Watercolor paints are one of the most loved by artists. Firstly, watercolor has a lot of different techniques, and secondly, with its help you can create a beautiful drawing, even if you don’t know how to draw at all.
These techniques will help beginners learn how to draw, and professionals will refresh their memory and find inspiration and ideas.
1. Painting with a flat brush
Step 1
Draw a square or rectangle to mark the start and end of the layer.
Select a darker shade (it's easier to see) and starting in the top left corner, touch your brush to the paper and gently draw a straight line all the way to the top right corner.
But: Left-handers should draw from the right corner to the left.
Step 2
Fill your brush with paint again.
Start the next stroke from the bottom edge of the first, trying to cover the accumulation of paint that has formed at the bottom of the first stroke.
Hint 1: If the buildup of paint in the first stroke does not flow completely into the second, then increase the angle of your easel to help the paint flow freely.
Hint 2: By increasing the angle of inclination, you also increase the chances of getting uncontrollable paint flows. So try to work faster or have something like a rag or sponge on hand to quickly clean up spills.
Step 3
Repeat the previous step, also trying to cover the accumulation of paint in the top stroke.
Hint 3: You can use the flat edge of the brush to “cut” the beginning of the layer and make it even.
Hint 4: If you want to smooth out the end edge of a layer, then at the end of the stroke, pause and move the brush up and then down as you would with the beginning edge.
Hint 5: If the stroke turns out to be intermittent, then immediately fill the brush with paint and re-stroke it.
Step 4
Repeat the previous steps until the very end. Try to stick to the same paint tone.
Hint 6: You won't believe how different the behavior of brushes, paints and paper can be between different brands. Typically, more expensive and popular brands make your job easier by providing high quality products.
Hint 7: If your strokes are choppy even though your brush is full of paint, you are using paper that is too thick or the paper is too rough in texture. If you come across such paper, spray it with water, blot it with a clean sponge and let it dry. This will make the surface more receptive to your paint.
Step 5
Rinse the brush and squeeze out all remaining water from it. Gently pick up any clumps of paint left from the bottom of the final stroke with your brush, but don't pick up too much paint or you will discolor your drawing.
To create more texture in your design, let it dry at an angle. This will give the paint a more interesting look.
Gradient
Step 1
Draw a square or rectangle. Then dip your brush into a darker shade of paint (mix on your palette) and carefully brush over the stroke.
Step 2
Dry your brush with a sponge or paper towel and dip it again in a lighter shade.
Then draw a new stroke, overlapping the bottom of the previous one. Notice that the left side of the layer has already merged with the previous stroke. Let gravity do its thing.
Step 3
Rinse the brush again and dry it. And then refill the brush with paint and make another stroke. Repeat this process until the very end.
Hint 1: If your stroke breaks or doesn't go on as smoothly as you'd like, quickly refill your brush with paint and repeat the coat.
Step 4
Rinse the brush with clean water, dry it and pick up any remaining paint.
Hint 2: Try this technique by working with different colors and creating interesting transitions.
Watercolor glaze
Step 1
This technique requires improvisation and imagination. Using the example, we will draw an improvised landscape.
First we paint the sky and river with blue paint. We will separate the paint with a small amount of water, this will be a waterfall.
Step 2
Draw the clouds in dark pink and start drawing the mountain in yellow. We will also mark the bottom part of the picture in yellow.
The example uses light and transparent tones so you can see how the layers interact.
Step 3
By mixing cobalt blue and ultramarine blue, we will paint the horizon of the mountain and shade the small yellow slope.
Hint 1: allow each layer to dry. You can use a hair dryer to speed up this process. Keep it at least 25-30 cm away, turn on the cool setting and set the hair dryer to the lightest air flow. No steam or hot air!
Step 4
To shade and add interesting colors, we use orange. With its help we will create the shores in the foreground and shade the sky.
Hint 2: If you get droplets of excess paint, rinse and dry your brush as you did in the previous techniques, and pick up the droplets with it.
Step 5
Please note that the images show different paint brushes. You can use the ones you have on hand.
Take a dark blue color and use it to highlight the top of the mountain, varying the pressure on the brush and turning it to create an interesting texture.
