Free Watercolor Techniques & Instructions For Beginners

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Your Beginners Guide To Watercolor Painting - Free Watercolor Painting Tips, Lessons and Techniques

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 the best resource on Squidoo for all of your beginner watercolor painting needs including watercolor painting supplies, free watercolor painting lessons, watercolor painting books, watercolor painting videos and more.

You may also want to visit my other online resources for artists:


Creative Spotlite - Free Art & Crafts Lessons & Resources For Beginners - This is my first site created over 6 years ago. It is a growing collection of free arts and crafts demonstrations and lessons on a variety of different topics including painting, drawing, crafts and photography.


The Art Instruction Blog - Free Art Instruction and Resources for Beginners - This is my blog on art instruction. It has become quite popular and is filled with lots of great resources for artists including step by step demos, artist interviews, videos, projects and more!

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Free Ebook 

Inside The Artist's Studio

Free Ebook - Inside The Artist's Studio

Watercolor Painting Supplies 

What do I need?

To start painting with watercolor you will obviously need to purchase painting supplies. You should purchase the best possible materials that you can afford. We all want to save as much money as possible, but if you work with cheap materials, you are not going to be happy with the end result, especially if you spend days or even months on a particular painting. This does not mean you should spend hundreds of dollars on the top of the line supplies right away. Start off buying a small amount of descent quality supplies until you become more experienced. You can then try out better supplies. Below is an excellent beginners watercolor kit from Winsor & Newton, a respected brand amongst watercolor artists.

WINSOR & NEWTON Cotman Water Colour Compact Set

WINSOR & NEWTON Cotman Water Colour Compact SetThis pocket-sized, lightweight box set is complete and portable, making it perfect for painting wherever and whenever the mood strikes you. It contains 14 Cotman Watercolor half pans, a Cotman Series 111 watercolor brush, integral palette and additional sliding palette, mediums dish, and a Watercolor Tips & Techniques sheet with handy color chart. Colors in the set include: Lemon Yellow Hue, Cadmium Yellow Hue, Cadmium Red Pale Hue, Cadmium Red Hue, Alizarin Crimson Hue, Purple Lake, Ultramarine, Cerulean Blue Hue, Sap Green, Viridian Hue, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber and Chinese White.


Click Here To Purchase This Beginners Kit Now!

Check out my Squidoo Lens on Watercolor Painting Supplies! 

I recently created a new lens on Squidoo that is all about watercolor painting supplies. I have included detailed information about watercolor painting materials like mediums, canvas, brushes and more.

Follow this link to reach my Squidoo lens on watercolor painting supplies!

Recommended Watercolor Palette 

You may already have your own preference for watercolors, if you don't, or if you are feeling adventurous, you may want to give the following palette of colors a try. The following colors are considered to be wonderful in terms of purity and pigment strength. They also work quite nicely when mixing together.

Cadmium Red

Cadmium Red has good permanence. You won't need to use a lot of this color. Just a little of this pigment can go a long way.

Permanent Rose
Permanent Rose is a more modern color and is sometimes used to replace the less permanent Rose Madder.

Cadmium Yellow
Cadmium Yellow is a bright color with a high tinting strength.

Cadmium Lemon
Cadmium lemon is a bit paler than Cadmium Yellow but is equal in
permanence.

Winsor Green
Winsor Green has good permanence and mixes quite well with Burnt
Sienna.

Winsor Blue
Winsor Blue has very good permanence and has become more popular widely replacing Prussian Blue.

French Ultramarine
French Ultramarine also has good permanence and gives your washes a very rich deep tone.

Burnt Sienna
Burnt Sienna is a very nice earthy tone with good transparency.

Raw Umber
Raw Umber is also a great earthy color with good permanence.

