Watercolor paints are one of the most beloved by artists. Firstly, watercolor has a lot of different techniques, and secondly, it can be used to create beautiful drawing even if you can't draw at all.
These techniques will help beginners learn how to draw, and professionals can refresh their memory and find inspiration and ideas.
1. Painting with a flat brush
Step 1
Draw a square or rectangle to mark the beginning and end of the layer.
Choose a darker shade (it's easier to see) and starting from the top left corner, brush down on the paper and gently draw a straight line all the way to the top right corner.
But: left-handers should draw from the right corner to the left.
Step 2
Fill the brush again with paint.
Start the next stroke from the bottom edge of the first, try to cover up the accumulation of paint that formed from the bottom of the first stroke.
Hint 1: If the buildup of paint in the first stroke did not flow completely into the second, then increase the angle of your easel to help the paint flow freely.
Hint 2: By increasing the angle of inclination, you also increase the chances of getting uncontrolled flows of paint. Therefore, try to work faster or have something like a rag or sponge handy to quickly remove drops.
Step 3
Repeat the previous step, also trying to cover the accumulation of paint in the top stroke.
Hint 3: You can use the flat edge of the brush to "cut off" the beginning of the layer and make it even.
Hint 4: If you want to smoothen the end edge of the layer, then at the end of the stroke, pause and brush up and then down as you would with the start edge.
Hint 5: If the stroke is broken, then immediately fill the brush with paint and re-swipe it.
Step 4
Repeat the previous steps until the very end. Try to stick to the same tone of paint.
Hint 6: You won't believe how different the behavior of brushes, paints and paper from different brands can be. Usually, the more expensive and popular brands make your job easier by providing high quality products.
Hint 7: If your strokes break even if the brush is full of paint, then you are using too thick paper, or the paper is too rough. If you come across such paper, then sprinkle water on it, blot it with a clean sponge and let it dry. This will make the surface more receptive to your paint.
Step 5
Rinse the brush and squeeze out any remaining water from it. Carefully pick up any blobs of paint left underneath the final stroke with the brush, but don't take too much paint or you'll discolor your drawing.
To create more texture in your drawing, leave it to dry at an angle. So the paint will take on a more interesting look.
Gradient
Step 1
Draw a square or rectangle. Then dip your brush into the darker shade of paint (it's on the palette to mix) and gently stroke the brush.
Step 2
Dry the brush with a sponge or paper towel and dip it again in a lighter shade.
Then draw a new stroke, overlapping the bottom of the previous one. Notice that the left side of the layer has already merged with the previous stroke. Let gravity do its thing.
Step 3
Rinse the brush again and dry it. And then refill the brush with paint and make another stroke. Repeat this process until the very end.
Hint 1: If the stroke breaks or does not go as smoothly as you would like, quickly refill the brush with paint and repeat the layer.
Step 4
Rinse the brush with clean water, dry it and pick up any remaining paint.
Hint 2: Try this technique by working with different colors and creating interesting transitions.
watercolor glaze
Step 1
This technique requires improvisation and imagination. For example, we will draw an impromptu landscape.
First, paint the sky and the river with blue paint. We will separate the paint with a small amount of water, this will be a waterfall.
Step 2
We draw clouds of dark pink color and we start to draw a mountain in yellow color. We will also mark the lower part of the figure in yellow.
The example uses light and transparent tones so you can see how the layers interact.
Step 3
By mixing cobalt blue and ultramarine blue, we will draw the horizon of the mountain and shade the small yellow slope.
Hint 1: let each layer dry. You can use a hair dryer to speed up this process. Keep it at least 25-30 cm away, turn on the cool setting and set the hair dryer to the lightest air flow. No steam or hot air!
Step 4
To shade and add interesting colors, use Orange color. With it, we will create the coast in the foreground and shade the sky.
Hint 2: if you have drops of excess paint, rinse and dry the brush as you did in the previous techniques, and pick up drops with it.
Step 5
Please note that the images show different brushes for painting. You can use the ones you have available.
Let's take dark blue color and shade the top of the mountain with it, changing the pressure on the brush and turning it around to create an interesting texture.
Step 6
Using the same blue color, let's play with the waterfall by drawing some circles. Sometimes visual clichés become your friends.
Rinse the brush and pick up yellow, we will add visual details to our coasts.
Step 7
After the paint has dried, shade the bubbles in the waterfall with a shade of purple. So we will make them more interesting.
Step 8
We need to link some elements and add trees. In the example, we used round templates for crowns, but you can draw as you like.