Step 6
Using the same blue color, let's play with the waterfall by drawing some circles. Sometimes visual clichés become your friends.
Let's rinse the brush and pick up the yellow color, we will use it to add visual details to our shores.
Step 7
After the paint has dried, shade the bubbles in the waterfall with a shade of purple. This way we will make them more interesting.
Step 8
We need to link some elements and add trees. In the example, we used round templates for the crowns, but you can draw as you like.
Step 9
We will use brown color to depict tree trunks. We will also use blue to shade the water and sky a little more. Then, using pink, blue and green, we will paint the grass in the foreground.
Step 10
Use a mixture of pink and red to add the final details. Our trees are now bearing fruit, and several fruits lie under them.
If you look closely, you can see how each layer interacts with each other. A darker shade has more power, but when the colors overlap each other, they create an interesting and beautiful combination.
“Wet” technique
Step 1
Wet the paper with water
Step 2
Blot the paper with a clean sponge, removing excess water. Try to achieve an even distribution of moisture throughout the paper, you should get a satin effect.
If the paper is shiny, it means it is too wet, blot it again.
Step 3
We will draw the landscape again. Let's start, of course, from the sky. Using this technique, it is easier to draw the background first, then moving on to the foreground objects.
Step 4
We continue to draw the sky until we start to like it. The strokes will blur, creating an interesting effect.
Step 5
Now let's move on to the grass in the foreground. Using green, we will make several broad strokes, leaving space for the stones.
As the paper dries, the strokes blur less and less.
Step 6
Let's add forms. To do this, we use different shades of green and draw trees on the horizon.
Step 7
Having added the trees, let's try to add texture to them. To do this, use a darker shade of green to create accents.
Step 8
Add stones using gray color. We filled in the gaps in the foreground with this color, leaving some gaps.
Try to use either dark or cool shades. Using both dark and cool shades will create visual dissonance.
Step 9
Let's place accents to diversify the design. Using a crimson tint, we will depict several floral elements in the foreground. Let the crimson flow as it pleases. Then, using a dry brush, remove the color from the middle of the spots.
Step 10
Then drop clean water into the center of these spots to allow them to blend into the grass.
The hardest part about this technique is knowing when to stop. Overdoing it with blurs and colors will result in a messy drawing.
This technique gives a slightly strange but interesting result. A drawing made using this technique has a hypnotizing effect.
Dry brush painting
Step 1
We think the name of the technique speaks for itself. We will need to put paint on the brush, blot it from excess liquid with a paper towel or sponge, and then paint.
First, let's make a pencil sketch. After this, we roughly outline the sky by moving the brush over the surface of the paper.
Step 2
Let's draw trees on the horizon line in green, outlining what will later become our lake.
Then, mixing purple and blue, we will draw the first layer of the tree trunk.
Step 3
Let the drawing dry and add some elements: the reflection of a tree in the lake and the flow of water.
Mixing green and blue, shade the shore in the background of the image and let the drawing dry again.
Step 4
Mix an intense blue with ultramarine and paint a layer on the tree trunk to create shadows and bark texture.
Step 5
Then, using shades of orange, we will depict an autumn landscape by painting over the background trees.
Step 6
Having finished with the previous step, use a light orange tint to depict the reflection of the trees in the water.
Also, mixing gray with blue, we will place dark accents on the trees.
We will also add trees on the other side of the horizon. Let's denote the tree shapes in orange.
Step 7
Let's take care of the water. Use dark green and brown to achieve the desired color. And with wave-like movements we will draw the water in the lake.
Step 8
When painting a lake, change the pressure on your brush to add texture.
Clue: if the brush is too wet, the paint will look flat. Dry the brush to intensify the colors.
Step 9
Let's add some grass under the tree, using the same color as for the grass in the background.
Step 10
Let's add some details to the foreground.
We will also darken the lake a little by adding a blue tint. We’ll also shade the sky with the same color.
Removing moisture
This technique will require several sponges. It is suitable for depicting clouds and soft light. It can also control the behavior of paints.
Sponges
Makeup sponges are best. They absorb well and give an interesting effect.