Watercolor Brushwork Lesson By Steve Fleming 

Although it is sometimes not what we notice first about a great watercolor painting, expressive brushwork is one of the most important qualities of a good work. Due to the fact that watercolor is fairly hard to remove from the paper and is somewhat less workable than oils, pastels, graphite and to some extent acrylics through the use of overlaying opaque colors on top, it is critical that you begin and end the painting with solid and creative brushwork. It will be very difficult to correct sloppy and repetitive brushwork in those major areas of the painting. Think of the trees you have painted with brushwork that evoke the look of a broom, not an elm, or the water you
painted that has the feeling of a parking lot, not a tranquil pond or the light on the side of a model's face that looks like an advertisement for a beard commercial and you will understand that your freedom with the brush is a critical factor is expressing your creative intent....

Please follow this link to view the rest of this watercolor brushwork lesson....

How To Paint a Rose In Watercolor 

By Doris Joa

Rose Watercolor DemoThe Star of this painting and Demonstration will be the Rose painting "Open Arms".

It is a beautiful climbing rose, which I bought new this year for my garden and I was lucky to see a lot of blooms. I love the colors in this rose and I am looking forward to painting this rose. Since I need time for doing a rose painting, I cannot paint from life, no rose would live such a long time. Another reason is that I have two small kids, so I usually only have time to paint in the evening when they are sleeping - so I work from photos. Since this rose is in my own garden, I had enough time to really observe it and understand more about the colors.

I work only from my own reference photos.

I used a digital camera, Olympus C -750 Ultra Zoom to take the photos in this demo. It's a great camera. I am able to see the details on the wings of a bee. I can zoom up to 40 times.

Please follow this link to view the rest of the tutorial on how to paint a rose.

Watercolor Painting Tips - Creating Textures in Watercolor by Beth Mcrorie 

Texture in watercolor can add both depth and drama..and they are fun, too!

The textures shown here are all done in prussian blue. If you are going to use one of these texture, practice first on a small scrap of paper. Different colors will react differently to the techniques. Try experimenting with laying several colors together.

Click here to read more on Creating Textures in Watercolor...

Step By Step Watercolor Lesson 

Here is an excellent new step by step watercolor by the very talented Alistair Butt.

Click here to view this step by step watercolor lesson.

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Introduction To Watercolor Painting Techniques 

This article will provide you with a general understanding of some of the more basic watercolor painting techniques.

Flat Wash Watercolor Technique

The flat wash technique is one of the more basic and common of the various techniques. The flat wash technique is usually used when large areas of the canvas need to be covered. You will want to lay out the watercolor wash evenly and uniformly. First you will need to dampen the area of your canvas where you will be applying the watercolor wash. Make certain to have an adequate amount of water and pigment available before your start. If you should have to stop for any reason, it will be difficult to match your layers. It is better to have more than less available. The angle at which you apply the watercolor wash is important. If the angle is too steep your wash will run down the paper. If the angle is too level, then you won't have enough movement. Use a large brush for this technique and start your first stroke at the top of the paper. Continue applying the watercolor wash going down the paper, but alternate sides as you move down.

Glazing Watercolor Technique

The glazing technique is when you apply a thin transparent color over a completed dry layer of color. This technique creates some very interesting blends of new color. You will need to use a non-staining, transparent color for this watercolor technique. You should use a soft brush and don't apply that much pressure.

Wet In Wet Watercolor Technique

Wet in wet is simply applying a wet wash over a wet surface. You start by evenly wetting the paper with a brush or spray bottle. Have a sponge handy to absorb any excess water. You want your paper to be evenly saturated. Then apply your watercolor.

Dry Brush Watercolor Technique

With the dry brush technique, your paper is completely dry. You then apply a fairly dry pigment with very little water to the paper.

The dry brush technique should only be used where you want to draw focus or create texture in your painting. It's always a good idea to use various watercolor brush techniques in a single painting. This results in a more interesting painting.

Lifting Off Watercolor Technique

Artists use this technique when they want to remove watercolor from a certain area of the panting. It is usually done by first wetting the area that needs to be removed with a clean sponge and then absorbing the color with a tissue. If you find that the color does not come off right away, then let the water soak in a bit longer and try again. If you still are unable to remove the color, then dampen a bristle brush and gently scrub the area. You should use extreme care with this watercolor technique, as there is a risk you can damage the paper.

