logo
logo
Sign in

Common Watercolor Myths

avatar
writer
Common Watercolor Myths

Watercolor is frequently misconstrued as a medium. Since this is the case, there are numerous overstated or false beliefs about watercolor among artists.

Furthermore, artists are sometimes discouraged from experimenting with watercolors due to misconceptions like these. 


Watercolor is Difficult

I really enjoy watercolor drawings, but what are the drawbacks of this medium? You may have asked at some time.

And I'm willing to wager that you've also heard the criticism that watercolor is too complicated to master.

Nonetheless, I'd like to disprove the conventional wisdom that watercolor is difficult to master.

Watercolor, you see, has a consciousness of its own and leads painters on a wild goose chase. This makes it difficult to regulate the paint-to-water mix.

The muscular memory required to handle paint to your desire, however, is easily developed with practice and instruction.

So, while it's true that not all painters have an easy time getting the hang of water media, watercolors can be challenging to master for some.

Watercolor drawing may be the most difficult medium to master for some aspiring painters. As for the rest of us, including myself, we should have no trouble picking it up.

White Paint Should Never Be Used In Watercolor.

What the heck? Let's tackle a heated argument among watercolorists!

Watercolorists, as a rule, don't use white in their works. They instead depend on the paper's whiteness to shine through the opacity of the layers.

However, many contemporary artists consider this technique antiquated, and they instead choose to use white paint.

Are there any clear and fast rules from a technical standpoint? No.

You can choose to use white watercolor ink or not.

In most cases, I choose not to, preferring to let the white paper do the talking instead. For extra luster, I sometimes use Winsor & Newton White Ink to emphasize specific areas of completed work.

Don't let anyone put you down for having a different preference in how you make art than they do, especially if you feel more at ease using white paint, given your current level of expertise.

Just remember that learning to maintain your material clean will help you improve your painting skills much more quickly.

Pigments Improve the Palette

To tell the truth, counter to what we were taught as kids, less is often more. Now I'll show you how you can apply this lesson to watercolors.

You're not getting a superior collection of acrylics just because you purchase a large pallet with 36, 48, or more than 60 individual colors.

There are three obvious disadvantages to having an abundance of pigments:

There are too many subtly different colors for you to choose from, and as a result, you'll get decision weariness.

Your over-reliance on ready-made paint colors will prevent you from mastering the art of watercolor painting.

As a novice artist, you shouldn't waste your money on a high-end pallet.

To have too many pigments is to have an overwhelming number of colors, each of which has its own unique pigment characteristics. Thus, muddled tones are more likely to result from your efforts.

To prevent your colors from looking dull, you'll need to educate yourself on paints.

As a novice, you should prioritize buying a small watercolor color kit.

That way, you won't have to spend as much time deciding between all the different colors, and instead can focus on mastering color blending instead. To get the best pigments, you need good watercolors from the best company, like Studio Passepartout for Art kit Dubai

Musicians can only be creative people.

This misconception about watercolor is the most common form of creative self-doubt I've encountered.

Many would-be artists are held back from trying even the most basic painting techniques by the mistaken belief that only naturally talented people can become artists.

Every professional today, whether they work in the arts, athletics, music, the kitchen, or any other field, began their careers as complete novices.

They improved and became more proficient at what they did because of the time and effort they put into perfecting their trade.

What I mean to say is that the question of whether or not ability exists is, in the great order of things, completely unimportant.

Think of it this way: talent is relative, but exercise is not.

After all, the natural ability doesn't guarantee success in any field. You can achieve any goal you set for yourself through regular exercise, hard effort, and resolve to succeed.

So, ditch the ridiculous idea that "you're not gifted or imaginative enough" to thrive at watercolor drawing.

If you can push past this self-doubt and invest in your artistic development, you may find that you have as much potential as anyone else to become a famous painter.

Watercolor painting can be done with acrylic brushes.

How did this misunderstanding spread so widely?

I'm curious as to what percentage of newcomers to a watercolor drawing bought into this misconception.

A decent watercolor brush, you see, should be supple and made to soak up water. Artists working with watercolors can now create for extended stretches of time without having to refill their tools as often.

It's important to have a high-quality watercolor pencil because it can help you with the following:

  • Tired brushes soak up more color and water.
  • Brushes with soft filaments are more comfortable to hold and use while painting.
  • A wider range of brushstrokes is possible with pointed brush points.
  • One or more brushes have a satisfying click.
  • They have shorter, more manageable grips.
  • Acrylic brushes, on the other hand, are built differently so that the filaments can withstand the viscous acrylic color.
  • Watercolor pigment applied with the rougher filaments of an acrylic brush will not settle down or act correctly, as you can see.

If you really had no other choice, I guess you could use watercolor tools to create. But it won't get you the outcomes you want, so it's not something I'd suggest doing.

collect
0
avatar
writer
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more