Unlocking Your Creativity: Watercolour Painting for Beginners
Watercolours are a popular choice for many aspiring artists. We find that beginners and improvers relish the chance to experiment with the fluidity and transparency of this versatile medium.
With just a few lessons in key watercolour techniques, beautiful effects can be achieved – from delicate washes to textures and vibrant bursts of colour.
Watercolour is an incredibly expressive and deeply rewarding medium to explore. In this article, we’ll outline the fundamentals of learning how to paint in watercolour and what is covered in our classes…
The History of Watercolour
The history of watercolour painting dates back thousands of years, when early forms of water-based pigments were used in Ancient Egypt for decorating papyrus scrolls. In China, artists were using ink washes on silk as early as 4000 BC.
The modern form of watercolour painting emerged during the Renaissance in Europe. Watercolour was mainly used in the colouration of preparatory sketches or botanical illustrations. In fact, it wasn’t until the 18th century that watercolour was recognised as an artistic medium in its own right.
By the 19th century, watercolour painting had grown in popularity. It was used to capture the natural beauty of landscapes and was favoured for its softness and practical portability, especially among plein air painters who worked outdoors.
The Appeal of Learning How to Use Watercolour Paints
Watercolour offers many advantages. Unlike acrylic or oil paint, watercolour is light and transparent. It offers luminosity and delicacy, enabling layers of colour to build depth without losing any of the underlying tones and details.
The fluidity of watercolour encourages a sense of fun, creativity and experimentation. Our tutors will teach you the essential techniques in step-by-step classes while also encouraging flexibility and creative freedom to experiment and play with watercolour.
Mastering Watercolour Techniques
Learning how to paint in watercolour begins with the foundational techniques.
As part of our 14-week course, we’ll delve into the world of watercolour, including:
- Watercolour brushes and other tools
- Different paper types
- The difference between pans and tubes of liquid pigment
- How to mix colours and the colour wheel
- Washes – gradient and flat
- Wet-on-wet – where watercolour paint is applied to wet paper, creating soft edges and fluid effects for skies, backgrounds or smooth gradients
- Wet-on-dry – applying wet paint onto dry paper or a dried layer of paint for sharper edges and more detail
- Glazing – applying thin, transparent layers of paint over dry sections of painting to build intensity while maintaining luminosity
- Dry brush – minimal paint is applied with a dry brush for texture and fine details
- Lifting – we remove paint from the paper using a damp brush or a sponge to correct mistakes or create textures and highlights
- Gradient washes – we take a strong pigment and gradually add more water, allowing the colour to fade
- Colours and mixing – creating a full spectrum of shades
- Using colour temperature to evoke mood, depth and lighting
- Complementary colours – to create vibrancy and contrast
- Creating shadows – mixing complementary colours for dynamic shadows
- Controlling ‘bloom’ to avoid splotches and spreading
- Landscapes and still life compositions
- Developing your personal style
Common Challenges of Learning Watercolour Painting
Watercolours can sometimes be tricky for absolute beginners as they are fluid and this makes them seem a little unpredictable at first.
Here are a few challenges when learning how to use watercolour paints and our tips for overcoming them:
- Overworking the paper
Going over an area too many times can cause the surface of the paper to peel and become rough and uneven in texture. Avoid this by using the correct type and weight of paper and letting it dry down between layers of watercolour.
- Too much water
Managing water control is crucial: too much water can result in puddles forming. It’s important to balance the water-to-paint ratio for a consistent wash and the desired pigmentation. Try using a piece of scrap paper to test paint dilution.
- Fear of mistakes
We encourage our students to embrace happy accidents and use any imperfections creatively! You can also keep a scrap piece of paper handy and practice lifting techniques to remove unwanted paint.
- Timing
Knowing when to apply paint to a wet area – or waiting until it’s dry – is key to mastering the effects of watercolour painting.
Learn How to Paint in Watercolour with Seasons Art Class!
We just love teaching our students how to use watercolour paints! However, when you join a Seasons Art Class course, watercolour is just one of the four media you’ll explore during our well-rounded 14-week course. Click to learn more about our modules here:
Our classes are designed for adult beginners and improvers who want to learn new artistic skills with excellent tuition in a supportive and informal environment.
Want to learn how to paint in watercolour? Simply click and enter your postcode to find your nearest Seasons Art Class – we’ve got branches throughout the UK.