Watercolor Art – How To Paint In Watercolor
Art techniques for painting in watercolor, whether on canvas or on paper:
Unlike other mediums then, decisions at the start of the painting must be done where the whites are placed and apply the lightest of shades first. Common practices of watercolorists are to leave the white areas for later.
To paint in watercolor, observe the following.
Center of Interest
Creating the center of interest is the heart of an artwork. When you paint in watercolor, unless the theme is formal or static, avoid having the center of interest right in the middle of the painting. To solve this, break the vertical and the horizontal axis on a ratio of 1:2. Keeping the center of interest of the painting at an unequal distance between the sides will correct the subjects positioning.
Thumbnails sketches
When the subject of the painting is already determined, drawing thumbnail sketches will help manage the canvass and prevent you from making mistakes later. The thumbnail sketches will allow you to arrange and shuffle the subjects around. Having thumbnails sketches also provides you with a good idea on creating lights and shadows to have the maximum contrasts at the center of interest
Applying the color
Having the center of interest in mind, start the painting by applying the lightest washes in the background working towards the darker hues and details later on. Having too many colors in the palette often result into a work that looks muddy and discordant. When starting the painting, have your color palette limited to two or three colors working your way towards tight details later on as dictated by the subject and the atmosphere that you want to create. Introduction of intense colors could be done later in the work. When starting to color, cover large areas loosely but do not forget to leave the white areas blank. This will enable you to create very good detail and tonal contrasts.
Harmonizing the color
While coloring and the choice of colors to be applied basically rests with the artist, a color wheel is a good tool to use to get a better idea on how the watercolor painting will appear in the end. Harmonizing the color rests on tastes and preferences and so there are no rules to that. However, the one thing that is best avoided when unsure of which color to use is to avoid neutral darks. Watercolor painting will tend to have more character if the dark color choices are either warm or cool darks. If a discordant color appears in the painting (like for example a purple lily that seems to jump out of the canvass), apply the discordant color to other areas of the painting as well.
Finally, as with all artwork, when you paint in watercolor, do not overdo details. Creating too much detail in one single work will tire the eye. Create areas of relief as well.
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Mar 7, 20109:18 am
What happens when u give a CAT a paint brush??? Etsy: http://bit.ly/aPpHgr Milwaukee Artist
Mar 7, 20109:18 pm
well I have a car yoooo! Let’s paint the town! Hahahaha!
Mar 8, 20109:19 am
It’s MS Awareness Week, time to paint the wonderful world of Twitter ORANGE !!!
Mar 8, 20109:18 pm
RT tell bad mind go with them evil head…evil dem a pree thay want to see ppl dead want god bless blood paint the streets with red..
Mar 9, 20109:20 am
FINGER PAINTING > SCHOOL i’m glade i get to help kids finger paint today instead of school
Mar 9, 20109:20 pm
RT there are a few based souls that deserves to be leveled up.
please contact me.
FATHER paint.
Mar 10, 20109:19 am
to celebrate, i just ordered glow in the dark paint XD
Mar 10, 20109:17 pm
DesPardes: Feel free, Mr Husain. Go paint Qatari leaders http://despardes.com/?p=14737
Mar 11, 20109:19 am
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Mar 11, 20109:17 pm
Destructicity upon fallen mortals / Spaceship loaded with the rocket fuel/ Melted Battle Paint Because of Papa Shango
Mar 12, 20109:17 am
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Mar 12, 20109:18 pm
): no one better paint on mee hahaha
Mar 13, 20109:17 am
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Mar 13, 20109:17 pm
New exhaust and extractor pipe for the Project Westy. Makes the little boxer motor sound mighty. Paint prep is about 50% done.
Mar 14, 20109:34 am
Paint ^^) that glows as it drys ^^)
Mar 14, 201010:17 am
so it will be ready for paint after today. maybe me and can paint together. me spring rompe, him munny
Mar 14, 201010:18 pm
N less than 4hrs is gone B ma 24th Bday. Who gone kum & brang it n wit me? We gone brang it in like its new yrs eve. Ima go hard n da paint
Mar 15, 201010:20 am
We’re talking about Racing Economics with Scott Wimmer on Tradin’ Paint.
Mar 15, 201010:20 pm
i need to get a paint brush for painting lips.. any rec’s? my old one is officially in el garbage
Mar 16, 201010:21 am
Yup RT it was our fashion show on robert treat roof and she had on nothing but body paint…..
Mar 16, 201010:20 pm
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Mar 17, 201010:18 am
Picked up some custom paint colors last night and the 2×4’s for Nancy’s 12 sets. Engineering her legs is gonna be harder than I thought…
Mar 17, 201010:20 pm
Phone sucks, meant to say a kid taught me how to paint a mallard in exact detail on his cheek because he hunts them. It was cute .
Mar 17, 201010:20 pm
Whats red and smells like blue paint!!??!!??
