Unusual watercolor drawings. What brushes are needed? Use professional paints

How to learn to paint with watercolors from scratch?

How to learn to paint with watercolors from scratch?

Watercolor painting is one of the most difficult in the world, but at the same time, it is the most delicate, fragile and attractive for beginning artists. What's so special about it? The whole secret is in the transparency of the lines, thanks to which even the most insignificant details are visible. color transitions. The wateriness of the pattern, which gives it volume. But how to comprehend this not simple art? How to learn to paint with watercolors from scratch? Before we start drawing, we need to select auxiliary materials. Art school for adults and children in its courses offers professional education drawing in any technique, but you can learn it yourself. Let's look at the points in this article that will help us with this.

On what paper and with what brushes do you paint with watercolors?

1. Paper. It’s better to immediately buy a watercolor one, it’s not expensive (about 40 rubles for a notebook). Its difference from the usual one is in the dense texture of the sheets. Such paper will not swell from water and warp.
2. Brushes. In a painting store, first take two brushes. Small and big. Squirrel fur is well suited for watercolor paints.
3. Palette. The choice of palette is not important, we choose any one. Some artists replace the palette with small glass, it is practical to use and easy to clean.
4. Paints. Children's honey paints with the addition of lemon and other things - immediately set aside. We won't need them. In the artist store we take any professional paints. Open them and look at the colors, you should like them. It is not necessary to take the most expensive ones, this is not important.

How can beginners learn to paint with watercolors step by step?

How to paint beautifully with watercolors? In order for our watercolor drawings turned out to be of high quality, it is necessary to master several basic techniques.
1.Uniform filling. Draw a square or rectangle on paper. It is better to choose a darker color, it will be easier to see. Place it on the brush and stretch it from one corner to the other. Paint again. Draw the next strip so that it overlaps the previous one. If the first strip does not completely flow into the second, then tilt the sheet of paper. Pick up the paint and continue to paint stripes, maintaining a uniform shade. Rinse the brush in water and squeeze. Smooth out the dark stripes with a brush. Let the drawing dry. If you get a rectangle evenly filled with paint, you've succeeded.
2. Dependence of paint shade on the amount of water. We put paint on the brush and draw the first line, then lower the brush into the water and draw the second one 1 cm from it. Let's continue to dip the brush in water and draw lines until they become as transparent as possible. This exercise helps you feel how much water you need to add to get the desired shade.
3.Gradient. The goal of this exercise is to obtain a uniform transition from dark to light. Load your brush with paint and brush vertical line, then dip the brush in water and move the second one so that it extends slightly beyond the first and the paint begins to flow. We repeat the same thing again, adding water. We achieve a complete color transition. Run the last strip with just water. Dry your brush and run a roller of paint underneath the fill.

Learn to paint with watercolors step by step using various techniques for beginners

How to start painting with watercolors? It is necessary to comprehend the basics of art. These are certain exercises, by doing which you will master the first basics of painting with watercolors.
1. Wet on wet. Wet a small piece of paper with water. The sheet should be evenly saturated with water. Now take the paint on the brush and brush it over the wet area. Watch how the paint flows. Practice adding more or less paint to a piece of paper. This will be very useful to you.
2. Flow from color to color. First, let's draw any shapes with water. Take on a brush, for example, Blue colour and apply it to the figure. Add a little burgundy and yellow. You must achieve smooth transition from one color to another. If this does not happen, add some water.
3. Layering. Let's draw the background as in the first exercise. Let's wait a little and let it dry completely. Draw a couple of circles on the background different colors and let it dry. Draw a third layer on the circles.
4. Reception using table salt. Draw a background and sprinkle a little regular table salt on top. We wait. The salt crystals gradually absorb the paint and become like stars. The effect is most noticeable in dark areas.
5. Clouds using a napkin. Fill in the background and while the paint is still wet, begin to apply a napkin, giving it a shape. This way we get a texture that resembles clouds. This technique can be used to correct mistakes that you encounter while drawing. Just blot off any excess paint.
6. Splashes. We put paint on the brush and run our finger over the brush over the paper or drip it, forming uneven splashes over the entire surface. It is better to cover the table with a cloth to avoid contamination.

