or water meadow.
- Special effect " splashing"- this effect is familiar to all 1-2-year-old little ones. It turns out that the technique of splashing exists in painting, and they will not be scolded for it. Using a toothbrush, tiny drops of paint are applied. Suitable for writing the elements, storms, storms.
- Watercolor with tea: For an aged effect on parchment-like paper. The sheet is tinted with tea leaves.
- Special effect with cling film: film soaked with paint abruptly separates from a sheet of paper. The resulting stains are used as a background.
And again about the principle “the work of the master is afraid”: each artist can create his own, author's techniques and techniques. Sharing or not with others is his business, but each artist is responsible for the originality of his work. As the aforementioned watercolorist Joseph Zbukvic said: “Watercolor is the boss. I'm just her young helper."
Each of us is an artist at heart. Remember the golden moments of childhood, when we enthusiastically painted with paints “kalyaki-malaki”. The art of painting is the greatest mystery in the world. With the help of paints and brushes, real miracles appear on the canvas. Many mistakenly believe that they do not have artistic talent. In fact, anyone can learn to paint with paints. How to paint real works of art with watercolors? To do this, you only need to follow simple recommendations.
What will we need?
So, we decided to enter the world of art and become artists. How to paint with watercolor correctly? This will require the following tools:
- paints;
- brushes;
- palette;
- sheets of paper.
The choice of accessories should be taken very carefully. The final result - a work of art - depends on them.
Choosing colors
How to paint with watercolors yourself? First of all, you need to choose the right colors. There are a huge number of watercolors on the shelves of art stores. Which one is better to choose?
Do not look at the price category here. High cost is not always a guarantee of quality.
It is better to choose paints made on the basis of beeswax. On the cover should be the inscription "honey". They have the brightest color.
Paint brushes
The brushes are just as important. Which of them are most suitable for watercolor?
The brush should be soft and pick up paint well. Its tip must be pointed. The bristles of the brush should be well fixed on the base. The best option would be brushes made from squirrel wool. Their bristles correspond to the declared parameters.
How many brushes will you need? To paint small parts of the picture, you should purchase a thin brush (number 1 or 2). For the main part - a greater thickness (numbers 5-6 or 7).
Palette
The palette serves as a kind of “draft”, a place for mixing paints. Several paints of different colors are applied to the palette, they are mixed. The result is the desired shade.
You can purchase a ready-made plastic palette. You can also do it yourself. For this, a sheet of thick paper is suitable, which should be folded around the edges.
Choosing watercolor paper
The process of choosing paper should be treated with special attention. The fact is that watercolor is a translucent paint. It requires a lot of water to work. If you draw on plain paper, it can quickly get wet from water. It is better to purchase special paper for watercolor. It is denser and thicker. Its surface is rough. Water particles get stuck on the rough surface of the paper. This prevents spreading.
Let's start drawing
How to paint with watercolors yourself? Having studied the basic features of watercolor paint, we know that it requires a large amount of water. The drawing is translucent, airy, flying. This effect is due to the structure of the paint.
There are 2 main watercolor painting techniques:
- Dry technology.
- Raw paper technique.
Everyone is familiar with the basics of dry technique since childhood: we pick up paint on a brush and draw. Depending on the type of drawing, you can pre-draw its outline with a pencil.
To get the desired color, you need to dip the brush in water, then in the desired paint and apply it to the palette. After that, the brush is washed with water and lowered into the paint of a different color. The resulting colors are mixed on the palette. The result will be the desired shade.
What is the difference between watercolor painting on wet paper? This technique is quite interesting, because. it allows you to create an unusual effect. To do this, before you start drawing, you should moisten a sheet of paper well with water. Until it dries, watercolor paint is applied to the wet paper. When mixed with water, it spreads, leaving fancy patterns on paper.
Let's draw
So, we purchased materials for work. Learned basic drawing techniques. Now you can proceed directly to the creative process.
How to paint with watercolor for beginners? For starters, it is recommended to try to study the paint. What will be required for this? Consider the basic lessons of acquaintance with paints:
- We study colors. Take a sheet of watercolor paper. Pick up the color you like with the brush. Put it on paper. Look at the effect. Now increase the amount of pressure on the brush. See how the color has changed (it should darken). Now fill the brush with more water and dip it into the paint. Draw a wet brush over the paper - the drawing will be translucent.
- We mix colors. Try mixing several colors. What shades are the result?
- Apply yellow, orange, red to the sheet. Study them. What emotions do they evoke? Now apply blue, purple, black to the sheet. What are the feelings now?
- We draw from nature. Now we need to learn how to display the objects around us. Put an apple in front of you. Study it carefully. See what color it is. Try to draw it.
Practical work
After learning the basic skills of the art of painting, you can move on to independent work.