Try not to rub the sponge on the paper, and if you do, do it very carefully so as not to damage the paper.
Paper towels
With their help you can create sharper highlights. But paper towels absorb huge amounts of paint very quickly. Therefore, they can completely absorb fresh paint.
Paper towels can come in handy if you make a mistake. Then you can quickly remove the paint.
Dry brush
You can use a dry brush to create a design using this technique. To do this, rinse thoroughly and squeeze out the brush. With its help you can create clear lines.
Other methods:
- You can spray water where you want to remove the paint and then soak it up with a sponge.
- Use different fabrics to add texture
- You can use your fingers or other body parts. Skin can also absorb moisture.
Discoloration of dried paint
Watercolor brushes
Use clean water and a cloth, wet the desired areas, gently rub the drawing and remove the moisture with a dry brush. This method allows you to control the areas you lighten.
Brushes for oil or acrylic paint
Stiff bristles allow you to quickly scrape paint off the desired area. But it is worth noting that this method can damage the paper, so control yourself.
Here, just like in the first method, you first need to wet the area and then brush it.
Spray and towel
Take a spray bottle and spray the desired area, and then apply a paper towel to it. This method leaves large light spots and gives an interesting effect.
Sandpaper
It is very rarely used, as it can damage the paper. It's best used at the end to add texture. You don't need water for this method, just rub the design where you want it.
Blades and knives
Can be used to highlight small areas and create crisp lines. This method is also very risky as it can damage the paper.
Sponges
You can also use sponges. Wet the desired area and dry it with a sponge.
It was in this country that special paper suitable for working with watercolors was produced. In the western countries of the continent, watercolor painting was not given due attention for a long time, and only at the end of the 19th century was it given its rightful place in the history of world painting. Using this technique, you can achieve amazing graceful lines, background translucency, and interesting blurry details. All this can give the drawing a mystical effect.
What brushes are needed?
Before you begin to study the technique of watercolor painting, you need to pay attention to the materials for its high-quality execution. The right brushes are the first necessity for those who want to learn how to paint with watercolors from scratch. They must have the following properties: quickly absorb water, have flexibility and the ability to immediately return to their previous shape, and also have smooth, non-brittle hairs. The handles of watercolor brushes are always short. A wide flat brush is used to remove excess paint, since its hairs have increased rigidity. The blur brush is used to paint the background. It is quite large and soft, so it easily changes its shape and does not dry out, holding water and dye in the hairs. Brushes for work can be of various sizes, which vary depending on the technique used.
Paper for drawing with watercolors
The paper you choose is also important. Its quality is easy to determine. If the paper is thick and does not delaminate, and is well glued, then there is no doubt about its quality. With the right choice of paper for drawing, you can paint with watercolors without fear that the water will be slowly absorbed and the colors will become lighter. You also need to pay attention to the graininess of the drawing paper. Fine-grain paper is suitable for accurately conveying fine details. For general work, you can choose medium-grain paper. And to perform specific designs, a coarse-grained one is needed. It has a rough surface and distinct texture. This type of paper has a high density and is quite often made by hand. Paper without grain is not suitable for watercolor painting, as it will warp.
Correctly chosen paints are the key to success
The choice of the right paints is also important for those who are interested in learning how to paint with watercolors. For beginners, the usual school ones are also suitable. But if an immature artist is still focused on a good result, it is better to give preference to professional ones. It will take some effort to prepare to paint in the trays. First you need to drop a little water from the brush into the paint so that it softens a little. The convenience of such paints lies in the fact that there is no need to look for additional containers. If the artist has some experience in watercolor painting, then tube paints will suit him. Then you can create the desired palette yourself.
On the other hand, hobbyists can also use these paints if they buy a ready-made set with many tubes. Although paint sets are sold in sets of twelve and thirty-six, not all colors are used. In any case, there is a need to mix different paints to obtain the desired or unusual shade. In principle, a beginning artist will need no more than ten commonly used tones.