Step 9
In brown we will depict tree trunks. Also with the help of blue we will shade the water and the sky a little more. Then, using pink, blue and green, paint the grass in the foreground.
Step 10
Use a mixture of pink and red to add the final details. Our trees are bearing fruit now, and there are several fruits under them.
If you look closely, you can see how each layer interacts with each other. A darker shade has more power, but when the colors overlap, they create an interesting and beautiful combination.
“Wet” technique
Step 1
Wet the paper with water
Step 2
Blot the paper with a clean sponge, removing excess water. Try to achieve an even distribution of moisture on the paper, you should get a satin effect.
If the paper is shiny, it means that it is too wet, blot it again.
Step 3
We will paint the landscape again. Let's start, of course, with the sky. Using this technique, it is easier to draw the background first, then moving on to the objects of the foreground.
Step 4
We continue to draw the sky until we start to like it. The strokes will blur, creating an interesting effect.
Step 5
Now let's move on to the grass in the foreground. Using green color, make a few wide strokes, leaving room for the stones.
As the paper dries, the strokes become less and less blurry.
Step 6
Let's add forms. To do this, use different shades of green and draw trees on the horizon.
Step 7
After adding the trees, let's try to add texture to them. To do this, use a darker shade of green to set the accents.
Step 8
Add stones using grey colour. We filled in the gaps in the foreground with this color, leaving some gaps.
Try to use either dark or cold shades. Using both dark and cold shades will create visual dissonance.
Step 9
We will place accents to diversify the picture. Using a crimson hue, we depict several floral elements in the foreground. Let the crimson flow as it wants. Then, using a dry brush, remove the color from the middle of the spots.
Step 10
Then, drip clean water into the center of these spots to allow them to blend into the grass.
The hardest part about this technique is knowing when to stop. If you overdo it with blurs and colors, you will end up with a messy drawing.
This technique gives a slightly strange, but interesting result. A drawing made in this technique has a hypnotizing effect.
Dry brush drawing
Step 1
We think the name of the technique speaks for itself. We will need to pick up paint on a brush, blot it from excess liquid with a paper towel or sponge, and only then paint.
Let's start with a pencil sketch. After that, roughly mark the sky, moving the brush over the surface of the paper.
Step 2
Let's draw in green trees on the horizon, outlining what would later become our lake.
Then, by mixing mauve with blue, draw the first layer of the tree trunk.
Step 3
Let the drawing dry and add some elements: the reflection of a tree in the lake and the flow of water.
Mixing green and blue, shade the coast on the background part of the image and let the painting dry again.
Step 4
Mix an intense blue with ultramarine and paint a layer on the trunk of the tree to create the shadows and texture of the bark.
Step 5
Then, using shades of orange, we will depict the autumn landscape by painting the background trees.
Step 6
Having finished with the previous step, with a light orange tint, we will depict the reflection of the trees in the water.
Also, by mixing gray with blue, we will place dark accents on the trees.
We will also add trees on the other side of the horizon. Let's mark the shapes of the trees in orange.
Step 7
Let's take water. Use dark green and brown to achieve the desired color. And with wave-like movements we will draw water in the lake.
Step 8
When painting a lake, change the pressure on the brush to add texture.
Clue: if the brush is too wet, the paint will look flat. Dry the brush to intensify the colors.
Step 9
Let's add some grass under the tree, using the same color as the grass in the background.
Step 10
Let's add some details to the foreground.
We will also darken the lake a bit by adding a blue tint. And also shade the sky with the same color.
We remove moisture
This technique will require several sponges. It is suitable for the image of clouds, soft light. And it can also control the behavior of colors.
Sponges
Makeup sponges are the best. They absorb well and give an interesting effect.
Avoid rubbing the paper with the sponge, and if you do, be very careful not to damage the paper.
Paper towels
With their help, you can create clearer highlights. But paper towels absorb a huge amount of paint very quickly. Therefore, they can absorb fresh paint completely.
Paper towels can come in handy if you make a mistake. Then you can quickly remove the paint.
Dry brush
You can use a dry brush to create a pattern using this technique. To do this, rinse thoroughly and wring out the brush. With it, you can create clear lines.
Other methods:
- You can spray water where you want to remove the paint and then soak it up with a sponge.
- Use different fabrics to add texture
- You can use fingers or other parts of the body. The skin can also absorb moisture.
Discoloration of dried paint
Brushes for watercolor paint
Use clean water and a cloth, wet the desired areas, gently rub the pattern and remove moisture with a dry brush. This method allows you to control the areas you lighten.
