Drawing classes help you relax, calm down and get away from everyday life. 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
Easily help you create the most different 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
People like to paint with watercolors experienced artists, and beginners, including the smallest ones. 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 gets wet clean water, then the paint is collected, 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, spread, and their mixtures can create various combinations 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 drawing method performed flat brush, designed for paints on a wide variety of bases, both water-based and oil-based, 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. Typed onto the brush large number paints and the development of images begins. On lumpy surfaces it is possible to create clearly defined marks and create effects similar to pencil drawings.
In this way they are created as independent works, and individual elements that are lost in the 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 one unusual way the use of 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, bends, lines, gives volume to figures, 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 a 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 various color solutions, which are impossible with the usual mixing of paints on a palette.
A little history about watercolor painting
More 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 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, England developed classical technique, which has absorbed all the most important and interesting things, allowing you to achieve amazing results with the help of 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.
This lesson shows how to work with color and techniques for working with a brush, as well as step-by-step work on the background, middle and foreground.
For beginners, it is best to use inexpensive acrylic or oil paints. For example, acrylic paints from the company "Sonnet"
This picture was chosen for the lesson. Simple night landscape with some brush work on the thistle in the foreground.
This is a sketch. The horizon is below the middle, two mountains, an area with waves and a sand dune in the foreground. Sketch it casually, just as you see in the photo.
Mix some cadmium yellow light with white and start painting the sky.
Add cadmium yellow dark and more cadmium yellow light to get this color.
Apply paint where I am in the photo and, accordingly, make a color stretch.
Add cadmium red light and black to the final color to get the color shown in this photo.
Fill the mountain behind with color.
Add cadmium red light and blue to get the next color.
Write another mountain like you see in this photo.
Add the same colors for the horizon.
Fill the back area with paint as you see in this photo.
Add black, cadmium red light and blue to get this color.
Make a mixture like for the mountains or use some of what is left and continue writing.
Mix blue and red until you get this color and fill in with paint where you see in the photo.
Here more black, red and blue are mixed to create a darker color. Using upward strokes, blend the paint onto the canvas to create the fluffy outline of soft grass.
Here I used a fan brush to add fluffiness. A fan brush works very well for this process. Now you need to wait for everything to dry before continuing.
Make sure the surface is dry before taking the next step. For the main color of the foam, mix blue, a little black and white.
After the main wave and a few at the back are painted, I add the foam pattern in the foreground.
This is what your underpainting should look like. Leave to dry before continuing.
Using a flat brush, mix black, phthalocyanine green and cadmium red to create dark green color. Red dampens the brightness, but leaves a green tone.
Draw the lines as you see in this photo. The trick is to make them look more natural, they need to be placed at different levels. Try to avoid very curved and very straight lines. Practice on a separate canvas if you are unsure.
We begin to paint the base of the thistle, moving the brush from below from the middle to the side.
Now mix Neopolitan yellow with light cadmium yellow to lighten the dark green mixture. We will use the resulting color to highlight the lightest areas in the foreground.
Add the thistle stems as you see in this photo. Let them overlap each other under different angles to achieve maximum natural effect.
Using the same color, bending and turning the brush, we paint the leaves with strokes. This takes practice, so practice on a different canvas to get the effect right in both directions: left and right.
Here I used Alizarin Crimson to change the color of the leaf. This adds interest and play to the foreground.
Mix in a light blue color for the thistle flowers. Use blue or phthalocyanine blue.
We write with sharp movements from below so that the flower seems to dissolve in the darkness. Wipe your brush and repeat, so you won't get dark color above. Use white and yellow to highlight bright areas.
The lesson is over.
It may take you several times to get the strokes right. Don't give up, keep going. Don't be afraid of mistakes because you will make them anyway. Paint this picture 3 times and the fourth time you will get it right. Use art panels, they are inexpensive and good for practice.
You can paint anything with watercolors - from realistic portrait to invented alien worlds. Many people think watercolor is a complex artistic tool. But all you really need to learn how to paint with watercolors is to just start. We have selected 11 tips for you, thanks to which you will become 11 steps closer to understanding the art of watercolor drawing.
1. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty!
If you've never drawn before, it's time to get started. Open the album, create interesting textures and stains with watercolors so as not to freeze in front of a white sheet of paper. Start from them in search of a plot. Color pages can be bright and exciting or create a calm, melancholic mood. Color or texture may suggest the next step - or maybe you're itching to paint without it.