10 common mistakes beginner artists make

1. Love yourself. Many artists begin to scold themselves and unnecessarily criticize their paintings. There is no need to do this. If you drew something, praise yourself. Everything you do is only for you and to fulfill your creative needs. The more you enjoy the drawing process, the better you will do.
2. Use comfortable materials. High quality brushes, paper and paint. Then the drawing process will bring you only pleasure.
3. Copy stories famous artists. They will serve as the basis of your knowledge.
4. Show your paintings to all your friends, relatives and acquaintances. Donate your painting. Gather like-minded people around you who will support you.
5. Warm and cold colors. Use more cool tones in the distance and warmer ones up close. So you show aerial perspective in your painting.
6. Do not paint the entire background with one paint. Change the tone, mix colors, create color in your painting. Make two or three strokes with one color, add another. The more shades you use, the more interesting your painting will be.
7. Give the painting a chance to dry. This way you will make it more elaborate and deep.
8. Show volume up close. Apply more paint on nearby objects using a palette knife. Make them voluminous.
9. The more colors you mix, the more picturesque your painting will be. Mix in halftones.
10. Decorate paintings with baguettes. It gives the picture additional volume.

To get the desired result when working with paints you must have necessary tools. Of course, you don't have to buy expensive painting supplies, but I still don't recommend using bad watercolors or paper that isn't suitable for it.

Here's a list of the basic things you'll need to get your creative journey started:

Brushes: my favorite ones are with faux sable. They have a reasonable price and are in no way inferior in quality. You may need brushes different sizes. I advise you to buy round brushes number 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, as well as one or two large ones, so that you have plenty to choose from.
Palette: Choose a palette that has enough space to place and mix colors together.
Paints: I like Winsor & Newton best, but there are many others good brands. If you don't want to pay a lot, remember that manufacturers often create two types of paints - for beginners and for professionals. The Cotman series from Winsor & Newton is for beginners, and the Artist is for professionals. Even though the beginner series are cheaper, they are still of high quality. If you want to save money, but still get acceptable quality, buy Russian “White Nights” paints.

Water cans: I usually have at least two - one for my dirty brushes, the other for mixing colors.
Paper: Choose between semi-smooth (cold pressing) and smooth texture (hot pressing). Hot pressed paper has more smooth surface, and the paint lays on it differently. I use semi-smooth because I like the hard texture and I think watercolor looks interesting on it.
White gouache : White watercolors are usually too transparent and barely noticeable. I prefer to do the final strokes and highlights with white gouache.

2. Start with a sketch

Regardless of whether you come up with the drawing yourself or copy it, I advise you to always start with a sketch. I like to draw ballpoint pen on newsprint - the stiff texture allows ideas to flow freely, and I'm not too worried about mistakes.

Above I've attached a few examples from my children's book, Pickle: The Little Bird Who Doesn't Tweet! To begin, I make a rough sketch in blue pencil. I draw the same line several times, trying to find the right forms that complement the plot.

If there are too many lines and it becomes difficult to make out them, then I simply move to another page. As soon as I like one of the sketches, I outline everything with a black ballpoint pen.

3. Sketch in color

I often create studies in color before I start working on the actual painting. To pick up correct colors, the sketch must be drawn on watercolor paper. Let it be small, for example 10x15 cm or less.

The sketch doesn't have to be perfect. Instead, take note of how colors attract attention and how you can add interest to a painting using light and shadow. The purpose of the sketch is to understand what impression the final picture should make.

Even though Pickle is a book in in electronic format, I really wanted it to keep the feel of a classic children's picture book like Peter Rabbit, but also be modern and funny.

To achieve this, I added subtle, subtle lines and textures to the paintings. And in order for “Pickle” to also look current, I used not only modern visual references, but also a brighter and more saturated color scheme than those in classic illustrations.

4. Preparing paint and paper

There is a common misconception that for the final painting you must use the same range that you selected for the sketch. Of course, then the painting will look exactly like the sketch, but it's still better to start with clean drawing supplies and a clean palette. This will prevent the paint from looking dull and uncontrollable.

Also, don’t forget to regularly wash all accessories as soon as they become too dirty. This will help keep the colors clean and rich.

You don't have to worry about keeping the paper from shrinking if you're drawing in a sketchbook, but be sure to secure the paper of the final painting. You can either stretch it yourself, or buy a watercolor block that is already stretched.

