Watercolor Illustration: Techniques and Tips

Watercolor Illustration: Techniques and Tips

As an artist, watercolor painting is a valuable skill to have. The right watercolor painting techniques result in some incredibly realistic pieces, from stunning botanical watercolor illustrations to Bob-Ross-inspired landscapes. Plus, watercolor paint is relatively easy to work with. Its colors are vibrant, it dries relatively quickly and it is versatile enough to be used in a wide range of mixed media projects.

Of course, knowing how to paint with watercolor isn’t something that happens overnight. Some of the world’s most famous watercolor artists have been refining their advanced watercolor techniques (and even inventing some of their own) for years.

Still, if you’re looking to get started with watercolor painting, this watercolor painting guide offers  practical watercolor techniques for beginners along with some best practices for choosing supplies.

Essential Tools for Watercolor Illustration

Before you can begin practicing your watercolor techniques, it’s essential to start with the best watercolor supplies. From paints and brushes to paper and other accessories, there are a few things you’ll want to have on hand.

Watercolor Paints

First, keep in mind that not all watercolor paints are of equal quality — but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to break the bank to get the quality you’re seeking. As you shop for watercolor paint, look for brands that are labeled as “professional.” These paints should be made with a high pigment concentration and lightfastness (which refers to how readily the color will fade when exposed to the sun). Taking the time to read reviews of paint brands before you choose one can help inform your purchase.

Brushes

In addition to the right paint, you’ll need a variety of quality brushes to choose from as you work. This should include brushes of different sizes and shapes as well as a range of brush points to achieve various levels of detail in your painting.

Watercolor brushes are usually made from either natural hair, synthetic hair or mixed fibers. Natural hair brushes are ideal for watercolor because they can hold a lot of water, but they also tend to be more expensive than synthetic options. Consider trying out different watercolor brush types to see what will work best for you in the long term.

Paper for Watercolor

Not all paper works well for watercolor, which is mostly due to the fact that watercolor paints are very wet. Cheaper and lighter papers will not be able to absorb watercolor paint properly; instead, the paint will tend to pool on top of the paper and may run or drip.

As you search for the best paper for watercolor painting, look specifically for paper that is made of cotton or wood pulp. Paper also comes in a variety of weights, with heavier paper able to absorb more moisture. Different weights may be better for different projects, so it’s good to have some options on hand.

Other Tools and Accessories

One of the biggest perks about working with watercolor is that you don’t need a great deal of expensive supplies or accessories to get started. Aside from your paint, paper and brushes, some other tools to consider purchasing include:

  • A quality paint palette (or several).
  • Some containers for holding water.
  • Sponges (for experimenting with paint application).
  • Masking tape (for creating sharp lines).

Basic Watercolor Techniques

Explore some basic watercolor techniques below, and consider checking out watercolor painting tutorials for each of these on a platform like YouTube to see them in action.

Wet-on-Wet Technique

The wet-on-wet watercolor technique, which was invented by Bill Alexander and made famous by Bob Ross, involves dampening the entire paper before applying paint. In watercolor painting specifically, this technique creates very soft edges and smooth gradients that can give paintings a highly realistic look.

Wet-on-Dry Technique

This watercolor technique is used when paint is applied directly to a dry piece of paper or canvas. Typically, this technique is best in watercolor when the artist wants to achieve a greater sense of precision and control. It’s also ideal for layering and achieving the most vibrant colors.

Glazing and Layering

Some artists will use glazing techniques, which involve applying extremely thin layers of paint over dried paint in order to create more dimension and depth. This technique takes a lot of practice to perfect — and because it requires each individual layer to be completely dry before moving onto the next glaze, it also takes some time and patience.

Lifting and Blotting

Lifting and blotting are useful techniques not just for correcting mistakes (like using too much water) but also for refining your work and even lightening areas of your painting. These techniques are generally carried out using a dry brush, paper towel, sponge or rag to absorb excess moisture and paint.

