Painting with watercolors is back in fashion. Why is it impossible to make a copy of a watercolor drawing and what are the secrets of watercolor paints? Every year in different countries Watercolor painting festivals are held around the world. The works that won prizes amaze first of all with their realism. Competition entries are not at all like painting with watercolors - rather, you see photographs with bright and at the same time natural colors, clear contours, and an interesting plot.
Painting with watercolors did not immediately gain popularity. Its heyday was at the end of the 19th century. Watercolor came into fashion when the worldview changed: people began to evaluate themselves, the area in which they live, and the beauty of nature differently. Watercolor became popular when people became more aware of the fragility of Beauty and their existence.
Perhaps it is precisely this – the awareness of the fragility of the world – that has caused the current renaissance of watercolors?
Painting with watercolors - no room for error
They say that it is impossible to make an exact copy of a watercolor drawing, because watercolor is style, mood, light, harmony of nature and the artist’s intention, that is, something that cannot be repeated. main feature painting with watercolors - plastic color transitions, atmospheric effects, optical illusions that permeate the image.
In a watercolor painting, the colors imperceptibly move and penetrate each other. Often a watercolor canvas is blurred spots of color: the more blurred the spot, the more secrets there are in the painting, the better the viewer’s imagination works - it penetrates through the layer of paint into the artist’s plan.
Watercolor is a complex material that in many cases does not tolerate correction. The desire to correct it often leads to blurred, incomprehensible colors and dirt. Therefore, a master of watercolor painting is a professional with a capital P, capable of painting a masterpiece in a limited number of hours, applying strokes to paper only once.
Brief description of the basic techniques for working with watercolors
- Based on the moisture content of the paper, a distinction is made between “wet” watercolor and “dry” watercolor. In the first method, watercolor paints are applied to a damp sheet - this technique allows you to achieve lightness, transparency, and “blurriness” of the image. There are special techniques to keep the sheet wet while working. In the second case, paints are applied to a dry sheet - this method allows you to get clear contours, pure and rich colors. Practiced and combined style work. Sometimes a master of watercolor painting has to work very quickly: a technique when the work is painted quickly, in one go, is called a la prima. In this case, the smear is applied only once.
- Based on the number of layers, a distinction is made between single-layer and multi-layer watercolors (or glaze). The latter is used when they want to get visible boundaries of strokes, to achieve some texture from the drawing. Sloppy strokes of multilayer painting with watercolors at first glance contribute to the creation of bright, realistic, three-dimensional paintings.
Sometimes watercolor paints are used as aid in other types of painting, or, on the contrary, they modify watercolor drawings with other art material. Most often watercolor is used in combination with oil paints, tempera, pastel.
Professional watercolor paints
We all know what children's watercolors are. They are usually sold in round cuvettes so that the child can mix water and pigment directly into them to his heart's content. Professional paints are produced in rectangular ditches or tubes - this makes it convenient to control the consumption of material.
It is known that White color not used in watercolors - the background of the paper acts as white color in painting with watercolors: transparent paints lie harmoniously on White list and become glowing. As for the brushes, then acrylic paints they love “synthetics”, but watercolor painters are more inclined to use natural brushes. Column and squirrel brushes are good for watercolor paintings.
“Nevskaya Palitra” is the best choice for painting with watercolors
The sets of professional watercolor paints “Leningrad” (now “St. Petersburg”) and “White Nights” from the ZKH “Nevskaya Palitra” deserved the most compliments from artists in Korolev. Advantages of these sets:
- natural, pure, bright, transparent colors;
- quality pigments;
- color fastness after drying;
- efficiency.
Watercolor paints "Sonnet" belong to budget option and are more suitable for beginning artists. Painting with watercolors is quite an expensive pleasure, but a professional set will last an artist for many years. Sets of paints from reputable manufacturers are complemented by a convenient plastic palette and brush; can be produced in wooden gift cases. You can also buy watercolor paints individually.
What subjects does watercolor like?
Watercolor techniques are suitable for any subject. Vrubel masterfully painted portraits and plot sketches in watercolors. But most of all (mutually) watercolor is in love with the landscape. Painting with watercolors is a fragile young autumn, when chrysanthemums and asters are blooming, the leaves are just beginning to turn yellow, nature is alive, the colors are bright, but you can already feel some kind of fragility, the inevitability of cold and rain.
Watercolor is a mood, it is illusions and motives, it is penetration, the fragility of our feelings, the visual embodiment of our dreams. This is modern watercolor.
Date of publication: 12/23/2016
There is something special about the watercolor technique - fragile charm, lightness and weightlessness, the ability to surprisingly accurately convey the swiftness and fleetingness of the moment. Modern painters love watercolors. This technique is ideal for a dynamic, rapidly changing world before our eyes. In this review, we offer you a selection of the most famous watercolor artists who have achieved great heights in the art of watercolor and have gained worldwide popularity.