Warm or cool tones
Those who want to learn how to learn how to paint with watercolors need to understand warm and cool tones. If the paint is based on red or yellow, it will be considered warm. And blue and purple shades belong to cold ones. It should be noted that green, purple, gray and black colors have a unique feature and can be classified as either a cold type of paint or a warm one. The initial tone may depend on the characteristics of the color and the influence of surrounding shades. The main colors are considered to be blue, yellow and red. All others that can be obtained by mixing are called derivatives.
Drawing stages
Learning to paint with watercolors step by step is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. First you need to purchase a pencil, preferably with a hard core so that the lines are only slightly visible. Next, sketch out the main details of the drawing. Afterwards you can immediately take up watercolors. There's no need to rush here. First you need to think carefully about what colors and shades are desirable for the chosen pattern. Having decided on the color scheme, you can begin to apply paint. At the first stage, you should paint with translucent colors. After all, adding tone is easier than removing it. To do this, you need to dilute the paint with water. Once the bases are applied, you can add color to make the design richer. To obtain dark tones, blot the brush with a napkin after wetting it in water. Next, the brush is dipped into the paint and lines are drawn on the paper. It is important to remember about shadows, which need to be thought out before you start drawing. This is important to know for future artists who are interested in how to learn how to paint with watercolors for beginners step by step.
Removing borders
In order to get rid of the difference between the shadow and light parts, you need to create a smooth transition. This means that all colors must be mixed. To do this, dip the brush into water so that all remaining paint on the hairs is washed off. Next, you need to dry the brush and make sure that there is no paint on it at all. Then the bristles of the brush must be immersed in water again. After this, the brush is placed on the distinction between the light and dark parts, and a line is drawn. Thus, the clear boundary will blur, and it will be impossible to accurately determine where the shadow ends and the light begins.
Drawing a landscape
Nature lovers who want to learn how to learn to draw should first outline the basic compositional lines on paper. When drawing the sky area, you must remember that this area of the paper is first wetted with water. Next, while the sky area has not yet dried, diluted light yellow paint is applied to its lower part. The upper part is painted red or orange. The boundaries of the shades are erased with a damp brush.
Experimenting with green
How to learn to paint beautifully with watercolors and easily manipulate different colors on paper? It's much easier than it seems. The only difficulty may arise with the color green. Very often, artists have problems using this tone in their works. In order not to make a mistake and choose the right shade correctly, you need to know a few rules. You cannot lighten green with yellow. To mute the rich green, just add a drop of base red. And to give greenery a darker shade, a cool blue tone is often used. Knowing these basic rules on how to learn how to paint with watercolors, you can paint an excellent landscape with a mysterious sky in the background and bright green foliage in the front part of the picture the first time.
The most important thing in learning the technique of painting with watercolors is not to grab onto everything at once. You need to gradually increase your level of brush skills, as well as your ability to correctly handle colors. Some artists prefer to use only soft and warm tones in their works, while others, on the contrary, prefer cold and rich tones. It's not so easy to find your way in creating watercolor masterpieces. The main thing is that the drawing touches the senses, then the hand itself will begin to draw the necessary lines, and the brush will begin to add elegant color shades. Consistency is very important in the question of how to learn to paint with watercolors. You always need to go from simple things to complex ones, at each phase of development, acquire new skills and consolidate knowledge through constant practice.
Master class “Drawing for the little ones.”
Shatokhina Rita Vyacheslavovna, teacher of additional education at the MBU DO “House of Children's Creativity in Kalininsk, Saratov Region.”
This master class is intended for additional education teachers and preschool teachers. The master class will also be of interest to little artists aged 4 years and older and their parents.
Purpose: This master class is a short drawing course for little ones, which shows how to draw with geometric shapes.
Target: creating conditions for acquiring drawing skills.
Tasks: teach your child how to draw familiar images using geometric shapes;
instill the skills to carefully work with paints and brushes;
develop creative imagination and fine motor skills.
The kids who come to my association for classes are still very young, but they really want to draw. From experience working with children, I realized that it is easier for them to draw with geometric shapes. Children draw according to my demonstration, step by step. When starting a lesson, I never tell the children what we are going to draw today. I know from experience that they find it more interesting. In the process, they guess who they are drawing, and this brings them a lot of joy. And everyone’s drawings are different.