Illustration from the book “The World of Watercolors”.
2. Find your watercolor paper
The result of the work largely depends on the quality of the watercolor paper. Go to a bookstore and select 5-10 different sheets of watercolor paper “to try.” Be sure to make notes on each sheet (type, weight of paper and results of working with it). A suitable paper weight for beginners is 300 g/m2, some professionals prefer 600 g/m2. There are other types of watercolor paper, such as NOT paper and rough texture paper, or cold pressed paper.
3. Use professional paints
Even novice artists should purchase professional watercolor paints. Unlike cheap analogues art paints lay down beautifully and spread on paper.
“I prefer tubes rather than pans: firstly, you don’t have to wait for the paint to soften and become workable, and secondly, it’s easier to create rich, dark mixtures with tube paint.”Billy Showell
It is true that artist paints are more expensive, but they will also last longer. They dilute better and therefore are not used up so quickly.
Advice. Try new colors and others art materials as often as possible. Experiment. Don't become a hostage to one habit
4. Observe and consider before you take up the brush
Before drawing, study the structure of the object. Look at it as if you were seeing it for the first time, look carefully, take notes, sketches, get familiar with textures and details that you have never paid attention to. For example, observe the spiral arrangement of the leaves or the whorls along the veins of the stem.
You get double benefits from drawing plants - first you meditate while looking at it, and then you get real pleasure from drawing. Isn't it wonderful? @miftvorchestvo
Try to mentally break down what you see into its components. Select the main shapes. See how they overlap each other. Imagine the landscape as a stage set. Pay attention to what is closest and what is further away.
5. Learn to mix paints
Try mixing colors to get an idea of what shades you can achieve with your paint set. Mix two colors first, then add a third to them. Experiment!
You will love creating such beautiful colors and variations of shades and tones, the number of them is almost inexhaustible.
Focus on yourself. You can do or very realistic drawings or very non-trivial. Your task is to collect paints whose properties you will know, which will allow you to create the desired shades with a guaranteed good result.
By mixing pure pigments, you can create cool, warm or grayish variations of the same color. Illustration from the book “Song of Colors”
6. Start with sparing expression
If you make pencil sketches or sketches, you can diversify your watercolor drawings by adding accents. You don't have to color the entire page; sometimes a few well-placed brush strokes create the most powerful effect.
Careless dotted watercolor strokes in sketches are the signature style of Felix Scheinberger. Illustration from the book “Watercolor Sketching”
7. Use liquid primer for watercolors
Liquid primer for watercolors is applied to the paper before starting work and allows you to easily remove dried paint if necessary. This is especially important when working with intense or persistent pigments: you don’t have to worry about “staining” the paper in the area of highlights. Before using it, practice in a sketchbook, as the surface for drawing will be quite slippery.
To remove paint from those areas where it was not needed (you accidentally went beyond the edges or you need to create highlights), simply wash off the paint with a clean, dampened brush or sponge.
8. Learn the art of glazing
Artists call glazing a technique for obtaining deep iridescent colors by applying translucent paints on top of the main one. The glazing technique is an excellent way to convey the finest color gamut. The paints are applied very delicately, layer by layer, and after drying the details of the last layer are worked out.
Illustration from the book “Song of Colors”
9. Dry brush technique
This technique can be used to draw animal fur or small hairs on fruits such as kiwi.
Apply paint to the brush and remove excess with a napkin. Straighten the brush hairs. Apply paint to a dry surface previously painted in the background color. Work in small strokes in one direction, imitating hairs on the surface.
Kiwi using dry brush technique. Illustration from the book
From the article you will learn how to paint flowers with gouache, create a picturesque rustic and mountain landscape And. At the end given useful tips, which will help make the work easier and do it as accurately as possible.
Contents of the article:
It's nice to look at paintings created by artists. Many people like to admire the paintings and mentally transport themselves to where the plot takes place. But not everyone knows that if you wish, you can become a painter and create canvases for yourself, your family, and give them to your friends. If you like this type of creativity and will be able to transfer scenes onto canvas, then this activity can be profitable if you sell paintings. So let's draw, and perhaps you will be so captivated and enjoy this activity that it will become your favorite hobby and even a source of income.
How to draw flowers with gouache
This is one of the most spectacular types of paint. Paintings made using this technique look voluminous and look great. Sometimes a pencil sketch is first made, then the contours are painted over - the dark elements are done first, then increasingly lighter ones.
If you need to draw a landscape in which most of the sky is occupied, then using the filling method, its background is painted, and then the details are drawn.
