Drawing classes help you relax, calm down and escape from everyday, everyday problems into the world of dreams and fantasies. You can start drawing with anything: pencils, gouache, charcoal, oil paints, watercolors. But only a box of watercolor paints familiar from childhood can give a ticket to childhood, a world of fantasy and adventure. What can you paint with watercolors?

Where to start

They will easily help you create a variety of images, landscapes, still lifes, everything your heart desires.

To begin with, you should arm yourself with desire, patience, various brushes, paints, a palette and water containers. Sometimes it is useful to have sponges, paper napkins, as well as simple pencils and sponges on hand. So, what can you paint with watercolors? How to make drawings of the highest quality and professional?

Watercolors - for battle

Both experienced artists and beginners, including the youngest, love to paint with watercolors. It contains natural, harmless pigments. The adhesives in these paints are also created by nature. Mainly used are gum arabic, casein, honey, dextrin, and phenol. The brush is moistened with clean water, then paint is drawn up, and then the intended images begin to appear on the surface of the paper.

What can you paint with watercolors? Thanks to the transparency of the pigments, they are able to convey weightlessness, lightness, and freshness. So, for example, to paint something light, weightless with oil paints, you have to apply several opaque shades one on top of the other until the desired effect is achieved. Watercolor is a universal medium, since thanks to the unique structure of the paints it is possible to reproduce all genres, unique and unpredictable effects. Pigments on paper seem to melt and spread; their mixtures can create various combinations of colors and shades. What can you paint with watercolors for beginners? Whatever the artist’s soul desires.

The question arises: what about gouache? How are they different from gouache? Transparency is what distinguishes watercolor from gouache, where pigments are mixed with white.

There are many interesting ways to paint with this paint. The main ones are described below.

Painting with a flat brush

What can you paint beautifully with watercolors? Let's figure it out. You can paint anything beautifully with watercolors. But there are also unusual ways to do this. There is an interesting method of painting, performed with a flat brush, developed for paints on a wide variety of bases, both water and oil, acrylic. Its principle is as follows: two different colors of paint are applied to the edges of a flat brush.

The work is done on a dry sheet of paper. First, the outline of a square or triangle is drawn to determine the beginning and end of the layer. Next, colors are selected, and a line is drawn from the upper left corner to the right corner (left-handed people start drawing from right to left). With this technique you can create masterpieces! So, plants are often drawn:

• flowers;
• petals;
• floral ornaments;
• snow-covered spruce trees.

Differentiated (in certain areas of the picture) blur

This method is the main one for professional artists. It is done as follows:

What can you paint with watercolors this way? This method is used by artists to depict the sky, large meadows, clearings, water, and various surfaces where it is necessary to convey transparency, lightness and immensity. It becomes possible to convey in the picture all the shades of natural beauty and natural tints. Differential blur helps reveal the richness and magic of natural beauty.

Glazing

What can you paint with watercolors step by step? A method similar to blurring, but in this case the pigment should be applied to a dry sheet of paper. Glazing allows you to adjust the color and tone of the picture and clearly work out the shade transitions. When working with glazing, each color should be dried separately in stages. This is how the background of the drawing is created; if the artist wishes, the sky, sea, or any extensive surfaces are drawn.

"Wet on Wet"

What can you paint easily with watercolors? There is a method developed by European artists that allows you to miraculously paint landscapes and natural phenomena. The secret of the method is that the paint is applied to a wet sheet. The entire canvas is evenly wetted with clean water. The easiest way to do this is with a sponge, but a large soft brush will also work. Next, the necessary strokes are applied with a brush, creating unique shapes, shades, and color transitions in the work.

"Dry brush"

This method requires certain skills and dexterity of the artist. An almost dry hard brush is used here. The paper must also remain dry. A large amount of paint is put on the brush and the elaboration of the images begins. On lumpy surfaces it is possible to create clearly defined marks and create effects similar to pencil drawings.

In this way, both independent works are created, and individual elements that are lost in a dim background are worked out. What kind of drawings can be painted with dry brush watercolors? Very often this method is used to create portraits, landscapes, and still lifes. In a word - wherever detailed elaboration of images is required. A “dry brush” is able to bring clarity and clarity to a drawing, like a pencil - to show the necessary lines and bends, one might say - to write a whole work about what the artist drew.

Washing off

What can you paint with watercolors? There is another unusual way of using watercolor paints, used by professional artists. In this case, the pigment must be washed off after it has completely dried. The part of the work that requires correction is moistened with water. Next, blot this area with a soft absorbent cloth. Excess paint, along with water, will remain on the fabric. This technique creates unusual shapes, curves, lines, adds volume to figures and depth of color.

