Water colour paint
Windsor and Newton liquid tube watercolour paints are my preferred paints. The company also make great 'pan paints', that are convenient to take while travelling.
Acrylic paints
When I paint in acrylic paints, I recommend Golden brand .
Oil paints
For oil paints, I prefer Windsor and Newton oils.
General areas for your learning research
It is well worth your time to make your very own colour wheel. It is helpful to learn warm colours like yellows and reds, and cool colours such as blues and greens. Learning how to make tints, hues and values will make your painting colours more interesting. Using complimentary colours in your work will result in a pleasing painting composition! Understanding a colour wheel can be a good starting point, to remind that opposites really do attract!
My brushes are artist quality from a local art store. Windsor and Newton make a premium brush but there are many other wonderful varieties
Let go of fear. Plan to work on many practice paintings before you are really satisfied with your painting skills. I always tell people it is only paint and just start by getting the brush wet. Some paintings will be so good and some will just not turn out no matter what yo try to do with them. It takes practice to create a good painting. Where ever you leave off in your educational journey of painting is where you will begin the next time you return. Keep practicing, kee learning from tube,or various atists.
Creating your own painting can take you to a place of relaxation where you will eventually accomplish a style of your own.
Enjoy the painting process!
Water colour painting- 101
Surfaces for water colour painting
1) Arches Paper - 140 lb is excellent for water colour paintings. It is sold in sheets or block pads. Sheets can be folded in half and provide a surface for two paintings, or four of a smaller size. Pads are sold in various sizes. either are good.
2) Canson 140 lb paper pad.
3)Strathmore 140 lb paper pad
The most important point to remember about your painting surface in water colours, is the quality of the paper. Any paper that is less than 140 lbs will not be a smooth surface and can ruin the look of your painting. It will not absorb the water and pigment properly.
Some time ago I really enjoyed painting on Terra Skin paper. It has a thick slippery surface almost like a plastic feel to it. It is no longer available, bt Yupo paper has a similar feel but it mc thinner paper for water colours.
Watercolour Paint
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'Windsor and Newton tube water colour paints- artist quality. Graham make an excellent water colour paint. Another favorite water colour paint of mine, is Yarka brand pan paints. some of the cheaper brands can tend to be chalky and not produce the same result as these brands.
Brushes
Artist quality brushes include these brands and many more : Curry`s, Windsor and Newton, Escoda, Bob Ross. There are many other brushes of good quality and can be recommended by your local art supply store.
Suggested materials for water colour painting: The set-up
Masking tape
Board to tape your paper onto, such as an art board, a card board, a plastic board.
Soft pencil 4B, or 6B
Gomme eraser.
Two plastic containers of clean water
Water colour paints of your choice but with at least the three primary colours, red, blue, yellow
Ruler
A painting palette. ( I love to use an antique glass cutting board!) I also have a plastic palette such as a Tom Lynch type.
Kleenex/paper towel, or an old clean cloth.
Spray mist bottle- must produce a fine mist- not too wet. can be purchased at art supply.
A book or item to place under the top edge of your work board, to angle your paint surface up to about 20 degrees toward you.
Title: Soaring.
Paints and substrate: Water colour and pastel on Terra Skin paper.
Mixing water colour paints.
The three primary colours are red, blue and yellow. Using one colour straight from the tube creates a crisp clear pigment in your work. Using mixed colours adds more depth to a painting.
Secondary colours are created mixing two primary color together; yellow and blue-produce green.
Cool colours are- blues.
Warm colours are yellows/reds.
To create shadows use the opposite colour on the colour wheel. this color is called a complementary colour. For example on a yellow flower we can use violet to add contrast in shadow areas.
Paint can be mixed on your palette before you apply it to your paper, or colours can be mixed on wet paper as you are painting and allowed to blend on a wet surface by themselves naturally. Many interesting images are created this way. It is a great idea to have a scrap piece of paper to test your colours- before you paint on your work.
orange = red + yellow
green = blue + yellow
purple = blue + red
brown = red + yellow + blue
Secondary colours are created mixing two primary color together; yellow and blue-produce green.
Cool colours are- blues.
Warm colours are yellows/reds.
To create shadows use the opposite colour on the colour wheel. this color is called a complementary colour. For example on a yellow flower we can use violet to add contrast in shadow areas.
Paint can be mixed on your palette before you apply it to your paper, or colours can be mixed on wet paper as you are painting and allowed to blend on a wet surface by themselves naturally. Many interesting images are created this way. It is a great idea to have a scrap piece of paper to test your colours- before you paint on your work.
orange = red + yellow
green = blue + yellow
purple = blue + red
brown = red + yellow + blue
Water colour paintings are painted often using transparent paints. This type of paint allows layers of colours to be applied on top of a dry light base coat of a single color of paint. They colours show through all the layers.
Opaque water colour paints will completely cover the underneath wash of color totally. This can be useful to cover a mistake under the base of an opaque paint.
Opaque water colour paints will completely cover the underneath wash of color totally. This can be useful to cover a mistake under the base of an opaque paint.
Use very clean water at all times when painting. Change the water frequently to maintain the pigment colour of your paints.
Good lighting. Natural light from a window is great.
When the paper is taped onto the board tilt the board an inch or two toward you by placing something small under the top of the board that will lift and tilt the board slightly toward you. this allows the paint to flow evenly down your water colour paper.
Water colour paintings should not be hung in direct sunlight. Good paper is acid free and an acid free backing from your framer should support the back of your work.
Water colour paintings look better when they are matted and placed in a frame under glass.
Even if you think your painting is not what you hoped for a small portion of your work may separated and made into a greeting card.
Happy Painting!!
Good lighting. Natural light from a window is great.
When the paper is taped onto the board tilt the board an inch or two toward you by placing something small under the top of the board that will lift and tilt the board slightly toward you. this allows the paint to flow evenly down your water colour paper.
Water colour paintings should not be hung in direct sunlight. Good paper is acid free and an acid free backing from your framer should support the back of your work.
Water colour paintings look better when they are matted and placed in a frame under glass.
Even if you think your painting is not what you hoped for a small portion of your work may separated and made into a greeting card.
Happy Painting!!