If you want to reproduce poppies like this on canvas, start your drawing by creating a background. To work you will need:
- gouache;
- palette;
- paper for watercolor or gouache;
- brushes;
- cloth;
- jar of water.
So, before depicting flowers in gouache, starting from the upper right corner, touch up a sheet of paper with straight diagonal movements, not reaching the bottom. Here, paint it with light green paint.
Now mix green and yellow colors, draw a few light blades of grass in the foreground of the canvas. Add yellow highlights. Watch the video at the end of the article, which explains step by step how to draw flowers with gouache.
Now in a cell of the palette, mix white paint with a small amount of emerald and add a few light highlights to the canvas.
Now make a light pink paint, adding a little white to the red, and use a thin brush to apply highlights to the flowers.
To paint with watercolors, you can use various brushes, each of them has its own number. The thicker the brush, the higher the number. To draw the background, use voluminous wide brushes, and thin ones to depict small details.
Next you need to mix green and white paint to paint the buds and petals. Now draw the core of the poppy in black. Add a little green to the white paint and paint highlights on the buds and stems.
Here's how to paint flowers with gouache to make them look as realistic as possible. With the help of this paint, picturesque paintings are also created.
How to easily draw a winter landscape with gouache
For beginners, such a drawing should not cause difficulties, since it is very easy to create.
For work take:
- a set of artistic gouache, consisting of 12 colors;
- sheet of A 3 format;
- 2 flat pig bristle brushes No. 9 and 18;
- palette;
- a jar of water.
For application thick paint a palette knife is used on the canvas, as well as for mixing and cleaning the palette. Using it, paint is applied in relief or even strokes.
This is the tool you will need to draw mountains. If you don't have a palette knife, then replace it with a small, dull knife. You can adapt the most unusual items, for example, use a slightly sharpened ice cream stick, or make a palette knife from an old business card holder.
Mix purple, blue and white paints. Using diagonal movements from right to left, apply several confident strokes on the canvas. The paint in this place should be in a thick layer. Let it dry and apply over white. Then continue painting the landscape with gouache.
Now mix dark green and purple and use the resulting paint to paint fir trees on the left side of the canvas. To do this, make horizontal strokes with a large flat brush, they should be longer at the bottom than at the top. Draw the tops of the Christmas trees.
Next, use whitewash to make them snowy. Also draw white clouds on background. On the right you can depict another Christmas tree. Below the line of the mountains, draw the outlines of the forest and create snowdrifts in the foreground using white paint. She will also help you draw them in the center of the landscape.
Here's how to paint with gouache so you can get something like this painting. If you liked the theme of mountains, you can create several more landscapes, first making a pencil sketch.
How to draw a landscape step by step
If you have never done this before, then you can enlarge the presented pencil drawing, attach a sheet of paper to it and simply redraw it.
Here we see all the necessary outlines:
- clouds;
- foreground vegetation;
- bushes
Draw the clouds using white. Apply a few strokes of the same light paint to create white highlights in the sky.
For the mountains you will need a brown tone, here you can use some green strokes to paint the vegetation.
Using the same paint, depict a meadow. Dark green strokes will fall on the canvas in the form of bushes. The same paint will help you paint the stems of plants; you will paint flowers using yellow.
How to draw nature with gouache
We will also begin to create nature with pencil sketch. To simplify the task, also attach a piece of paper to the screen and redraw. Now green depict the forest in the center and left in the background. While this paint dries a little, apply blue to the sky and the flowing river.
Apply a light green tone to the lower part of the forest. Now let's work with yellow paint. With this tone, gild the tops of the trees and the lower part of the forest on the left.
Cover some trees with dark green paint, as shown in the photo. When it dries, apply a yellow or light green tone to make the painted trees more realistic.
Paint the coastal rocks dark purple, then apply gray and crimson tones here. Add small details to the trees, and the gouache painting, depicted in stages, is ready.
You can draw a beautiful landscape by watching the video. A step-by-step lesson will help you create a different picture.
Village landscape in gouache
This is what you will get as a result of your work. But first you need to work a little. Paint the sky with blue, white and burgundy paint. Mix it directly on the sheet, adding water.
While this part of the painting is drying, wash your brush. You need to use it to draw the trees located in the background and the ground. Use dark brown paint to depict a tree trunk, and a thin brush to depict branches.
But what is a rural landscape without rural houses? Draw them in the background using orange, black and brown.
