Watercolor Techniques: painting water
Short and quick today.
Observing how water can be painted using watercolors.
Painting Water
In the samples shown, I’ve created the impression, the illusion of water on paper.
Cobalt teal blue in watercolor helps, of course.
But, so does understanding the tones, the feeling, mood, and which of the common techniques to use.
Techniques for painting water: watercolors
We learn as we go.
Practice… repetition until a technique process becomes second nature, was the secret key to my own improvement.
Using dry brush, washes, charging, splatter, leaving White of the paper… they all combine to help with the illusion.
In the first demo, you see a background a mid ground and foreground, along with a focal point. These help guide the viewer and make the image understandable.
Whereas in the second demo, a mere wash of a couple colors, we must engage more. There is still enough information, but its less tight and structured.
More free flowing and carefree. Perhaps, in holiday mode! But you will observe more warmth in front, the White cresting wave in nearby, and there isn’t much action in the back.
Our minds, have decided yes, it is water we are looking at. And, Most likely, the beach.
We’re good to go.
follow up posts