Painting with water

A layer of watercolor is applied to a sheet of paper. When the paint has dried, take a clean brush, moisten it with water and drop drops of water onto the desired areas. This allows you to create layering, volume, and the illusion of cracking rounded shapes.

Glaze

Light-colored watercolor paints are applied one on top of the other in a certain order: lighter shades are lower, darker shades are higher. The pigment is transferred to the sheet of paper with the finest brush strokes only after the previous layer has dried.

As a result, three-dimensional figures will appear in which all colors will complement each other without mixing, allowing you to see the boundaries of multi-layer paint application.

scratching

A method that allows you to remove individual areas of paint on a dry surface. In some cases, in this way, within one tone, its enlightenment is made.

Disguise

What can be painted easily with watercolors for children? In principle - anything, but in this method there is an element of mystery and riddle that can attract the attention of any child. On a sheet of paper, before applying a layer of watercolor, use wax or paraffin to cover areas that should remain unpainted. Next, the work is done with paints. As soon as all the paint has dried, the wax can be rolled with your hands, with a brush, or left on the canvas.

Addition

A different color is added to the wet areas of the future work, which in a unique way creates illusions and fanciful tints. Using this method, you can create different color schemes that are not possible with conventional mixing of paints on a palette.

A little history about watercolor painting

Even primitive people discovered and began to use natural watercolor pigments. They mixed them with water, applied them to the rocks with their fingers, as well as with simple tools (sticks, bones).

In ancient Egypt, water-soluble dyes were used to create amazing, original paintings on the walls of pharaonic palaces, tombs, and religious buildings; during excavations, intricate watercolor drawings depicted on papyrus were found.

Watercolor paints were known to masters from Japan and China.

The works were performed on silk, as well as on hand-made rice paper. Artists of the Far East painted contemplative landscapes in the traditions of their schools, filling the images with literary allusions and calligraphy.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, a classical technique was developed in England, which incorporated all the most important and interesting things, allowing one to achieve amazing results using watercolor paints. Watercolor pigments were used in the wash technique, allowing light reflections from the paper surface to be transferred to the canvas.

For centuries, artists prepared their own water-soluble paints, keeping their unique recipes secret. In watercolor painting, the surface on which the artist works also plays a big role. The texture of the canvas is also an obvious and important factor in the work of true professionals. The surface texture of the paper changes under layers of paint, the slippery smoothness of pastels, and under the overlay of collages. All these changes need to be felt, perceived as if they were a continuation of the artist himself, and directed in the right direction.

How to learn to paint with watercolors from scratch?

Watercolor painting is one of the most difficult in the world, but at the same time, it is the most delicate, fragile and attractive for beginning artists. What's so special about it? The whole secret is in the transparency of the lines, thanks to which even the slightest color transitions are visible. The wateriness of the pattern, which gives it volume. But how to comprehend this not simple art? How to learn to paint with watercolors from scratch? Before we start drawing, we need to select auxiliary materials. The art school for adults and children in its courses offers professional training in drawing in any technique, but you can learn it yourself. Let's look at the points in this article that will help us with this.

On what paper and what brushes should I paint with watercolors?

1. Paper. It’s better to immediately buy a watercolor one, it’s not expensive (about 40 rubles for a notebook). Its difference from the usual one is in the dense texture of the sheets. Such paper will not swell from water and warp.
2. Brushes. In a painting store, first take two brushes. Small and big. Squirrel fur is well suited for watercolor paints.
3. Palette. The choice of palette is not important; we choose any one. Some artists replace the palette with a small glass; it is practical to use and easy to clean.
4. Paints. Children's honey paints with the addition of lemon and other things - immediately set aside. We won't need them. In the artist store we take any professional paints. Open them and look at the colors, you should like them. You don’t have to take the most expensive ones, it doesn’t matter.

How can beginners learn to paint with watercolors step by step?

How to paint beautifully with watercolors? In order for our watercolor drawings to be of high quality, it is necessary to master several basic techniques.
1.Uniform filling. Draw a square or rectangle on paper. It is better to choose a darker color, it will be easier to see. Place it on the brush and stretch it from one corner to the other. Paint again. Draw the next strip so that it overlaps the previous one. If the first strip does not completely flow into the second, then tilt the sheet of paper. Pick up the paint and continue to paint stripes, maintaining a uniform shade. Rinse the brush in water and squeeze. Smooth out the dark stripes with a brush. Let the drawing dry. If you get a rectangle evenly filled with paint, you've succeeded.
2. Dependence of paint shade on the amount of water. We put paint on the brush and draw the first line, then lower the brush into the water and draw the second one 1 cm from it. Let's continue to dip the brush in water and draw lines until they become as transparent as possible. This exercise helps you feel how much water you need to add to get the desired shade.
3.Gradient. The goal of this exercise is to obtain a uniform transition from dark to light. Load up the paint with a brush and draw a vertical line, then dip the brush in water and draw a second one so that it extends slightly beyond the first and the paint begins to flow. We repeat the same thing again, adding water. We achieve a complete color transition. Run the last strip with just water. Dry your brush and run a roller of paint underneath the fill.

