Questions tagged [watercolor]
Watercolor is a painting medium made from suspending pigment in water. There are a variety of materials it's used on, such as canvas, watercolor paper, and vellum. Questions are about using watercolor, selecting the right materials, preserving it and more.
40
questions
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
watercolor templates
I'm looking for books consisting only of watercolor templates in a fixed format. These might be famous paintings or a theme-specific collection. I do not want books with explaining texts or painting ...
- 111
2
votes
3
answers
190
views
Does water colour paint on miniatures wash out a when it is freely moving inside water or oil?
I am making a small paperweight liquid toy, and I have no idea which type of paint to use to paint the buoyant object inside in order for it to not lose its colours while moving inside.
This is an ...
4
votes
1
answer
136
views
How to achieve sharp straight white margins on rough watercolor paintings?
I am looking for ways to create razor sharp edges of watercolor paintings.
I provided an exeample that I found online from a paper manufacturer.
Was wondering how on earth they managed to stop the ...
- 143
4
votes
1
answer
652
views
Is it okay to use a heat gun to quickly dry watercolors?
During life drawing sessions, I would like to do fast watercolors so I need a way to quickly dry my glazes. Since there are other people, I would like it to be quiet as well as fast.
Would a heat gun ...
- 442
3
votes
1
answer
230
views
How to get the best out of painting with poster colors on canvas?
These are called poster colors:
I have posted this link since they may have some other technical name.
Now, I have to use them on this type of canvas:
The Product Highlight reads:
Made of 5 Oz ...
- 3,721
4
votes
1
answer
94
views
How to choose a synthetic brush for water colors?
Well, synthetic brushes are considered horrible for their water holding capacity as compared to natural hair brushes.
Now, if I have to choose best out of the worst - how do I do it?
Do all synthetic ...
- 3,721
5
votes
3
answers
792
views
What do I use to outline a sketch when I want to apply watercolour afterwards?
What is the best thing to outline a sketch with when you're going to use watercolour afterwards?
Pencil
Sharpie thick point
Sharpie fine point
Regular black pen
Black colour pencil
- 51
4
votes
2
answers
315
views
Why are there air bubbles in my tubes of watercolor paint?
I'm opening new paint tubes for watercolors, and about 50% of the time, the paint starts gushing out slowly. I then hear a few pops. This would be okay if it only happens once when I open the bottle. ...
- 143
6
votes
1
answer
64
views
What is the difference between these watercolor papers?
I heard that watercolor papers are sized with different things.
I want to know what the difference is between watercolor papers sized with gelatin and sized with starch.
- 81
3
votes
0
answers
51
views
Are liquid watercolors better than tube or pan watercolors? [duplicate]
I was looking at liquid watercolors like the Hydrus line from Dr. Martin. They have gotten rave reviews in magazines and websites but I need some personal feedback on liquid watercolors.
Are they any ...
- 101
9
votes
1
answer
540
views
Is hard water suitable for the usage of watercolor?
I do not know whether hard water is suitable for watercolor usage or if it will cause any damage to the color when it comes to archival quality. If it does cause damage, are there suggestions for ...
user8550
7
votes
1
answer
179
views
Use of white watercolour paint
I've been starting out with watercolours, and have been wondering what the purpose of white paint is.
The best way to make something white is to never paint on it in the first place, and other ...
- 215
9
votes
2
answers
393
views
Staining vs transparent watercolor paints
I was at a life drawing session and one of the artists mentioned that I should avoid using staining watercolors but instead use transparent watercolors because transparent watercolors could be cleanly ...
- 442
4
votes
1
answer
161
views
Is the Pentel Aquash water brush pen worth it?
I've seen a lot of artists use this water brush that you can refill and I was wondering if it really is worth it. I am still a novice when it comes to watercolours and I use normal watercolour brushes....
- 41
7
votes
2
answers
153
views
What's the best way to preserve white areas in watercolour?
When I use either artists masking fluid or shop bought masking tape it aaallllways pulls the paper apart. How do I stop that happening or what can I use instead?
22
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why do pencils offer a larger color variety than watercolors?
Please correct me if I am wrong, but from what I observe, you can easily get 100-150 colours in a set of pencils, but if you go for sets of watercolors, there's rarely more than 24-36.
Why so?
- 383
3
votes
6
answers
170
views
Kinds of paper to use with watercolors?
I mainly use Bristol, but it becomes wavy after a few coats of water. I have some regular watercolor paper, but I'm not a fan of the roughness of it.
Are there other types of watercolor paper I should ...
6
votes
2
answers
97
views
Restoring a poster print using watercolour
I recently bought a large second hand poster-size print. It has some slight damage to the sides and a strange stain line across one side (see photos).
I would really like to restore it if possible. I ...
- 261
2
votes
4
answers
336
views
Seeking inspiration - are there professional watercolor pencil artists and if no - why not?
I like watercolor pencil technique very much. Are there professional artists that work in watercolor pencil tehnique. If no - then why not? Soft pastels and soft pastel pencils are accepted and rather ...
