There are many creative and practical options for what to do with your practice watercolor paintings, preventing them from simply being discarded.
Here's a breakdown of several ideas:
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Keep them as an Artist's Log: This is a valuable approach.
- Documentation: Paste your practice paintings into a journal or artist's sketchbook.
- Notes: Record the colors used, techniques employed, and any challenges encountered. Note what you learned from the practice.
- Inspiration: Years later, these journals can serve as a source of inspiration and a reminder of your progress.
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Upcycle and Repurpose:
- Greeting Cards: Cut out sections of your paintings to create unique greeting cards.
- Gift Tags: Smaller pieces can be transformed into personalized gift tags.
- Bookmarks: Create unique bookmarks.
- Collages: Use them as elements in larger collage projects.
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Practice More: Use them to try other painting techniques over top or to plan out a larger painting.
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Give Them Away:
- Friends and Family: Offer them to friends and family as small gifts.
- Local Organizations: Donate them to local nursing homes or hospitals to brighten up the space.
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Sell or Trade:
- Online Marketplaces: While these are practice pieces, some may be good enough to sell online (Etsy, etc.) for very low prices. Be upfront that they are practice pieces.
- Local Art Groups: Offer them for sale or trade within local art communities.
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Use as Color Swatches: You can use them to note what a color looks like on paper.
In summary, instead of throwing away practice watercolor paintings, consider documenting your process, repurposing them into new creations, gifting them, or even finding a way to sell or trade them. They hold value as a record of your artistic journey and can be transformed into something beautiful and useful.
