How can I start a watercolor-forward newsletter without delving into a quick intro to this notoriously finicky medium? Poor gal; she does not have the best reputation. “Watercolor can be challenging because there is no painting over something, when you make a mark it is there, like it or not, which takes some getting used to” lifestyle and botanical illustrator Caitlin McGauley mentioned to me a few year back. “Sometimes I feel like clicking on CTRL-Z like on my Mac but it doesn’t work” chimed in French food illustrator Lucile Prache. But watercolor is also a meditative exercise in observation and patience, the ultimate test for any perpetual control freak and a revolt against drawing and painting in the digital age. I know that with a few micro lessons and the right paper, I can convince just about anyone to like watercolor. Here are few tips on how to get started.
You will also need:
a watercolor kit of around 5-10 colors, including the primary and secondary colors and black. I use Kuretake.
watercolor paper
A water paintbrush or paintbrush with soft bristles
A pencil
paper towels or a very clean kitchen towel for mopping up messes
glass or jar of water
Get to know your paints
To activate the watercolor, dip the paintbrush in water and swirl it around in each color. I use a dinner plate or a marble tabletop to mix colors freely. Check the color by dabbing the brush on a paper towel or an extra piece of paper. Rinse the paintbrush before activating the next color. The more water added, the less saturated the color.
Start by painting a color wheel. Draw a circle and divide it evenly into 6 segments. Fill in the circle first with the primary colors, leaving a white space in between each one: red, yellow and blue. Once those are completely dry, add the secondary colors: orange, green and purple. If don’t successfully, your eye should travel easily around the wheel.
Sketch an object
Grab any object in your home. Sketch it out lightly with a pencil. In watercolor, the white blank page is the most important secondary color. Before you start building the color, “try keeping it simple, watercolor is less about what you're layering on and more about what you're leaving out” said Ms. McGauley. Squint your eyes. Where are the lightest and darkest spots? What direction is the light coming from? Use a pencil to draw the lightest spots as a mental note not to paint those areas in later.
Study color
Don’t get caught up in painting a pear green just because that’s how your mind imagines it. Its skin is olive green with flecks of orange and yellow. It may be more yellow near where the light hits it. Spend the time studying the colors and mix as much as possible until you find the right color. “When drawing a leaf, I tend to paint it as a whole in green. I would like to keep in mind that a leaf is made of many colors” said Ms. Prache. Much like the practice of sketching regularly, observation is key to understanding color.
Engage in the magic
“Watercolor forces you to let go of preconceived ideas and collaborate with the medium” said fashion and lifestyle illustrator Samantha Hahn. It also is an act of being in the moment. Once you put the watercolor on paper, there are a few moments where the paper is wet and you can still add more color, shadow or details, blending it directly on the page creating a beautiful bleed. “My hand and brain are communicating but it's more meditative than overtly cognitive” said Ms. Hahn.
Avoid overworking
Oftentimes, young watercolorists will use the tiny water cup attached to their paints. This is perfectly suitable for a quick watercolor on the go, but it can easily become a muddy mess. Always rinse your brushes before moving onto the next color and work with clean and transparent water. Feel a painting is overworked? “Best to tear it up and start over!” advised Ms. McGauley.
Happy painting and don’t drink the watercolor water.
Was this helpful? Please share with a friend. Feel empowered to pull out your watercolor paints again?
Do let me know what you struggle with exactly and I’ll be sure to address your questions very soon. -jkw