Learning to paint objects around us in watercolor. Look around. What do you see? You can draw a still life. To do this, put in front of you a few items of utensils and any fruit. Try to picture them.
What else can be painted with watercolors? There are no restrictions here. It all depends on the imagination of the artist. You can draw everything that surrounds us. You can draw your own invented world.
You can start learning the basic techniques of working with watercolors by painting flowers and trees.
How to draw a flower?
Draw a flower with watercolors yourself:
- Think about what flower to draw.
- Explore its primary colors.
- Using a simple pencil, draw the main outline on the paper.
- Choose a paint for the background and paint over it.
- After the background is dry, you can start painting with watercolors.
- Paint over the flower with translucent paint.
- After the watercolor has dried, draw the outline with a darker paint.
- After the drawing has dried, place accents on the flower. This will give it volume. To place accents, it is necessary to apply several dense strokes along the contour of the flower with contrasting paint. Our drawing is ready.
Painting with watercolors is a simple and very exciting activity. Each of us can feel like a real artist, creating whole works of art. You just have to listen to the suggested advice.
It is said about watercolor that it personifies the unity of water and color. Using this technique, you can achieve a unique effect due to the ability of the special pigments that make up the paint to form aqueous suspensions, with the help of which artists achieve smooth color transitions and overall lightness of the composition.
A little about watercolor
So, when the decision is made and we learn to paint with watercolors, what do you need to know about this direction in art? For the first time the term "watercolor" was mentioned in the edition of 1437, which belonged to the pen of C. Cennini and was called "Treatise on Painting". It dealt with paints based on the sticky substance of gum. Another artist, Stanley Horowitz, considered watercolor to represent the spring of painting, while winter was engraving, summer oil, and autumn their totality. Indeed, there is something fresh and light in these drawings.
Watercolor lessons for beginners first of all involve studying the range of paints for drawing, which are available in several forms. Depending on the final destination, there are:
- solid tiled watercolor;
- semi-solid watercolor (it is produced in cuvettes and tubes);
- liquid watercolor;
- watercolor pencils and crayons;
- watercolor with mother-of-pearl effect.
Solid watercolors are ideal for drawings and posters, while painting uses semi-solid and liquid forms, as well as pencils and crayons, which allow for a unique combination of drawing and painting on canvas.
Watercolor painting techniques
Using different painting methods allows you to achieve different effects and adjust the brightness of the color. The two most commonly used techniques are:
- drawing on dry canvas;
- wet watercolor.
Painting on dry ground makes the drawing brighter, with more saturated colors and allows you to create sharp contours and clear lines. While painting on a wet canvas fully reveals all the possibilities of paint.
For work, they use a special type of watercolor paper that absorbs moisture well, special watercolor blocks or erasers, in some cases the paper is placed on glass, wetting the desired area, or placed on a wet piece of flannel.
Watercolor lessons for beginners
Flowers are the most popular subject for drawing. But for novice artists who are not yet confident in their abilities, it is better to give preference to simple large inflorescences - tulips, irises, pansies, etc. You should not take artificial flowers or objects from photos or postcards as a basis. Watercolor art involves drawing from nature.
An approximate scheme of work can help to draw flowers in watercolor in stages:
- place a vase of flowers near the window, catching the light on the bouquet;
- with a simple pencil, with light movements, outline the contours of the composition on the sheet;
- schematically mark the zones of chiaroscuro on the draft to avoid gross mistakes when drawing;
- study the structure of flowers before writing them directly - which petals will make up the background (they will need to be drawn first), which ones will go into the shadow;
- start with the top flower in the composition, but do not touch the center of the picture yet, it is drawn last;
- alternate flowers with greens - so the composition will not be scattered and will fit into one whole;
- tone the general background with a light translucent shade.
>It is the blurry stroke that makes watercolor drawings so recognizable and spectacular. The use of watercolor requires the artist to constantly improve their skills and develop painting techniques, including the use of fills, and dot-line drawing, and drawing on a completely wet sheet.
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At first sight watercolor drawings the simplest technique, but it is not. You won't become a genius without experience. In order for the master to captivate the viewer, he must have a bunch of technical knowledge.
Taste must be developed, drawings must be “delicious”, color perception, the ability to sculpt a form from two or three strokes (the fact is that you cannot put more than three strokes on a sheet, it turns out dirt), virtuoso use of a brush, etc.
I will not be mistaken if I say that your acquaintance with painting began with water paints. Remember in childhood, when we loved to draw, our parents bought us colored pencils and watercolors. At school, we learned drawing lessons with her help.
(gallery is clickable)
The paints are relatively inexpensive, wash well, and therefore it is believed that it is ideal for children. But in terms of technique, watercolor drawings are not so simple.
