Watercolour painting: Easy ideas to elevate your artistic journey Step into the mesmerising realm of watercolours, where every droplet tells a tale and every hue sings a melody. Gone are the days of monochrome monotony; it's time to embrace the symphony of shades that await your canvas. With watercolours, even the most ordinary moments can be transformed into extraordinary masterpieces. Ready to embark on this vibrant voyage with us? Let's paint the town, and our canvases, in every shade imaginable! Let's paint! Watercolouring and its unique charm Watercolour paper - the black and white canvas Mastering the essential techniques Watercolouring and its unique charm Watercolouring, at its core, is a dance of pigments and water. It's an ancient art form that has been practised for centuries, capturing the essence of nature, emotions, and fleeting moments with a delicate touch. But what sets watercolouring apart from other painting techniques? Unlike acrylics or oils, watercolours are transparent and fluid. This means that the white of the paper plays a crucial role in the painting, often acting as the lightest light. The water acts as a vehicle, carrying the pigment across the paper, creating soft edges, blends, and a luminosity that's hard to achieve with other mediums. A good thing to know is that unlike oil paints, which can take days or even weeks to dry, watercolours dry relatively quickly. This allows artists (and you) to work faster and layer more efficiently. @drawelse Watercolour paper - the black and white canvas Often overlooked, but crucial to your artistic endeavours is the very raw canvas, your watercolour paper, which comes in two powerful variants - the almighty white and the magnificently mysterious black. When it comes to the traditional white watercolour paper, it's all about exploring your vibrant spectrum. Colours tend to pop on this canvas, true to their hues, presenting their unabashed selves in all their glory. From the richest crimson to the deepest azure blue, every hue comes to life against this forgiving backdrop. So, here's a tip: To make the most of your white paper, play around with a myriad of colours, exploit their brightness, their lightfastness, and express your artistic imagination to the fullest. On the other hand, if you wish to step into the alluring world of the nocturnal, the black watercolour paper is your night sky to a starry artistic expression. It's all about understanding which colours stand out in the dark abyss. Now, you're probably wondering, "What colours should I gravitate towards?" Here’s where metallics and neons - those luminous, sparkling tones - are your best friends. Gold, silver, shimmering overtones have a magnificent way of standing out on black watercolour paper, almost reminiscent of stars twinkling against a dark sky. And remember, whether you tread the beaten path of white, or venture into the depths of black, it's all about understanding the unique personality of these papers and how they interact with your chosen hues. So don your artist's beret, hold your brushes high, and paint your way into the colourful realms of your imagination. Get everything for your watercolouring journey here! Mastering the essential techniques Our voyage into the world of watercolour techniques starts with a little dance. A sensual waltz between water and colour we like to call the wet-on-wet technique. Imagine, your brush is your favourite dancer, gracefully gliding across the stage that is your paper, dipping and twirling in pools of colour! However, don't get too swept away in the dance, because some colours like playing hard to get. That's why our next act is the wet-on-dry technique. Here, the watercoloured dancer decides to show some attitude, only mingling with our star, the paper, when it's completely dry. Drama! And our final act is the oo-la-la gradient. Think of it as a flirty tease between colour and water - starting off bold, then gradually fading to a tender whisper of shade. Now, who said art class was boring? Just remember, these performances require practice. So put your sequined art hat on and get painting! It's showtime, darling! With each hasty brushstroke you apply, you are moulding your artistic identity, developing a unique style as unpredictable and original as the world around us. So, the next time you see a smudge of gravy on your tablecloth or a smear of ketchup on your dinner plate, see it not as a mess, but as a starting point for an irresistible piece of art. Get ready to redefine the art world's boundaries with your vibrant creations on the kitchen counter, transforming the mundane into the spectacular. Who knows, your next masterpiece could be just a doodle away! Bravo, Picasso 2.0, you've coloured your way to triumph! You've embarked on a frolicsome journey that was shaped by a riot of colours, and trust us, there’s no looking back now. The saga of your imaginative journey is more vibrant than my grandma's rainbow socks. Remember, the magic lies in keeping the brushes active, so keep them swinging like Tarzan swinging from vine to vine! Happy painting! Sign up for our newsletter Dive deeper into the artful abyss! Sign up for our newsletter and paint your inbox colourful! Sign up here