Thin line with pencil

After all this, you can finally make a sketch. Have a great time fine lines so that they can be painted over later. Unless, of course, you have plans to make them noticeable.

People often ask if I use any techniques to transfer the sketch onto the paper of the final painting. Actually, I just redraw it by hand. That's when I usually finalize it and add the finishing touches.

5. Watercolor is a multifaceted medium.

There is a common misconception that painting with watercolor means constantly worrying about how much water is on your brush. Many people think that if they use more water, then the paint will behave as it should.

In reality, everything is not like that. It is better to pay attention to how quickly water evaporates from the paper. You must consider the weather and humidity when painting. And also, of course, the characteristics of the paper itself, how strong its absorbency is.

If you paint on a dry, sunny day, use more water. And if you are painting, for example, near a waterfall, then too much water on your brushes can create a risk of color bleeding. And in general, it is better to add new layers of paint in a timely manner, taking into account the moisture level of the paper.

One of interesting features Watercolor painting is that you can paint with no water at all or with a small amount of it to create a “dry” effect or to capture the look of an oil painting. Watercolor really can do a lot.

6. Where to start

You can find many watercolor painting techniques and tutorials on websites and in books. But I would like to tell you how to perceive the big picture. There are many theories about where to start with watercolor painting. One of the most popular methods is from light to dark. Although I don’t think that you should be constrained by any rules - I’ve seen how artists create amazing paintings, starting to work from darkest to lightest.

I usually start with what I like best, like Pickle the bird, and then move on to minor characters. And after all this I add the background color using a large brush.

I advise you not to worry if the paint does not lay down the way you want or goes over the edges. On the contrary, it should be perceived as one of the most interesting aspects of painting with watercolors. You can achieve cool and unexpected effects at any time.

Usually, after I apply the background colors, the paper becomes damp, so I let it dry before worrying about the details. And this time I really have control over how the paint flows.

I almost always leave room for decorative details empty until the very end, because I use them to enhance the composition or direct the reader's attention to something. specific place. That's why I don't want to accidentally highlight them too much.

Characters in my children's book most time in nature, so I usually leave leaves, plants and flowers for last, even though they are an important part of the composition. I want them to highlight the art as much as the storyline itself.

7. Experiment

There are no rules, there are only tools! As with any other art form, there are many techniques in painting. Experiment and learn new techniques that will complement your drawing style. You can use white, you can scrape the surface of the paper, you can apply a lot of paint. Most importantly, have fun!

If you're interested in my painting process, you can watch a quick-motion video of how I painted the picture below from start to finish. The video is three minutes long, but in real time it took me seven hours:

Schoolgirl drawing in mixed media. Watercolor + colored pencils. Video

IN Ancient Egypt They painted with a sharpened stick with a piece of camel hair at the end using paints from crushed earth. This was the first watercolor technique, which is already about four thousand years old. Since then watercolor painting became firmly established in Europe.

The word “watercolor” itself has the Latin root “aqua” - water. That's why main principle Watercolor painting techniques are the degree to which the paper is moistened. It is water that gives the transparency of paints, purity of color and allows you to see the texture of the paper.

The artist has a choice of existing watercolor painting techniques:

dry watercolor (Italian watercolor);
wet watercolor (English watercolor);
combined (mixed) technique;
watercolor on fragmentarily moistened paper.

Dry watercolor (Italian watercolor)

Acquarello - this word sounds musical to the ear. Layers of paint are applied (one if it is a single-layer watercolor) or several (if it is glaze) on a dry sheet of paper.

“Watercolor is the tender promise of oil,” and this technique is a direct confirmation of this.

The tonality of the paint is thicker, the colors are brighter, the strokes are visible as if the drawing was painted in oil. The main difficulty is that if the oil endures everything, the work can be corrected, but in watercolor it is almost impossible to make mistakes. The Italians even have the term “A la Prima”, that is, “in one go.” The picture is painted without stages. With pure, undiluted colors, you need to boldly capture the essence, make a sketch from life.

Steps of an artist using the watercolor-on-dry technique:

application outline drawing, shadow development;
watercolor in one layer, or glaze;
brush strokes are opaque, mosaic, precise;
avoid dirty deposits, high speed of work.

