Watercolor Painting: Practice 1

RUNNING WATER

Before you start painting it is always good to make preparations. Do some drawings and practice the difficult pieces; make tonal studies of the colors you are going to use - this means different tones of just one color. You also need to study your subject. Visualize it well. If you are going to paint from a picture, make sure to study the details well and observe the colors you see.

It is imperative to execute your painting with confidence. Starting a project can be daunting for beginners..Doubts that you can do it can wither your confidence. Do not allow this to happen. Always be in a relaxed mood.

Start with sketching your subject as they define shapes for you. We know for a fact that there are different variety types of water, each with its unique characteristics. Rivers, lakes, falls, puddles and oceans have their own attitude. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of their movements.

One of the basic painting techniques is to start with the darkest areas and use a darker shade than the rest of your depths. It may look uninteresting at first but as you progress you would be able to blend the different depths that would add realism to your painting.

When you begin painting water, you would also want to start with the darkest areas. Continue to paint with different depths, gradually move towards the lighter shade as you work your way into the shallow areas. In this illustration, a some sort of turbulence needs to be expressed because of the different levels of the water bed.

Title: Mambukal

Of course, the result of your painting would greatly depend on the materials you use. If your painting turns out to be not as good as you expect it would be, do not tear it! Treat it with respect. The majority have to learn by trial and error.

A little imagination can have a great deal of fun and pleasure as you learn to paint with watercolor.