Watercolor – A Popular Medium Of Painting

Watercolors have been used by artists all over the world for centuries. This medium is a great way to express the emotions as well as capture moments of beauty.

Watercolor, as its name implies, is a kind of paint that is composed of a water-soluble pigment. These paints have a great range in value, from light colors to dark, with an amazing ability for subtle shading. Historians believe the use of watercolor as a medium started during the paleolithic Europe, but the history of this art medium is most easily tracked from the beginning of the Renaissance.

The most important traditions in watercolor paintings are considered to be botanical and wildlife illustrations. Watercolor painting spread during the 18th century because of some factors, as explorers and scientists began cataloging plant and animal species around the world. And soon, people who belonged in the elite and aristocratic families, valued skill at watercolor painting as one of the incidental adornments of a good education.

Another use of watercolor, as a popular medium, came about as it was found to be an effective way to depict properties, terrain, fortifications and to illustrate public works for surveyors, mapmakers, military officers and engineers. It was just easier for people “out in the field” to carry sheets of paper and dried paints, ready for a little added water to illustrate what was before them. As the popularity and uses of watercolors flourished, heavier papers and more specialized brushes were invented.

There are four basic ingredients in watercolor paints. Pigment is the most important. It gives color to the paint. Natural minerals were the earliest known pigments. Arabic gum, on the other hand, is the one responsible for holding the pigment in suspension and fixing it to the painting surface. To change the viscosity, hiding, durability or color of the pigment, additives must be added. Lastly, a solvent, water, is needed to thin or dilute the paint for application.

In the past, using watercolors required a lot more labor as they were available in small blocks that needed to be wetted and rubbed out in water. Today, the modern commercial watercolor paints are available in two forms. The first type is sold in collapsible metal tubes in standard sizes. The other one is called pan paints that are available in two sizes.

These commercial watercolor paints are made in two grades. Some paints are formulated with fewer fillers. They are called “artist quality” paints. Having fewer kaolin or chalk makes the watercolors have richer colors and lead to more vibrant mixes.

On the other hand, some paints are formulated with less pigment. These paints are called “student grade” paints.

Watercolor painting is done in several techniques. Washes and glazes are two basic techniques. To disguise or efface individual brush strokes in the painting, a diluted paint is applied to produce a unified area of color. This is a wash. To apply one paint color at the top of a previous paint layer is called a glaze.

Another technique is wet and wet. This technique is considered to be one of the most distinctive features of watercolor painting. The application of paint or water to an area of the painting which has already had with either paint or water applied is how this technique is done. For precision and control, a drybrush is the best technique to use. Building up or mixing the paint colors with short precise touches that blend together to avoid the appearance of pointilism is the objective of the technique.

[phpbay]Watercolor Medium, 8, “”, “”[/phpbay]

Watercolor Medium related articles from the blogosphere…

40 Extremely Mesmerizing Examples Of Traditional & Digital …

Everyone has used watercolor in some part of his life and would agree that watercolors is the best medium to showcase the inner talent more easily. Watercolor.

Publish Date: 09/29/2010 13:46

http://www.neurosoftware.ro/programming-blog/facebook-web-design/web-resources/40-extremely-mesmerizing-examples-of-traditional-digital-watercolor-painting/

Diana M. Davis Watercolor: Iridescent Medium on Hummer

I use Winsor Newton Iridescent Watercolor Medium very lightly after I finish painting the bird , using a small amount with clear water I glaze the bird, also I used two iridescent powders, one of the powders varies as you look at it …

Publish Date: 08/13/2010 17:06

http://dianamdaviswatercolor.blogspot.com/2010/08/iridescent-medium-on-hummer.html

Types of Mixed Media Art

Often artists use pen and ink to bring out details of tiled roofs, tree bark or cobbled streets that are first painted with transparent watercolors. When working with these two mediums it’s important to first determine which medium will …

Publish Date: 04/30/2010 4:39

http://www.suite101.com/content/types-of-mixed-media-art-a231860

Watercolor Essentials with Birgit OConnor

From ArtistsNetwork.TV: Start by letting go of the fear of watercolor, just add water and color and see what happens. Watercolor moves like no other medium, learn how it reacts and what you can do within this beautiful transparent medium on paper. Th…