Mar 18, 201010:18 am
Posts Tagged ‘BlackBook March 2010′ – Blackbookmag.com: Jeans, still wet with yellow paint, are… http://bit.ly/dv6Yoc
Mar 18, 201010:20 pm
… it keeps the creative juices flowing, paint on brother!!!
Mar 19, 201010:21 am
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Mar 19, 201010:20 pm
Earth Hour event designed to paint the town green|Politics can lead us in unexpected directions. Mike Schreiner, .. http://oohja.com/x93zw
Mar 20, 201010:18 am
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Mar 20, 201010:17 pm
Who’s going to tomorrow for HOT PINK LURE PAINT???? Oh YES…that would be ME!!!!
Mar 21, 201010:20 am
the credit crunch makes you do mad things. He don’t need them and my exam is in paint lol
Mar 21, 201010:20 pm
RT My skin color does not paint my political views. I feel sorry for those of you that it does
Mar 22, 201010:22 am
just learned about a great bargain for painting sets- oops paint!- where someone returned a color they didn’t like $25/ 5 gallons!
Mar 22, 201010:22 am
I am spending an unbelievable amount of money on paint when I can’t even paint. I don’t care, I love doing it.
Mar 22, 201010:18 pm
Makmende is the only one who can paint his Facebook wall!! the No 1 Shopper http://babawatoto.com
Mar 23, 201010:22 am
Well I tried to paint you yellow with some leaves down in the park, with some songs your mother sang when the love was unconditional …
Mar 23, 201010:21 pm
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Mar 24, 201010:18 am
Tip Wed – Paint and Eyelash Curlers- Get acrylic paint out of your clothes & curl your eyelashes. http://ow.ly/1qkeY
Mar 24, 201010:20 pm
Right now… watching paint dry and is very very rewarding…. (I picked the right color! Phew!)
Mar 25, 201010:19 am
Tutorial over. Now to buy paint for pacman!
Mar 25, 201010:21 pm
tava fazendo um desenho ~BOLADS~ pro no paint e fechei sem salvar DD:
Mar 26, 201010:18 am
RT Twitter friends I NEED you today. Searching for somewhere to paint. If you have a lead lemme know so i can get my on!
Mar 26, 201010:21 pm
Bought a new nail polish. Gonna paint my nails 
Mar 27, 201010:21 am
follow me i go hard in the mutha fuckin paint
Mar 27, 201010:21 pm
RT Hawaiian’s First Airbus A330 Emerges From the Paint Shop … http://bit.ly/doxEmE
Mar 28, 201010:21 am
Howwww come when I REALLY want 2 paint my room – I can’t find the paint? Smh somethin always pulls me bak 
Mar 28, 201010:18 pm
RT New: Big House – Recently Remodeled – New Carpet/Paint/Blinds –
Mar 29, 201010:20 am
RT so excited about getting to paint full time soon
Mar 29, 201010:19 pm
< Wet Paint I Thought it was Candy Paint
Mar 30, 201010:19 am
NFS Paint01 1.1 (Freeware): Splash paint all over your desktop http://bit.ly/cIkIBo
Mar 30, 201010:19 pm
20+ offensive boards means alot of misses. Good thing we’re scoring alot in the paint
Mar 31, 201010:21 am
4u: What kind of primer and paint should I use on kitchen cabinets? http://bit.ly/amuaoU
Mar 31, 201010:21 pm
munchin on these pb&j samiches, now what color to paint my nails..hmmmm.
Apr 1, 201010:22 am
Photo: Scraping paint off — at Chantier Grand Maison http://gowal.la/c/wNo1
Apr 1, 201010:19 pm
Who tryna body paint wit me *females only , u scared jus dm me 
Apr 2, 201010:19 am
another day of paint job in the books
Apr 2, 201010:21 pm
It is so great to see our economy improving. Our clients are excited to make changes in their homes. Carpeting and paint are big changes.
Apr 3, 201010:21 am
RT RT WARNING: yr Gov’t is trying 2 paint U as radical 4 disagreeing w/ them when they R radicals.
Apr 3, 201010:21 pm
An old paint worn wheelchair sat empty on the left side of his bed.http://theangelsarehere.wordpress.com/
Apr 4, 201010:21 am
RT I’ll call dt joblessness 
RT Jst4 kicks I’m goin2 paint all d eggs in d (cont) http://tl.gd/o6lt0
Apr 4, 201010:21 pm
LOL nunca digas nunca
Apr 5, 201010:21 am
RT U love troops? That you tld ppl not 2 reenlist cuz Obama was gonna paint em as babykillers? http://bit.ly/7CegYo
Apr 5, 201010:20 pm
Can somebody please tell for Butler that he has 4 fouls and should quit barreling into the paint like he’s drunk?
Apr 6, 201010:21 am
Via New fxguidetv is up with exclusive look at Mari, the new paint and texturing software from The Foundry http://bit.ly/bVZDa7
Apr 6, 201010:21 pm
lol help her paint!! Lol come see me!
