DIY watercolour techniques for beginners

Watercolour painting is a beautiful art. Learning the basic watercolour techniques can open up a world of creativity. Before learning the basics, let us focus on your needed materials. The essential materials you’ll need are

• Watercolour paper (140 lb or higher is recommended)
• Watercolour paints (pan or tube sets)
• Watercolour brushes (round and flat brushes in various sizes)
• Palette or mixing tray
• Water container
• Paper towels or a clean cloth
• Masking tape or a board to secure your paper
• Pencil and eraser for sketching

1. Wet-on-wet

The wet-on-wet technique involves spreading wet paint to a damp surface, blending the colours and creating soft, ethereal effects.

1. Use masking tape or a board to secure your watercolour paper to a flat surface.
2. Using a large, flat brush, apply clean water to the entire surface of the paper, creating an even layer of moisture.
3. While the paper is wet, dip your brush into the desired watercolour paint and apply it to the damp surface. You can use multiple colours by mixing and blending on the paper.
4. Experiment with tilting the paper to encourage the colours to flow and interact with each other.
5. Allow the painting to dry completely before removing it from the surface.

Tip: the wet-on-wet technique is excellent for creating soft, atmospheric backgrounds or abstract compositions.

2. Wet-on-dry

The wet-on-dry technique spreadswet paint to a dry surface, resulting in more defined edges and shapes.

1. Sketch your desired composition lightly with a pencil on dry watercolour paper.
2. Dip your brush into the desired watercolour paint and apply it to the dry paper, following your sketch as a guide.
3. Work from light to dark colours, building layers and details.
4. Allow each layer to dry completely before adding additional layers or details.
5. Once the painting is complete, allow it to dry thoroughly before erasing any visible pencil lines.

Tip: the wet-on-dry technique is excellent for creating more controlled, detailed paintings and is often used for botanical illustrations or portraits.

3. Gradients

Creating gradients involves blending two or more colours to transition from one hue to another smoothly.

1. Secure your watercolour paper to a flat surface.
2. Choose the colours you want to blend and mix them with water to create a fluid consistency.
3. Using a flat brush, apply the first colour to the paper in a horizontal strip.
4. Clean your brush and apply the second colour directly below the first, slightly overlapping the edges.
5. While both colours are still wet, use a clean, watery brush to gently blend the colours where they meet, creating a smooth transition.
6. Allow the gradient to dry completely.

Tip: practice creating gradients with different colour combinations to add depth and interest to your paintings.

By mastering these basic DIY watercolour techniques or through Art and Craft Tutorials, you’ll be well on your way to creating unique works of art. Remember, the key to success with watercolour is experimentation. With these DIY techniques at your fingertips, you’re ready to get along a pleasurable artistic journey.