Essential Supplies: What You'll Need

Don't break the bank! You only need a few key items to begin:

• Watercolor Paints: Start with a basic set of student-grade paints. Tubes or pans work, but pans are generally more portable.
• Watercolor Paper: Opt for cold-pressed paper, as it absorbs the water beautifully. 140lb/300gsm is a good starting point.
• Watercolor Brushes: A round brush (size 6 or 8) and a flat brush (size 1/2 inch) are versatile choices.
• Water Containers: Two are helpful – one for clean water and one for rinsing brushes.
• Palette: A plastic palette or a ceramic plate will do.
• Pencil & Eraser: For sketching your design.

Basic Techniques: Getting Started with Color

Watercolor is all about transparency and layering. Here are some fundamental techniques:

• Wet-on-Wet: Applying wet paint to wet paper, creating soft, blurred effects.
• Wet-on-Dry: Applying wet paint to dry paper, resulting in sharp lines and defined edges.
• Layering: Building up color gradually by applying layers of paint, allowing each layer to dry before adding the next.
• Lifting: Removing paint with a clean, damp brush to create highlights or correct mistakes.

Painting Inspirations

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

• Landscapes: Capture the beauty of nature.
• Floral: Paint vibrant blossoms
• Abstract: Embrace colors and shapes.

Want to learn more?

Join Gwen Anderson for an art class at Alpaca Tracks Thread Lightly on March 16th! Register directly with Gwen – 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. This is a great way to get hands-on experience and tips from an expert!