Master class on drawing for children “Snail”
Prepare: A4 landscape sheet, watercolor paints, brushes of different sizes, a jar for water and a napkin.
Before we start painting, I tell the children that the paints are sleeping and need to be woken up by gently stroking them with a brush. Let’s wake up the yellow paint first and start painting.
Draw a bun in the center of the sheet, gradually unwinding the brush, and then draw an arc with brown paint.
We turn the arc into a loop.
We draw the horns and paint them over.
Decorating the snail's house.
We draw the eyes and mouth of the snail. Next, the children themselves come up with and decorate the background of the picture: where is the snail?
Children's works:
Master class on drawing for children “Turtle”.
Draw a “bun” in the center of the sheet with yellow paint, and draw 4 loops with brown paint.
The fifth loop is drawn larger in size; we paint over all the loops.
We draw circle eyes, first with white paint, then with black.
Decorate the turtle shell. The child can come up with his own pattern.
Master class on drawing for children “Fish”
We draw a “bun” with yellow paint, draw arcs: above and below, it looks like an eye.
Draw a triangle tail for the fish. Then we decorate the fish with red paint. draw with a brush: mouth, fins.
We draw scales and decorate the tail.
We “print” with a brush: we draw pebbles and water, draw lines with green algae paint.
Draw the eye of the fish with black paint. Black paint likes to play around, so we are especially careful with it.
"Winter meadow".
Take a sheet of blue color, A4 format. We paint the koloboks with white paint. We draw lines, draw snowdrifts.
Using brown paint we paint the trunk and branches of the trees, hands, eyes, mouth and broom of the snowman.
Decorate the drawing with snowflakes. Decorate the snowman: draw a bucket on his head and a scarf. Children complete the drawing and decorate it.
Using the same principle, you can draw an autumn forest, only initially the koloboks will be yellow, orange and green, and leaf fall, we draw by applying a brush, and print. Children's work:
Master class on drawing for children “Hedgehog”.
We draw the “bun” with brown paint.
Draw a triangle nose.
Child's work.
We draw a clearing for the hedgehog, the children fantasize.
Child's work:
Master class on drawing for children “Frog”.
Take a sheet of blue color, A4 format. Draw a “bun” in the center with green paint.
We draw another “bun”, and on top there are two “bridges”.
We draw the frog's legs, draw the children's attention to the fact that the frog's legs differ in their structure, which helps the frog to jump well and stay on even the most slippery surface.
We draw the frog's mouth and eyes. We decorate the picture after talking with the children: where does the frog live?
Master class on drawing for children “Cockerel”.
We draw a large bun - the body, a smaller bun - the head. We connect them with smooth lines, we get a neck.
We draw the cockerel's legs-triangles and tail, lines-arcs.
Use red paint to paint the cockerel's comb (bridges), beak and beard, and apply a brush.
Not only children dream of learning to draw, especially since many adults have talents that remain unrealized. There are various easy techniques that allow you to make drawings with paints for beginners. The easiest way to learn creativity is with gouache; you can also use watercolors or oil paints, but working with the latter requires certain skills.
Artist's kit - components
To learn to draw, you cannot do without paints. It’s better to buy high-quality paints right away, because too cheap paints adhere worse, therefore, the learning process will be less productive. A beginner should not spend money on a professional set: to start drawing from scratch, all you need is basic colors:
- titanium white;
- yellow (lemon, medium yellow, yellow ocher);
- red (carmine, cadmium);
- blue;
- emerald and light green;
- black.
It is easiest to work with gouache, but an adult or schoolchild can easily cope with watercolor. The ideal option is not an ordinary children's one, but a watercolor for artists, which is of the best quality. Budget sets of 24 colors cost 400-500 rubles. In principle, five tones (red, blue, yellow, white, black) are enough for an artist, and the rest can be created by mixing. To combine paints, you need to immediately buy a palette. The shape and material can be any. There are round, oval, square palettes, wood and plastic products on sale. The size of the palette is also left to the user’s choice.
It is equally important to choose a good brush. For beginners, three brushes of different sizes are enough. You can also additionally buy a thin brush for making dotted drawings and small details. The most popular are squirrel brushes - they absorb water well, release it longer, and therefore paint without spots or streaks. This brush is good for glazing or creating clear contours.