Who to learn Italian style from: Russian academic painting XIX century. For example, “Italian Landscape” by A.A. Ivanov, stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Watercolor on wet (English watercolor)

The French call this technique “working on water” (travailler dans l’eau, French).

A sheet of paper is generously moistened with water. In this technique main feature- unpredictability of the result. Even if the artist has correctly calculated the tone and color, the drawing may change more than once before it dries completely before being accepted. final form. The contours of objects in this technique are blurry, the lines smoothly flow into each other and are airy. A painting made using this technique is thought out and imagined by the viewer.

In his book How to Understand Watercolor, writer Tom Hoffmann said: “Painting in watercolor is a dialogue between the artist and the viewer, each with their own role. If only one person talks, the other one will get bored.”

Artist's steps in wet-on-watercolor technique:

adding water to paints;
mixing paint, it doesn’t matter where, on the palette or on the sheet;
wet the sheet generously, then smooth it so that there are no irregularities left;
remove excess water from the sheet with a piece of cotton wool so that it stops shining;
complete the drawing using extremely precise strokes;
drying the pattern for 2 hours;
elaboration of elements foreground(If you want to).

Who to learn the English style from: the brilliant English painter William Turner. According to contemporaries, he created four drawings at once using this technique “with amazing, monstrous speed.”

From Russian artists an example is the drawing by Maximilian Messmacher “View of Cologne Cathedral”.

Mixed media watercolor

Many artists combine several drawing techniques in one work.

Combined (mixed) technique techniques:

put the first layer of paint on a wet sheet;
elaboration of plans, creation of the required degree of blur;
drying the drawing;
lay out the next layers of paint in stages;
elaboration of the middle and close plans.

Basic rule of technology: the paper is not wetted all over, but in the desired area (reserve); the pigment is applied to the surface from top to bottom.

The paper may become wet in patches. The artist himself decides which plan to work on, creating watercolor stains. Using a sponge, you need to remove excess water so that water does not seep into those areas that should remain dry according to the artist’s plan. Examples of combined techniques in the work of artist Konstantin Kuzema.

The next issue for the artist is to create layers of paint. There are single-layer and multi-layer techniques (glaze).

Single layer watercolor technique

To paraphrase the famous satirist, one careless move and best case scenario You will get graphics instead of watercolors. The paint is applied in one layer; adjustments cannot be made. The single-layer technique can be applied dry-on-dry or wet-on-dry.

Features of single-layer watercolor “dry on dry”:

execution literally in one or two touches;
it is necessary to outline the contours of the drawing in advance;
select the colors to use for speed;
for colorization, use shades only on a damp layer;
more clarity and graphics, less overflow.

Features of watercolor in one layer “wet on dry”:

more shimmer, less graphics and clarity;
Apply strokes quickly, until dry, one after another;
For colorization, have time to add paint when the smear has not yet dried.

The advantage of the single-layer technique is the creation of picturesque watercolor tints. On a dry sheet it is easier to control the fluidity and outline of the strokes. Contemporary artists They often conduct master classes and post videos on Youtube. You can see the technique of single-layer watercolor, for example, from watercolorist Igor Yurchenko.

Those who tirelessly improve their watercolor technique should master the multi-layer technique (glazing), which is used by famous masters.

Multilayer watercolor technique (glaze)

This watercolor technique can give the green light to creating realist paintings. Glaze- multi-layer technique, applying watercolor with transparent strokes from lighter to darker, one layer on top of the other.

Features of multi-layer watercolor technique:

realism of the image: the picture is in bright, rich colors;
the bottom layer of light and transparent strokes must have time to dry before the next application;
the boundaries of the strokes are visible;
the paint does not mix in different layers;
the strokes are done carefully, the plans are airy, the painting is in a soft style;
You can divide the process into several sessions and complete a large canvas.

Watercolor works made with glaze become similar to oil or gouache painting. So that the work does not have such a disadvantage, you must be able to work with light, apply glazes subtly and accurately.

Sergei Andriyaka is considered an unsurpassed master of multi-layer watercolor. In addition to creativity, the artist is actively engaged teaching activities, the works of him and his students are constantly exhibited.

“Oil painting is like driving a limousine, and watercolor is like driving a Ferrari.” Not the same respectability and security, but it’s really cool,” Croatian watercolorist Joseph Zbukvich wittily remarked. What is required to write good watercolor, or “a fun ride in a Ferrari” according to the artist? He answers: “Follow watercolors, or just paint.”

