Using watercolour paints effectively involves a few key steps, from preparing your palette to applying washes and details. Here's a breakdown of how I personally use them:
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Setting Up Your Palette:
- Palette Choice: I use a round palette (a simple white dinner plate also works). This provides ample space for mixing.
- Colour Arrangement: I arrange my tube watercolours around the perimeter of the palette in a colour wheel arrangement. This helps me visualize and easily access the colours I need. Squeeze a small glob of each colour onto the palette.
- Rehydration: Allow the paints to dry on the palette between uses. To reactivate, simply add water.
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Preparing Your Brush:
- Dampen the Brush: Dip your brush in clean water and then gently blot off the excess moisture. The brush should be damp, not dripping.
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Mixing Your Colours:
- Transferring Paint: Use your damp brush to pick up a small amount of watercolour pigment from the perimeter of the palette and bring it into the center.
- Adding Water: Gradually add water to the pigment in the center of the palette to achieve your desired colour intensity and consistency. Experiment with different ratios of paint to water to create a range of values. More water = lighter washes. Less water = more intense colours.
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Applying Watercolour Washes:
- Paper Preparation: Secure your watercolour paper to a board to prevent buckling.
- Brush Strokes: Apply the mixed watercolour paint to your paper using smooth, even strokes. Work quickly and efficiently to avoid hard edges or uneven colour distribution.
- Layering: Watercolour is best applied in layers. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next. This allows you to build up depth and complexity in your painting.
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Adding Details:
- Smaller Brushes: Use smaller brushes for adding fine details.
- Less Water: Use less water in your paint mixture for greater control and precision.
- Dry Brush Technique: For textures, try using a dry brush technique – load a dry brush with paint and drag it lightly across the paper.
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Clean Up:
- Rinse Brushes: Thoroughly rinse your brushes with clean water after each painting session.
- Clean Palette: Clean your palette to prevent colour contamination.