I hope this article on watercolor techniques has helped. Happy Painting!

Watercolor Technique Books 

The Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques, 2nd Edition

Amazon Price: $21.24 (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

All About Techniques in Watercolor (All about Techniques: Art)

Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

The Watercolor Landscape Techniques of 23 International Artists

Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

Watercolor 101: Techniques for the Absolute Beginner

Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

Wet-Into-Wet Watercolor: Complete Guide to an Essential Watercolor Technique

Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

Free Watercolor Demo By Margaret Crowley-Kiggins, FWS 

How to Paint Watercolor Portraits - Alyssa's Portrait

Free step by step watercolor painting demo by the very talented Margaret Crowley-Kiggins. Many artists are intimidated by faces. In this demonstration, using an accurate light pencil drawing as a guide and the original photograph as reference, Margaret will show how to paint a portrait of Alyssa. She used three brushes: Winsor Newton Series 7 sizes 5, 7, and 10 rounds.

Click here to learn How to Paint Watercolor Portraits

How To Paint a Watercolor Painting by Donna Ridgway 

Naturally, you'll start with the white of the paper. From there, I take a color I'll be using in the painting and begin to draw my image. In this instance, I'm using a mat board that's been coated with gesso. I like this surface because the watercolor is so easily erased if a mistake is made. At this point, I've chosen to do a complimentary color scheme, yellow and blue....

Click here to read more of this free watercolor lesson...

Watercolor Painting Videos 

Watercolor Painting Demonstration By Lori Andrews

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Recommended Watercolor Instruction Books 

Paint Watercolors That Dance with Light

Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

Watercolor for the Serious Beginner: Basic Lessons in Becoming a Good Painter

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Watercolor

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 11/23/2009) Buy Now

Watercolor Painting Tip 

What Should I Paint?

Many painters often struggle with this question. If you find yourself feeling uninspired or confused about what to paint, simply remember what subject in life that you feel an emotional or deep connection with. When you have this type of connection to a subject, your painting will reflect that passion and you will not lose interest.

You can develop great ideas for subjects in a variety of different ways. If you are a lover of the outdoors and nature, simply taking a trip with a camera can do wonders. If you love animals, you could take a trip to the zoo and snap off some shots or head to an aquarium and do the same. Take your photos back to your studio and find the most desirable subject for your painting.

I wish you the best of luck with your watercolor painting. If you become frustrated or discouraged remember that every artist has been there. The key is to never give up.

Tips For Painting Landscapes In Watercolor 

One of the biggest challenges beginners face with any type of art, is the ability to really connect with the creativity that is inside of them. It's difficult in the beginning to just let go and paint from your heart and soul. Your mind is being filled with techniques and systems for approaching painting, that may inhibit your creativity. Don't get me wrong, painting techniques are essential to learning, but there should be a point where you begin to draw from your own creative imagination.

When painting a subject, whether it be a person, landscape, wildlife, etc., it is important that you first carefully study and observe your subject. You need to get intimate and personal with the subject you are painting. If you want to learn how to paint great landscapes, then you should spend time in and around the area that inspires you to paint. Only then can you really get a sense of what it is you are seeing, and how to re-create that scene on paper.

Before you even touch the paint though, head down to your location with only paper and pencils. One of the best ways to become closer to the scene you are painting, is to spend time there doing sketches. This will really force you to observe what you see and burn the image and the environment into your senses. You will be amazed at how much you learn about a scene by simply doing a few drawings.

Painting on location can be rather challenging, especially when just starting out. As the day progresses and the sun changes location in the sky, the scene you are painting can change dramatically. There are certain techniques in watercolor that require the paper to be at certain angles, or the paper needs to be saturated to a certain degree, etc. To get everything right within such a short time span is difficult. If you feel you will not be able to capture the scene with paint, bring a camera with you. In the beginning you should probably choose compositions that are not overly detailed or complex. Once you find a composition that you like, take a bunch of pictures at different distances and angles. When you get back to your studio you will now have some great reference photos as well as the drawings you created.