To draw you need brushes, paints, mastery of technology and special effects. You can paint with a dry (wrung out), semi-dry and wet brush (kolinor or squirrel brush).

Techniques in multilayer technology are also varied:

Strokes you need to do it according to the principle “the master’s work is afraid”, invent your own technique, making dotted, linear, blurry, curly, solid and intermittent strokes.
Fill covers most of the design with one color, used to provide smooth color transitions.
Washing- applying no more than three layers of paint, one on top of the other after drying, to enhance halftones, add details and shadows. This way the overall tone is achieved.
Gradient stretch- strokes smoothly transition into each other, each next one is lighter than the previous one. This is done with a rainbow transition of colors.
Pulling paint- a clean, dry brush makes the tone of the stroke lighter, passes over the paper, collecting excess pigment.
Reserve- that part of the sheet that is left white.

Types of reservation:

« bypass" - the name speaks for itself, you need to carefully go around with a brush the right places. IN wet watercolor must be reserved more space due to paint leaks.
mechanical impact: scratching, masking. Avoid damaging the paper with sharp objects and sharp contrasts. Additional materials: razor, wax crayons and so on.
paint washing out with a dry cloth or wrung-out brush. You can use a palette knife if the paint is dry.

You can create watercolors using the grisaille (monochrome), dichrome (with ocher) and multi-color techniques.

You can also combine coloring materials and create special effects:

Mixing watercolors with whitewash, gouache, watercolor pencils, ink, pastel. This is no longer a pure technique, but a mixed one. What does this give? — clarity (pencils), shading (pastel), wash (ink), book illustrations(pen), reserve (white), linear strokes (watercolor pencils).
Special effect " drawing on crumpled paper"gives an amazing effect of chiaroscuro on the folds of paper.
Special effect with salt: salt crystals are applied to the drawing, and as a result of friction with the paper, fantastic stains appear. Suitable for drawing a starry sky or water meadow.
Special effect " splashing“- this effect is familiar to all 1-2 year old toddlers. It turns out that the technique of splashing exists in painting, and you won’t be scolded for it. Using a toothbrush, apply tiny drops of paint. Suitable for writing the elements, storms, storms.
Watercolor with tea: for the effect of “aging” paper, with a texture reminiscent of parchment. The leaf is tinted with tea leaves.
Special effect with cling film: the film, moistened with paint, is sharply separated from the sheet of paper. The resulting stains are used as a background.

And again about the principle “the master’s work is afraid”: each artist can create his own, original techniques and techniques. Whether or not to share with others is his business, but every artist is responsible for the originality of his work. As the already mentioned watercolorist Joseph Zbukvic said: “Watercolor is the boss. I’m just her young assistant.”

It was in this country that special paper suitable for working with watercolors was produced. IN Western countries The continent did not pay due attention to watercolor painting for a long time, and only at the end of the 19th century was it given its deserved place in the history of world painting. Using this technique, you can achieve amazing graceful lines, background translucency, and interesting blurry details. All this can give the drawing a mystical effect.

What brushes are needed?

Before you begin to study the technique of watercolor painting, you need to pay attention to the materials for its high-quality execution. The right brushes are the first necessity for those who want to learn how to paint with watercolors from scratch. They must have the following properties: quickly absorb water, have flexibility and the ability to immediately return to their previous shape, and also have smooth, non-brittle hairs. Handles watercolor brushes always short. A wide flat brush is used to remove excess paint, since its hairs have increased rigidity. The blur brush is used to paint the background. It is quite large and soft, so it easily changes its shape and does not dry out, holding water and dye in the hairs. Brushes for work can be of various sizes, which vary depending on the technique used.

Paper for drawing with watercolors

The paper you choose is also important. Its quality is easy to determine. If the paper is thick and does not delaminate, and is well glued, then there is no doubt about its quality. At making the right choice You can paint on drawing paper with watercolors without fear that the water will be slowly absorbed and the colors will become lighter. You also need to pay attention to the grain of the drawing paper. For accurate transmission small parts Fine-grain paper is suitable. For ordinary work You can choose medium-grain paper. And to perform specific designs, a coarse-grained one is needed. It has a rough surface and a distinct texture. This type paper has a high density and is quite often made by hand. Paper without grain is not suitable for watercolor painting, as it will warp.

