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Watercolor paint has 3 things:
* Color (pigment)
* Something to make it stick (usually gum arabic)
* Other stuff for texture.
It becomes clear when you add water, letting light through and giving it that soft glow.
**Tools You'll Need:**
* **Paint:**
* *Pans/Cakes:* Dry paint you wet to use.
* *Tubes:* Soft, strong paint you squeeze out.
* *Liquid Watercolor:* Ready-to-go, often super bright.
* **Brushes:**
* Real or fake hair.
* *Round:* Good all-around.
* *Flat:* For big areas and sharp lines.
* *Mop:* For soft, wide washes.
* *Detail/Liner:* For tiny details.
* Look for soft brushes that hold a lot of water and bounce back to shape.
* **Paper:**
* Cotton is more absorbent and lasts longer than regular paper.
* *Hot Pressed:* Super smooth, good for details.
* *Cold Pressed:* A bit rough, most people use this.
* *Rough:* Very bumpy, makes cool effects.
* Thick paper (140 lb / 300 gsm or more) won't bend when wet.
* **Other Stuff:**
* Palette (ceramic, plastic, or metal)
* Two water bowls (one for rinsing, one for clean water)
* Tissues or paper towels
* Masking stuff to keep areas white.
* Pencil and eraser for sketching.
**Basics**
* **Transparency:**
Watercolor works in layers. The paper is your white, not the paint.
* **Water:**
More water = lighter color. Less water = darker color. Getting the right mix is key!
* **Timing:**
* *Wet-on-wet:* Paint on wet paper for soft edges.
* *Wet-on-dry:* Paint on dry paper for sharp lines.
Timing changes how colors mix and look.
**Cool Tricks**
* *Flat Wash:* One color, even all over.
* *Graded Wash:* Color fades from dark to light.
* *Variegated Wash:* Two+ colors mixing.
* *Dry Brush:* Barely any water, makes a scratchy look.
* *Lifting:* Use a tissue to remove color.
* *Glazing:* Adding clear layers over dry paint.
* *Splattering:* Flicking paint for texture.
* *Salt Texture:* Sprinkle salt for cool crystal shapes.
* *Masking:* Use masking fluid to keep areas white.
* *Backruns/Blooms:* When wet paint goes into a semi-dry spot (can be on purpose or a mistake).
**Color Stuff**
* *Main Colors:* Red, yellow, blue.
* *Mix Main Colors:* Orange, green, purple.
* *Opposites:* Colors across from each other on the color wheel. Mix them to dull a color.
* *Mixing Tip:* Mix on the palette or right on the paper!
* Use layers to make dark spots, not white paint.
**How to Paint**
* Plan it out and lightly sketch.
* Mask the white areas (if you need to).
* Start with light colors and backgrounds.
* Add dark stuff.
* Let each layer dry.
* Add details and bright spots (remove paint or use a bit of opaque pigment).
**Keeping Things Nice**
* Clean brushes after using them.
* Keep paints and palettes dry.
* Stretch paper before painting big washes.
* Frame your art away from sunlight so it doesn't fade.
**Get Better**
Try these:
* Paint strips that change from dark to light to get the hang of water.
* Mix color charts to see how pigments act.
* Paint simple stuff like fruit or landscapes to work on layers and light.
**Thoughts about Watercolor**
Watercolor likes patience. It's a bit wild – you work *with* the water. Like when you do something unloving. Roll with it, those happy accidents adds to the charm.
* Color (pigment)
* Something to make it stick (usually gum arabic)
* Other stuff for texture.
It becomes clear when you add water, letting light through and giving it that soft glow.
**Tools You'll Need:**
* **Paint:**
* *Pans/Cakes:* Dry paint you wet to use.
* *Tubes:* Soft, strong paint you squeeze out.
* *Liquid Watercolor:* Ready-to-go, often super bright.
* **Brushes:**
* Real or fake hair.
* *Round:* Good all-around.
* *Flat:* For big areas and sharp lines.
* *Mop:* For soft, wide washes.
* *Detail/Liner:* For tiny details.
* Look for soft brushes that hold a lot of water and bounce back to shape.
* **Paper:**
* Cotton is more absorbent and lasts longer than regular paper.
* *Hot Pressed:* Super smooth, good for details.
* *Cold Pressed:* A bit rough, most people use this.
* *Rough:* Very bumpy, makes cool effects.
* Thick paper (140 lb / 300 gsm or more) won't bend when wet.
* **Other Stuff:**
* Palette (ceramic, plastic, or metal)
* Two water bowls (one for rinsing, one for clean water)
* Tissues or paper towels
* Masking stuff to keep areas white.
* Pencil and eraser for sketching.
**Basics**
* **Transparency:**
Watercolor works in layers. The paper is your white, not the paint.
* **Water:**
More water = lighter color. Less water = darker color. Getting the right mix is key!
* **Timing:**
* *Wet-on-wet:* Paint on wet paper for soft edges.
* *Wet-on-dry:* Paint on dry paper for sharp lines.
Timing changes how colors mix and look.
**Cool Tricks**
* *Flat Wash:* One color, even all over.
* *Graded Wash:* Color fades from dark to light.
* *Variegated Wash:* Two+ colors mixing.
* *Dry Brush:* Barely any water, makes a scratchy look.
* *Lifting:* Use a tissue to remove color.
* *Glazing:* Adding clear layers over dry paint.
* *Splattering:* Flicking paint for texture.
* *Salt Texture:* Sprinkle salt for cool crystal shapes.
* *Masking:* Use masking fluid to keep areas white.
* *Backruns/Blooms:* When wet paint goes into a semi-dry spot (can be on purpose or a mistake).
**Color Stuff**
* *Main Colors:* Red, yellow, blue.
* *Mix Main Colors:* Orange, green, purple.
* *Opposites:* Colors across from each other on the color wheel. Mix them to dull a color.
* *Mixing Tip:* Mix on the palette or right on the paper!
* Use layers to make dark spots, not white paint.
**How to Paint**
* Plan it out and lightly sketch.
* Mask the white areas (if you need to).
* Start with light colors and backgrounds.
* Add dark stuff.
* Let each layer dry.
* Add details and bright spots (remove paint or use a bit of opaque pigment).
**Keeping Things Nice**
* Clean brushes after using them.
* Keep paints and palettes dry.
* Stretch paper before painting big washes.
* Frame your art away from sunlight so it doesn't fade.
**Get Better**
Try these:
* Paint strips that change from dark to light to get the hang of water.
* Mix color charts to see how pigments act.
* Paint simple stuff like fruit or landscapes to work on layers and light.
**Thoughts about Watercolor**
Watercolor likes patience. It's a bit wild – you work *with* the water. Like when you do something unloving. Roll with it, those happy accidents adds to the charm.