Another great way to immerse yourself in watercolor landscape painting is to find artists who share the same interest. Search online for any groups or websites for landscape painters in your area. Start chatting and get to know everyone. Many of the artists in these groups love to connect with other artists and plan painting trips. This is a great way to gain experience.

When painting on location you don't need to bring an entire studio worth of supplies. Some artists make the mistake of bringing far too many supplies with them, which becomes more of a nuisance than anything else. Only bring the colors and supplies that you really need to work on a particular scene.

Remember, things change very quickly outdoors. Lighting conditions and weather can change in a matter of minutes. You must be able to paint quickly without being too sloppy. Block in all of your large areas first then go back and start adding your details. Many landscape artists usually block in the sky area first. The sky is generally paler than the rest of the painting, which enables you to work from light to dark. The sky area also influences the way you paint the rest of the objects in your painting.

When painting objects in the foreground that require a lot of detail, do not try and paint every single leaf or blade of grass that you see. This will create too much detail and will draw focus away from the center of interest in your painting. It also consumes too much of your valuable time. Besides, a painting is not meant to be an exact replica of what you see, rather your unique impression of the scene. If you want exact details, you are better off taking a photograph.

Don't be afraid to use your imagination. If you are painting a scene and feel that you should add a few trees here, or a bush there, or a bird on a branch, then by all means go for it.

If you find one particular location appealing, and have already painted there once before, don't hesitate to go back and paint it again, only this time go out on a cloudy day instead. You will be surprised how different a scene can look when the weather changes.

Great Books on Painting Landscapes in Watercolor 

Watercolor Made Easy: 30-Minute Landscapes: Quick and easy lessons for keeping your paintings loose and fresh by Paul Talbot-Greaves

Watercolor Made Easy: 30-Minute Landscapes: Quick and easy lessons for keeping your paintings loose and fresh by Paul Talbot-Greaves

Discover the benefits of completing a watercolor p more...0 points

The Watercolor Landscape Techniques of 23 International Artists by International Artists

The Watercolor Landscape Techniques of 23 International Artists by International Artists

Watercolor Landscape Techniques combines the most more...0 points

Simplified Watercolor Landscapes (Leisure Arts #22659) by Tom Jones, Leisure Arts

Simplified Watercolor Landscapes (Leisure Arts #22659) by Tom Jones, Leisure Arts

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Easy Landscapes: Easy Landcapes (Watercolor for the Fun of It) by Jack Reid

Easy Landscapes: Easy Landcapes (Watercolor for the Fun of It) by Jack Reid

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The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Landscapes by Gordon Mackenzie

The Watercolorist's Essential Notebook - Landscapes by Gordon Mackenzie

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Painting Landscapes With Watercolor by Vincenc Ballestar, David Sanmiguel

Painting Landscapes With Watercolor by Vincenc Ballestar, David Sanmiguel

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Painting Mood and Atmosphere (Watercolour Tips and Techniques) by Barry Herniman

Painting Mood and Atmosphere (Watercolour Tips and Techniques) by Barry Herniman

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The Encyclopedia of Watercolor Landscapes: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques by Hazel Soan

The Encyclopedia of Watercolor Landscapes: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques by Hazel Soan

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Painting Skies and Landscapes by William E Wheeler

Painting Skies and Landscapes by William E Wheeler

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Brush With Watercolour: Painting Landscapes the Easy Way by Terry Harrison

Brush With Watercolour: Painting Landscapes the Easy Way by Terry Harrison

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Watercolor Landscapes Step by Step by Wendon Blake

Watercolor Landscapes Step by Step by Wendon Blake

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Watercolour Landscapes (Ready to Paint) by Terry Harrison

Watercolour Landscapes (Ready to Paint) by Terry Harrison

Step-by-step photographs and clear explanations sh more...0 points

Step by Step Watercolour Painting Tutorial 

Fluffy Young Duckling

In this step by step watercolor painting demonstration, artist Dawn McLeod Heim shares her techniques for painting an adorable fluffy duckling. I know you will enjoy and learn a great deal from this tutorial.

Please follow this link to learn more about Dawn and to view her step by step watercolour tutorial

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