Learn to paint with watercolors step by step using various techniques for beginners

How to start painting with watercolors? It is necessary to comprehend the basics of art. These are certain exercises, by doing which you will master the first basics of painting with watercolors.
1. Wet on wet. Wet a small piece of paper with water. The sheet should be evenly saturated with water. Now take the paint on the brush and brush it over the wet area. Watch how the paint flows. Practice adding more or less paint to a piece of paper. This will be very useful to you.
2. Flow from color to color. First, let's draw any shapes with water. Take, for example, a blue color on a brush and apply it to the figure. Add a little burgundy and yellow. You should achieve a smooth transition from one color to another. If this does not happen, add some water.
3. Layering. Let's draw the background as in the first exercise. Let's wait a little and let it dry completely. Draw a couple of circles of different colors on the background and let it dry. Draw a third layer on the circles.
4. Reception using table salt. Draw a background and sprinkle a little regular table salt on top. We are waiting. The salt crystals gradually absorb the paint and become like stars. The effect is most noticeable in dark areas.
5. Clouds using a napkin. Fill in the background and while the paint is still wet, begin to apply a napkin, giving it a shape. This way we get a texture that resembles clouds. This technique can be used to correct mistakes that you encounter while drawing. Just blot off any excess paint.
6. Splashes. We put paint on the brush and run our finger over the brush over the paper or drip it, forming uneven splashes over the entire surface. It is better to cover the table with a cloth to avoid contamination.

10 common mistakes beginner artists make

1. Love yourself. Many artists begin to scold themselves and overly criticize their paintings. There is no need to do this. If you drew something, praise yourself. Everything you do is only for you and to fulfill your creative needs. The more you enjoy the drawing process, the better you will do.
2. Use comfortable materials. High quality brushes, paper and paint. Then the drawing process will bring you only pleasure.
3. Copy scenes from famous artists. They will serve as the basis of your knowledge.
4. Show your paintings to all your friends, relatives and acquaintances. Donate your painting. Gather like-minded people around you who will support you.
5. Warm and cold colors. Use more cool tones in the distance and warmer ones up close. This will show aerial perspective in your painting.
6. Do not paint the entire background with one paint. Change the tone, mix colors, create color in your painting. Make two or three strokes with one color, add another. The more shades you use, the more interesting your painting will be.
7. Give the painting a chance to dry. This way you will make it more elaborate and deep.
8. Show volume up close. Apply more paint to nearby objects using a palette knife. Make them voluminous.
9. The more colors you mix, the more picturesque your painting will be. Mix in halftones.
10. Decorate paintings with baguettes. It gives the picture additional volume.

WikiHow works like a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. This article was produced by 13 people, including anonymously, to edit and improve it.

This article is intended for beginners, that is, for those who are about to start learning something new, since any road begins with the first step. Just get started and take your time and try to enjoy the process of learning how to draw! Watercolor painting is both enjoyable and a little challenging. It all depends on your approach. Watercolor is one of the most versatile genres of painting, in which you can paint almost anything: from realistic concrete images to abstraction and impressionism. Beginners are advised not to start with the idea of ​​​​creating a masterpiece, but with small steps, gradually and slowly.

Before you feel completely comfortable with watercolors, you will have to paint a lot. Don't give up if your first attempts are less successful than you would like. Mastering the watercolor technique requires a lot of effort and time, but it's worth it!

So let's get started!

Steps

Place a sheet of thick paper on the table. Draw something very primitive with a simple pencil. For example, square or circle

Apply a small amount of watercolor of any color to the white surface of the palette.

Wet the brush a little. If the brush absorbs too much water, remove it with a cloth or shake it lightly.

Drip a little water from the brush onto the paint previously applied to the palette. One or two drops is enough, no more.

Dip the brush into the paint and water that has formed on the palette and pick up a small amount of paint. Next, paint over the geometric figure drawn on a piece of paper. If the paint is too thick and won't spread, dip your brush in water and try again. Continue experimenting with different amounts of water and paint in the mixture until you get the consistency you want. If you want light, dry shades with a dry brush effect, you will need less water. If you want juiciness and brightness, then, accordingly, more, etc. Completely paint over the geometric shape drawn on paper.

