Watercolor painting is a beautiful and versatile art form that uses water-soluble

paints to create delicate and translucent artwork. The colors are applied in layers,
often resulting in a soft, fluid effect that allows for expressive blending and texture.
Basic Watercolor Supplies You Need:
1. Watercolor Paints:
o Watercolor paints come in tubes or pans. Tubes are more
concentrated, while pans are convenient and often less expensive.
o There are many brands, but some popular ones for beginners include
Winsor & Newton, Cotman, and Van Gogh.
2. Watercolor Brushes:
o Watercolor brushes are typically soft and made with synthetic or
natural bristles. A few essential brush types to have are:
 Round brushes: These are great for details and washes.
 Flat brushes: These are good for larger washes or creating
sharp lines.
 Detail brushes: Small, pointed brushes for intricate details.
3. Watercolor Paper:
o Watercolor paper is designed to handle water without warping. It’s
often 100% cotton, which allows for better absorption and texture.
o The weight of the paper is important, with 190-300 gsm (grams per
square meter) being ideal. Heavier papers, like 300 gsm, require less
stretching and absorb more water.
4. Water Container:
o A container to hold water, which you’ll use to rinse your brushes and to
dilute your paints.
5. Palette:
o A mixing palette is used to mix your watercolor paints. Some people
use ceramic or plastic palettes with wells.
6. Paper Towel or Sponge:
o To blot excess water or clean your brushes.

7. Masking Fluid (Optional):

o Used to protect areas of the paper from paint. It’s ideal for preserving
white highlights or creating sharp edges.
How to Paint with Watercolors: A Beginner’s Guide
Step 1: Set Up Your Workspace
 Choose your paper: Lay out your watercolor paper on a flat surface. You
can tape it down with masking tape to keep the edges clean and prevent
warping.
 Prepare your paints: If you're using a palette, squeeze out a small amount
of each color you'll need. If using tube paints, you can activate the colors by
adding a bit of water.
 Get your brushes and water ready: Fill your container with clean water
and keep a paper towel or sponge nearby for blotting your brush.
Step 2: Understand Water-to-Paint Ratios
 More water, lighter color: The more water you use, the more translucent
the color will be.
 Less water, darker color: Using less water will give you more vibrant,
opaque color.
Step 3: Experiment with Techniques
Watercolor painting has a few key techniques that make it unique. Here are some of
the most common ones:
1. Wet-on-Wet: This technique involves wetting the paper with clean water
before applying the paint. It allows the color to spread out and blend on the
paper, creating soft, blurred edges.
o How to do it: Wet the area of your paper with clean water using a large
brush, then apply your watercolor paint. The paint will flow and blend
into the wet area, creating smooth gradients.
2. Wet-on-Dry: This technique involves applying wet paint directly onto dry
paper. This gives you more control over the paint and creates sharper edges.
o How to do it: Dip your brush in paint (without too much water), then
apply it to dry paper. This will create defined lines and less blending.
3. Dry Brush: This technique involves using a brush with very little water to
create texture and rough strokes. It's great for adding details and textures
like grass, hair, or rough surfaces.
o How to do it: Load your brush with paint, but blot off most of the water.
Apply the paint with light, quick strokes to give it a dry, scratchy effect.
4. Gradient/Glazing: This technique involves layering multiple transparent
washes of paint to build up depth and richness.
 o How to do it: Apply a thin wash of paint, let it dry, and then apply
another layer on top. Each layer adds a new depth of color and creates
a glowing effect.
5. Salt Texture: This is a fun technique where you sprinkle salt onto wet paint
to create interesting textures and patterns. The salt absorbs the water and
leaves behind a unique effect.
o How to do it: While your watercolor wash is still wet, sprinkle a small
amount of salt over it. Watch as the salt absorbs the water and creates
a speckled texture.
6. Masking Fluid (for details): You can use masking fluid to block off areas of
the paper that you want to remain white (like highlights or intricate designs).
o How to do it: Apply masking fluid to areas you want to protect, and
then paint over it with watercolors. Once your painting is dry, carefully
peel away the masking fluid to reveal the white paper underneath.
Step 4: Start Painting
1. Light to Dark: Start with lighter, more diluted washes and work your way to
darker colors. This gives your painting a more natural progression and helps
you control the tone and depth.
2. Layering: Watercolors often require multiple layers. Let the first layer dry
before adding the next to avoid muddying the colors. This allows each layer
to stay transparent and vibrant.
3. Experiment with Mixing Colors: Mix colors directly on the palette or on
the paper to create new hues. Watercolor painting is about exploration, so
don't be afraid to try combining different colors.
Step 5: Add Details and Finishing Touches
 Once your main washes are dry, you can go back in and add smaller details
with a finer brush.
 You can create textures, lines, or small accents with darker shades of paint or
use a white gel pen for highlights.
Step 6: Let It Dry
 Allow your painting to dry fully before framing or displaying it. Make sure to
let it air dry to preserve the integrity of the colors.

Watercolor Tips for Beginners:

1. Work in Layers: Start with light washes and build up your colors. Let each
layer dry before adding more paint.
 2. Use Plenty of Water: Don’t be afraid to use water to dilute the paint. This
gives watercolor its soft, fluid effect.
3. Be Patient: Watercolor takes time to master. Don’t be discouraged by
mistakes—embrace them as part of the creative process.
4. Experiment: Try different techniques, colors, and textures. Watercolor is
very forgiving, and experimentation is key to learning.
5. Keep Your Brushes Clean: Make sure to rinse your brushes thoroughly to
avoid mixing unwanted colors.
6. Use Good Paper: Watercolor paper is thicker and more absorbent than
regular paper, which is essential for the effects you want to achieve.

Watercolor Project Ideas for Beginners:

1. Simple Florals: Start with easy floral designs like daisies or tulips. They're
simple to paint and great for practicing color mixing.
2. Landscapes: Practice painting landscapes like sunsets, mountains, or
beaches. These often rely on blending techniques and gradients.
3. Abstract Art: Explore abstract painting by experimenting with colors and
wet-on-wet techniques. It’s a relaxing way to play with watercolors without
focusing on detail.
4. Still Life: Try painting simple objects like fruit, cups, or flowers. It helps you
practice proportions, light, and shadow.
5. Animals or Pets: Try painting a simple animal silhouette or a pet portrait.
Watercolors can capture the softness and texture of fur or feathers
beautifully.