The most famous Australian artist working in watercolors. There is a museum in Zagreb named after him. The fact is that the artist was born in Croatia (in 1952), but at the age of 18 he emigrated to Australia with his family.
He studied industrial design at the University of Melbourne and later received his first awards and worldwide recognition. Croats are very proud of their famous countryman. In many art stores in Europe you can find brushes marked with his name for sale.
The secret of the artist’s success, by his own admission, is that he never makes paintings for sale, but creates exclusively for his own pleasure. D. Zbukvich's works can be seen in leading galleries around the world (in the USA, Great Britain, Australia, China).
His trademark is “Z” (the first letter of his last name). He teaches his students freedom, and compares watercolors to a wild, unbridled horse that can never truly be tamed. He confesses his love for her as the most beloved woman, and this love has lasted for 40 years.
The artist does not like pure black, saying that black is not a color, but its absence. Favorite topic – seascape and city views. One of the most unusual watercolors that the master created was painted with just one paint – and this paint is instant coffee.
This artist just loves to write beautiful women and small children surrounded sunlight. His paintings are sensual, sometimes overtly sexual, full of harmony and very realistic.
Sometimes they resemble skillful photographs. He loves to paint women against the backdrop of water landscapes; the artist makes the water element especially realistic.
Steve Hanks was born in 1949 in California and fell in love with the ocean since childhood, because he spent quite a lot of time on its coast. Graduated with honors from the San Francisco Art Academy.
Mine own style The artist calls it “emotional realism.” One of the 10 most famous American artists. He says to himself that he paints people, but not portraits.
He loves to paint sunlight, which is one of the main characters in his watercolors. At first the artist tried to work with different techniques– oil, acrylic. But later he was forced to switch to working only with watercolors, as he was allergic to paints.
Eventually, he became so skilled at watercolor painting that he made the technique very similar to oil painting.
Born in 1953 in Ohio. She studied painting in Philadelphia at an art school. This artist's specialty is portraits.
She paints stunning watercolor portraits of the most... different people- poor people, workers, children, old women and old men, beautiful African-American girls in flowering, sun-drenched meadows.
A whole gallery of faces of modern America. Very bright, rich and sunny watercolors, full deep meaning. They depict people in the most ordinary situations, engaged in everyday activities.
The artist considers the ability to accurately convey emotions to be the main thing in her work. Simply masterfully copying things and people is not enough.
The artist works in two techniques – oil and watercolor. It was watercolor that brought her fame and recognition around the world. Mary White also successfully illustrates children's books.
He is called a French realist. The artist was born in 1962 in Paris. Currently working as an illustrator in one of the publishing houses. He received an education in the field of decorative and applied arts.
He paints exclusively in watercolors, using his own technique of multi-layer paint application, due to which he achieves incredible realism in his work. Likes to work on individual accents.
Careful elaboration of details is the artist’s favorite technique, his trademark. Favorite theme: cityscape. The artist loves to paint his native Paris and Venice. His watercolors are imbued with romanticism and charm. He considers Eugene Delacroix to be his teacher in painting.
04.10.12 technovoin
The art of our day reflects life. This is probably the main task set before the creators contemporary art. Watercolor is no exception, perhaps it all began with it...
“Winter is engraving, spring is watercolor, summer is oil painting, and autumn is a mosaic of all the seasons” - Stanley Horowitz.
Watercolor, beginning...
- this is without a doubt a complex and subtle technique of easel painting. The term “watercolor” was first used in 1437 in Cennino Cennini’s “Treatise on Painting,” which dealt with dissolving paint in water that contained vegetable glue—gum.
There are two methods of watercolor painting. The first is on dry soil, the second is on the wet surface of the paper. The history of watercolor painting began with painting on dry ground and presumably in early XIX century, a more whimsical manner appeared in England - writing wet. There is probably nothing surprising in this, since the island, surrounded by water, is itself the proud “Foggy Albion” with eternal high humidity He wished to order the air to be made light and soft. Since then, English watercolors, painted on damp paper, have acquired depth and a sense of aerial perspective.
Today, watercolor can be found at every step: exhibitions, museums, galleries - the spirit of watercolor is everywhere. However, despite the prevalence and accessibility, watercolor technique mysterious and incomprehensible. And this applies to both amateurs and professional artists. The whole difficulty lies in H2O. Water is the key word. As we know, water is one of the four rebellious elements. So, despite the deceptive, apparent lightness, watercolors require careful and patient study.