Correctly chosen paints are the key to success

The choice of the right paints is also important for those who are interested in learning how to paint with watercolors. For beginners, the usual school ones are also suitable. But if an immature artist is still focused on a good result, it is better to give preference to professional ones. It will take some effort to prepare to paint in the trays. First you need to drop a little water from the brush into the paint so that it softens a little. The convenience of such paints lies in the fact that there is no need to look for additional containers. If the artist has some experience in watercolor painting, then tube paints will suit him. Then you can create the desired palette yourself.

On the other hand, hobbyists can also use these paints if they buy a ready-made set with many tubes. Although paint sets are sold in sets of twelve and thirty-six, not all colors are used. In any case, there is a need for mixing different colors to obtain the desired or unusual shade. In principle, a beginning artist will need no more than ten commonly used tones.

Warm or cool tones

Those who want to learn how to learn how to paint with watercolors need to understand warm and cool tones. If the paint is based on red or yellow, it will be considered warm. And blue and purple shades belong to the cold ones. Please note that green, purple, gray and black color have unique feature and can refer to both a cold type of paint and a warm one. The initial tone may depend on the characteristics of the color and the influence of surrounding shades. The main colors are considered to be blue, yellow and red. All others that can be obtained by mixing are called derivatives.

Drawing stages

Learning to paint with watercolors step by step is not at all as difficult as it might seem at first glance. First you need to purchase a pencil, preferably with a hard core so that the lines are only slightly visible. Next, sketch out the main details of the drawing. Afterwards you can immediately take up watercolors. There's no need to rush here. First you need to think carefully about what colors and shades are desirable for the chosen pattern. Having decided on color scheme, you can start applying paint. At the first stage, you should paint with translucent colors. After all, adding tone is easier than removing it. To do this, you need to dilute the paint with water. Once the bases are applied, you can add color to make the design richer. To obtain dark tones, blot the brush with a napkin after wetting it in water. Next, the brush is dipped into the paint and lines are drawn on the paper. It is important to remember about shadows, which need to be thought out before you start drawing. This is important to know for future artists who are interested in how to learn how to paint with watercolors for beginners step by step.

Removing borders

In order to get rid of the difference between the shadow and light parts, you need to create a smooth transition. This means that all colors must be mixed. To do this, dip the brush into water so that all remaining paint on the hairs is washed off. Next, you need to dry the brush and make sure that there is no paint on it at all. Then the bristles of the brush must be immersed in water again. After this, the brush is placed to distinguish between the light and dark parts, and a line is drawn. Thus, the clear boundary will blur, and it will be impossible to accurately determine where the shadow ends and the light begins.

Drawing a landscape

Nature lovers who want to know how to learn to draw should first of all outline the basic composition lines on paper. When drawing the sky area, you must remember that this area of the paper is first wetted with water. Next, while the sky area has not yet dried, diluted light yellow paint is applied to its lower part. Top part turns red or Orange color. The boundaries of shades are erased with a damp brush.

Experimenting with green

How to learn to paint beautifully with watercolors and operate with ease different colors on paper? It's much easier than it seems. The only difficulty may arise with green. Very often, artists have problems using this tone in their works. In order not to make a mistake and choose the right shade correctly, you need to know a few rules. You can't lighten green with yellow color. To mute the rich green, just add a drop of base red. And to give greenery a darker shade, cold is often used. blue tone. Knowing these basic rules on how to learn how to paint with watercolors, you can paint an excellent landscape with a mysterious sky in the background and bright green foliage in the front part of the picture the first time.

The most important thing in learning watercolor painting techniques is not to grab onto everything at once. You need to gradually increase your level of brush control, as well as your ability to correctly handle colors. Some artists prefer to use only soft and warm tones in their works, others, on the contrary, use cold and rich tones. It's not so easy to find your way in creation watercolor masterpieces. The main thing is that the drawing touches the senses, then the hand itself will begin to draw the necessary lines, and the brush will begin to add elegant color shades. Consistency is very important in the question of how to learn to paint with watercolors. You always need to go from simple things to complex ones, at each phase of development, acquire new skills and consolidate knowledge through constant practice.

