How to Watercolor Flawlessly for Beginners

Getting Started with Watercolor Paints

Suggested Materials

1. How to Watercolor: Your First Colors
   
   But what colors should you buy?  If you want to purchase individual tubes here is what I suggest:
   
   -Payne’s Grey
   -Burnt Sienna or Raw Sienna
   -Burnt Umber
   -Yellow Ochre
   -Cadmium Yellow
   -Cadmium Red
   -Allison Crimson
   -Sap Green
   -Hooker’s Green
   -Ultramarine Blue
   -Cobalt Blue
   
   Note: There is no need to invest in black or white paints in the beginning.

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2. Recommended Paper
   
   The best papers to use while learning to watercolor paint are those designed especially for the art. These papers will be labeled as such. I suggest Cold-Pressed 90-140 lb. Watercolor Paper

3. Recommended Brushes
   
   For brushes choose what is sold specifically for water colour, or includes water colour usage.  Artists favor the Sable hair brushes which tend to be pricier.  However, a good synthetic brush is fine for the beginner. Just remember to check to make sure that the brush holds its hair!  Give the hairs on the brush a good flick with your fingers to check for lose strands.
   
   I recommend these sizes/types to start out:
   
   -One inch flat
   -#6 Round
   -#4 Round
   -A liner or Rigger Brush (choose according to personal preference).  

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4. Other Helpful Tools When Painting with Watercolors
   
   The following materials can really lend a hand while you learn how to watercolor. Combine these with the suggested paints and brushes above for an optimal experience.
   
   -Plastic palette with many wells to contain paint and have several larger wells for mixing paints
   -Some jars for holding water ( One jar for clean water, and one jar for dirty brush water.)
   -A small light spray or squirt bottle
   -Paper towels or rags, painter’s tape (masking)
   -A painting board (made of corrugated plastic, poster board, or masonite).
    

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How to Watercolor: Step-by-Step Tutorial

1. Squeeze out small amounts onto your palette.

2. Add water to the paint with your brush or squirt from a small spray bottle.

3. Pick up some paint and move it to a well on your palette, keeping that wet by adding some water, and creating a lot of soupy colour from the paint.  

4. Paint that is still shiny is wet. Watercolor paints tend to dry lighter than when they are wet. So keep this in mind when creating.

5. You will then work from this soup .  

6. Apply the paint to your paper as needed, using light strokes at first, experimenting with the amount of pressure you apply. More pressure means more paint on the page.
   
   Note: Watercolor paints in the palette will dry out but are easily reconstituted with a spritz of water. To keep your palette moist longer, place it in a plastic bag or container during breaks. It is always nicer to work with shiny wet paint.  

How Much Water Do I Need?

1. When not using enough water you may get a result that appears streaky, or use too much water and the paper will buckle.
   
   (Click the photo below for a closer look.)

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2. Learning to use just the right amount of water may take you some practice.

Finishing Your Painting

Ready to Use Your Brand New Watercolor Painting Techniques?

1. DIY Watercolor and Gold Leaf Technique

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2. Three Watercolor Flower Cards

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3. Watercolor Nature Prints

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4. Constellation Postcards

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5. Simple Watercolor Roses

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