Apr 7, 201010:19 am
I’m good. I’ve got a week flying solo from Sunday which’ll be weird. Can’t decide whether to go out loads or paint my house.
Apr 7, 201010:21 pm
FEZ; – haha soo my dads helping me paint my bike. actually, hes doing it for me cus “im a grl, nd grls dont… http://tumblr.com/xak8ciczf
Apr 8, 201010:21 am
Lol the Wikipedia entry for Juggalo. “Common characteristics include drinking the inexpensive soft drink Faygo and wearing face paint.”
Apr 8, 201010:20 pm
RAP4 Soy Paint Tested http://bit.ly/ckNjdg
Apr 9, 201010:19 am
New law regarding Lead based paint….Contractors need to be certified to work in homes built prior to 1978. http://bit.ly/arTqRG
Apr 9, 201010:21 pm
oh god i’m biting my nails again this isnt good i should go and paint them so i dont bite them, where is she better not be doing HW
Apr 10, 201010:19 am
You fill those empty spaces in my heart and paint rainbows on my canvas
Apr 10, 201010:21 pm
Vocal and instrumental music are my first loves, I still paint and draw, ..maiden name is McFarland it is in the blood 
Apr 11, 201010:21 am
*smiles* Mmm you not want me to paint them then??
Apr 11, 201010:19 pm
RT Ladies! If got paint on him blame Passes out!!lmaooooo U R A FOOL!!!ahhhh
Apr 12, 201010:21 am
Debo haber visto Showgirls más de 15 veces de cuando la pasaban diario CENSURADA [con bikinis hechos con MS Paint] en VH1.
Apr 12, 201010:20 pm
I think that purple paint dyed my skin. I just took a mean shower and I still have a little on me. ohhhh
Apr 13, 201010:22 am
CB Ipswich: Watching Paint dry – with a difference! http://bit.ly/9gUruX
Apr 13, 201010:21 pm
Gizmodo: Microsoft Arc Keyboard Gets Surprisingly Good Looking Paint Job [Keyboards] http://ow.ly/173WDE
Apr 14, 201010:21 am
babyyy paint me a picture to hang on my wall. Btw, I miss you
Apr 14, 201010:22 pm
Well your all boring me.. ima go paint my nails black, which will be pointless, as i’ll have to do them again tomorrow, but anyhoo…
Apr 15, 201010:19 am
I gotta get sum nail polish remover ,gotta paint these damn toes!…black,neon green and hot pink..
Apr 15, 201010:21 pm
plz dnt paint a pic lol
Apr 16, 201010:22 am
Things I’d rather be doing: 1) Watching paint dry 2) Watching grass grow 3) Holding a gun to me left temple and pulling the fuckin’ trigger.
Apr 16, 201010:21 pm
RT Chinese coal ship damages 2 miles of Great Barrier Reef, toxic paint of hull instantly kills coral http://nxy.in/mki6z
Apr 17, 201010:21 am
wow, congrats! Were you carrying a paint brush?
Apr 17, 201010:21 pm
ShoutOut 2 The Birthday Boy My BigBro hahaa! Let’s Paint The City Red BigBaby
Apr 18, 201010:18 am
Nice, gotta love that bird in an American Airlines paint. (YouTube http://youtu.be/8yM3RoHiDkU?a)
Apr 18, 201010:21 pm
Paint u a perfect picture ngga this is pictionary.
Apr 19, 201010:19 am
hard disk buggered trying to recover data from lost+found. Will paint boat while I wait. cloud… silver lining
Apr 19, 201010:21 pm
Dinamarca: http://www.webbusca.com.br/atlas/bandeiras/dinamarca.gif queria que meus lapis fossem que nem o balde do paint.
Apr 20, 201010:22 am
That’s a good one! Thanks for sharing – I’m going to go home and paint my keys tonight…
Apr 20, 201010:21 pm
Yea Bynum looked like he ain’t kno what 2 do w/ da rock dat far f/ da paint! Lol
Apr 21, 201010:22 am
haha.. Yaudah nanti gue buatin “kunti” pake paint
Apr 21, 201010:21 pm
RT 22 Tasteless Motorcycle Paint Jobs. (Shield your eyes.) http://fb.me/wSBn6wy0
Apr 22, 201010:22 am
yeah it pisses me off when Hollywood or the govt. try to paint us as being in favor of liberal policies.
Apr 22, 201010:21 pm
The Lakers got too many dudes who are big and long who can get the job done in the paint…that’s obviously their weapon…utilize it!
Apr 23, 201010:19 am
“I don’t paint things. I only paint the difference between things.” – Henri Matisse (via & Ilze Suna)
Apr 23, 201010:21 pm
Can I paint 777 on my forehead and fool everybody?
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9:17 pm
“219. You paint your nails just so you can say your favorite Sailor Scouts transformation line.” GUILTY! XD