Brushes for oil or acrylic paint
Stiff bristles allow you to quickly scrape paint from the desired area. But it is worth noting that this method can damage the paper, so control yourself.
Here, just as in the first method, you must first moisten the area, and then process it with a brush.
Spray and towel
Take a spray bottle and spray on the desired area, and then apply a paper towel to it. This method leaves large light spots and gives an interesting effect.
Sandpaper
Very rarely used, as it can damage the paper. It is best used at the end to add texture. You don't need water for this method, just rub the drawing in the right place.
Blades and knives
Can be used to highlight small areas and create crisp lines. This method is also very risky as it can damage the paper.
Sponges
You can also use sponges. Wet the desired area and dry it with a sponge.
All children love to draw. But sometimes the child does not turn out the way he wants. Or maybe he doesn’t have enough familiar ways to express himself? Then you can inspire him to experiment with different techniques, among which there is sure to be a favorite. After that, your child will probably want to invent something new.
Patterns from dots
First, draw the simplest squiggle. Then, using a cotton swab and paints (gouache or acrylic), we make intricate patterns, as the soul lies. Paints are best pre-mixed and slightly diluted with water on the palette.
Frottage
Since childhood, a technique familiar and loved by many. We put an object with a slightly protruding relief under a sheet of paper and paint over it with pastel, chalk or an unsharpened pencil.
Foam prints
Having dipped a sponge in thick gouache, a child can draw landscapes, bouquets of flowers, lilac branches or animals.
Blotography
One option: drip paint on a sheet and tilt it in different directions to get some kind of image. Second: the child dips the brush into the paint, then puts an inkblot on a sheet of paper and folds the sheet in half so that the inkblot is printed on the second half of the sheet. Then he unfolds the sheet and tries to understand who or what the drawing looks like.
Other drawings using the clasography method can be viewed
Hand and foot prints
It's simple: you need to dip your foot or palm in paint and make an imprint on paper. And then use your imagination and finish drawing a couple of details.
You can see more about the method of drawing with palms
Paint Patterns
For such an application, you need to apply a thick layer of paint on paper. Then, with the back end of the brush, scratch patterns on the still wet paint - a variety of lines and curls. When dry, cut out the desired shapes and stick on a thick sheet.
Fingerprints
The name speaks for itself. It is necessary to paint the finger with a thin layer and make an imprint. A couple of strokes with a felt-tip pen - and you're done!
Monotype
A drawing is applied to a flat smooth surface (for example, glass). Then a sheet of paper is applied, and the print is ready. To make it more blurry, a sheet of paper must first be wetted. When everything is dry, you can add details and outlines if desired.
Grattage
The highlight of the work is that the drawing needs to be scratched. A sheet of cardboard is tightly shaded with spots of multi-colored oil pastels. Then black gouache must be mixed on a palette with soap and painted over the entire sketch. When the paint is completely dry, scratch the pattern with a toothpick.
air paints
To prepare the dye, you need to mix a tablespoon of "self-rising" flour, a few drops of food coloring and a tablespoon of salt. Add a little water to the consistency of thick sour cream and mix well. The paint can be placed in a confectionery syringe or in a small bag. Tie tightly and cut corner. We draw on paper or ordinary cardboard. We place the finished drawing for 10-30 seconds in the microwave at maximum mode.
"Marble" paper
We paint over a sheet of paper with yellow acrylic paint. When it dries completely, paint over again with diluted pink paint and immediately cover with cling film. The film needs to be crumpled and gathered into folds, since it is they who will create the desired pattern for us. We wait for complete drying and remove the film.
water painting
Draw a simple shape in watercolor and fill it with water. Until it dries out, we put colored blots on it so that they mix with each other and form such smooth transitions.
Prints of vegetables and fruits
Vegetable or fruit should be cut in half. Then you can cut some kind of pattern on it or leave it as it is. We dip into the paint and make prints on paper. For prints, you can use an apple, potato, carrot or celery.
Leaf prints
The principle is the same. We smear the leaves with paint and make prints on paper.
Drawings with salt
If sprinkled still wet watercolor drawing salt, then it will be saturated with paint and, when dried, will create a grainy effect.
Brush instead of brush
Sometimes, for the sake of experiment, it is worth trying something unexpected. For example, a household brush.
Ebru or water painting
We need a container of water. The main requirement is that its area coincides with the area of a sheet of paper. You can use an oven roaster or a large tray. You will also need oil paints, a solvent for them and a brush. The point is to create patterns with paint on water, and then dip a piece of paper in them. How it's done: www.youtube.com
cracked wax effect
With wax pencils, draw an image on thin paper. In our case, a flower. The background must be fully shaded. We crumple well and then straighten the sheet with the pattern. We paint over it with dark paint so that it enters into all the cracks. We wash the drawing under the tap and dry it. If required, smooth with an iron.
