Watercolour painting

Lilylilo Love the pink flower, very eye catching. LouiseMLP great cat, you can just imagine that tail swishing.
Granmary18 Lovely little landscape! Does this place exist or was it from your imagination. Very nice.

Here is a link you might find interesting. It is about the female Impressionists. If you haven't heard of them before it is because of the times they lived in. No recognition for women in those days.

www.famsf.org/press-room/women-impressionists-berthe-morisot-mary-cassatt-eva-gonzal-s-marie-bracquemond

To see what they painted just type their names in Google and click on images.

I would love to put pen/paint to paper but don't know where to start. Can you give me some ideas please?

Buy an inexpensive pad of watercolour paper and just play around with the paint to start with. See how the paint reacts with both dry paper and damp paper and how it helps you to blend the colours together. Go darker with your tones as they will always dry lighter. Then practice with rough bold shapes - fruit for instance; apples, oranges, bananas are good. Bottles. You don't have to be good at drawing - it's the tone and texture that are important in the early stages. The most important thing is to have a go. If you can't get on with watercolour try acrylic, which has the same texture as oil paint but is water soluble.

1. Learn about the colour wheel and which colours affect others. Learn how to mix colours from Red, Blue, Yellow.
2. Learn about light and dark and paint these in first. (Even before you start to paint make a simple sketch, a kind of map of what you are looking at)
3. Remember you do not need to know how to draw to be able to paint! You could trace your picture! Why not? Some of the Masters did just that. You will progress from that to painting your own subjects. Take your time.
4. Do not be afraid to put paint on a blank sheet of paper. It looks scary at first, but it isn't really.
5. Do not try and put everything you see in to the picture. You are allowed to leave things out. Artist's Licence is what that is called.
6. Start on something simple, maybe a flower? Look at the shape of the petals, how one laps over the next, or curls up, or has shadow beneath it. Or an apple, orange, cherry, ball. Try a square and notice where to put shade.
7. Start simple and slowly and allow yourself to make mistakes. Most artists throw away more than they finish.
8. If using acrylics slightly water the paint down on your pallet, and remember you have to work quickly before the paint dries. Clean all brushes after use or they will go hard and then you will not get the paint off. Cover your pallet with cling film if you have left over paint so that you can use the left-overs next time. If you don't the paint will go hard and you will have to throw it away. Very expensive!
9. Remember that as things get further and further away they slowly get smaller. However, all heads of people stay at the same level so adjust the body length, so that you create depth. You can also draw one hill on top of another, faint at the back getting darker towards the front.
10. Look at where the light is coming from. ie above, below, left or right. Light is not the same as shadow.

Have fun experimenting and do not be too hard on yourself.

Look up what NOTAN means on Google. They are the steps to follow once you are wanting to become more professional.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAALuHwiOg4

Any one of these will take you to YouTube from where you can select your own video to watch. There are over 100 free videos to help you!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WSQP5bdemo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9fG6jQlP0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKUAFH0DZnQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YxsrToHA3U

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9fG6jQlP0

Thank you Yorkshiregel very informative. I will have a go at some of these as they are a good starting point.

diannemize.com/product-category/video-supplements/

Look here for FREE colour wheels etc etc. Make sure they are free to download though because some are not.

Watercolour for adults and children video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f6qZMbM1ig

I enjoyed looking at everyone's paintings. I only started painting in 2015 and found water colours hard to do. I started with acrylic and went onto painting in oil where I cam build my painting. The only thing with oils is I have to be patient as it takes longer to dry.

Yorkshiregel you have posted lots of interesting things. Firstly the women impressionists. I have just googled and feel quite sad that in the past women's talent was hardly recognised. I was only telling my sister the other day about Einstein and his first wife and how her contributions weren't recognised.

Secondly you have given some good tips and interesting information. I dream of living nearer to somewhere where I could have some decent lessons. There is so much to learn, the internet has been helpful though.

Just browsing this thread, and thought I would mention the painting magazines. I have had the Leisure Artist on and off over the years and Start Art seems to be an occasional one that is in the supermarket. They are great to pick up projects so that you can get started. The blank piece of paper can be a bit daunting!

I was determined to start again this year - found a suitable subject, sketched it out, and there it sits, on its board, waiting for me to put paint to paper. I just can't seem to find the enthusiasm now. Painter's block!

Tell me about it! I have been off painting for about 2 years now, if you do not count a sketch made last year that is. I just cannot get enthusiastic, especially when I see what others do, instead of inspiring me it puts me off for some reason, except that I know I will never reach those dizzy heights! One day I will get back to it......hopefully!

Here's one you might like. I love studying people.

If you want a magazine that helps as well as educates try the SAA (Society for all Artists)

www.saa.co.uk

They also have a shop where you can buy supplies.....at a discount if you are a member..which I am, but I am off painting at the moment. Lots of challenges and articles, plus competitions. Great fun.

Very impressive Yorkshiregel.
I am enjoying a watercolour course called "fast and loose" which is offered on www.udemy.com

Watercolour is the hardest medium of all. I can never understand why people who have never done any drawing or painting since they left school, decide to take up watercolour painting when they retire. When you look at the results it often discourages other beginners from trying any kind of visual art.

If you want to start producing something artistic and you don't know where to begin, why not start by trying to learn how to draw.

Then try out different media - pen, pencil, coloured pencil, charcoal, pastels, oil pastels, felt tip pens, gouache, acrylics, inks, even oil painting are all easier than water colour.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-862274-pointilism.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-982536-camlle-pissarro.jpg

I agree that watercolour is the hardest thing to learn. I prefer acryclic where you have more control. However I do not think you need to know how to draw. What about pointilism? Pictures made from dots or dashes can be just as appealing. In any case there should not be a line around whatever you are drawing. Better to make the 'line' by painting the background and using negative space.

Sorry forgot to credit the artists. Seurat and Pissarro.
Also I meant acrylic not acryclic...typo. I am not very good at watercolour I do admit. Some get it, I don't.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-756356-sunday-lagrandejatte.png https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-367702-pointilism2.jpg

Here is an idea. Take a copy of the picture below and make your own version. Modernise it, take only part of it, cartoon it, whatever. I found pointilism2 on the internet. It has been parodied by Sesame Street ... that is what I mean. You can see it is LaGrandeJatte but it isn't. Have fun!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-335170-2-pale-skin.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-616515-4-mid-toned-skin.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-540368-6-dark-skin.jpg

Something which might help people who want to paint people.

Ever heard of Fraydoon Rassouli? I love his art, and you could do something similar in watercolour. See Google for more images, there are loads. If you like spiritual art this is for you.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIfbmz5nWTQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3u4-xTST8Y

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ytL_mpVobU

Love these videos. Why not have a go at doing something of your own with this method. Nice and loose watercolours.

This is a tonal study and a complete painting in one that has lots of good advice. Loose style again, which is what I love.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU1iWfl02lA

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ytL_mpVobU

Two paintings in one.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201804/medium-185391-gardenleaves.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201804/medium-882974-snapdragon.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201804/medium-808314-unicornpic.jpg

You do not need to be good at drawing to create a painting. Try this leaf 'painting' for starters. Ideal for watercolour painting. Allow the colours to blend in to each other and try different effects. You could trace the outlines or draw them freehand. Or have a go at these snapdragons I painted. If you want to do something different try the Unicorn picture by drawing the unicorns, cover the shape in candlewax so that the colours will not leak in to the shape (you do not have to draw unicorns, use your imagination) then use watercolours in different colours and allow them to blend in to each other for the background. Then post them here. You will be surprised at the comments.