Watercolor Beginner! Help, Please :>

[piske]

My BF kindly gifted me with sketching and watercolor supplies for my birthday :> I've never tried watercolor but I had expressed an interest in trying it.

I'm not sure if this is the right thread to start this topic, or if anyone here has experience with watercolor, but I would appreciate any suggestions, tips or really encouragement :>

I am sort of afraid to even start because I get discouraged pretty easily. However, it means a lot that he gave me these things and I would really like to have a new hobby! :>

All opinions, notes are welcome!

 

[axo]

Watercolor is great! What sort of supplies did you get? Paint? Markers? Pencils? I personally feel like when I use watercolor pencils I have the most control, but paint is awesome too ^^ I usually use watercolor paints for the backgrounds of drawings and watercolor pencils for the drawing itself. Always make sure you have water for the paints and water to wash off brushes (if you're using paint) and a papertowel. I find that dabbing the watercolors to help them dry is good because it gives a nice effect. What sort of thing were you looking to do?

 

[piske]

Watercolor is great! What sort of supplies did you get? Paint? Markers? Pencils? I personally feel like when I use watercolor pencils I have the most control, but paint is awesome too ^^ I usually use watercolor paints for the backgrounds of drawings and watercolor pencils for the drawing itself. Always make sure you have water for the paints and water to wash off brushes (if you're using paint) and a papertowel. I find that dabbing the watercolors to help them dry is good because it gives a nice effect. What sort of thing were you looking to do?

Oh yay thank you for posting! :>

I received paints! I never knew there was such a thing as watercolor pencils! :O That does sound a lot easier in terms of control...

I will be honest, I didn't do a lot of research before deciding I wanted to try it and my BF just had the salesperson at the store help to pick out the items. I've just liked the look of watercolor and I thought it would be maybe easier and cheaper to try than other forms of painting!

I guess I want to draw something and then add water color to it? I have no idea if that's how you do it or it that even makes sense! I've seen a lot of cute animal crossing water colors like this and I thought that might be something to start with?

What would you recommend to draw/paint if starting out? :> And thank you for the tips!!!! I will be sure to use them!

 

[piske]

Bumps :>

 

[axo]

Oh yay thank you for posting! :>

I received paints! I never knew there was such a thing as watercolor pencils! :O That does sound a lot easier in terms of control...

I will be honest, I didn't do a lot of research before deciding I wanted to try it and my BF just had the salesperson at the store help to pick out the items. I've just liked the look of watercolor and I thought it would be maybe easier and cheaper to try than other forms of painting!

I guess I want to draw something and then add water color to it? I have no idea if that's how you do it or it that even makes sense! I've seen a lot of cute animal crossing water colors like this and I thought that might be something to start with?

What would you recommend to draw/paint if starting out? :> And thank you for the tips!!!! I will be sure to use them!

Well, since you're using paints I recommend you paint fairly large areas with them. You might want to draw a bust (pretty big, fill up the whole paper) and use watercolor to shade the skin or hair.

Always start with the lightest color when you're shading and always start with a very watered down color. If you want it darker, add a darker (still watered down) color OR add the same color with slghtly less water. Always wait for the previous layer to dry before adding a new layer, and you can always dab it dry.

 

[piske]

Well, since you're using paints I recommend you paint fairly large areas with them. You might want to draw a bust (pretty big, fill up the whole paper) and use watercolor to shade the skin or hair.

Always start with the lightest color when you're shading and always start with a very watered down color. If you want it darker, add a darker (still watered down) color OR add the same color with slghtly less water. Always wait for the previous layer to dry before adding a new layer, and you can always dab it dry.

Ahhh, I never would have guessed that's how layering the color worked! Thank you so much!!! This will definitely help me get started :> :>

I will have to make myself a sign that reads "LET IT DRY FIRST" because I can see myself getting impatient (much like with painting my nails ) and ruining it!

Thanks, again! :>

- - - Post Merge - - -

If anyone has examples of their own watercolor work, I would love to see it!

 

[Jint]

hmmm I don't use watercolor much, but I've read into it a little bit b:
you might want to take a look at emperpep's work!! he draws amazing watercolors...
here's the folder of the tutorials he's made -- and of course, look at all the other tutorials on dA too xD;
personally I find that I learn a lot more from watching speedpaints, so you might want to look those up on youtube as well c:

goodluck with your watercolors!!
​

 

[piske]

hmmm I don't use watercolor much, but I've read into it a little bit b:
you might want to take a look at emperpep's work!! he draws amazing watercolors...
here's the folder of the tutorials he's made -- and of course, look at all the other tutorials on dA too xD;
personally I find that I learn a lot more from watching speedpaints, so you might want to look those up on youtube as well c:

goodluck with your watercolors!!
​

Hiii thank you so much! :> Whoa, these tutorials look great!!! I am not really familiar with Deviant Art but that makes complete sense to look there xD

I will take note of speedpaints too - thank you for the luck!!! :> :> :>