The fact is that these paints are not overlapping, they are transparent, so you can’t correct the mistake, you need to draw on a clean copy, right away. If we make a mistake in oil or gouache, we can apply the correct one on the wrong layer and it will not be noticeable, it will not work in watercolor.
Watercolor drawings have been known for a long time. As soon as paper was invented, watercolor was also invented. Paper, as you know, was invented in China, and the first experience of watercolor came from there. After he moved to Europe.
Aquarelle - water paint (Aqua - water). The pigment solvent is water, and the light tone is paper that shines through the smear.
Before watercolor drawings, there was a similar technique, painting on wet plaster - fresco.
Watercolor did not immediately take root in Europe. In the distant eighteenth century, there was a craze for drawings of miniature portraits, and here it just came in handy. This feature contributed to the development of the popularity of watercolor drawings.
It was only later that images of landscapes, the sea, girls and portraits appeared.
Popular watercolorists
- Stanislaw Zoladz
- Myoe Win Auna
- Steve Hanks
With Aquarelle you can paint pictures with photographic accuracy. See how the sea is rendered in a drawing by Polish artist Stanislaw Zoladz. Transmitted with photographic accuracy. It's like looking at a photo anyway.
There is also the “wet” technique (ala prima). The paper is impregnated with water and a pigment is applied to the wet surface. It turns out so vague, like in a fog, like a landscape in a haze.
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An artist, when starting a canvas, does not always know what the result will be. He works intuitively, using a wealth of experience and skill.
A virtuoso watercolor artist from Korea Shin Jong Sik. Landscapes and still lifes are the main theme of his paintings. Uses both dry and wet technique (ala prima) with equal confidence. Bright, juicy flowers delight the eye of the viewer.
You can get acquainted with this technique in the gallery of this article, at the very top. You can also see a note on our website about.
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Watercolor is often called the most naughty, most capricious paint. It is difficult to work with it, it is difficult to store it, it is unpredictable and requires maximum concentration from the artist. But those who managed to conquer and tame it know the secret of creating truly amazing works, looking at which you ask the only question: “Who did they sell their soul to draw like that?”
website invites you to a gallery of truly atmospheric, bright and talented works. This is exactly the kind of contemporary art that is not ashamed to confess its love.
The emotional realism of Steve Hanks
The faces of people in most of the artist's paintings are darkened or turned to the side. This is done in order to express emotions and for the body to "speak". “I have always tried to show the world only the positive moments of life. I hope that my work brings joy, peace and comfort to the life of the viewer,” says Hanks.
Rainy watercolor Lin Ching Che
Talented artist Lin Ching-Che is 27 years old. He is inspired by autumn rain. Cloudy city streets cause the guy not longing and despondency, but a desire to pick up a brush. Lin Ching Che paints watercolor paintings. With colorful water, it sings of the rainy beauty of megacities.
Boiling fantasy of Arush Votsmush
Under the pseudonym Arush Votsmush, a talented artist from Sevastopol Alexander Shumtsov is hiding. The artist says this about his paintings: “I am not trying to prove anything to anyone with my work. First of all, I enjoy. It is pure creativity drug. Or a pure life - without doping. It's just a miracle."
The charm of Paris in the works of Thierry Duval
Paris-born artist Thierry Duval has traveled extensively. Hence the presence of entire series of paintings on a “geographical basis”. Nevertheless, the author's favorite place was and remains Paris. The lion's share of works is dedicated to the city of lovers. He has his own technique of layering watercolor, which allows him to create paintings with almost hyper-realistic detail.
Evening Calm by Joseph Zbukvic
Today, Croatian-born Australian Joseph Zbukvic is considered one of the pillars of watercolor painting throughout the world. The artist fell in love with watercolor literally from the first stroke, he was struck by the innocence and individuality of this technique.
Secrets of the East through the eyes of Myo Wing Ong
The artist Myoe Win Aung devoted all his work to his native Burma, its everyday life and holidays, lay people and monks, towns and cities. This world is calm, dressed in gentle tones, mysterious and slightly pensive, like the smile of Buddha.
Incredible watercolor by Joe Francis Dowden
English artist Joe Francis Dowden paints hyper-realistic watercolors. And he believes that everyone can do it, you just need to know the secrets of technology. The secret of his inspiration is extremely simple: "Throw away watercolor textbooks and get lost in a real forest."
The Magic of Ballet by Liu Yi
The watercolors of this Chinese artist can be safely called art about art. After all, his favorite topic is the images of people who are directly related to him - for example, ballerinas or classical musicians. The way they are presented in the paintings is peculiar: people seem to emerge from a thin haze, emotional and very characteristic. To some extent, they echo the images of ballerinas by the French artist Edgar Degas.
