Idea 1.
Paint in Watercolour.
I was a terrible artist at school.
I passed Art GCSE by the skin of my teeth and with lots of help from my teacher…
(i.e. she mended/half-repainted most of my pictures.)
This was made all the more comical as I am surrounded by brilliant artists in my family.
However, I do love being creative, and I always win at Pictionary, so I put it down to a lack of quality instruction in my life, rather than some kind of inbuilt deficiency.
With this in mind, I once asked those who know better than me (and even do art for a living) to give me their top tips for the Sunday afternoon watercolour dabbler.
I tried them, and I’ll be darned… my pictures came out much less awful – you could even tell what they were supposed to be.
I would say that I am now – reasonably OK, and I genuinely love it.
More than that, watercolour is a lovely, calm, mindful pursuit.
It makes you:
- slow down
- notice
- take your time
- appreciate detail
If you have some time in the garden, or you’re stuck inside on a showery day, there’s nothing nicer than to create a piece of watercolour art.
Artist Tips
1. The Right Tools For The Job
If this is going to be an occasional thing, you don’t need to spend a lot to get started.
I’ve found perfectly serviceable equipment in shops like The Works (wow, the staff are super helpful there), WHSmith and even good old ‘pound’ emporiums.
If you decide this hobby is for you, then of course start investigating fancy sable hair brushes later.
The most expensive one I found online was £675 and takes over a week to manufacture.
Watercolour is all about having a delicate touch… which I am told is perhaps not my natural superpower.
I’ll stick to my £2 Smiths ones.
Collect Your Equipment
1. Paper towels (helpful)
I needed a lot of these.
Use them for dabbing the brush, paper and wiping excess paint off.
2. Painting Palette (helpful)
You can use a plate of course, but the ones that separate out the colours can be literal pennies to buy.
Use it to get just the right mix of colour/liquid before you add it to your glorious artwork.
3. Watercolour Paper (essential)
Watercolour paper is absorbent and thicker than normal copy paper.
This means the paint can sink in, rather than sit on top and make the paper wrinkle.
As with the brushes; quality varies, but I’m told, by people who know such things, that 300gsm watercolour paper is a great choice.
Any watercolour pad or paper is going to be better than the normal stuff.
Some scrap paper (Fun Fact: Americans would call this scratch paper) is a great idea too, to try out different strokes and colours before you commit yourself.
4. Masking Tape (helpful)
If you want to look super crisp and professional, use masking tape around the borders of your paper. Press it down enough so the paint doesn’t seep through.
You can paint up to and over the masking tape at the edges, and when you’ve finished … carefully peel it off.
Behold – marvel at your deliciously clean edges – so satisfying!
5. Watercolour Paint:
Keep it simple. A basic set with primary colours (red, blue, yellow) is fine, plus white for highlighting/mixing.
It’s tempting to buy every shade, but mixing from primaries teaches you about colour and keeps things manageable and affordable.
Buying:
Aim for quality within your budget.
High-quality paints give you vivid colours and are easier to work with.
If you’re wondering whether to choose tubes or pans, pans are great for beginners, less mess and easy to use.
Art shop staff can offer invaluable advice, guiding you to a suitable starter set. S
tudent-grade paints strike a good balance between cost and quality, perfect for new artists.
Beginners: Experiment with your new palette and see how many colours you can make.
Try mixing the primary colours/white to see how many different colours you can make.
Enjoy the process, and let your creativity flow.
Pro Painting Tips
- “Light First, Dark Last.“
It sounds obvious, but you need to start with a wash of the lightest colours and gradually finish with darker colours. This is because watercolour paint has a high transparency, which is what gives it is delicate appearance.
You’ve seen enough Brad Mondo to know that light won’t show over dark.
It’s very difficult to undo dark colours.
I’ve been there with both hair and painting.
Also you simply leave parts of your picture you want to be white – paint-free.
- Don’t Be Stingy
Probably the best tip I got from an artist friend is to mix more paint than you think you need (especially if you’re using powder paint)
It’s hard to get exactly the same colour again if you’re mixing colours, so it’s better to have too much than too little
- Have Tea Breaks
As you’re layering up your artwork, you need to leave each layer to dry.
(Unless you’re trying to produce a mixed/blended effect – especially in background washes which is also awesome and makes you feel super arty, dahhling).
Get a pot of tea on the go, hang the washing out, or take a quick break to let your colours dry.
A friend of mine uses her watercolour as her ‘Pomodoro’ break.
She takes a break from work every hour, does just a little more of her painting for a few minutes and then back to work again.
I know someone else who does this with a jigsaw, while we’re on the subject.
- Be Playful
Wet paint on wet paint is superbly unpredictable – especially with abstract pieces.
Wet paint on dry paint means you can create depth and detail.
- Go Online
While it would be lovely to go to an evening class to learn from a real artist, YouTube has a wealth of amazing lessons.
Maybe choose a ‘Paint-Along’ type video to get you started. You’ll be producing beautiful original art before you know it – and what could be more special framed on your wall, than something you’ve created yourself?
(Even if, like mine – some are a little bit rubbish)