The logic behind the relationship between watercolor and water is actually simple. If the artist cannot cope with watercolor, directly with its fluid nature, then he should get rid of the “extra” water. In this case, there is a need to use small glazes and small strokes in order to create a dry image in layers.
In the case when the “water element” is not an obstacle to achieving the set goal, that is, if the master has a clear desire to subjugate the water element of color, or to properly fight it, then the work process can be carried out in the mode of living water mobility. But, undoubtedly, for such dynamic and subtle creativity one cannot do without a certain courage, ingenuity and agility. This is how spectacular painting on the wet surface of paper is born.
Watercolor is the harbinger of a variety of painting techniques and schools, styles and trends. It’s no wonder that it’s impossible to describe everything in a short article, even if you really want to. But it is worth noting that the rich and diverse watercolor painting allows you to assess the level of skill of its creator. And just based on a comparison of all the greatness of the representative. Skillful use and combination of all kinds of painting techniques, masterly maneuvering within the “dry-wet” range - these factors will be the evaluation criteria.
It should also be understood that watercolor drawings do not have any independent, autonomous technology, since the latter is strictly subordinate to the purpose or idea of the creator. Therefore, it is not difficult to conclude that watercolor is no more or less diverse and individual, just like human handwriting. It’s no secret that what has been said can be applied to any type of art, but watercolor is particularly susceptible to the “temperamental movement of the brush,” which comes from the spirit of the master in motion. This stream includes the attitude towards the material at the creative, mental and philosophical levels. It is here that the main secret and fundamental problem of mastering the technical side (equipment) is hidden.
The main qualities of a painter, which cannot be avoided in the process of embodying the image of a stubborn, whimsical, but desirable watercolor painting, are high concentration of energy, a clear understanding (vision) of the task at hand, a subtle sense of water, paper and paints and, finally, sobriety in self-control.
Thus, if painters underestimate the quality of their working materials, this will certainly affect the final result. First the most important condition for creation on the way to the chance to become “unfading” in various variations of this epithet should be considered professional materials. The very same watercolor painting technique along with an assessment of the artist’s level of skill, it is valued based on the ease, speed of execution, the ability to convey the materiality of textures and objects, an unmistakable sense of composition and drawing, subtle taste and a sense of proportion in the execution of individual details, in particular at the stage of completion of the work.
An equally important component can be considered the special spirituality of the material, close to a sense of poetry. It is noteworthy that the ease of mastering a technique flows into a longing desire to imitate it. Thus, a superficial approach, not supported by the master’s aesthetic sense and real mastery of the material, leads to the implementation of empty and completely meaningless works.
Watercolor drawings by contemporary artists
Ilya Karim
The current representatives of modern art, of course, are very different from the classical school of painting. For example, the watercolor paintings of Kareem Iliya smell fashion trends. His works resemble sketches of trendy clothing designers. They are delicate, colorfully painted, minimalistic in detail... It is the fashionable content that distinguishes these works from stereotyped, particularly unremarkable, ordinary sketches. Karim Ilya prefers paint with watercolors and ink. A dozen critics agreed that Karim’s works can safely be considered real works of contemporary art!
Laurent Parcelier
We continue to study watercolor drawings. We present to your attention the series creative works the talented Laurent Parcelier. All the works presented were done practically in one place. The artist’s canvases seem to strive to convey to the public a photo report of the places where Laurent Parcelier visited.
Arush Votsmush
You have reached the creations of Arush Votsmush, on which I sincerely congratulate you! The works of this talented Russian man are executed in the most complex watercolor technique. They are distinguished by impeccable color scheme and an inimitable virtuosic reunification of texture and line... The subjects of Arush Votsmush's paintings are filled with refined irony and play.
Arush Votsmush is a native of Western Siberia (Omsk). Born in 1967, twenty years later he graduated from the Crimean Art School. The artist’s biography is rich and it is possible that we will talk about it in a separate article entirely dedicated to this author. And now briefly about the main thing.
Arush is listed as a member of the Union of Russian Artists, the International Art Fund and, finally, the International Association of Artists (UNESCO). The last few lines can tell a lot about something, but certainly no more than the artist himself in his watercolor work.
Watercolor is an excellent medium for painting, suitable for beginners. Paints are inexpensive, and you can purchase them and related materials in almost every office supply store. Therefore, many have been familiar with watercolors since childhood: this is what they paint with in art classes.
If you want to learn how to draw beautifully, you need to choose the right tools. First, pay attention to the brushes. Use natural bristles (such as kolinsky or squirrel) different diameters and shapes.
Secondly, purchase special paper for watercolor. In terms of density, it resembles cardboard, but differs from the latter in texture, which allows the paint to “cling” to the base. Third, stock up consumables: plastic/glass palette, pieces of fabric, water container, paper tape, sketch pencils. To create unusual effects, prepare a toothbrush, a porous sponge, and white gouache.
