A Quick Primer On Watercoloring
Sep 20th, 2010 by Aldouspi

Watercoloring

A Quick Primer On Watercoloring

There is a myth going around that of all the drawing arts, watercolor is the hardest to master. That assessment is far from the truth, according to the many watercolor artists, famous and otherwise.

In fact, they assert that learning how to paint with watercolor is totally fun and easy, especially so if you are artistically-inclined. Another good thing going for it is that it is low-cost and is much easier to conquer than, say oil painting.

Benefits

From the creative point of view, watercolor painting offers just as much artistic possibilities for self-expression as all the others. The satisfaction of finishing your art work is just as priceless as any.

From a practical point of view, watercolor equipments (and materials) are lightweight and easy to transport. The materials (paper, paints, pencil, etc.) are not expensive and easy to purchase.

Watercolor paints are thinned by water and are non-toxic. The paints are cleaned easily from the brushes with water and soap and are not smelly.

For people on the go, the painting kit for watercolors does not take up much room in your bags. Because it is portable and its ease of use, watercolors are preferred by artists in doing their sketches or studies.

Artists usually do their warm up art exercises on watercolor – still life, landscapes, or some abstract portraits to trigger their creative juices. Some experienced artists use it to make small-scale studies for some big murals they intend to do in the future.

Materials and media

For mixed media pieces, watercolor blends well with colored pencils, watercolor pencils, graphite and ink. Artists of the past traditionally use paper as their medium, but now a special watercolor canvas manufactured specially for watercolor use is available as well.

Some creative people paint on antique book pages and on other vintage materials like old postcards and stationery.

Characteristics

Watercolor paint usually has that translucent, ethereal quality that comes out in the finished art work. Some talented watercolor artists layer images and other artistic strokes in such a way that what’s underneath shows through. Some of these works are simply breath-taking.

However, the downside is that it is difficult to cover mistakes in a watercolor art work simply because it shows through. (Usually, these professional artists avoid these by pre-planning what they are going to work on, and how to work it out, including those masterful layering strokes.) Thinking through the process is a valuable tool to practice when watercoloring.

Sketching

Like most other artists in other fields, watercolor artists usually sketch in their art composition very lightly, with a pencil, before applying the watercolor.

Notice, too, the total color scheme of the piece is usually lighter than what it appeared to the viewers when it was still wet. Of course, there are other watercolor techniques that are done that makes the work really wet.

Painting techniques

Techniques such as wet-on-wet (very wet brush and wet paper) or wet-on-dry (wet brush on dry paper) are just two of the techniques. Other effects are created with splattering, using salt and others.

However, dried watercolor paint re-wets easily and can be “reactivated”.

Once finished, watercolor paintings are sealed with a protective spray. This seals in the colors and protects the surface. Are you ready to do some watercoloring?

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Watercolor Painting Fun For Kids
Sep 15th, 2010 by Aldouspi

watercolor kid

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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