You will create foliage using the following interesting method. Take a brush with round bristles, dip it in yellow, burgundy, green and tap the paper to paint the foliage.
Draw the flowers in the same way, but using red, yellow, and pink paint.
You've got a colorful village landscape that will decorate a wall in your room or become a much-needed gift. You have learned how to paint with gouache. In conclusion, check out some useful tips that will help you do it correctly and accurately.
When using gouache, follow these tips:
- Gouache is sold in tubes and small jars. Buy it in the packaging you like best.
- You don't have to buy a lot of flowers at once. The main thing is to purchase the necessary ones: white, blue, black, yellow, red, brown. You can create some others by mixing these paints.
- Before you apply colors to the canvas, even if you don't mix gouache, apply it to your palette first. This way you won’t make a mistake in color and can make the paints the desired thickness by adding the required amount of water.
- If the gouache cracks, add a little gum arabic to it and stir well.
- Wait for them to dry before adding additional coats of paint on top of the first or lower ones.
- Since gouache is water-based, when you're done and the paint is dry, coat it with varnish. It is better to process each color separately, thoroughly rinsing the brush, which will absorb the paint.
Having learned useful tips and read about how to paint flowers and landscapes with gouache, you will be able to create amazing paintings using this paint and have a pleasant time doing an interesting activity.
All children love to draw. But sometimes things don’t turn out the way a child wants. Or maybe he doesn’t have enough familiar ways to express himself? Then you can inspire him to experiment with different techniques, among which there is sure to be a favorite one. After this, your child will probably want to invent something new.
Bright Side I have collected the most interesting techniques for you.
Dot patterns
First we draw the simplest squiggle. Then using cotton swab and paints (gouache or acrylic) we make intricate patterns as the heart desires. It is better to pre-mix the paints and dilute them slightly with water on the palette.
Frottage
A technique familiar and loved by many since childhood. We place an object with a slightly protruding relief under a sheet of paper and paint over it with pastel, chalk or an unsharpened pencil.
Foam prints
Having dipped a sponge in thick gouache, the child can draw landscapes, bouquets of flowers, lilac branches or animals.
Blotography
One option: drop paint onto a sheet and tilt it in different directions to create an image. Second: the child dips the brush into the paint, then places the blot on a sheet of paper and folds the sheet in half so that the blot is imprinted on the second half of the sheet. Then he unfolds the sheet and tries to understand who or what the drawing resembles.
Hand and foot prints
It's simple: you need to dip your foot or palm in the paint and make an imprint on paper. And then use your imagination and add a couple of details.
Paint patterns
For such an application you need to apply a thick layer of paint onto the paper. Then, using the opposite end of the brush, scratch patterns on the still wet paint - various lines and curls. When dry, cut out the desired shapes and paste them onto a thick sheet of paper.
Fingerprints
The name speaks for itself. You need to paint your finger with a thin layer and make an imprint. A couple of strokes with a felt-tip pen - and you're done!
Monotype
A design is applied to a flat, smooth surface (for example, glass) with paint. Then a sheet of paper is applied, and the print is ready. To make it more blurry, the sheet of paper must first be wetted. Once everything is dry, you can add details and outlines if desired.
Scratch
The highlight of the work is that the drawing needs to be scratched. A sheet of cardboard is densely shaded with spots of multi-colored oil pastels. Then you need to mix black gouache with soap on a palette and paint over the entire sketch. When the paint is completely dry, use a toothpick to scratch the design.
Air colors
Marbled paper
Paint a sheet of paper with yellow acrylic paint. When it is completely dry, paint over it again with diluted pink paint and cover immediately cling film. The film needs to be crumpled and gathered into folds, since they are the ones that will create the desired pattern. We wait until it dries completely and remove the film.
How to use acrylic paints correctly? This is a simple science, but it has many significant nuances. There is practically no need to learn how to apply them correctly on the chosen base - acrylic painting does not require any special techniques. Quite the contrary - with these paints you can work in any style and on any surface. Acrylic is perfect for working with both a palette knife and regular art brushes. The structure of the paints allows you to draw thin graceful lines and broad strokes in the picture with equal success.
Today we will look at what is best to paint on with acrylic paints.
How to paint with acrylic paints on canvas?