Let the drawing dry.

Take a piece of watercolor paper and secure it to the drawing board using special adhesive tape. Use a large brush or sponge to dampen the entire surface of the paper. After this, try applying several strokes of watercolor paint in different colors. See what results are obtained with different degrees of paper moisture when applying different colors of paint.

If you use paper that is too wet, you can end up with a very smooth and light color. Paint of different colors is mixed on paper, allowing you to obtain new shades. Try putting a blue stripe on wet paper next to a yellow or gold stripe, and then a red stripe. You will see how the colors mix, creating uniform color transitions.

Try letting the test design dry until the shine is gone and the paper is still damp. Now the applied stripes will still have soft edges, but will become a little more defined. Once the paint has completely dried, add details with a wet brush on dry paper.

To begin with, try to depict a very simple object that can be multi-colored. Mix up some sky blue paint. Draw a sketch of the hills and tree. First paint them with a wet brush on wet paper. After that, start adding some larger details with a wet brush. Finally, when the paper is completely dry, add fine details with a wet brush on dry paper. That is, the larger the parts, the moister the paper should be.

You can determine that the paper is completely dry by its temperature, which can be checked by holding the back of your hand over the paper, but without touching it. There should be no cold coming from the leaf. In order to acquire the skill of determining temperature in this way, you will need to practice a little. But this is necessary, since any touch can lead to damage to the design and the appearance of greasy stains from the skin of the palms on its surface. Do not remove the adhesive tape until the paper is completely dry. The tape helps the paper not curl, keeps it straight and flat, eliminating the formation of unevenness caused by changes in humidity and exposure to paint.

You can use ready-made watercolor blocks in which all four sides of the paper are glued, like the top edge of a notebook. It's a little more expensive, but very convenient for a beginner.

Try applying light paint to the surface of the paper, and while the paint is still wet, sprinkle salt on it. You'll get interesting effects that can be used to paint landscapes with snowflakes in the sky or lichen on the rocks.

Try drawing on paper with a white or wax pencil, or the tip of a candle, to see how the lines appear when watercolor paint is applied to them.

Try cutting out shapes from adhesive masking film and painting over the resulting stencil to get specific outlines. Anything covered with stencil film will remain unpainted.

Always start your watercolor paintings by painting in the darker areas and outlining the lighter areas. Isolate or mask out anything that needs to remain white. Get used to the "negative image" as this will also help you get more accurate outlines of objects than if you draw them first and then outline the background. Try starting your image of the cup with its surroundings and the background behind the handle, leaving the details of the cup itself for last. You will feel a big difference in image accuracy!

Try the "glazing" technique. Once the watercolor is completely dry, mix a small amount of paint in a contrasting shade and quickly paint over the area. This will change the color and if done correctly will not blur the image. Light golden paint applied by glazing to illuminated areas of the landscape can make sunlight much more expressive.

1. Read books and articles on watercolors and try to get new ideas from them. Watch videos on YouTube and other portals to learn more about watercolor painting techniques. After that, try to draw something you really like. An interesting type of painting is Sumi-E or Japanese ink painting, which transforms beautifully into watercolor drawings.

   • Many instructors begin their courses by teaching the wet-on-wet-paper technique, but it is preferable to begin by introducing the most common technique, wet-on-dry-paper.
   • If you use quality embossed watercolor paper (such as Arches), don't throw away any sketches or failed paintings you made on it. You can always paint over them again with acrylic or gouache or use it as a background for pastel painting. This paper will also look better no matter what you paint on it, and if you paint something beautiful, your painting will last longer without yellowing.
   • Watercolor paints are produced in various forms: in tubes, in pencil form or in pans. There are also watercolor crayons. This article used tube watercolors.
   • Try to find a type of paper that suits your painting style. Different types of paper have different characteristics. Arches paper does not have most of the disadvantages and is the most versatile, even allowing you to wash off a watercolor image, dry it and reuse it.
   • If you use paint in pans, do not throw them away after the paint runs out. You can always reuse the ditches by filling them with paint from tubes, after rinsing them thoroughly, and you will have the opportunity to fill the ditches with your favorite colors without relying on the standard sets in which the ditches are supplied.
   • Don't buy the most expensive paper or natural sable brushes. You can spend a large amount of money on the purchase, but this is not necessary! Quality synthetic brushes, a small palette of good paint (artist paint is better than student paint) and 300gsm cold pressed paper is most suitable for beginning artists. Buy a few supplies to start with and gradually add more as needed.
   • Watercolor pan sets are convenient for painting outdoors or while traveling. They are not easy to mix in large quantities, but they are very useful for wet brush on dry paper. For travel, it is better to choose a brush with a medium or large tip with a pointed tip, included in the sets of paints in cuvettes. However, to draw fine details you will need a smaller brush. A pocket-sized block of watercolor paper is ideal for sketching during travel, class, or lunch breaks. Some sets (like Winsor & Newton) include a water bottle, collapsible palette lids, and so on.
   • One of the best manufacturers of watercolor paints is Winsor & Newton. The Cotman brand is designed specifically for use by beginners. It is cheaper and therefore you can experiment without worrying about high costs. Winsor & Newton Cotman accessories are of excellent quality and are suitable for students.
   • The wet-brush-on-wet-paper method also works well over the wet-on-dry-paper method within the same painting.

