I have just bought an easel and watercolur paper and paints, what advice would you give me as a beginner?

Answer 1

Be patient, practice and experiment
There are no rules. Just enjoy

Answer 2

What type of paints have you bought? Watercolour are a divil to start out with, I would advise putting them away and getting yourself some acrylic or gouache colours first.

An easel is all very well, but if you want to use thin washes on the paper (just a hint of pigment in the water that goes onto the paper), then you would probably find it easier to lay the paper flat on a table, and you could apply the wash with a sponge instead of a paintbrush. Once your paper is dry (depending on the temperature in the room, usually 15 minutes or so), then you can put it on the easel and start with the thicker paint.

Also, I'd advise starting with simple shapes and basic colours until you get the hang of handling the paint. Be aware too that acrylic paint dries very quickly and becomes hard plastic, so always put your brushes into water and clean them constantly. For the same reason, protect your furnishings and clothes.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Soak the paper first and attach it to the easel, still wet so it doesn't warp when you start painting.

Try not to use the colour white too much. The point of watercolours is that you can make colours paler by watering them down.

Layering the paint is fairly pointless. Watercolour paints aren't really built for layering up. One touch of a damp brush and paint that you thought was dry is wet and spreadable again.

Watercolour paints are great for really gentle scenes, like skies or seascapes. I found that the best way to wear a new set in is to paint a surreal sunset, using whatever colours catch your eye, the darker colours for a set of rocks in the foreground that you can't really see properly, and reds, oranges, yellows, pale lilacs and pinks for the sky. The great thing about painting a sunset is that you can't really go wrong. All the colours can bleed into one another and they still look good.

And don't forget to experiment. It's best to start simple and give yourself limits, as it's so easy to go overboard and ruin what might have been a really good picture. But you won't find out what these limits are unless you give it a go.

I hope you enjoy using watercolour paints and have fun.

Answer 4

The best thing to do if you've never drawn or painted before is to take a class or buy a book instructing how to paint. I oil paint and feel very passionate about my artwork. Being an artist, you find yourself taking classes off and on. Make sure you have a sturdy work surface and everything set up beforehand. I find the cheapest books and the best at Borders on bargain tables. Good luck and have fun experimenting with those paints.

Answer 5

Make sure you stick the paper onto the easel with gum tape and give it a brush all over with water before you begin as this stops your lovely new paintings warping as you begin painting. You may have known this but just in case!

Answer 6

When I do watercolor I lay it flat on a table top otherwise the dripping colors are a pain. I use a rag to blot up stuff I don't want, as well. I do rather unusual things like painting on gesso treated canvas and doing portraits. A drawing class, or even just a library book about drawing would be a wonderful way to start.

Answer 7

My advice to a beginner...Sell it all and take a trip. If you don't, and you go ahead and use the materials, you will get hooked and end up turning your bedroom or garage into a studio, spending long evenings away from the family, stockpiling a vast amount of paper to be used or already used, buying expensive frames, looking for studio space, building a Web site, buying lots of cheese and wine for showings...in short painting will overwhelm your life...and you'll be deleriously happy. Are you ready for that?

Answer 8

Some very good answers! Thought I would add this.
If your a complete beginer I would recomend you start off with ackrillics as opposed to water colours as its a tricky medium to get right and takes practice, also if you make a mistake its very dificult to correct!
The secret to a good water colour painting is to build up from light to dark shades and use dark shades sparingly. try not to use black if painting nature, just mix the desired amount of black to a colour to darken it to the required shade. This generally will give you a much better effect tonally. likewise white should only be used to lighten the shade of a colour, unless your trying to create a mist type of effect. Its all practice, don't be put off if it goes wrong just learn from mistakes and you will be very pleased with your efforts in no time! :)

Answer 9

set up your easel, wet your canvas slightly then tape it to the board while paper is still wet (it will shrink slightly as it dries, pulling the paper really tight).

experiment with one colour domain at a time, just spend some playtime with colour study - try using different shades of the same colour, add a touch of white, or add a touch of black... play with dark and light, form and freeform... don't do anything constructive until you've played with each colour seperately.

when you are finished and want to keep your 'colour study', use a very sharp craft knife and cut the canvas/paper off the board.. then mount or frame your masterpiece remembering to sign your geniusness at the bottom!!

have fun - and don't let the colours scare you!

Answer 10

just scetch in a pad with colour. for fun!

please dont fool yourself into thinking anyone is going to want to have one of your picture framed as a present. theres nothing more imbasrassing than having to except a mediocre landscape /still life painting from a friend or family member and pretend you like it and have to hang it in your house just to be pleasent.

dont mean to be mean, i think painting is a fantastic activity and is great for clearing the mind and focusing ones attention. but i believe it should be a selfish activity for ones own gratification at seeing your skills improve. and not to produce more unwanted tat.

above all dont use those horrible self help manuals and books etc. the only way your ever going to produce anything worth looking at is if you develop you own style and way of looking at the world. and to do this YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN MISTAKES AND NOT COPY OTHER PEOPLES TECHNOQUES!

so be immediate, bold, and take a scetch pad with you and make quick visual notes on what you see/feel. and dont try to make a painting to hang in the lounge.

Answer 11

I'd say start with patience...watercolors are not easy to use at first, so be willing to experiment and be patient if it doesn't turn out the way you want.
For watercolors speficially, there are a few techniques you can try...you can start off with a thin thin layer of color and build upon that (water colors dry pretty quickly), you can start off thick and use water to thin the paint on the paper (though watercolors do dry quickly, they are easy to re-wet when you're using them).
I guess generally, just try and have fun....and good luck!