A kolinsky brush – round, with a sharp tip – is also suitable for a novice artist. It is also convenient for working out thin contours and elegant details using the watercolor painting technique. The kit must include a flat, wide brush for filling. It is used to create a background or stripes over a large area of canvas or sheet of paper. Over time, fan, linear, and retouching brushes are usually added to the collection of brushes. It is important to inspect the brushes for the reliability of the connection between the bristles and the handle - it should be very strong.
Other accessories in the artist's kit:
- Paper. For watercolor paints, you should buy special paper with low absorption, which will not allow water to wet the sheet before it is completely dry. On plain printer paper, watercolors tend to bleed. The best option is hot-pressed paper; it additionally has a very smooth surface.
- Thinners. Special solvents will be required to dilute oil paints. Typically, linseed oil or turpentine is used for this. It is not recommended to use organic solvents - they spoil the structure of oil paint and remove the beautiful shine. However, to clean paint from brushes you need to buy turpentine and white spirit.
- Canvas. Typically used for painting with oils or acrylics. The stores have ready-made canvases on stretchers made of linen, cotton, and synthetics. Natural fabrics are dense, sag little, and patterns look more beautiful on them. You can also make your own canvas. To do this, you need to buy a stretcher, cover it with fabric, and then prime it. As the primer dries, drag the canvas a little tighter.
- Easel. It is recommended to purchase it if you plan to take up drawing seriously. The easel is placed at eye level, which gives an excellent overview of the painting, helps to work correctly and quickly look for flaws. For small canvases, mini easels are available for sale.
- Protective varnish. It is advisable to coat the painting with varnish, this will help protect it from ultraviolet radiation and make the colors richer.
Also, to create an artist’s kit, you need to buy jars for brushes, wet wipes, and cotton rags. To work with oil, you will need a palette knife - a spatula for thick paint, removing dried material and applying beautiful strokes. It is also worth buying oil cans with clips (single or double) that contain paint and are easily attached to the palette.
Watercolor painting techniques
You need to learn different drawing methods step by step, moving from the easiest to the most complex. At first, most artists use sketching, then they begin to show imagination and create their own masterpieces. It is recommended to start learning how to work with watercolors with the techniques described below.
Painting with a flat brush
If the drawing is invented, you should follow these steps step by step:
- Draw a square or rectangle to indicate the beginning and end of the layer. Use a dark shade to draw a thin line from the top left corner to the top right corner.
- Wet the brush with watercolor. Make the second stroke from the bottom edge of the first line, covering the paint that has accumulated below. You need to work quickly to avoid watercolor drips, or carefully wipe them off with a cloth.
- Repeat this action again with the next line. It is better to use the flat edge of the brush for strokes, which will make the bottom of the stroke smoother. Intermittent strokes must be re-drawn immediately.
- Completely fill in the outlined outline, repeating the steps in the same way. It is important to maintain an even tone of paint and not change the brand of watercolor. On paper that is too thick, the strokes may be uneven. Then it is recommended to lightly sprinkle the sheet with water, blot it, let it dry, and only then start drawing.
At the end of the work, you need to rinse the brush, squeeze it dry, and use it to remove all clumps of paint at the bottom of the last stroke, avoiding discoloration of the drawing. To give the picture some texture, you can leave it to dry on an angle.
Gradient
First, you also need to work out a square or rectangle (in the future this will be the drawing required by the artist). Then you should take the following steps:
- dip the brush in a dark shade of the required color, draw a vertical or horizontal stroke;
- wipe the brush with a cloth or paper napkin, dip it in a lighter shade of the same color, draw a stroke overlapping part of the previous one;
- rinse, wipe the brush, make another stroke (lighter, darker or a completely different color);
- repeat until the figure is filled;
- rinse the brush, dry it, pick up the remaining paint.
Using a gradient, you can create very interesting transitions that form the basis of a future painting.