Non-absorbent materials should be used as a palette: glass, plastic, ceramics. A special tablet will also come in handy. A sheet of paper soaked in water under the tap should be attached to it.
When working with watercolors, artists recommend being very careful. This material practically does not allow for adjustments and correction of damaged drawings. So follow simple rule: Work on the light areas first, then the dark ones.
You also need to be sure of the color you choose. Therefore, it would be correct to try the shade created on the palette on a spare sheet. If you are satisfied with everything, feel free to draw the selected part.
Be sure to keep your brushes sharp. Only with the help of a fine tip you can perfectly draw a person’s face, his emotions, nails and other small parts. Never wash your brushes with chemicals/soap. For better cleaning, use vegetable oil.
Basic techniques when working with watercolors
Painting with watercolors is a true pleasure. These paints allow you to create both a transparent, delicate pattern in pastel colors, and bright, rich work. It all depends on your requirements and desires.
Knowing the basic techniques will make working with watercolor easier. For example, with a flat brush you can create a wide straight line or, if you position the tool edgewise, you can create sharp, sharp strokes. The latter can be used when drawing architectural details, plant elements (grass, flowers, etc.).
To paint the sky, sea or abstract background with shimmer, use the classic watercolor technique. Wet the selected area heavily and remove any “puddles” with a cloth/sponge. Apply the selected colors with a wide brush so that their edges touch and the colors mix independently.
To get beautiful background splashes, use a toothbrush. Soak it in warm water, dip into your chosen shade. Shake the paint vigorously onto the paper. Repeat the steps until you get the desired result.
Effective lines are obtained if you use the “free brush” technique. Hold the tool like a knife, towards the end of the base. Move the brush over the paper, turning it in the desired direction. The lines will turn out very realistic. Painting with moody colors will create gorgeous bare trees, suitable for an autumn/winter landscape or a painting with a graveyard atmosphere.
Watercolor painting is a technology for creating artwork using water paints. familiar to most of us from childhood, when we used dry paints in ditches. However, such paints do not give the rich effect that the works of experienced watercolorists demonstrate.
Watercolor paint consists of a binder, a filler and the pigment itself. The binder most often used is glue of plant origin: gum arabic, dextrin, tragacanth, fruit glue, molasses or glycerin. When applied to paper, the water evaporates and the binder locks the pigment and media in place. Watercolor paint is available in semi-dry cuvettes and in tubes. To work with watercolor paints, artists use round brushes for basic work and flat brushes for other manipulations, such as adjustments or washes. A watercolorist needs a palette - plastic, white. Palettes with recesses can be used as ditches: paint from the tubes is squeezed into the recesses and allowed to dry. Some artists use paint in its “raw” form; in their opinion, the colors in the painting will be fresher. The choice of paper is important. The watercolor sheet should have a well-defined texture and not spread (swell) after wetting with water.
Watercolorists use various methods applying paint to paper. The most common method is called “raw”. Initially, the paper is moistened with water and then a layer of paint is applied. Thus, the applied paint begins to spread across the sheet, blooming in unexpected patterns, merging with other paints and forming new shades. The “raw” method is quite complicated and requires skill, but it gives an amazing result. Watercolor painting also uses the glazing method, where the artist applies layers of paint one after another onto a dry sheet. Glazing allows you to achieve special precision of parts. If you want to add some accents to your wet-on-wet watercolor work, the artist can apply further layers of paint after the sheet has dried.
If you want to study the technique of watercolor painting, let’s say “for yourself”, you should choose paints for classes High Quality. Most often, cheap watercolor paints do not provide sufficient color saturation and the desired texture, which can disappoint a novice artist. You should not purchase a large number of colors of watercolor paints; it is better to have a set of primary colors, since almost any shade can be created from mixing two or more other colors. For example, a black tint is obtained from a mixture of red and green, and watercolorists do not use white at all (after all, white paper shines through the paint layer, and the artist simply paints over those areas on the sheet that should remain white - this technique is called “reservation”).
When talking about watercolor painting, we most often remember the most delicate floral still lifes, permeated with light and reflections. But look how versatile the use of watercolor painting is in various genres! Beautiful miniatures and sketches, portraits, landscapes, unexpected avant-garde images.
Valeria Ann Chua
Valeria Ann Chua
Valeria Ann Chua
Malgorzata Szczecinska
Malgorzata Szczecinska
Malgorzata Szczecinska
Elena Shved
Elena Shved
Elena Shved
Roland Palmaerts
Roland Palmaerts
Roland Palmaerts
Roland Palmaerts
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