It was aimed at artists who wanted to learn to paint without having to learn to draw first. This meant that although they may not be too good at drawing, they could still get started painting. Painting landscapes, still-life painting, portraits and mechanical objects can come later.
However there are 2 reasons to go right back beyond the basics of painting watercolors…
- It is a great idea to learn to paint before you try to paint a picture
- It is wonderful when things are going badly wrong to return to basics
Some people are lucky. They never struggle to learn to paint watercolor. It is easy for some to pick up a paint box and brushes and paint a good watercolor landscape without difficulty. They are a fortunate minority.
Alternatively, like you and me, most of us aren’t blessed with such talents…
- Learning to paint watercolors is hard
- Painting watercolor pictures can seem impossible
Each and every brush mark can be a nightmare of colors mixing badly and color washes flooding into areas of your painting that you don’t want.
Soon your grand art ideas can be transformed into a horrible muddy mess. You are lost, unless you understand how watercolor paints flow across your paper…
- You need to see how the color moves where the water carries it
- You need to understand that a wash that isn’t fully dry will be wrecked when the next color wash is painted
- You need to know how to get different color intensity and tone from a single color before you try to add another color to the equation
Like the old saying… It is better to learn to walk before you run
It is so easy to become disappointed with your watercolor painting. It is easier still for you to look like you have no artistic ideas and talents. Worst of all you can be made to look like you have no painting skills at all.
Which do you think is better…?
Having a deep knowledge of simple and easy basic watercolor painting or… Disappointment and frustration?
See you soon
Michael
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