About drawing on crumpled paper you can see
Offset cardstock prints
We cut the cardboard into small strips, about 1.5 × 3 cm. Dip the edge of a piece of cardboard in paint, press it vertically against the paper and evenly shift it to the side. Wide lines will be obtained, from which the pattern is created.
Cam prints
For such a drawing, the child will have to clench his hands into fists. Then dip the back of your fingers into the paint and make prints, creating the desired shape. Fish and crabs can be created using fingerprints.
Each of us is an artist at heart. Remember the golden moments of childhood, when we enthusiastically painted with paints “kalyaki-malaki”. The art of painting is the greatest mystery in the world. With the help of paints and brushes, real miracles appear on the canvas. Many mistakenly believe that they do not have artistic talent. In fact, anyone can learn to paint with paints. How to paint real works of art with watercolors? To do this, you only need to follow simple recommendations.
What will we need?
So, we decided to enter the world of art and become artists. How to paint with watercolor correctly? This will require the following tools:
- paints;
- brushes;
- palette;
- sheets of paper.
The choice of accessories should be taken very carefully. The final result - a work of art - depends on them.
Choosing colors
How to paint with watercolors yourself? First of all, you need to choose the right colors. There are a huge number of watercolors on the shelves of art stores. Which one is better to choose?
Do not look at the price category here. High cost is not always a guarantee of quality.
It is better to choose paints made on the basis of beeswax. On the cover should be the inscription "honey". They have the brightest color.
Paint brushes
The brushes are just as important. Which of them are most suitable for watercolor?
The brush should be soft and pick up paint well. Its tip must be pointed. The bristles of the brush should be well fixed on the base. The best option would be brushes made from squirrel wool. Their bristles correspond to the declared parameters.
How many brushes will you need? To paint small parts of the picture, you should purchase a thin brush (number 1 or 2). For the main part - a greater thickness (numbers 5-6 or 7).
Palette
The palette serves as a kind of “draft”, a place for mixing paints. Several paints of different colors are applied to the palette, they are mixed. The result is the desired shade.
You can purchase a ready-made plastic palette. You can also do it yourself. For this, a sheet of thick paper is suitable, which should be folded around the edges.
Choosing watercolor paper
The process of choosing paper should be treated with special attention. The fact is that watercolor is a translucent paint. It requires a lot of water to work. If you draw on plain paper, it can quickly get wet from water. It is better to purchase special paper for watercolor. It is denser and thicker. Its surface is rough. Water particles get stuck on the rough surface of the paper. This prevents spreading.
Let's start drawing
How to paint with watercolors yourself? Having studied the basic features of watercolor paint, we know that it requires a large amount of water. The drawing is translucent, airy, flying. This effect is due to the structure of the paint.
There are 2 main watercolor painting techniques:
- Dry technology.
- Raw paper technique.
Everyone is familiar with the basics of dry technique since childhood: we pick up paint on a brush and draw. Depending on the type of drawing, you can pre-draw its outline with a pencil.
To get the desired color, you need to dip the brush in water, then in necessary paint and put it on the palette. After that, the brush is washed with water and lowered into the paint of a different color. The resulting colors are mixed on the palette. The result will be the desired shade.
What is the difference between watercolor painting on wet paper? This technique is quite interesting, because. it allows you to create an unusual effect. To do this, before you start drawing, you should moisten a sheet of paper well with water. Until it dries, watercolor paint is applied to the wet paper. When mixed with water, it spreads, leaving fancy patterns on paper.
Let's draw
So, we purchased materials for work. Learned basic drawing techniques. Now you can proceed directly to the creative process.
How to paint with watercolor for beginners? For starters, it is recommended to try to study the paint. What will be required for this? Consider the basic lessons of acquaintance with paints:
- We study colors. Take a sheet of watercolor paper. Pick up the color you like with the brush. Put it on paper. Look at the effect. Now increase the amount of pressure on the brush. See how the color has changed (it should darken). Now fill the brush with more water and dip it into the paint. Draw a wet brush over the paper - the drawing will be translucent.
- We mix colors. Try mixing several colors. What shades are the result?
- Apply yellow, orange, red to the sheet. Study them. What emotions do they evoke? Now apply blue, purple, black to the sheet. What are the feelings now?
- We draw from nature. Now we need to learn how to display the objects around us. Put an apple in front of you. Study it carefully. See what color it is. Try to draw it.
