Watercolor Painting Fun For Kids

Many parents buy their kids a simple watercolor set as young as six years old to make painting as easy learning experience for them. Aside from instilling the value of art appreciation, parents encourage their kids to paint using watercolors for many good reasons. Watercolor painting fun for kids can teach them the value of resourcefulness, creativity, patience, and perseverance.

Getting Started

Next to using crayons, kids are very fond of using watercolors when painting. Aside from being an enjoyable activity that kids can share with their parents, painting using watercolor can also be one of those activities they can share with their playmates and friends.

But, before you get too excited in teaching your kids the beauty of watercolor painting, there are some things you need to consider:

1. Interest. The first thing to consider when encouraging your kids to get into watercolor painting is their interest in the craft. If your child is one of those who are into art and into drawing or collecting pretty images, then she or he is the perfect candidate for the activity. This is because she/he already has the drive and the creativity to create another masterpiece. But if your child is not yet interested in crafts and arts, it doesn’t mean he/she cannot indulge into watercolor painting. You may just need to take a different approach with the thought that this is the perfect time to introduce him/her into a new world of exciting and enjoyable activity. The world of art that he or she may not have noticed before.

2. Space. Aside from the desire of your child to explore art, another thing you need to consider is the availability of space where your kids can do the activity. Since watercolor painting can require a lot of materials, you will need a space big enough for them to sprawl out and to scatter the materials they will use for watercolor painting. It is advisable that you provide a space where kids can do their watercolor painting and a place where they can leave their stuff.

3. Availability and cost of supplies. You also need to take into account the amount of materials and the cost of supplies your child will need. Since you are about to teach him or her basic watercolor painting, you will need a basic set of paints and pigments, brushes, papers, palette and water. These items are not too expensive, but knowing your budget will make shopping for these items easier.

Since you will be the one teaching your child about watercolor painting, it would be best if you are familiar with art at some level. This maybe a great opportunity for you to learn watercolor painting on your own. When your child sees you doing the activity, he or she will be influenced in engaging into the craft.

One way to learn the basics of watercolor painting is to take a crash course online. Aside from the basic techniques in watercolor painting, you can also learn painting tips and application methods. By enrolling to an online watercolor painting class, you can also be introduced to different styles and modern techniques.

The length of the various watercolor painting courses available depends on your knowledge about the craft and how much more would you want to learn. But, basic online courses for watercolor painting usually last from four days up to one week. Then, you will be asked to complete the rest of the exercises at home.

But no matter where you are at personally with watercoloring… Introducing your kids to the art of watercolor painting can be fun for you as well as for them.

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Watercolors: How To Start Working With Them

Watercolors are a difficult medium to work with. However, they can also be the most rewarding for any beginning artist. This is because the different techniques that you learn as you develop your skills will help you even more when you start working with oils and acrylics. Watercolors are a temperamental medium and learning how to work with the paint and letting it flow properly from your brush to canvas is a great asset for your future development as an artist. How does one start their journey in watercolors?

First of all, you need to get the right materials. Get a good selection of paints Ð high-quality paints usually produce high-quality work because they work well on the paper and the brush. Get a good start set of colors – most sets follow the standard collection of red, blue, white, black, yellow, purple, ochre, umber, and sienna. These starter colors give you a wide range to work with in your starting lessons in the art. The next thing you need to pick up is a set of three brushes: a medium size round brush, a small size round brush, and a flat brush.

These will be your basic brushes for painting, Finally, you need to choose the right paper to work with. It is better work with watercolor paper when painting using watercolors Ð this is because watercolor paper is thicker and more durable when used with this particular medium. Ordinary paper would warp from the contact of water and would have the paint spread in an unpredictable manner. Proper watercolor paper stands up to the punishment and the paint works with it properly.

After choosing the materials, you’ll need to know a few basic techniques in watercoloring. The most basic technique is washing. This describes the process of layering paint on the canvas while creating the illusion of depth and detail. The basic wash goes like this:

• Set your initial boundaries a small rectangle or square would help set your parameters.

• Use your flat brush and dip it well in paint. Draw a stroke from left to right. Stop at the boundary you set.

• Dip your brush again and repeat the stroke this time underneath the first store, overlapping it.

• Repeat again and continue until you reach your bottom boundary.

Congratulations! You’ve done your first flat wash!

Washing is where it all begins. Most techniques using watercolors are based on washing. Your initial wash was on a flat horizontal surface. Can you imagine doing it on an easel, with the canvas vertical? The effect would have been different because the water would have been flowing down. Flat washes are easy Ð another type of wash is the graded wash. This means that the color slowly fades as the wash progresses. Here’s how to do it:

• Set your initial boundaries once again a small rectangle or square would help set your parameters.

• Use your flat brush and dip it well in paint. Draw a stroke from left to right. Stop at the boundary you set.

• Now, dab your brush a little and use a lighter mixture by using more water or a different paint.

• Make your next stroke beneath your first one, making sure to overlap it. You’ll notice the difference immediately.

• Repeat again and continue until you reach your bottom boundary, while progressively using a lighter mixture.

There you have it! A graded wash is often used to display changes in color tone.

These two watercolor techniques are just the beginning. There is a whole constellation of painting techniques that can only help you as you progress as a watercolorist.