Possibly related posts:

• Related posts on Adornments
• Smart and Practical Tips For A Budget Wedding « How to Pick Up Women
• What is the age at which a woman should observe hijab in front of …

• Related posts on Arabic Gum
• Witchcraft Kit
• Buy Portraits And Figures, start of tanjore painting

Starting Watercolors: Basic Principles In Painting

Watercolors as an art medium is probably one of the trickiest to master – because being basically colored water, makes it problematic. Water, unlike oils and acrylics, doesn’t stick to the canvas. It actually warps the canvas as it is applied. In a way, watercolors fight you the entire way through a painting.

So why use them? Because watercolors are non-toxic and easy-to-use. This is great for beginners as it gives them less things to worry about. It makes the medium an excellent starting place to introduce painting to children. Note that oil paints and acrylics need special care when used and can be dangerous for those using them.

What the artist need to be concerned with is how to paint properly using watercolors. For those people who’re still having trouble painting in this medium, here are a few tips to help you improve your technique:

a) Have A Good Set Of Supplies – One of the rules about getting anything done is to have a good foundation. In painting, this means you have to have a decent set of supplies and tools. Substandard equipment can make your attempt at watercolors a painful experience.

To get a proper set of supplies, here are the important ones you need: a proper brush, a good set of paints and the appropriate type of paper. There are a few more things that you should have, but these three are the most important.

First of all, if you can only have one brush, then purchase a #8 round red sable watercolor brush. Other brushes can be purchased later, but this particular brush is good for general use. Next, you can purchase a good set of “academic” watercolors as a starter set for your attempt at painting. These usually have a good selection of pigments for you.

Finally, always use watercolor paper, whether they be in a pad or a sheet – watercolor paper is thicker and heavier so you won’t have to deal much with the warping caused by the water being painted on the paper.

b) Learn To Hold Your Brush – Using your brush properly is another way to make sure your painting comes out right. There are several ways to hold your brush to maximize the effect of your painting.

The classic hold is used when you’re using the brush like a pen – this is why you hold it similar to the grip used when writing, although your hand is further back on the brush.

Another hold is the pinch, where you hold the brush as if you were picking it up from the table. This allows you to better paint downward strokes. There are several other holds that you will need to know, but these two are the most basic.

c) Learn How To Wash – “Washing” in watercolor terms is to build up layers of color with your brush to get a particular level of depth and detail. This is the most basic skill in watercolor painting so you will need to learn it.

It’s simple really – for a simple flat wash, just paint an initial stroke on the canvas, then follow it up with another stroke beneath it. The result should be like a stacking tower of color.

There you go! These tips should help you start on your way to proper watercolor painting.

Using Watercolors: Basic Principles In Painting related articles from the blogosphere…

Tina Bohlman Day-to-Day Watercolors: Sketchbooking with Watercolor …

Starting out with a sketchbook and watercolor is a good way to begin painting from life outside the studio. This was a new experience for the group in that no one had worked “en plein air” prior to this workshop…and I must say that …

Publish Date: 09/15/2010 10:19

http://tinabohlman.blogspot.com/2010/09/sketchbooking-with-watercolor-workshop.html

Free Online Watercolor Instruction

Whether watercolor painting is a hobby or a career, all artists of all abilities can benefit from online watercolor painting instruction. Follow these tips to start watercolor painting today. …

Publish Date: 07/06/2010 9:34

http://www.suite101.com/content/free-online-watercolor-instruction-a258218

Types Of Painting Classes And What You Need To Expect From Them …

Starting Watercolor Painting Training – Watercolors certainly are a flexible channel and may be employed to make simple or challenging paintings. Trainees in an introductory watercolor class explore several techniques by way of class …

Publish Date: 09/12/2010 2:53

http://onlineeducationplace.com/education/types-of-painting-classes-and-what-you-need-to-expect-from-them/

How to Create a “Rub-out” Drawing

(Full instructional video at bit.ly ) When starting a painting, it’s often helpful to create a preliminary drawing that you can paint over later. Here, Pat Weaver demonstrates how to do that for watercolors by starting with a medium-value wash, and t…