How to draw on watercolor paper?

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Paper is the foundation of watercolor painting. It is selected according to the firm of paints, the technique of execution, based on what result the artist wants to achieve. Before starting work, you need to know exactly which paper is suitable for the planned drawing technique.

Introducing watercolor

When an aspiring artist buys paints for the first time, he needs to try painting with them on paper. Some draw cells on the sheets, equal in number to the colors in the paint set. Each cell is signed with the name of a certain paint, and then, having collected a sufficient amount of water and watercolors on the brush, they paint over the cells with different colors from the set. Or they make long strips of color stretch marks from a dark shade to a light one. This is necessary in order to understand how these shades will look depending on the amount of water and paint. On paper, they also try to combine different colors, mixing paints with each other, thereby creating new shades.

For mastery of watercolor techniques, all materials require thatthe artist is used to them. You need to feel the brush, paper, know the combinations of colors and how to mix them correctly. All this takes a lot of time, and the skill develops with practice.

Watercolor painting techniques

The following techniques are distinguished:

• Glazing. With this method, watercolor is applied with translucent strokes, applying one layer to another. When applying layers, the lower ones must be dry. The paint in the drawings in this technique works through the light and does not physically mix. From the superimposed layers of each fragment of the picture, a unique shade is formed. Apply strokes carefully, otherwise the lower layers may be smeared. This technique allows you to reproduce the intended drawing as accurately as possible or draw in a realistic style.
• "Wet". The watercolor sheet is wetted with water, only after that paint is applied to it. You can start applying watercolors on a wet sheet at any time, the degree of humidity depends on the artist's intention. On a wet sheet of paper, you can paint with a brush with paint of any humidity. This method allows you to get smooth transitions between color shades, light colors of translucent tones. Be sure to ensure that the watercolor does not spread over the sheet and that there is not too much water. Sometimes artists use this method only at the initial stage of work, and then continue “dry”. On a dry sheet, the work continues mainly as highlighting and emphasizing small details.
• Dry technique. Most often, semi-dry paint is applied in one or two layers on a dry sheet of paper.

Drawings on watercolor paper can be given a special texture if a wet layer of paint is sprinkled with fine or coarse s alt. It will unevenly corrode the pigment, creating spots. After the paint has dried, the s alt can be removed from the paper.

Optimal paper type

All types of paper are unique and designed for different drawing techniques. It is difficult to say which watercolor paper is the best. There is no bad or good paper, everyone selects the type that is more suitable for a particular drawing technique. The most comfortable and pleasant watercolor paper has a density of 200-300 g/m2.

So that thin paper does not wrinkle when painting with watercolors, it can be slightly wetted and stretched over the frame, thereby creating a canvas. So after drying, the sheet will be even due to tight pulling and will not wrinkle and tear. The surface of thick paper, in which the cotton content is high, does not warp. The most convenient canvas size is 30 by 20 centimeters, but no more than 40 by 30 centimeters. The use of large canvases can be afforded by professional painstaking artists.

How to draw better

When the artist starts work, a sheet is placed under the working hand in order not to accidentally smear anything.

It must be remembered that after applying a layer of watercolor to paper, it becomes significantlylighter. Dried watercolor looks paler and dimmer, so when drawing, you need to pay attention to how much paint is typed on a wet brush and how much is applied directly to the paper, the brightness and contrast of the future drawing depend on this.

With a small set of paints, new colors can be created on the palette by mixing existing primary colors. New colors are best tested on separate sheets of paper.

How do beginners who make mistakes often draw on watercolor paper? Failed elements of a watercolor drawing can be corrected by highlighting the desired parts of it with a damp, non-rigid brush so as not to dilute dirt on the sheet and erase the top layer of paper.

Paintings on watercolor paper will look better if light tones are applied first and dark tones last.

For the best result and good quality of work it is better to use brushes made of natural materials. Natural bristle does not come out of the brush, does not break, holds its shape and applies paint well.

Watercolor paper quality

The execution and result of watercolor work directly depend on the paper itself. There are different types of watercolor paper. It is designed to get wet, and since there is much more water in watercolor than coloring pigment, the paper must maintain and retain the bright and rich properties of the paint. Watercolor paper should not interfere with the preservation of colorful pigment, and even more so with the absorption of moisture and paint.

Paper weight

Watercolor paper weight varies from 150 to 850 g/m2. The lower this value, the thinner and softer the paper. 150 is the thinnest of watercolor papers and is not suitable for wet techniques, only light watercolor sketches. Such paper may wrinkle or tear when used with watercolors.

Which side of the watercolor paper should I paint on? The thicker paper can be used on both sides and won't ripple in the water or get wet. If there is a manufacturer's icon on the sheet, then you need to work with the side where the icon is shown in a normal, not mirrored form. If there is no icon, then you should choose the rougher side of the sheet for drawing.

The best density is around 200-300g/m2. It is not too dense and not very thin, so it is also good at drawing on both sides. Liquid watercolor does not seep through such paper, does not blur and dries quickly enough.

Paper texture

1. Smooth texture. Created by hot pressing. On such paper, a clear, stable pigment, nothing rolls or is washed off. It is very well suited for drawing small details. When photographing or scanning watercolor works made on such paper, it will not give a "grain" shadow. This type of texture helps to get the most colorful and vibrant shades, because on smooth paper the pigment is not washed out or lost.
2. Semi-smooth texture. Slightlyrough to the touch, created by cold pressing. Denoted by the words grain fin. In such a texture, a small grainy pattern may already be noticeable. There are different textures of watercolor paper, such as canvas or striped. The most popular is non-uniform coarse or fine grit, in which the paint does not roll into stripes or cells.
3. Torchon texture. Rigid and strongly pronounced. Under a layer of watercolor paint, this texture looks playful and spectacular. It is not as grainy as rough, more delicate to the touch. The texture of this watercolor paper is similar to clouds, which is why it is sometimes called cloudy.
4. Rough texture. This is such a rough watercolor paper with a rough texture. It acquires this appearance because it dries without wringing and, accordingly, requires more water and paint. It also takes a lot of time to get used to drawing on it. It looks epic due to the fact that it gives a special play of light and volume.

Watercolor paper reviews

Buyers are seduced by imported companies - Hahnemuhle, Canson, Fabriano. They are one of the most famous, they are of special quality, but their products are not cheap. The paper created by these firms is spoken positively, but they notice that cheaper Russian counterparts do not differ much in quality. For example, a folder with watercolor paper "Nastya" by Palazzo with 50% cotton content is pleasant to work with, does not wrinkle from dampness, but does not tolerate friction and washing off. Buyers recommend Cornwall, as such paper withstands wellmulti-layer strokes, it is difficult to create scuffs on it. But for wet Cornwall technique, not the best option.