Beginner and Advanced Watercolor Painting FAQs

Ana Victoria Calderón answers what you’ve always wanted to ask about watercolors

Ana Victoria Calderón (@anavictoriana) is a painter and illustrator who uses watercolors as her primary medium. She creates art for Hallmark, Papyrus, Demdaco, Galison, and editorial work for Glamour, Vanity Fair, InStyle, and Elle.

One of her three Domestika courses, Modern Watercolor Techniques, has just reached 100K students!

To celebrate this achievement, Ana Victoria has been answering some frequently asked questions about watercolor materials and techniques and giving professional tips in a live chat for the Domestika Live series. Read some of her answers below:

Popular questions about materials

Foreword

The following are some of my personal preferences: you can use whichever brush and paint brand you prefer or have available. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

What is your favorite brush?

Lately, I have been using the brand Princeton, especially their Laurel line, and Winsor & Newton. I tend to use bristles and synthetic brushes that are a bit harder due to my painting style, but people who paint landscapes prefer softer paintbrushes.

Is it better to use traditional paintbrushes or aqua brushes?

An Aqua Brush is a brush which you fill with paint and water. It is handy for lettering projects, as you need a continuous flow of paint.

If you are a beginner, I do not recommend starting with this kind of brush as you need to know the correct quantity of water and paint to use, which is best learned with a traditional paintbrush.

What type of watercolor paint do you use?

I often use a professional palette from the French brand, Senelier. I use many other brands, and I like to mix palettes and watercolors in pan or tube formats. As you start to practice with colors, you will learn how to mix them.

I like Daniel Smith, particularly their watercolor tubes. I also like Holbein, Winsor & Newton, Schmincke… I collect artisanal handmade watercolors. You can find them on Instagram.

Many brands have various lines: start with student paints before investing in professional ones. You’ll also find that some brands have different textures, some more watery and translucent, others more creamy. Choosing one will depend on your taste; one is not necessarily better or worse than another.

Do you like to work with metallic or iridescent paint?

I do. Before spending money on expensive paints, you should get a tube of metallic paint and mix it with other watercolors to see if you like the results.

Are watercolor pencils a good alternative to paint?

They are not exactly a substitute, but they are a lovely medium to play with and mix with paints. For example, you can use watercolor pencils to add shadows. You could try out a small pack and see if you like to work with them.

What type of paper should we use?

You can only use watercolor paper to paint in this medium because other paper types do not hold the amount of water you need and end up breaking. Watercolor paper is specially made to resist large amounts of water.

There are many brands on the market and in different price ranges. Always make sure it is paper specific for watercolor.

What material do you use to stick the paper so it does not rip?

I use washi tape, a Japanese-made scotch tape you can buy in art and stationery shops.

Where should I buy my material?

It depends on where you live. If you are following courses, the community forums in each country usually share their favorite shops. You can find a lot of material in various shops online.

What material do you carry with you when you are traveling?

I like to paint when I am traveling, and I always carry a sketchbook with me. To paint, I use a small travel watercolor set. It’s a great advantage that all the material is limited and compact and does not require much space.

Questions about watercolor techniques

Is it better to start with the background or the objects?

If you have experience painting in gouache or acrylic, you need to know that watercolor works differently. Generally, in watercolor, you work in transparencies, i.e., you add layers to create darker tones. Therefore I would not start necessarily from the background, but from light and transparent elements to darker ones.
Ana Victoria Calderón

Do you need to know how to draw to paint in watercolor?

It is not necessary to know how to draw. As for other mediums, you can create abstract paintings, lettering, or other practices that do not require advanced drawing skills.

The beauty of watercolors is that you can simply paint blobs of color on paper and create exciting textures and effects. Watercolor is more than just drawing, so have a go at it!

How come I get paintbrush streaks on my paper?

This is due to not using enough water. It happens if you start to paint with watercolor after being used to other techniques. Don’t be afraid of water and experiment with it.

How can I preserve my pieces when they are finished?

It depends on the purpose of your work and what materials you’ve used. Some pigments will fade over the years, so consider buying a good quality palette if you wish to preserve your paintings for years to come.
You should also invest in good quality paper, like Arches.

If your painting is going to be digitized, you can use less expensive material. Many of my images are licensed to be used on products. In my courses, I advise on how to digitize your work using software like Photoshop.

Some artists use varnish to protect their pieces; however, this is not something I do.

Can you make a living out of painting watercolors?

Yes! I started by selling my pieces in bazaars and art and design fairs. After a lot of practice, I began to find my own style, and I was able to open my shop online. I now collaborate with publishers; I license my art to be used in different ways; I have published several books; and I teach courses and workshops, such as the ones for Domestika.

What should I do if I experience creative block or don’t know what to paint?

When I’m feeling uninspired, I like to try out other techniques I want to learn. For example, I take ceramics classes. I recommend you look for a Domestika course and experiment with something new. Books are another major source of inspiration: you can find exercises to create new projects there.

If you want to see the full live chat with Ana Victoria, you can find it on the Domestika Live page.

English version by @acesarato

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