Painting in watercolour
Watercolour comes in metal tubes or as dry tablets that are then mixed with water. It also comes in a liquid form.
Watercolour paint is Allows light to pass through but is not completely clear. - it can create a muted, subtle image with a softened look.
Watercolour is good for working quickly. It is ideal for painting outside as it requires little extra equipment, it dries quickly and brushes can be cleaned easily.
It is difficult to change mistakes in watercolour. Painting over mistakes won鈥檛 cover them up. Repeatedly wetting the surface can also damage it.
Brushes
Watercolour brushes are designed to control the flow of colour. Good brushes have a fine point, and the ability to hold and evenly control colour.
There are a number of different brush shapes for watercolour painting:
- Round brushes are the most聽versatile聽and widely used brushes. Their shape makes them suitable for small details and delicate lines. They can also be used to make broader strokes and washes.
- Flat brushes aren't as versatile as round brushes but they're useful for blending and creating washes.
- Spotter brushes are small round brushes with shorter bristles to give extra control. They are excellent for precise details.
- Wash brushes are similar to flat brushes, but are much wider. They are suitable for blending or applying lots of paint.
Painting surfaces
Watercolour paper can be handmade, mould-made or machine-made. The paper comes in different weights/thicknesses.
255 gsm paper is good to work on but might need to be stretched beforehand, as the paper stretches when it dries. This is done by wetting the paper and taping it to a board using brown gum tape. This helps it stay flat during painting.
Using watercolour boards is a convenient option where pre-stretching isn鈥檛 needed.
Question
Why is watercolour a good paint to use outdoors?
It dries quickly, cleans off brushes easily and only requires simple equipment - paint, brushes, a surface and water