Painting with Watercolors is Much Harder Than it Looks
I began my journey into watercolor about 5 years ago, after being a jewelry artist for over 10 years. I wanted to explore the wonderful colors but had absolutely no experience with painting.
Little did I know that watercolor is considered the most difficult paint technique.
Since I had already started working with the watercolors, I decided to continue. And I found out that I loved it. I love the look of the paint, and I love mixing my own colors.
This lens is an introduction to my watercolors and how to get started yourself with watercolor. It is still not my primary art form, but I love the medium and would not change to another paint style, although I may learn to add another type of paint one day. Watercolors allow me to be soft and transparent, or bold. Colors are layered on so I am forced to take my time as I create a painting.
If you want to see the originals of these paintings, you can view them in my gallery Lake Erie Artists Gallery.
Painting to the left is called Wolf.
List of Brushstrokes
- This is my first watercolor
- Joe Cibere Watercolor Blog
- How I Began
- One Key Component
- And You Need Some Paint
- And You Must Have Good Quality Paper
- I like to use Arches 140 lb. paper to paint on most of the time.
- Watercolor Techniques
- Video Lessons in Watercolor
- Style and Technique
- Watercolor for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter
- Excellent Watercolor Resources
- More Specific Painting Techniques
- Prints of My Watercolors
- Make Each Painting Your Own
- Learn More About Watercolor
- Learn to Watercolor
- Artistic Comments
- About lakeerieartists
This is my first watercolor
My sister has the original.
Sunflower
I had to paint the entire picture twice to get it right.
Joe Cibere Watercolor Blog
Lots of cool watercolor hints and tips.
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How I Began
I started painting in a class with a friend. We signed up together mainly because of the time frame. Little did I realize that the class was an ongoing class with many very experienced students.
The teacher of the class, who turned out to be a very established artist, fluent in painting of all types, pastel and other media, settled me in comfortably and really coached me at the level I was at. And the other students were extremely helpful and supportive.
My first trial painting was awful, but I learned how to use the paint. And as I used it more, and with much coaching, I learned some techniques.
The painting to the right is called Morning.
One Key Component
Jack Richeson's Pure Sable Brush Set- These brushes were previously manufactured in Russia. They are now made in India out of pure red sable hair. This set contains five brushes including rounds in sizes 2/0 1 3 and 8 along with a big thick 3/4 inch flat wash brush with a nice full belly. A truly incredible value!
Jack Richeson Set of 5 Pure Sable Watercolor Brushes
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 12/28/2009)
Review
I love these brushes. Who wouldn't? My art teacher recommended them when I was ready to replace my synthetic "beginner" brushes. These are great quality and work just the way you want a watercolor brush to work.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
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And You Need Some Paint
And You Must Have Good Quality Paper
Strathmore Artist Trading Cards- Watercolor (Cold Press 140lb)
Amazon Price: $1.95 (as of 12/28/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Moleskine Watercolor Sketchbook 3-1/2 x 5-1/2 inches 60 detachable pages
Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 12/28/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Arches Block 140lb Cold Press 9x12
I like Arches a lot, and the block can easily be transported from place to place.
Amazon Price: $30.00 (as of 12/28/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Arches Block 300lb Cold Press 9x12 10/Sheets
Amazon Price: $34.29 (as of 12/28/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Arches 140 lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper 22x30 Inch- pack of 5 sheets
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/28/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
I like to use Arches 140 lb. paper to paint on most of the time.
Sometimes I experiment with the 300 lb. paper.
Arches 140 Lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper 22 x 30 inch - Pack of 5 Sheets
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/28/2009)
You can cut this paper to whatever size you need.
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Watercolor Techniques
- Watercolor Techniques For Kids - Watercolor Painting Techniques ...
- Kids love colors and what better way to enhance their creativity than by painting. Explore the article given below to know watercolor techniques for kids.
- Painting: Watercolor instruction video: Beginning Watercolor ...
- Rent Beginning Watercolor Techniques with Jerry Yarnell by Jerry Yarnell - DVDs delivered to your door with free shipping!
- Beginning Watercolor Techniques with Jerry Yarnell
- Learn how to sharpen you watercolor skills with Jerry Yarnell. This series concentrates on landscapes and is in watercolor. Mr. Yarnell uses 300 lb. watercolor paper for this demonstration. This was not broadcast on TV.
- Watercolor Painting Techniques | How to Watercolor Paint
- There are a number of basic watercolor painting techniques you need to learn if you are interested in becoming a watercolor painter, which is really not that hard. All you need are a little bit of creativity and imagination.
Video Lessons in Watercolor
Here are some great watercolor lessons that you can watch at home.
Watercolor Painting for Beginners : How to Mix Colors for Watercolor Painting
Runtime: 63
105210 views
38 Comments:
How to Paint a rose in Watercolor Painting Demonstration By Lori Andrews
Runtime: 377
97354 views
40 Comments:
Style and Technique
My style is heavy on color.
Since I wasn't educated in a classical fashion in art school and I came at watercolor training in a somewhat backwards way, I have never really painted traditional looking watercolors. My work is heavy on color.
There is no pale, washed out colors in any of my paintings. I love color and watercolor allows me to use it. But I do use a lot more paint than many traditional watercolorists use.