Practical work
After learning the basic skills of the art of painting, you can move on to independent work.
Learning to paint objects around us in watercolor. Look around. What do you see? You can draw a still life. To do this, put in front of you a few items of utensils and any fruit. Try to picture them.
What else can be painted with watercolors? There are no restrictions here. It all depends on the imagination of the artist. You can draw everything that surrounds us. You can draw your own invented world.
Learning the basic techniques of working with watercolor paints You can start by drawing flowers and trees.
How to draw a flower?
Draw a flower with watercolors yourself:
- Think about what flower to draw.
- Explore its primary colors.
- With help simple pencil draw the main outline on the paper.
- Choose a paint for the background and paint over it.
- After the background is dry, you can start painting with watercolors.
- Paint over the flower with translucent paint.
- After the watercolor has dried, draw the outline with a darker paint.
- After the drawing has dried, place accents on the flower. This will give it volume. To place accents, it is necessary to apply several dense strokes along the contour of the flower with contrasting paint. Our drawing is ready.
Painting with watercolors is a simple and very exciting activity. Each of us can feel like a real artist, creating whole works of art. You just have to listen to the suggested advice.
If you want to try something new in painting, pay attention to the acrylic painting technique. Canvases created with plastic-based paints have an interesting three-dimensional structure. Painting with acrylics is no more difficult than painting with watercolors. At the same time, the finished painting does not need to be treated with fixing compounds - the paints have high resistance, do not fade and are not afraid of water.
What is acrylic paint
Acrylic paints appeared in mass production relatively recently - only 50 years ago. Pigmented acrylic resin quickly gained universal popularity - primarily due to its versatility and durability. It is used not only by painters on canvas, but also by interior artists who create paintings on the walls, builders and even manicurists.
Acrylic paints are different. So, for decorating walls or ceilings, it is better to choose a special acrylic paint of a dense consistency. Volumetric images in the interior look colorful, realistic and original. Less concentrated paints, usually sold in tubes, are suitable for creating paintings on canvas. Process drawing for beginners fascinating, it allows you to reveal artistic talent to the fullest.
How to prepare the basis for the future picture
Before choosing acrylic paint, take care of preparing the base. You can draw on wooden boards or plywood. You can use a stretcher or regular canvas. Easiest paint with acrylic on paper, so a beginner should first master this canvas.
Choose paper with a thick, rough surface. In order for you to paint correctly with acrylic, the base must be strong. If you choose textured paper, stick a wood backing on it.
Remove the formed air bubbles with the help of a book - the canvas for painting is ready. Acrylic canvas can be further sanded as the material adheres best to a smooth surface. Beginning painters often wonder if acrylic should be primed on canvas.
If you are working on boards, you will need an acrylic primer, which is available in art stores. It is a special emulsion with titanium dioxide, which gives whiteness. The primer is applied to the prepared board in several layers and dried during the day.
How to learn to paint with acrylic from scratch
First of all, make sure the paint is not dry. When applying the first strokes, be sure to moisten the palette for acrylic paints water - for this you need a spray bottle. No need to pour a lot of acrylic paint at one time. Use absorbent paper, you can put it under the palette.
Watch the transparency of the paint: the more water you add, the more transparent the strokes will be. First paint with large brushes, start with large areas. Then smoothly move on to the main details. The technique of painting with acrylic on paper or a wooden board requires the utmost care and precision. From time to time, look at the drawing in the mirror - this will help you understand if its proportions are correct.
Many beginners find it difficult to mix acrylics with each other. You can use a thinner - it increases the "open" time of the paints, making them easier to compose. It is necessary to distribute the material only with the edge of the brush, and to obtain clear contours of the sketch, you can use ordinary adhesive tape, which is sold at any hardware store.
Try lightening and darkening the shades by adding white or black tones to them. To clean the palette of acrylic paints, use any means that dissolves plastic - a common household solvent will do.
Painting with acrylic on paper or wood is a creative process that is a lot of fun. To make it even more enjoyable, follow these guidelines:
The colors darken significantly when dry. Keep this in mind when choosing shades for the future canvas. Choose non-toxic materials to work with, even if they cost more. Wear an apron while you work so you don't stain your clothes.
In addition to professional brushes with long handles, paints and canvas base, stock up on decoupage glue, as well as a convenient spray bottle filled with water.
It is better to use a plastic palette - it is practical and easy to clean. Do not forget about clean water in which you will rinse the brushes.
Having mastered the technique of painting with acrylic, you can create real masterpieces. A little patience, diligence and the right materials for work are the key to impressive results.
