Welcome to Louise De Masi’s Watercolour Tips Blog, your ultimate resource for mastering the art of watercolour painting.
Dive into expert advice, step-by-step tutorials, answers to common questions and creative techniques to elevate your artistry. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, Louise’s insightful posts cover everything from basic brushwork to advanced colour blending. Discover how to choose the best materials, perfect your painting skills, and find inspiration for your next masterpiece.
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Draw the Grid: Connect the marks with straight lines, running both horizontally and vertically across the entire surface of your sketch. Be sure to keep your lines light; you want them to be visible but not overpowering. If you’re concerned about the lines showing through, use a lightbox or tape your paper to a window to keep the lines faint.
Some artists also use diagonal lines to help maintain proportional accuracy when transferring more complex images.
Read MoreOne of the most exciting parts of starting a new watercolour piece is getting your sketch ready on the paper. But transferring that sketch, aka tracing a drawing, can be a bit tricky, especially when you want to preserve the delicacy of your watercolour paper.
There are several methods to do this, and today, we’ll explore some popular techniques, discuss which pencils work best, and answer the age-old question: is it “cheating”?
Read MoreIf you enjoy living on the edge, watercolour has you covered. One rogue drop of painting water can send your entire painting into a tailspin of panic. Accidentally drip painting water onto your almost-finished piece? Say goodbye to those crisp lines and hello to unplanned chaos.
It’s like the art equivalent of stepping on a LEGO – sudden, unexpected, and excruciatingly painful. The only difference is, you can’t just toss the painting in the bin… or can you?
Read MoreWhen working on Aquabord panels, just like with watercolour paper, it's important to wait until the paint is completely dry before adding more layers, or things can get messy. Washes on Aquabord often dry patchy, but I’ve learned not to worry too much about that since they can be smoothed out with a damp brush once fully dry.
Read MoreWhen you digitise your watercolour artwork, the texture of the paper itself can become an integral part of the digital image. This texture adds a tactile, authentic quality that reflects the handmade nature of your work. However, there are times when you might want to minimise or even remove the paper background, especially if you're preparing your artwork for prints, web use, or overlaying on different backgrounds.
Read MoreNow that we’ve covered the basics, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the fun part - actually mixing those greens!
This is where the magic happens, and I promise, it’s not as daunting as it might seem. Whether you're aiming for a fresh spring green or a deep forest shade, the right colour combinations can make all the difference.
So, grab your paint palette, and let’s experiment with some tried-and-true mixes that will give you just the right colour green for any painting.
Read MoreUnderstanding temperature bias is crucial when mixing greens. Colours can have either a warm or cool bias, which affects the overall temperature of the green you create. Generally, because green is considered a cool colour, mixing a cool blue with a cool yellow will produce a bright and vibrant green. In contrast, mixing a warm blue with a warm yellow will result in a more subdued and dull green.
If you're unsure about the temperature of your colours, check out my blog post that explains how to determine their temperature.
Read MoreIf you’ve never painted plein air before, start simple. Focus on capturing the essence of your subject rather than getting bogged down in intricate details. One of the greatest advantages of painting plein air with watercolour is that it encourages quick, efficient work, pushing you to simplify your subject and focus on the essence rather than getting lost in the details. This approach not only sharpens your observational skills but also helps you develop a more intuitive and spontaneous style, capturing the mood and energy of the scene with greater authenticity.
Read MoreThe wet-on-wet technique is all about letting go and embracing the unpredictability of watercolour. Start by thoroughly wetting your paper with clean water. Next, load your brush with pigment and apply it to the wet surface. Watch as the colours blend and flow into each other on the wet paper, creating soft, organic transitions.
This technique is perfect for painting dreamy skies, misty landscapes, and soft backgrounds where you want the colors to meld seamlessly. It's like watching magic unfold on your paper, as the water guides the paint in beautiful, unexpected ways.
Read MoreMany beginners fall into the trap of overthinking their paintings. Instead of letting go of the outcome and allowing themselves to be creative and have fun, they become tense and try to analyse every detail. This overuse of the left analytical brain can stifle creativity, overshadowing the intuitive and spontaneous process that is essential in watercolour painting. Finding a balance between analytical thinking and creative expression is key to enjoying the artistic journey and achieving satisfying results.
Read MoreThis still life watercolour painting holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of my nanna. She used to gather fallen camellias from her garden and place them in a beautiful glass bowl filled with water, letting them float gracefully in the centre of the table.
I have a camellia tree, and as I was taking photos of the blossoms to use as painting references, one of them fell to the ground. This instantly brought back memories of what my nanna used to do, inspiring me to create this painting.
Read MoreUnderstanding the temperature of the colour grey is crucial in painting as it directly influences the mood, atmosphere, and overall aesthetic of the artwork.
The temperature of greys can evoke specific emotions and set the tone of the painting. Warm greys, with hints of red, orange, or yellow, often create a sense of warmth, intimacy, and comfort. They can be used to convey feelings of coziness or nostalgia, making them ideal for depicting sunny interiors, cozy firesides, or intimate gatherings.
Read MoreWhen you ship artwork, opt for reputable shipping services that offer tracking and insurance. Shipping companies specialising in artwork handling are ideal. Tracking ensures you can monitor the shipment, and insurance provides peace of mind in case of any unforeseen issues. Use consolidated freight for efficient shipping. Consolidated freight shipping services are always provided by licensed and insured shipping companies.
Read MoreIn the world of watercolour painting, the choice of pigments can significantly impact the final artwork. Daniel Smith paints, known for their Extra Fine Watercolours and Watercolour & Gouache products, offer a wide range of high-quality pigments. One of my old favourites is Daniel Smith’s Rose of Ultramarine, a unique blend that has brought my rose painting to life. In this post, I’ll share insights about this exquisite colour, its composition, and why it can be advantageous for artists to use premixed colours like this one.
Read MoreAquabord is a unique painting surface created by Ampersand Art Supply, designed specifically for watercolour and other water-based media. Aquabord is available in various options, including flat panels and cradle profiles. The texture of Aquabord is similar to cold-pressed watercolour paper, allowing colours to retain their purity and vibrancy. Unlike traditional watercolour paper, Aquabord is made from a rigid, absorbent clay surface that is applied to a hardboard panel.
Read MoreWhen your paint no longer offers the sheen of freshness, it's time to step back and let the canvas breathe. Embrace this moment of stillness, allowing the paint to dry completely before introducing more pigment. This necessitates a swifter approach to your strokes - often a leap for watercolour beginners, who tend to meticulously shape their washes, giving time for the edges to start setting.
Read MoreFor a smooth application of glitter watercolours, soft natural bristle brushes are ideal. They are gentle enough to pick up the fine particles without causing dispersion that might reduce the sparkle effect. Glitter can be a bit tougher to wash out so I would advise against using your best kolinsky sable brushes.
Read MoreI love painting birds, and it's a lot of fun for me, but it wasn't working at the beginning. Even though I worked off reference photos, I needed a better understanding of what I wanted to achieve. The first painting did not turn out as planned, prompting me to start over, not once but multiple times. I had to develop new ideas and spend time practicing creating a beautiful artwork.
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