Watercolor glaze
The glaze technique requires the artist’s imagination; with its help, landscapes, images of autumn and summer, and landscapes come out well. Description of the technique using the example of a landscape:
- paint the sky above and the river below using blue watercolors;
- dilute the paint with water, draw a waterfall;
- make pink clouds in the sky;
- decorate the bottom of the picture and the mountain in yellow;
- let all layers dry thoroughly;
- use dark blue to shade the horizon of the mountain and its top, and you can also use it to beautifully decorate a waterfall;
- make the banks of the river orange, shade the sky a little;
- as the drawing dries, draw bubbles on the waterfall in purple;
- you can draw trees along the banks of the river - trunks in brown, leaves in green;
- tint the sky and water blue;
- Draw the grass in blue and green;
- You can depict trees and fruits underneath them.
The point of glazing is that all layers of paint interact with each other, overlap one another and, when overlapped, give even more interesting effects.
"Wet" technique
Before drawing, you need to moisten a sheet of paper with water. Of course, you need thick paper that won’t sag. Wetting is done using a sponge, having previously wrung it out. The moisture should be evenly distributed over the sheet and not shiny, otherwise there will be too much water on it.
- first draw the background, choosing any light shade;
- draw a vase;
- draw leaves in a vase using yellow, red, orange;
- Apply each new shade after the previous one has partially dried, the blurriness of the lines creates very interesting effects;
- at the end of the work, you can place accents using brown, dark brown, burgundy, and create shadows;
- Use a wet, clean brush to blur the edges a little, but do not overdo it to avoid the sloppy appearance of the drawing.
You should not combine cold and warm tones in one drawing, this will create visual dissonance.
Dry brush painting
It is not difficult to draw using this technique. You need to take the paint on a dry brush, then make a stroke on paper. It is recommended to first sketch in pencil. At first, the sketches will be quite rough - for example, the outlines of the sky, trunks and branches of trees, a river. After the first layer has dried, details are added, shadows are created, and texture is drawn. Then they create a background around it and place the necessary accents.
When drawing, you need to change the pressure on the brush, which will allow you to add or remove texture. It is important that the brush does not remain too wet after rinsing and blotting. Otherwise, the paint will not give a textured effect and will look flat.
No excess moisture
The technique is well suited for drawing clouds and streams of light. Before you start, you need to prepare several sponges or facial sponges. First, strokes are made with a dry or wet brush, then they are rubbed with sponges. It is important not to rub the sheet too hard to avoid damaging the paper. Highlights can be done with paper towels. Afterwards, if necessary, the contours of the drawings and accents are drawn with a thin dry brush.
Discoloration of dried paint
In this case, the already dried drawing is lightened. The desired areas need to be moistened with a cloth and gently wiped with a dry brush. It's best to use brushes with stiff bristles that can scrape up a bit of the paint. Actions must be careful, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the paper. Instead of using a cloth, it is permissible to spray the paper with a spray bottle, and then moisten the moisture with a paper towel. Another option is to carefully rub the design with sandpaper, then you do not need to wet it first.
Gouache for beginners
It is usually recommended to learn to draw with gouache as a child - from 4-6 years old. It is very easy to apply, does not float, and is much easier to work with than watercolor. Gouache drawings can be very diverse - nature, animals, flowers and trees, fruits, etc. Adults paint real landscapes with gouache.
You can make drawings not only on paper, but also on canvas, plywood, wood, fabric, even on stones and pebbles. For this purpose, it is better to purchase not children's gouache, but artistic gouache, which is of high quality. First, a pencil sketch is made, then it is painted over. Start with dark colors, gradually moving to light ones. You need to mix paints taking into account the color wheel, otherwise the result will be a gray tone.
Features of oil paints
Experienced artists greatly value oil paints, which are available in a wide range in specialized stores. The paints contain minerals, organic and synthetic components. They are diluted not with water, but with linseed oil, which gives brightness and richness of tone. Paints take a long time to dry, but the design can be adjusted over a period of time. To dilute dried, thickened paint, a special oil is also used, which is sold in art departments.
Types of oil paints
There are three types of oil paints:
- Highly artistic. They are usually used for professional painting. The price of the material is high due to the excellent quality of the components. For decades, paints do not lose color or fade.
- Sketchy. Suitable for beginners, inexpensive, can be used in different techniques.