Canvas - this is an ideal base for acrylic, because on it reveals the best qualities of this paint. Among them are:
- water resistance - acrylic is essentially a liquid plastic, which is why after drying it is completely waterproof, and it is at least very difficult to damage it in conditions of high humidity;
- The transparency of the paint can vary depending on your wishes. This is very simple to do - just dilute it with water (however, no more than 20%);
- mixing. In order to get the desired shade, darken or slightly lighten the tone of acrylic, simply mix several of the desired colors.
Thus, to the question: “Is it possible to do acrylic painting?”, the answer will be unequivocal - of course, yes. Moreover, you can work in absolutely any technique, since acrylic is ready for any challenge.
If you paint with acrylic paints on canvas, then you need to adhere to the following rules:
- Before you start painting, make sure your paints are in good condition. Keep in mind that acrylic dries quickly, and the drier it is, the more difficult it is to work with. Therefore, do not forget to periodically wet the palette with water.
- Start with drawing large details, change large brushes to thinner ones. Think about it: perhaps it will be more convenient for you to paint large areas with a more transparent tone, and make the details bright.
- Periodically dry your brushes with a clean cloth.
- Don't be afraid to mix it up different colors and mix the paint with water in the correct proportion (no more than 20 percent water).
How to paint with acrylic paints on nails?
The water resistance and vapor permeability of acrylic attracted the attention of manicurists. They didn’t even doubt whether it was possible to paint with this paint on their nails, because it significantly expanded their capabilities. One tube of this wonderful decorative material could simultaneously serve as a base layer, translucent toner and modeling paste. It also has another very attractive property - it can be mixed with different solid particles, such as glitter and modulators. There are a lot of master classes on the Internet that will help you learn step by step how to make elegant drawings with acrylic paints on gel polish.
Of course, discussions about whether it is possible to paint with acrylic on nails coated with gel polish do not subside, because many still consider this material too toxic for such close contact. However, we hasten to reassure you - high-quality artistic paint does not pose any threat to health.
How to paint with acrylic paints on paper?
Is it possible to use this paint to paint paper sheets, and what paper is best to do this on? That's enough frequently asked question for those who use acrylic for the first time. And this is not surprising, because for this coloring material the right basis very important. The fairly dense structure of the paints and some features of their use do not allow working with thin and smooth leaves. Therefore, if you want them to fit correctly on the base, opt for thick embossed paper or cardboard. This rule will answer you one more very important question: Is it possible to paint with acrylic on wallpaper? This technique of artistic painting on walls is often used in designer renovations. And all because a small drawing made by a master can completely transform a room.
What wallpaper can you draw on? The answer to this is not so simple. On the one hand, the chemical characteristics of acrylic make it absolutely compatible with any material, on the other hand, painting embossed textured wallpaper is quite difficult (but at the same time realistic). Thus, when deciding on painting finishing materials, first of all focus on the complexity of the design and your level of skill.
How to paint with acrylic paints on fabric?
As mentioned earlier, acrylic is absolutely compatible with any base material, so the answer to the question of whether it can be used to paint on silk or any other fabric is clear. Of course you can. However, before you start working on clothing, pay attention to the material it is made from. Natural fabric dyed with synthetic dye is more resistant to frequent washing and constant mechanical stress than synthetic fabric. Therefore, it is the composition of the material that will primarily determine whether something can be drawn on clothes, and what kind of thing it is better to do it on.
To apply an acrylic design to fabric, use step-by-step painting or ready-made stencils (this will not particularly affect the overall result). If you are working with such dyes for the first time, then it makes sense to first practice on an old T-shirt. This way you will accurately determine the brush number you need, as well as the desired paint thickness.
What can you paint on with acrylic paints?
As you already understand, the number of materials that acrylic is compatible with is truly amazing. You can draw with it on almost any surface without any fear of possible consequences. The only question that is in doubt is: is it possible to make drawings on the face? There is no doubt about the excellent quality of the drawing, but whether you can wash it off later is questionable. However, the Internet is replete with ideas for painting with acrylic on leather (or rather, products made from it).
A lot can be said about the versatility of acrylic paints - they can be used to paint on felt boots, on ceramics and on a concrete wall with equal success. They are even used on an industrial scale, making designs on factory dishes or painting jewelry.
How to paint with acrylic paints on wood?
When painting on wood, it is worth remembering that this material should not be painted without a primer - the material will absorb too much paint, and the drawing will turn out uneven. This rule applies exclusively to natural unpainted wood. When applying a pattern to an already painted surface, no primer is needed. However, when painting on plywood, it is still worth applying an adhesive layer - it will ensure reliable adhesion of the decorating material and the smooth base.
