Watercolor creates transparent layers
of color that result in a freshness,
clarity, and glow that no other medium
can match. Watercolor also offers an
immediacy to the artist as well as a
certain amount of unpredictability—
often watercolors are best when allowed
to go their own way, creating beautiful
and unexpected subtle blends.
The appeal of watercolor
Watercolor painting is incredibly
accessible since it’s the simplest
medium to use in terms of the materials
needed: a few paints, a couple of
brushes, a sketchbook, and you are
good to go. Compared with oil paints
or acrylics, watercolors are cheap, easy
to use, portable, and dry in minutes.
They use exactly the same pigments
as oils or pastels, which gives the
paints rich and reliable color, but
with a unique luminosity.
Some people perceive watercolor
purely as a sketching medium, but this
idea could not be further from the truth.
Many of history’s nest artists, in fact,
have used watercolor palettes to
create paintings that are every bit
as exciting and enduring as those in
other media. And, as you’ll see from
the range of examples across the book,
contemporary artists and illustrators
continue to experiment, explore, and
utilize watercolor to produce artworks
in an inspirational variety of painting
styles and effects.
10 THE BASICS
Why watercolor
DISCOVER A WATERY WORLD OF COLOR
Watercolor has existed for thousands of years but artists
are still enjoying experimenting with techniques and
exploring new ways of using this medium. Discover how
something as simple as a mix of pigment and water can
give so much pleasure and delight when wielding a brush.
Learn from other artists to develop your unique style.
Capturing wildlife
Some subjects are never still, and the
uidity of watercolor is perfect for
conveying energy and movement. This
painting captures a moment in time
as the birds come in to land and settle.
10
US_010-011_Why_watercolour.indd 10 02/04/2020 3:33pm
“Every watercolor is an
adventure—an exciting
journey into the unknown.”
Architectural scene
Watercolor allows for a
loose, impressionistic style
that is ideal for complex
subjects, such as St. Mark’s
basilica in Venice.
Colorful illustration
A contemporary take on
a still life with owers, this
line-and-wash painting
simply pops out of the
page with its dynamic,
expressive lines and
intense colors.
Building condence
The techniques explored
within this book show
you what is possible with watercolors—
from capturing crashing waves and
portraying skin tones effectively,
to tting gures into a scene and
experimenting with abstraction—but
it is only with practice that you will
develop the condence to get the most
from them. This is not the condence
that what you paint will be perfect,
rather the condence that it won’t
matter when it is not.
The pleasures of painting in
watercolors range from manipulating
loose, vibrant washes of color to using
precise and energetic brushwork.
What’s more, no subject matter is
out of bounds—the more traditional
landscapes, seascapes, and buildings
remain popular, but so, too, are still
lifes, portraits, and animals.
Getting started
From outtting yourself with the basics
(and not buying too much) to learning a
few essential “rules” that will reinforce
the authenticity of your paintings, this
rst chapter holds your hand while you
take your initial steps along what will
probably be a lifelong journey of
pleasure and discovery. Enjoy!
Contemporary portrait
Layers of color create a dramatic but
convincing portrayal of a person in
this portrait. Colors can be abstract but
still look harmonious in the nal piece.
US_010-011_Why_watercolour.indd 11 02/04/2020 3:33pm
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.