- Studio. They have an intermediate price between the two listed options and are suitable for artists and beginners.
Oil paints can also be transparent or opaque. The latter are denser and do not allow light to pass through. If the packaging is marked with an “*”, this material is very durable and lasts a long time. The more stars, the higher the quality of the paint.
Rules and techniques of drawing
The oil painting looks very beautiful. Each stroke looks on its own, although achieving such an effect is quite difficult. There are two main techniques: one coating (alla prima) and several layers. To apply multi-layer paints, you will have to try - work quickly, do not dilute the material, know its properties and how one tone will look on top of the second. Oil consumption for multi-layer application is usually large.
A single-layer pattern has its disadvantages. So, over time, brushstrokes can crack due to paint shrinking, so most professionals dry the first coat and apply at least one more. This way material costs can be reduced.
- the lighting must be good, otherwise there is a risk of creating unnecessary shadows in the drawing;
- First you need to draw a contour, then apply oil strokes along the lines;
- colors can be mixed, knowing the basic principles of combining tones;
- Usually they paint pictures starting with bright elements, highlighting the darkest and lightest points;
- after completing the sketch, outline the contours and details, make the necessary accents;
- the finished painting should be allowed to dry for three days, but on the second day you can make some edits;
- After drying, the canvas should not be rubbed or touched with hands.
Acrylic paints combine the properties of oil and watercolor; they do not fade and are not afraid of water. You can apply layers directly on top of the previous ones without waiting for them to dry. To begin with, it is better to buy a set of 6 colors, then expand to 18. You should paint with acrylic on paper, canvas, fabric, glass, plastic, and stones. Dilute the paint with water and solvents. The following techniques are used:
- dry – on paper, canvas;
- wet - on a dampened canvas;
- glazing - applying a thick layer and then shading it;
- impasto - painting with clearly distinguishable strokes.
To give the drawing a complete look, you can apply individual strokes with felt-tip pens, markers, pencils, and pastels. First they do simple pictures, then they move on to still lifes, views from the window, and portraits. For learning, it will be useful to use the abstraction technique - making spots and adding details, giving them an image.
Tips for working with acrylic are:
- You should have a spray of water nearby to wet the quick-drying paints;
- by adding water, you can make a more transparent material from acrylic paint;
- Do not add too much water; after drying, the paint may crumble;
- Before wetting the brush in paint, you need to dry it;
- adding a solvent rather than water will help slow down the drying of the material;
- To preserve the design, it is coated with varnish.
Drawings on fabric
It is quite difficult to make fabric drawings; it is better to practice on a different basis. If you have experience, it is quite possible to paint on silk, synthetics, and natural fabrics. First, the fabric needs to be washed, ironed, stretched over a frame or placed on a flat base. Place oilcloth under the fabric and make a drawing with a special felt-tip pen for fabric. Then do artistic painting. The easiest way is to work using ready-made stencils, but you can make a drawing yourself. After a day of drying, you need to iron the product, after 2 days it can be washed.
Paintings on canvas
For acrylic, canvas is the ideal base. The paints must be prepared in advance and diluted with water. If mixing is planned, it is better to use a special solvent, otherwise the material will dry out quickly. The palette should be periodically sprayed with water. They begin to draw the largest details, and as they draw smaller lines, change the brushes to thin ones. The norm for diluting paints with water to create more transparent tones is less than 20%. 
Drawings on paper
It’s worth trying drawing on paper for the first time. Since the structure of the paints is dense (it is, in fact, liquid plastic), ordinary thin paper will not work. It is better to take cardboard or special thick paper. Drawings can also be made on paper wallpaper that is already pasted on the walls. This is a popular design technique that allows you to decorate a plain material and give the room an original look.
Glass painting
Pictures on glass look very beautiful, reminiscent of finished stained glass. The outlines of the future drawing are made with a thin marker according to the sketch, which is placed under the glass. Afterwards, paint is applied in layers, forming the desired color combinations, accents, lighter and darker areas. At the end of the work, acrylic varnish is applied to the painting.
Colors give endless scope for imagination. Learning to draw is not difficult. Even without talent, you can make beautiful drawings with enough diligence and perseverance.