Watercolor Exploration: Tips and Advice for Getting Started

(c) jlowaterolor.2018 Watercolor Style: Loose vs. Tight   First off, is one “better” than the other? The answer is unequivocally- h#ll no! I can’t stress enough how important it is to try and let go of what you think something “should” look like, and just give-in to what happens on the paper. I say this to you as a reminder to myself, because I still struggle with expectations. Painting loose or painting tight (detailed) is simply the style you bring to the watercolor. You may enjoy one more than the other, or incorporate both into your work! Below we will look at some examples of loose and tight watercolor paintings, along with tips and advice for trying them out. Loose Watercolor Examples... (c) Victoria Prischedko (c) Steve Micthell Loose Painting Tips- Here is a great article  from the Artist's Network that gives helpful advice on painting loose. https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/watercolor-painting-loose/ ...

(c) jlowatercolor.2016 Finding Inspiration! So you have the supplies you need, you have tried out a few different techniques… now what do YOU want to paint? It seems like an easy question; that is until you sit with your paint and realize that it is not as spontaneous as the online tutorials make it seem. Inspiration may suddenly fall upon us like magic (occasionally), but typically, we have to search for it. Let’s explore a few places you can look for painting inspiration. The world Around Us Outside Our Window Nature is one of the first and most obvious places we look for art inspiration, and with good reason. The sky, trees, plants, and sunsets provide us with dazzling and unlimited material. You can find a multitude of amazing photos online, but I suggest starting with your own environment. You may be surprised at the hidden gems in your own backyard. (c) J.Lomena.2016 On our Shelves Another subject matter is still-life. Similar to nature, you ...

(c) jlowatercolor.2017 Maybe you are thinking… can we get painting already?! Ha, or maybe I’m just excited. If you are following along, last week we discussed basic starter supplies and options for materials. There are a few more things you will need. Most of these items you may have around the house already: ·          Large glass jar (or cup) for water ·          Paper towels (for spills and “lifting” paint from the paper) ·          Masking tape ·          Large piece of cardboard or other surface bigger than your paper There are different opinions on how to properly set-up your watercolor paper to paint. I tend to just tape down all four sides of the paper and get to drawing and painting. However, it is true that sometimes the paper will warp a bit. It does not bother me, but if you would like to see one ...

Image Credit: Utrecht Art Supplies Welcome! You may have found yourself here for a variety of reasons: you are looking for a creative outlet and need a starting point, you have always been curious about watercolor, or you are a classmate and have to read it (ha!). Regardless of the reason, I am happy you are here and looking forward to sharing what I have learned about watercolor with you! Introductions: about me… well I guess you could say I have always been a creative person. I enjoyed a variety of artistic mediums in high school and in my early twenties (specifically photography). Funny thing is, as much as I have always appreciated art, I never thought I was “good enough” to consider myself an artist… Fast-forward a bit: Life, it happens; adult responsibilities and a new role as a parent led me to believe I should put hobbies aside. It was my choice and I don’t regret it as I learned a lot of life lessons. As time went on, I found myself wanting to re-explore those parts ...