Stepping into the world of watercolour: Words of advice and ways to get started

Farheen Agoro, Contributor | 

With the end of the year wrapping up, it’s nice to look for ways to relax. Art can offer more than just an avenue of creative expression—it also grants “the opportunity for self-connection and self-awareness” and grounds us in our busy lives.

Painting is one of the most popular mediums among artists. As a painter myself, I find that painting offers a diverse range of expression.

Personally, watercolour is one of the most enjoyable types of paint. It’s easy to set up with its portable palette of colours and paintbrushes. In addition to this, watercolour is also the cheapest option for painting. 

As rewarding and beautiful as painting is, it can be equally as overwhelming to approach. 

So, where do you start?

Watercolour, like most other paint brands, has a quality system called an “art grade.” The grade can range from student to professional quality, which indicates the target audience, the quality, and the budget of the paint. 

For beginners, I recommend watercolour brands like Prang and Crayola, both of which have approachable sets that are washable and reasonably priced. 

Regardless of what watercolour brand you choose, I suggest looking for watercolour sets that offer around twenty colours or fewer in the beginning. Watercolour sets can have very expansive palette options, so starting small can help you understand what colours you like to use. 

While most watercolour sets come with brushes, depending on the set, the lifespan of these included brushes may not be very long. You may find it worthwhile to use different types of brushes in your painting. 

The recommended types of brushes are flat, round, and angled. The material of the brush depends on your budget. Brushes made of natural hair, such as sable, can hold more water than synthetic or faux hair brushes, but they are also more pricy. 

Now, with watercolour palettes and brushes taken care of, it’s time to locate a good space to do the painting. Aim for a clear space with a table that gives you enough space for your painting station yet still gives you room to move around.

While it isn’t required, having some paper or cloth towels can come in handy when painting. Brushes will absorb a lot of water initially, and it can even be too much for the paper. Dabbing the paintbrush when dipping it in water before applying it to the paper makes it easier to maintain.

For colour theory, begin by swatching colours on the paper. To “swatch” means to apply a sample of each colour on the paper by painting a small square of each colour and labelling as you go. 

Swatching is a common practice when testing out paint colours in general. Sometimes, a colour may look different than how it appears on the palette, so swatching will give you an idea of what the colour shows up as.

Even professional artists will use this method when they are using a brand-new watercolour palette. 

How do I know what to do? 

The internet offers many sources of water painting tutorials, from free YouTube videos to paid courses. 

The first thing I recommend is to look for a good teacher—they won’t just show you how to paint, but they will explain as they go. They instruct their audience on what to see, observe, and apply. 

Should you continue in your watercolour pursuit, you will find specific canvas and paper that bring out the quality of your painting.  The nature of watercolour relies on using specific paper for painting. 

Printer paper often has issues with clots, tearing, and warping when applying water. While watercolour paper is an option, you can also look for general sketchbooks that support watercolour or wet media. 

It’s easy to critique ourselves along the way, and the path to improvement can be a long one. 

Always make sure that when studying or learning an aspect of watercolour, you give yourself opportunities to paint your way. If you approach watercolour painting because something inspired you, like a character illustration or background, then listen to your heart and pursue it. 

Why endlessly practice painting circles when you can try painting the moon instead?