We paint flowers with acrylic paints
The technique of drawing a rose or tulip step by step with acrylic is no different from that used when working with oil paints, watercolors or gouache. This is often used when restoring furniture, accessories and jewelry. New material will be able to replace other types of dyes, and besides, it is also much stronger than them.
Acrylic coloring pigments are widely used in restoring toys. With their help, you can correct or re-draw the doll's eyes and lips, or even completely redraw her face.
You can also paint with acrylic abstract paintings, use abstraction to decorate a vintage box or transfer it to an old T-shirt. To be honest, there is not much difference in what to draw with this material (winter, clouds, and a Christmas tree turn out equally well).
There are no special secrets to learning how to paint with acrylic from scratch. However, it is worth knowing some tricks of working with acrylic.
Firstly, you need to make sure that the paint is always wet - acrylic dries very quickly.
Secondly, always work in overalls - then it will be almost impossible to wash off the coloring pigment.
Thirdly, monitor the quality of the paint. The thing is that unscrupulous manufacturers often use harmful and toxic ingredients. This is why it is so difficult to answer the question of whether pregnant women and small children can paint with such paints. This can be done if you completely trust the manufacturer and use well-ventilated areas for work.
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7 basic techniques for painting with watercolors, acrylics, gouache
A box of paints can give exciting journey into a fantasy world. Amazing images, enchanting landscapes, fairy-tale heroes. You can learn how to create drawings with pencil and paints according to the instructions, step-by-step recommendations. Prepare a set of brushes and paper, sponges and napkins, simple pencils and sponges. Be patient and get started! Drawings with paints for beginners - that's what we'll talk about today.
Let's look at drawing methods for beginners with three types of paint:
Study this review and choose what you will be more comfortable working with when doing drawings for beginners. So, let's learn to paint!
How to paint with watercolors correctly
Beloved by many artists, young children and fairly experienced adults, watercolor can be used for painting in the most different techniques. How to learn to draw this magic paint, even a novice artist can easily understand. Beginners will be able to quickly master drawing techniques, and professionals will have inspiration and a whole galaxy of new ideas.
There are 7 basic watercolor painting techniques for beginning artists.
Paint with a flat brush
First, you need to draw an image of a square or triangle so that the beginning and end of the layer are marked. Then choose darker shades. Immediately use the upper left corner. Gently touch the brush to the paper, draw a line straight to the top right corner and draw a masterpiece!
Left-handers should draw in the opposite position - starting from the right corner.
Gradient
Start drawing with a square or rectangle. Choose a darker shade by mixing on the palette. Next comes a layer of light shade, it will merge with the previously drawn one to achieve an interesting combination of color transitions.
Glaze
Improvise, fantasize: a combination of light transparent tones will allow you to get great combinations.
You need to wait for each layer to dry.
"Wet" technique
For spectacular designs, you need to evenly distribute the moisture over the surface of the paper - this will provide a satin look. Start with the background. This drawing technique allows you to achieve a hypnotizing effect.
Dry brush painting lessons
First you need to sketch the image with a pencil. You need to apply the paint after you have removed the excess with a napkin.
No excess moisture
You will need to stock up on sponges. Excess moisture must be removed from the sheet. Do not rub the paper vigorously. This job can be done well with makeup sponges.
Technique for bleaching paint that has dried
You will need clean matter and water. It is necessary to wet the area of the drawing, gently wipe and remove any remaining moisture using a dry brush.
Techniques for using different paints
How to paint with acrylic
Acrylic paint perfectly combines the best properties of watercolor and oil, and after drying the paintings are not afraid of moisture and sunlight. Simple drawings Even a child can do this with such paints.
The universal properties of acrylic lie in the ability to apply each subsequent layer to the previous image. Unlike watercolor, you don't have to wait for a layer to dry before applying a new one. Read the easy instructions and get started!
To begin with, you can learn to use six colors. Later, the palette will gradually expand to 18 shades. Also prepare:
- The surface for the painting is wood, glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, canvas.
- A set of brushes made of synthetic and natural materials.
To obtain high-quality paint, it must be diluted with a solvent or water. Undiluted paint is used on synthetic surfaces and dries faster.
There are several techniques for painting with acrylic:
- Wet - on a canvas that has been moistened with warm water.
- Dry - using several brushes.
- The method of glazing in layers is to apply a thick layer and then paint a picture.
- “Impasto” – similar to oil paints, with wide, clearly visible strokes.