- 347
7
votes
2
answers
103
views
What criteria should I consider for choosing paper for watercolor pencils
I have been researching about the types of paper that are well suited for watercolor pencils. But so far, I've come across hot, cold, and rough pressed paper. I'm not entirely sure if these are the ...
- 135
1
vote
2
answers
398
views
Casein Paint Shelf Life
I've been told that casein paints are great to use but that they will spoil over time, unlike acrylics and oils.
How long will casein paints last in the tube? Is there any way to extend their shelf ...
- 442
6
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can I use salt water with watercolours?
I'm going to the seaside at the weekend, and I plan on using my watercolours while I'm there as a way to relax. I have these brushes that can store water in the end of them so I don't need to bring a ...
7
votes
1
answer
453
views
Water based ink durability on canvas
I have been drawing on canvas using Posca, Molotow, Montana Cans and MTN markers. I like to draw using black markers and applying colors afterwards. For the background colors, I use Ecoline, both with ...
- 171
9
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Intentionally letting watercolor paints dry before using them?
My wife uses Van Gogh watercolor paints in what I think is a really strange way. She squeezes some paint from the tube, lets it dry on the palette for 48 hours, and then uses a wet brush to paint with ...
- 193
1
vote
1
answer
336
views
How long should I wait for watercolor pan activation?
Just got a Winsor & Newton watercolor set, i made a color table to test the colors. I spay the color with water as i do with schmincke ( horadam ) pans but when I tested the color was all so light,...
- 543
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How to remove black glue from Arches paper border?
Just got an Arches block of watercolor paper, parer sheets are glues together on 4 sides with a BLACK glue.
It seems a really good paper but i can't find a way to remove the black glue on the border ...
- 543
7
votes
2
answers
144
views
Should I consider watercolor wash outlines mistakes?
In some case when I paint small areas the paint seems to go on the borders instead spread in the water.
I usually notice this effect after watercolor dries.
Should I consider these outlines mistakes?...
- 543
6
votes
3
answers
189
views
Which tool to use as watercolor paper press
Is there a tool I could use as watercolor paper press?
Most of the time, after my drawing dries, the paper buckles. I would like to have some tool to put paper inside like a sandwich.
I guess I need ...
- 543
6
votes
2
answers
649
views
Should I consider lightfastness scale while choosing artist grade watercolor?
I just started to use watercolor and got a set of 6 Schmincke Horadam watercolors. I decided to get some more and looking at a color table I found out that colors have a lightfastness categorization.
...
- 543
5
votes
2
answers
14k
views
Print drawing on water color paper, is it possible?
I would like to know if is possible to print a digital drawing, just the outline, on watercolor paper.
I would like to do it to test different watercolor result on the same drawing without redraw ...
- 543
5
votes
2
answers
295
views
How to remove water-based paint?
We were painting a lantern, when someone spilled dark paint over a yellow part.
The process for creating is the following:
You stretch the cloth over a wooden frame. (ca 2.5m x 2.5m/ 8foot by 8 foot)...
- 263
3
votes
2
answers
93
views
Basic requirements for paper to practice aquarelle
I need to choose which paper to use for aquarelle practicing. I plan to use this paper for practicing only, no need to care about the future of the painting (I can buy different paper for the final ...
- 131
20
votes
8
answers
36k
views
How can I make a sketch under a watercolour painting and have it not be seen?
I usually use a regular pencil to sketch what I would like to paint very faintly, but I find that no matter how light it is, it can still be seen under the painting. Once the paint is dry, I can't ...
- 1,144
14
votes
1
answer
261
views
What do you call "negative" paint?
Many months ago, I came across an art medium used by painters. I cannot remember the exact term for this medium. It is white, but is transparent once used, I believe... having the consistency and ...
- 143
7
votes
1
answer
304
views
What is a good work-flow for a water-color painting?
For the context, I am a self-taught painter. Consequently I often find myself mixing the same shade more than one time, painting different regions in no logical order etc.
I would like to know what ...
- 173
9
votes
2
answers
243
views
Is there a discernible difference between tube and pan watercolors?
I have some old watercolor tubes that I inherited (a lot of family gives me art supplies, since I "like art"), and I have few sets of pan watercolors. My wife and I would like to try using them both.
...
user24
6
votes
1
answer
188
views
How to remove paint fallen on an existing watercolor painting with the least damage to the painting?
Last time it happened was 15 years back, and that time I was in a painting exam.
That time I didn't dare to do anything for the fear of making it worse.
What would be the best course of action when I ...
- 3,721
15
votes
3
answers
22k
views
How can I prevent watercolor paper from buckling?
Watercolor paper comes in various weights and the lighter variants can buckle (also known as cockling) when they get wet. How can I prevent or reduce this from happening? Is there a preferred ...
- 3,443
14
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How to protect & preserve water color paintings
Is there a particular coating that I should be using to protect a watercolor painting?
And what is the best storage option for preserving paintings?
- 372
25
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What are the advantages of watercolour paper over sketch paper?
I've been looking around for some paper for watercolour painting. Watercolour paper can be over double the price of sketch paper.
What makes watercolour paper better? Should I invest the money, and ...
- 353