What Is Watercolor Painting, and What Materials Do You Need to Start?

Peek into the fascinating world of watercolor and learn about pigments and techniques from scratch

Watercolor painting is an ancient technique used to apply color onto paper or cardboard using pigments soluble in water. The technique is based on the overlapping of transparent layers while using the white of the paper to achieve touches of light and effects. Tones in watercolor are achieved by adding or removing water using brushes, sponges, and cloth.

Starting in watercolor is simple; however, the results that can be achieved with this painting technique can be as complex and rich as the history of this art. Find out some of the things you need to know if you are interested in watercolor.

What is watercolor?

Watercolor is simply a colored ground pigment mixed with a water-soluble binding agent. The paint dissolves when water is added, allowing the paintbrush to spread the pigment on the surface. The binding agent for watercolors is usually gum arabic, although some brands use synthetic binders. The binding agent helps the color pigment to adhere, produce a brighter color, and keep the pigment particles together on the paper.

How many and what type of pigments are there?

There are more than 100 pigments, and they can be either natural or synthetic. You can obtain green, red, and blue colors from fruit, vegetables, and spices. They are used for dyeing and painting. Other natural pigments are hard to come by, which makes some colors more expensive. The quantity of the pigment varies according to the grade and quality of the paint.

Can I prepare the pigments myself?

Yes. Some artists do so. For certain art specialists, this is very important. For instance, artists devoted to ancient illuminated manuscripts. They work exclusively with pure natural pigments, as the quality they yield is unequaled. This is the specialty of Scriptorium yayyan (@scriptoriumyayyan), who learned this skill at the Institut Supérieur Européen de l’Enluminure et du Manuscrit in northern France. He teaches this technique in the Domestika course, Elaboration of Artisanal Watercolors.

Why did artists and art lovers favor watercolors before 1900?

There are many reasons. They were easy to transport; transferring images to paper was a speedy process. Like today’s Polaroid photos, watercolors enabled artists to reproduce what they saw swiftly and delicately. Furthermore, thanks to the medium’s versatility, the artists achieved faithful representations of reality, with its colors, hues, and depths.

The technique was also favored by travelers who set out on early expeditions to undiscovered lands. You can enjoy these works on the Watercolour World website, a free antique watercolor archive.

What materials are needed to start painting with watercolor?

- A block of watercolor paper

- Pencil

- Sharpener

- Eraser

- Watercolors and rounded paintbrushes of various sizes (these should include a fine paintbrush to paint details)

- Black India ink

- Acrylic paint or white ink

- A jar for water and a ceramic or plastic palette

As an option, many teachers recommend having:

- Table salt

- Alcohol

- Varnish remover

- Bleach and a variety of inks and watercolors for experimenting

What techniques should be learned first?

When you start out, the basic exercises to practice are transparencies, gradients, creating different types of lines by controlling the brushstroke pressure, and monochromatic painting. Once you master these techniques, you can start painting the world around you and express yourself in watercolor.

If you want to know more about the world of watercolor, sign up for Ana Victoria Calderón’s course, Modern Watercolor Techniques.

English version by @acesarato.

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