For a drawing, a novice artist needs to choose a base surface and paint in a jar or tube. Choose a drawing technique that interests you. Prepare a palette of colors.
Synthetic brushes are more suitable for working with undiluted paints. If you choose a watercolor technique, it is better to use natural bristles.
At the end, you can additionally apply strokes with a felt-tip pen, ink, marker, gel pen, pencil. Even a child can master the simplest drawing technique from scratch.
Once you master the basics of the technique, you will be able to draw on fabric and glass, create aerial landscapes or portraits. Even painting your favorite T-shirt will be easy if you learn how to work with acrylic.
On video: step-by-step acrylic painting lessons.
How to draw with gouache
Children master drawings with gouache paints for beginners in early age. This paint is loved by kids for its ease of application and because the image does not blur, unlike watercolors. Gouache allows you to get more vibrant drawings.
For older people, instructions from the Internet will help them create a unique landscape. The basis of the pattern can be the following surfaces:
There are the following types of gouache:
Immediately draw a sketch with a simple pencil. When learning to draw, start with dark shades, gradually moving to light tones. Mix paints on the color wheel. Step-by-step drawing with children will allow you to get beautiful images on paper.
If you mix adjacent colors in a sector, you will get a dirty shade. Shadow can be rendered with green, blue or purple, but not black.
Whatever technique you choose, the main thing is that inspiration comes to you. We wish that all the works are successful, that you like them, that they give you ideas for further creativity. With the help of such an activity you can throw out your emotions and impressions. Draw with confidence and pleasure!
Master classes on painting with watercolors and gouache (2 videos)
What to draw when you're bored?
What can you draw when you're bored? A question to which lessdraw.com actually has a hundred answers, but let's talk about everything in order.
The simplest ideas for beginners
Not all of us can draw well, and even bother with complex designs in those moments when you’re just bored and don’t really want to. I offer a whole range of cool and interesting drawings, which you can draw in those moments when you or your child really want to take up drawing to kill boredom:
More ideas
What else can you draw when you're bored? Let's get creative.
I’ll leave you with some cool drawings for inspiration - if you still haven’t figured out what to draw when you’re bored, just look at the gallery and choose what you like!
Drawing lessons
How to draw a landscape step by step
Drawing with paints is not only very interesting, but also educational. The landscape, executed in different techniques, calms and gives positive emotions and fosters in the artist a sense of beauty.
From our lesson you will learn how to draw a landscape step by step and what you will need for this.
Landscape
Painting with watercolor or gouache provides a wide choice of landscapes. 
For example, one of the most impressive subjects for drawing is mountains. They can be either smooth, like a mountain range, or sharp. By depicting mountains, you have the opportunity to show the contrast between sky and earth, high plains and slopes.
Another significant point is the weather. It’s very exciting to draw winter mountains: you can “play” with shadow and light, with various shades and reflexes on the white snow. Ultramarine, yellowish, turquoise, ocher or burgundy color– all this is quite appropriate on snow cover. The main thing is to choose the right color scheme.
A summer landscape depicting mountains will be no less interesting for novice artists. Picturesque and beautiful: warm shades of grass or cool colors on pine branches, a riot of greenery and colors. At the same time, you do not need to carefully draw them - the bolder and freer the brush lies in your hand, the easier and more relaxed the picture will be.
Important: landscape is not only nature, but also a certain atmosphere, into the creation of which we invest our mood and emotions.
Where does the landscape begin?
Any drawing must begin with a layout on a sheet of paper. Make the sky less land or vice versa. Please note that these parts do not have to be the same.
If you are drawing mountains, be sure to think about which peak will be higher and which will be lower. You should not depict identical mountains, although this happens in reality. It is best to make them different compositionally, which will add a certain dynamics to your drawing.
Pay special attention to objects located in the foreground - what is closest to the artist, that is, to you. The foreground is always drawn more diligently and in more detail than the background.
Now let's try to draw a mountain landscape in gouache.
Landscape in gouache step by step: drawing mountains
Stage 1
Take special A3 drawing paper and make a preliminary sketch, mixing white and blue gouache, paint over the sky. While it is still wet, paint clouds with white gouache, using a circular motion with the brush to create a mixture of colors. Using this technique will make the sky cloudy and a little fantastical. 
Stage 2
Let's move on to the image of the mountains. Mix white gouache with blue, add a little purple and completely paint over the mountains. Mix the same color with white and immediately paint over the areas of the mountains that are located in the light. In order not to disturb the aerial perspective at the base of the mountains, make the color light. 