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 grain 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 a distinct texture. This type of paper has a high density and is 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 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 to distinguish 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 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 draw a great 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 watercolor painting techniques is not to grab onto everything at once. You need to gradually increase your level of brush control, as well as your ability to correctly handle colors. Some artists prefer to use only soft and warm tones in their works, others, on the contrary, use 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.

If you want to try something new in painting, pay attention to the acrylic painting technique. Canvases created with plastic-based paints have an interesting three-dimensional structure. Painting with acrylic is no more difficult than painting with watercolors. At the same time, the finished painting does not need to be treated with fixing compounds - the paints are highly durable, do not fade and are not afraid of water.

What is acrylic for painting?

Acrylic paints appeared in mass production relatively recently - only 50 years ago. Pigmented acrylic resin quickly gained universal popularity, primarily due to its versatility and durability. It is used not only by canvas painters, but also by interior artists who create paintings on walls, builders and even manicurists.

Acrylic paints come in different varieties. So, to decorate walls or ceilings, it is better to choose special acrylic paint of dense consistency. Three-dimensional images in the interior look colorful, realistic and original. Less concentrated paints, usually sold in tubes, are suitable for creating paintings on canvas. The drawing process for beginners is fascinating; it allows you to fully reveal your artistic talent.

How to prepare the basis for a future painting

Before choosing acrylic paint, take care to prepare the base. You can draw on wooden boards or plywood. You can use a stretcher or regular canvas. The easiest way to paint with acrylic is on paper, so a beginner should first master this canvas.

Choose paper with a dense, rough surface. For you to be able to paint with acrylic properly, the base must be strong. If you choose textured paper, glue a wood backing onto it.

Remove any air bubbles that have formed using a book - the canvas is ready for painting. Canvas for painting with acrylic can be additionally sanded, since the material adheres best to a smooth surface. Beginning painters often wonder whether it is necessary to prime the canvas for acrylic?

If you are working on boards, you will need an acrylic primer, which is sold in art stores. It is a special emulsion with titanium dioxide, which gives whiteness. The primer is applied to the prepared board in several layers and dried for 24 hours.

How to learn to paint with acrylic from scratch

First of all, make sure that the paints are not dry. When applying the first strokes, be sure to moisten the acrylic paint palette with water - you will need a spray bottle for this. There is no need to pour out a lot of acrylic paint at one time. Use absorbent paper, you can put it under the palette.

Observe the transparency of the paint: the more water you add, the more transparent the strokes will be. Paint with large brushes first, starting with large areas. Then move smoothly to the main details. The technique of painting with acrylic on paper or a wooden board requires extreme care and precision. From time to time, look at the drawing in the mirror - this will help you understand whether its proportions are correct.

Many beginners find it difficult to mix acrylic paints with each other. You can use a thinner - it increases the “open” time of the paints, making them easier to compose. You only need to distribute the material with the edge of the brush, and to obtain clear contours of the sketch, you can use regular adhesive tape, which is sold at any hardware store.

Try lightening and darkening shades by adding white or black tones. To clean the palette from acrylic paints, use any product that dissolves plastic - a regular household solvent will do.

Painting with acrylic on paper or wood is a creative process that is a lot of fun. To make it even more enjoyable, follow these guidelines:

Paints become significantly darker when dry. Take this into account when choosing shades for the future canvas. Choose non-toxic materials for work, even if they cost more. Wear an apron while working to avoid getting your clothes dirty.

In addition to professional brushes with long handles, paints and canvas base, stock up on decoupage glue, as well as a convenient spray bottle filled with water.

It is better to use a plastic palette - it is practical and easy to clean. Don't forget to use clean water to rinse your brushes.

Having mastered the technique of painting with acrylic, you will be able to create real masterpieces. A little patience, diligence and the right materials for the job are the key to impressive results.