Advanced Techniques for Watercolor Illustration

As you become more proficient in basic watercolor techniques, you may want to explore more advanced techniques to give your paintings greater depth and interest.

Negative Painting

Negative painting involves painting around the subject of a painting, rather than painting the subject itself. This technique, when executed properly, can empower artists to use negative space more effectively while creating more defined and controlled shapes.

Wet-in-Wet Detail Work

Not to be confused with wet-on-wet painting, wet-in-wet is a more advanced painting technique that involves mixing color with water directly on the paper. There are numerous ways to use this technique, but wet-in-wet usually results in softer edges while allowing colors to blend seamlessly into each other.

Creating Texture With Salt and Alcohol

Some artists will also experiment with salt and alcohol in their watercolor paintings. For example, sprinkling even a small amount of salt on watercolor paint while it’s still wet can create a unique mottled look as the salt absorbs moisture from the paint. Meanwhile, adding rubbing alcohol to watercolor sparks a chemical reaction that can create a bubbling effect. Experimenting with the use of salt and alcohol in watercolor painting can help you refine your techniques and take your paintings to the next level, although it does take practice.

Tips for Successful Watercolor Illustration

As you experiment with different watercolor washes and other techniques, there are a few tips and best practices to keep in mind to create remarkable watercolor illustrations and refine your expertise.

Planning Your Composition

Before you put your brush to the paper, it’s wise to plan your painting’s composition. This includes thinking about such factors as your focal point, the shapes you’ll be using, and the balance between negative and positive space. Many watercolor painters will even use a pencil to roughly sketch out key components of the painting before they begin.

Comprehending Water Control

Another area of watercolor painting that requires patience and practice is learning water control. Knowing the right paint-to-water ratio to use to achieve your desired results can be challenging when you’re first starting out, so you’ll want to practice water control techniques such as wiping off excess water and using the right water temperature to avoid puddles and achieve your desired look.

Understanding Color Theory

A solid foundation in color theory is also critical to creating the best watercolor paintings, so don’t overlook this. Knowing how colors work together, how they can elicit emotion and how they can affect the overall perception of an art piece are all essential as you develop your watercolor skills.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

In addition to following some best practices in watercolor painting, there are also a few common mistakes that beginning painters make when working with watercolor.

Overworking the Painting

One of the most common errors painters make when they first start working with watercolor is overworking their paintings, which means the artist has repeatedly reworked and altered an area (or multiple areas) of a painting to the point that it looks muddy or washed out. This mistake can be avoided with a little foresight and experience; the more you continue to work with watercolor, the easier it will be for you to decide when to stop working a color.

Inconsistent Water Control

When your water control is lacking, you can end up with puddles of water and paint that could ruin your painting. Proper water control takes time and practice, but a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to improving your water control include:

  • Always erring on the side of using less water.
  • Tilting your paper to check for pooling and puddles.
  • Blotting excess moisture with a paper towel or dry brush.
  • Using a heavier paper that will absorb more water.

Rushing the Drying Process

Sometimes, artists will be so eager to complete a painting or move onto the next step that they try to rush the drying process. However, it’s important that the entire surface of the painting is dry before adding any new layers or dimension to the work. If the paint isn’t completely dry, adding more paint can cause the existing layers to smudge and bleed into each other.

Learn More Watercolor Illustration Techniques in an Art Degree Program

Creating magic with watercolor is a skill developed over time with plenty of practice, persistence, and experimentation with both basic and advanced watercolor techniques. By exploring these techniques and being careful to avoid some common mistakes for beginner artists, you can begin producing eye-catching works of art in due time.

Looking to develop your artistic talents in a setting that supports your creativity and growth? Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design offers a number of degree programs to suit your goals, including our popular Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration that is available both online and on campus. In this program, students develop key illustration, technical, conceptual and business skills while building a portfolio they can be proud of. Get in touch to learn more about any of our programs at RMCAD, or get started with your online application for admission today.

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