Now comes the fun part! Do you want to learn how to draw a landscape step by step for beginners? various options? Then let's draw snow-capped mountains.
Stage 3
Using a palette knife, scoop up some whitewash and, pressing lightly until the paint is dry, use the tip of the palette knife to make slits on the mountain. Paint the shadow areas in the same way, only with a bluish tint of gouache.
Important: do not use a large amount of gouache and do not mix it with water - the paint should be thick. Practice first on a separate sheet of paper and only then start drawing. 
Stage 4
Mix white with blue gouache, and then use smooth strokes to walk at the foot of the mountains. 
Stage 5
Now mix blue paint with green and paint a forest. Add ocher or other shades of yellow and green to depict a forest. Use the same colors to paint the ground.
Stage 6
Paint the lake by mixing white and blue gouache and adding a little green. 
Stage 7
Final step. Again, mix the blue and green paint, and then, making large strokes, paint over the future bushes. 
Stage 8
Using light ochres and greens, complete the bushes. 
Well, that's all. You have successfully completed the task and painted a beautiful mountain landscape.
More articles on gouache painting can be found in the special section
Landscape in watercolors step by step: painting a sunset
Next we will look at how to paint a sunset using watercolors. Everything you need in in this case– watercolor and watercolor paper. Shall we get started?
Stage 1
Without making a preliminary sketch and after moistening the sheet a little with water, start painting the sky. To do this, take blue, purple, pink and orange watercolors. You can draw the clouds the way you like, mixing colors and creating unusual transitions. 
Stage 2
While the paint is still wet, mark the background with a darker color - it should be different from the sky. And a little closer to you, using a dark purple tint, make the plan even darker. Also draw a small fluffy tree and leave the work until completely dry. 
Stage 3
Using a dark purple hue, paint the tree trunk, adding burgundy splashes in some places. Paint the ground with the same color to make it look as much like the roots of a tree as possible.
Then, using a thin brush, slowly draw tree branches of different widths and lengths: thick and thin, long and short. Make the branches a little lighter in the background and darker in the foreground. 
Ready! You yourself painted a colorful and very beautiful sunset.
So, we have learned how to draw mountains and a sunset, but no less interesting will be a detailed analysis of landscape painting techniques and the nuances of choosing paint: gouache or watercolor.
More articles on watercolor painting can be found in the special section
There are many techniques to paint a landscape with paints. But if you are a beginner artist, then step by step drawing It will be easier using gouache. It is easy to use: it has no specific odor, easily mixes with water and washes off. Any brushes are suitable for working with gouache, but it is best to give preference to pony or synthetic brushes.
This technique is also suitable for beginners because if you make a mistake, it can be easily corrected by painting it with another layer of paint. In addition, the next layer applied to the dried pigment will not mix with the previous one. The main difference between gouache and acrylic and oil paints is that you can paint with it more freely, without fear of making a mistake. 
It doesn’t matter how you draw parts of the picture - all at once or separately. For example, you can first paint over the ground and sky with gouache, and then paint the foreground, trees and clouds.
Note: to speed up your work, apply paint to objects immediately, without leaving it “for later.” Agree, it is much easier to do everything in one stage, rather than wait for the painting to “dry”.
This option for painting a landscape is no less interesting and is also quite suitable for beginning artists. You can easily master the watercolor technique if you know some tricks and important rules.
Painting with watercolors is primarily about working with layers. The paint is translucent, which means mixing each new layer with the previous one cannot be avoided.
- Errors are excluded - this is what anyone who picks up watercolors needs to know.
- The key to success is thick paper. The rough special surface perfectly absorbs watercolor paint and guarantees a good effect.
- Nearby objects must be painted with bright colors, everything else must be mixed with water and pale. Unlike oil, acrylic or gouache, watercolors are written “liquidly”.
- When working with watercolors, it is best to use brushes with natural squirrel or pony bristle.
And, of course, do not forget that painting a landscape with paints in several stages is a rather difficult task for a beginning artist. Many questions arise here: how to arrange everything on a sheet, how to get a certain color, how to highlight this or that object, etc. Answers come only with experience.
The best advice that can be given to all beginners in painting is to practice more - draw the most ordinary objects. Remember that the sooner you understand that realism directly depends on highlighting some details and creating contrast, the sooner everything will work out.
So what is landscape? This good workout for any artist that doesn't allow you to get away from main topic images and at the same time gives freedom of imagination.