But how to comprehend this not simple art? Before we start drawing, we need to select auxiliary materials. Let's look at the points in this article that will help us with this.

On what paper and what brushes to paint with watercolors

2. Brushes. In a painting store, first take two brushes. Small and big. Squirrel fur is well suited for watercolor paints.

3. Palette. The choice of palette is not important, we choose any one. Some artists replace the palette with a small glass; it is practical to use and easy to clean.

4. Paints. Children's honey paints with the addition of lemon and other things - immediately set aside. We won't need them. In the artist store we take any professional paints. Open them and look at the colors, you should like them. It is not necessary to take the most expensive ones, this is not important.

How to learn to paint with watercolors from scratch step by step

How to paint beautifully with watercolors? In order for our watercolor drawings to be of high quality, it is necessary to master several basic techniques.

1. Uniform filling. Draw a square or rectangle on paper. It is better to choose a darker color, it will be easier to see. Place it on the brush and stretch it from one corner to the other. Paint again. Draw the next strip so that it overlaps the previous one. If the first strip does not completely flow into the second, then tilt the sheet of paper. Pick up the paint and continue to paint stripes, maintaining a uniform shade. Rinse the brush in water and squeeze. Smooth out the dark stripes with a brush. Let the drawing dry. If you get a rectangle evenly filled with paint, you've succeeded.

2. Dependence of paint shade on the amount of water. We put paint on the brush and draw the first line, then lower the brush into the water and draw the second one 1 cm from it. Let's continue to dip the brush in water and draw lines until they become as transparent as possible. This exercise helps you feel how much water you need to add to get the desired shade.

3. Gradient. The goal of this exercise is to obtain a uniform transition from dark to light. Load up the paint with a brush and draw a vertical line, then dip the brush in water and draw a second one so that it extends slightly beyond the first and the paint begins to flow. We repeat the same thing again, adding water. We achieve a complete color transition. Run the last strip with just water. Dry your brush and run a roller of paint underneath the fill.

Learn to paint with watercolors step by step using various techniques for beginners

How to start painting with watercolors? It is necessary to comprehend the basics of art. These are certain exercises, by doing which you will master the first basics of painting with watercolors.

1. Wet on wet. Wet a small piece of paper with water. The sheet should be evenly saturated with water. Now take the paint on the brush and brush it over the wet area. Watch how the paint flows. Practice adding more or less paint to a piece of paper. This will be very useful to you.

2. Flow from color to color. First, let's draw any shapes with water. Take, for example, a blue color on a brush and apply it to the figure. Add a little burgundy and yellow. You should achieve a smooth transition from one color to another. If this does not happen, add some water.

3. Layering. Let's draw the background as in the first exercise. Let's wait a little and let it dry completely. Draw a couple of circles of different colors on the background and let it dry. Draw a third layer on the circles.

4. Reception using table salt. Draw a background and sprinkle a little regular table salt on top. We wait. The salt crystals gradually absorb the paint and become like stars. The effect is most noticeable in dark areas.

5. Clouds using a napkin. Fill in the background and while the paint is still wet, begin to apply a napkin, giving it a shape. This way we get a texture that resembles clouds. This technique can be used to correct mistakes that you encounter while drawing. Just blot off any excess paint.

6. Splashes. We put paint on the brush and run our finger over the brush over the paper or drip it, forming uneven splashes over the entire surface. It is better to cover the table with a cloth to avoid contamination.

Common mistakes of beginning artists

2. Use comfortable materials. High quality brushes, paper and paint. Then the drawing process will bring you only pleasure.

3. Copy scenes from famous artists. They will serve as the basis of your knowledge.

4. Show your paintings to all your friends, relatives and acquaintances. Donate your painting. Gather like-minded people around you who will support you.

5. Warm and cold colors. Use more cool tones in the distance and warmer ones up close. This will show aerial perspective in your painting.

6. Do not paint the entire background with one paint. Change the tone, mix colors, create color in your painting. Make two or three strokes with one color, add another. The more shades you use, the more interesting your painting will be.

7. Give the painting a chance to dry. This way you will make it more elaborate and deep.

8. Show volume up close. Apply more paint to nearby objects using a palette knife. Make them voluminous.

9. The more colors you mix, the more picturesque your painting will be. Mix in halftones.

10. Decorate paintings with baguettes. It gives the picture additional volume.