Watercolor is a tough medium because you cannot paint over mistakes like in acrylic or oil. You can only continue to paint and include your previous brush strokes or start over.
The biggest trick is learning to layer the color on very slowly and incrementally in order to get the look you want without mistakes.
I still have a lot of paintings that I don't consider good enough to sell. But I continue to grow as a painter and artist.
The painting to the right is called Quilt Square.
Watercolor for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter
Watercolor for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/28/2009)
Review
This is a comprehensive book well worth your time and money. I especially like the instructional step-by-step color demonstrations which include still life, landscape, and figures and portraits.
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Excellent Watercolor Resources
These books will give you a great start with watercolor painting.
More Specific Painting Techniques
- Yankeegirl's Watercolors and Photography: "Snow Birds"-Original ...
- Carol: Jersey shore, United States: I'm a watercolor artist and photographer who lives by the Jersey Shore. I'm married to my High School sweetheart and we are the proud parents to many rescued pets!! I've been painting seriously for a ...
- Barbara Fox - Daily Paintings: BRANDYWINE ROSE watercolor painting
- Barbara Fox: My passion is for watercolor painting. I'm a commercial illustrator and a Needlepoint designer as well. See my website for a complete bio and more watercolor paintings. www.BarbaraFoxWatercolors.com email bfoxart@yahoo.com ...
- Daily Painters Abstract Gallery: Contemporary Abstract Watercolor ...
- Contemporary Abstract Watercolor Painting by Brad Rickerby. Springtime, 6 x 9", Watercolor and gouache on paper. $65. To view additional works by Brad Rickerby and for more information on him, please visit his web site ...
- Mommies Little Artist: Glue Batik, Watercolor painting and Oil Pastels
- Glue Batik, Watercolor painting and Oil Pastels. Next week is going to be SUPER SUPER cold, so besides errands that have to get done we will be home most of the time. Also we have 2 more winter storms to dump more snow on us so it will ...
Make Each Painting Your Own
The trick to any kind of art is to find your own individual style. You can only do that by experimenting and trying different styles until you like what you have.
Don't let other painters naysay you. Do what you want. You are the artist. If you like it, others will too.
The painting to the right is called Snowy Owl.
Learn More About Watercolor
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Watercolor Painting
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When you live in the right hand side of the brain for most of the time as I do, you are forever seeking out alternative ways to express creativity. By profession I am an established author with a string of bestselling traditionally published books t...
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Watercolor Painting- How To Paint Watercolors
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Watercolor Painting - How To Paint Watercolours - Watercolors - Water colors - Water colours. Watercolor Art - Watercolor Lessons - Beginning Painting With Watercolors. Step-By-Step Watercolor Guide Gives You All The Secrets To Creating Fresh and Vib...
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Free Watercolor Techniques & Instructions For Beginners
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L ike any new form of art, watercolor painting can be difficult at first. It is only with time and lots of practice that one becomes confident enough to paint better. Never become discouraged from your mistakes or lack of progress. You have found th...
Learn to Watercolor
Artistic Comments
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- OhMe OhMe Sep 11, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
- You are very talented. I really need to get my watercolors out and start painting again but who has time to paint when there is so much squidooing to be done. lol
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- gbenton789 gbenton789 Feb 12, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
- Okay, your first watercolor is great, in my humble opinion. I think it's inspiring to see and would love to see your others : )
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- WendyKrick WendyKrick Jan 14, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
- I'm in awe of you. You are so very talented. I love it all!
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- Stazjia Stazjia Nov 11, 2008 @ 3:48 am
- Great lens sharing your journey into watercolours. As you say, they aren't easy to master. Welcome to the Art & Design Group.
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- Jewelsofawe Jewelsofawe Oct 30, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
- Wow! That flower is amazing! Do you have more to show?
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- Mayflowerblood Mayflowerblood Oct 30, 2008 @ 5:28 am
- your first water color piece is very pretty.
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- aj2008 aj2008 Oct 30, 2008 @ 5:13 am
- This lens makes me wish that I did more painting than I do - currently confined to bits of scenery! Now I know why you use the sunflower as your avatar in other places. Nice lens and some good links for anyone wanting to learn how to paint with watercolours. 5*s.
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- NancyOram NancyOram Oct 29, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
- Thanks so much for sharing your experience. It makes such a difference to hear about your process instead of just presenting lessons and supplies. I have great respect for anyone who can work with watercolors. The little painting I've done made good use of the ability to paint over mistakes!
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Oct 23, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
- Great lens, I love hearing your journey into watercolors. They are fun, aren't they? I love the different techniques used with them. Even though I do a lot in oils now, I still fall back to watercolors for a lot of things.
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- nightbear nightbear Oct 21, 2008 @ 11:48 pm
- I've been interested in this as well. Great insight. And I love your own watercolor. Great job.
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- Rya Rya Sep 28, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
- Love it--beautiful images
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- d-artist d-artist Sep 9, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
- great artwork!!! 5*s
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- fotolady49 fotolady49 Jul 29, 2008 @ 8:19 pm
- Great Lens, very concise and informative, makes me want to try again, (it's been a very long time) to do some watercolors.
Terri
About lakeerieartists
Lensmaster lakeerieartists has been a member since June 5 2008, has rated 2,105 lenses, favorited 133, and has created 260 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Making your First Lens Mentor". See all my lenses
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