Time for Technique Part 2
In the world of watercolor the possibilities are endless! There are so many amazing techniques that you can do with watercolor paint that you cannot do with any other type of medium. If you are a beginner, or are just looking for something new - read on for some more exciting tips!
Underpainting
Most painters no matter the medium, will do an underpainting. Underpainting is when you use a hue that will create an underlay of dimension, color and richness to your subject. For underpainting you would need to use a monochromatic shade depending on how warm or cool you would like your subject to be. At this time you will just want to render a the shape and shadow of the subject, never mind being perfect at this stage. Be sure to use more water than paint to make it more translucent so that the underpainting gently layers into the paint that you add on top.
Watercolor Blooms
This is a fun one. Mostly used for backgrounds (but I like using it for many other things!) watercolor blooms as fun and flare to your painting! To achieve a watercolor bloom you first need to lay down a rich layer of color. You will want that layer to be mostly dry. Then you will need to load up your brush with later and using a round tip brush, gently touch the paper. The water will create a small pool on the color and "bloom". The degree of wetness or dryness will determine how defined the bloom will be.
Feathering
This technique mostly has to do with the brush, not the paint. You will need a large, dense brush or even a fan brush for this one. You can feather wet on wet or wet on dry (see the first Time For Technique for these examples). You load your brush with water and then pigment. After you have done that you can gently make back and fourth stroke motions to create a "feathery" light look. Looks great for backgrounds and sky paintings.
Gradient Washing
This technique can be a little tricky, but after some practice you too can achieve an excellent gradient style to your painting. It all has to do with pigment vs. water. First you will need to wet your paper. Then, you will need to load your brush with paint and start by handing your brush at the top of your paper. After that, add more pressure at the top of your paper where most of your pigment will be. Begin to lessen the amount of pressure as you reach the bottom so that less pigment is at the bottom than the top. This technique is best used for skies and backgrounds as well!
Layering
Finally, the best part of watercolor (in my humble opinion) is how you can layer. Unlike other paint, watercolor has the ability to be either translucent or dense depending on the amount of layering the artist does. Another great thing is that watercolor dries quite fast so that you can create layers almost one after another!
I hope that these techniques help you in your journey through watercolor. There are many, many more ways to make your watercolor better and more exciting. Practice, experiment, and above all - have fun!
*I am currently offering private watercolor classes in my studio on the weekends. To book an appointment, contact me on my home page. Cheers!