Simple watercolour subjects for beginners: what each one teaches
Six manageable subjects, each chosen to make one useful watercolour decision easier to see and practise.
Getting Started
Technique
Lost and found edges in watercolour: deciding where an edge should disappear
Whether an edge reads as lost or found depends as much on the neighbouring shapes as on how the boundary was painted. Choose the few edges to state, let others merge and plan each contour as a sequence.
Technique
Negative painting in watercolour: building shapes around the subject
A layer-by-layer method for defining a subject through the shapes around it, with varied edges, simplified overlaps and a clear point to stop.
Getting Started
Should you sketch before watercolour painting? A decision guide
Getting Started · Guide For most subjects, a few light pencil lines help, mainly for placement, proportion and reserved white
Getting Started
Watercolour colour mixing for beginners: a clear place to start
Getting Started · Guide Two paints you already own are enough to see how colour mixing works. Make three mixtures
Getting Started
How to keep whites in watercolour without using white paint
Getting Started · Guide In transparent watercolour, the clearest white usually comes from paper left unpainted. Mark the largest light
Getting Started
How to fix watercolour mistakes without overworking the paper
Getting Started · Guide The safest correction begins with a pause. Look at whether the paint is wet, damp or
Getting Started
Watercolour supplies for beginners: what each one is for
Getting Started · Guide You can begin with a surprisingly ordinary setup: a few colours, paper that suits them, one
Getting Started
How long to wait between watercolour layers
Getting Started · Guide There is no single drying time between watercolour layers. A small, pale shape on light paper
Getting Started
How much water to use in watercolour: palette, brush and paper
Getting Started · Guide There is no ratio of water to paint that holds for every palette, brush and sheet