How to Start Watercolour Painting – First Steps for Beginners
Fundamental Skills Every Watercolour Beginner Must Master
Are you new to watercolour? Wanting to gain deeper knowledge of techniques and skills to master? Whether you started painting years ago or need guidance on where to start - this post is for you!
You can create such beautiful effects with watercolour paint.
Bookmark this page, for it's your treasure map to the riches of watercolour painting. The following knowledge and resources will ease your way into the wonderful medium and will let you explore with a light heart and a curious mind!
Think of this guide as your trusty map through the enchanting landscape of watercolour painting. As we embark on this journey together, keep in mind that what lies ahead is the essence, the very heart, of what every beginner needs to know.
But fear not! For those thirsting for deeper watercolour knowledge, each section below serves as a gateway to a more expansive universe of tips, tricks, and detailed guides.
Consider this your go-to resource, a foundational pillar to bookmark and return to time and again as you navigate the waters of watercolour. Imagine we're setting sail on the S.S. Watercolour, a ship as sturdy as your determination and as filled with potential as your palette.
Ready to dip your brush into the boundless possibilities?
What You Need to Begin Watercolour Painting
Understanding Watercolour Supplies
Before you start painting, every artist’s journey begins with the first step: selecting your tools and getting familiar with all the materials you need.
Watercolour paints come in pans and tubes, each with its unique charm. Watercolour brushes, in their myriad shapes and sizes, are your loyal companions, and watercolour paper—your canvas—awaits with its textures and weights. There is cold press paper, hot press paper, paper, that lies in between... Let's not forget the supporting cast: watercolour palette, masking fluid, and sponges.
Dive deeper into watercolour supplies in my extended posts and discover how they can shape your watercolour world.
I love to use palettes with large mixing areas.
Water Control
Water, the lifeblood of watercolour painting, demands respect and understanding. The dance between water and pigment on your brush is a delicate one, leading to a spectrum of effects, from the boldness of wet-on-dry to the softness of wet-on-wet techniques. For a more detailed exploration of mastering water control, check out my in-depth guide.
Mixing Colours
The quest for the perfect shade of watercolour paint is akin to alchemy, blending hues with the precision of a master chemist. Whether you mix colours on your palette or directly on watercolour paper, the journey to finding the perfect shade is endlessly rewarding. And there is much more to learn! Think warm colours, cool colours, colour wheel and more. A dedicated post on mixing colours will guide you through the nuances of colour theory and beyond.
Watercolour Washes
Use different colours to create a variegated wash.
Flat washes are the very basis of many watercolour paintings and a good way to start your painting process. A variegated watercolour wash is a technique that involves blending two or more colours together on the paper in a seamless, flowing manner, creating a smooth transition from one colour to another. The art of gradient washes—where colours gently fade from a darker value into a lighter value—is a fundamental skill that adds depth and emotion to your work.
Master these techniques with the help of my focused guides and watch as your paintings come to life with a new sense of dimension.
Dry Brush Technique
For texture and detail, the dry brush technique is your go-to. This method brings a tactile sense to your paintings, perfect for depicting the roughness of nature or the fine details in urban scenes. It's a fundamental skill to master when practicing watercolours. Learn more about dry brushing in a specialised post.
Layering and Glazing
Layering and glazing are the keys to depth and luminosity in your paintings. These techniques allow you to build colour and complexity in a controlled, deliberate manner. Start painting with layers and learn to glaze with this comprehensive guide.
Glazing over a petal to deepen the colour.
Lifting-Off Paint
Mistakes aren't just forgivable; they're erasable. The lifting-off technique shows you how to correct your course, lighten areas, and add highlights on watercolour paper. A detailed exploration of this technique awaits your discovery.
Understanding Pigment Properties
Get to know the different paint colours you have and how they behave on the paper.
Each pigment has a personality — knowing it can be the difference between frustration and fulfilment. Transparency, staining strength, and granulation affect how your colours behave on paper. Get to know your pigments intimately with my in-depth analysis.
Composition and Planning
A beautiful painting starts with thoughtful composition and planning. Learn to envision your masterpiece before your brush ever touches the paper, with tips on the rule of thirds, focal points, and balance. My guide on composition and planning is the perfect starting point.
Edge Control
When you learn to paint wet on wet and wet on dry you begin to understand how to create different edges.
Master the art of defining the softness or hardness of edges to add depth and dimension to your paintings. Use wet techniques for soft edges that suggest distance and dry techniques for hard edges to draw attention to detail. I explain lost edges in a special blog post.
Understanding and Utilising Colour Temperature
Harness the power of warm and cool colours to create mood, depth, and spatial relationships in your work. Balance and contrast colour temperatures to guide the viewer’s eye and evoke specific emotions.
Tonal Values
Learn to see and replicate the lightness or darkness of colours, crucial for depicting three-dimensional forms and creating a focal point through contrast. Practice with grayscale to understand the dynamic range of watercolour.
Practice and Patience
Above all, watercolour painting is a journey of practice and patience. Every brushstroke is a step forward, and every painting is a lesson learned. Embrace the process and let your love for painting be your guide.
Online Classes
The internet is a vast resource of guidance and tutorials to help hone your skills - all from the comfort of your own home!
My latest Rose painting.
As you set off on this colourful adventure, remember that the information here is just the beginning. Each skill outlined here opens the door to deeper understanding and mastery, all designed to enhance your journey through the captivating world of watercolour painting.
Bookmark this guide, explore the linked posts, and let your creative spirit soar. Welcome to the vibrant, challenging, and ultimately rewarding world of watercolour painting. Your journey starts here, but the paths you'll explore are endless.
Get started or continue learning - I am rooting for you!
If you are interested in learning to paint in watercolour, I have over 170 online, voiced over watercolour tutorials for all skill levels.