Why should you start painting in watercolor? Have you ever thought about the benefits of watercolor painting?
Watercolor painting is very old- from European Paleolithic times. However, it was not until the Renaissance that it was considered as an art medium. Although watercolor paint isn’t a new material, in the past it was only used by artists to sketch, illustrate, copy, and cartoon alongside the revered traditional oil paint.
The first artists to use watercolor paints include Van Dyck, Claude Lorrain, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, and many Dutch and Flemish artists.
However, despite this difficult beginning. Nowadays, people know more about what they can do with watercolors. They will become interested in the unique qualities of watercolor paints and use them as a professional creative medium. John James Audubon was one of the first famous contemporary artists to use watercolor paint, along with Elizabeth Murray and John Singer Sargent.
If you’ve ever considered why you should paint with watercolors. This post is for you where you’ll discover the top benefits of watercolor painting and the advantages of painting with watercolor. Let’s go!!!
Table of Contents
Benefits of Watercolor: Top 5 Advantages of Watercolor Painting
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1. You can easily start with watercolor painting
One of the biggest benefits of watercolor painting is the simplicity to get started. To start oil painting you will need quite expensive supplies such as paints, solvents, mediums, brushes, gesso, canvas, and a spacious enough space.
For Watercolor, you only need a few simple tools to get started with watercolor: paints, brushes, water cups, and watercolor paper. Of these tools, you only have to invest the most money in your watercolor paper, because the one is specially designed for absorbency.
I recommend using brushes made from a mixture of synthetic and natural hair in place of animal hair. They are simply suitable for the beginning level. Once you get used to it, you can go for more expensive natural brushes.Â
Oil painters are often exposed to toxic solvents such as turpentine, they must have a safe process for these materials, and removing paint from brushes takes a lot of time.
Cleaning watercolor paint is very easy. We can easily wash off excess paint with just clean water, then use a dry rag to completely remove the excess water on the brush or palette.
Besides simplicity, their safety is another reason why watercolor paints are so popular in schools.
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Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Medium, Aquapasto, 60ml (2-oz) Tube |
$24.74 |
Buy on Amazon |
2. Watercolors dry fast, so you can apply colors quickly
One of the reasons I’m attracted to watercolor paints is that they dry pretty quickly. Because watercolor is water-based paint–the evaporation of water causes the paint to dry. So you can apply a layer of watercolor paint over it and in a few minutes, it will be completely dry to apply another layer.
For watercolor artists who use the glazing technique, the paint’s fast drying time allows them to quickly create layers of color without waiting too long.
You can create beautiful surfaces when color and texture are applied on top of the next layers in a much shorter amount of time than with oil paint.
However, the fast drying times make it difficult for painters to use the wet-on-wet technique.
3. You can paint anywhere with watercolors
Oil or acrylic painters need an airy and spacious enough studio space. They can’t paint in their living room or kitchen. Because oil and acrylic paints are very difficult to clean once they accidentally spill somewhere like the sofa or the floor.
In addition, their bulkiness is the main reason why artists are afraid to paint outdoors.Â
For watercolor paint it is different. They are simple and lightweight tools that you can take with you wherever you go, and their ease of cleaning is a plus.
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Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Paint Set, Field Pocket Set, 12 Half Pan w/ Brush, Sponge, Bottle |
$21.00 |
Buy on Amazon |
4. Watercolor is a versatile medium
Not only used as a traditional painting medium, but watercolor is also applied in other creative forms such as fashion design, architectural sketching, illustration, and cartoon.
The common feature of watercolor and gouache is that they are both water-based paints, in which the main component is pigments. Although watercolor paints are transparent. There’re many artists who specifically use watercolor as gouache, by mixing watercolor with Titanium white to increase the opacity of their paint.
Although this is funny, really they’re more versatile than any other paint medium, you can paint as thin as watercolor and as thick as gouache.
In addition, Watercolor can also create three-dimensional effects like Oil or Acrylic paints by mixing with a thickening medium called Aquapasto.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Medium, Aquapasto, 60ml (2-oz) Tube |
$24.74 |
Buy on Amazon |
5. Watercolor allows you to discover magical effects
One of the most unique aspects of watercolors is that they have a multitude of beautiful effects for you to discover. Water is used in watercolor as a medium, the looseness of the water combined with the paint creates a lot of beautiful effects.
Some watercolor paints are made from special mineral-based pigments- they are granulating pigments. For Example, Schmincke’s “Forest” set is very strong granulating colors.
If you are an artist who is used to another medium – such as oil paint. You won’t understand how watercolor artists can do that.
You can also add other mediums to make your watercolor paint transparent, special, or even slower to dry. By mixing watercolor paint with mediums, you can change its characteristics and activities to discover the magical beauty of watercolor.
- Texture Medium: Creates texture and structure for watercolor paintingsÂ
- Blend Medium: Slows down the drying of paints, allowing more time to blend
Iridescent Medium: Creates Pearlescent Or Glitter Effects To Watercolors
Granulation Medium: Increases the granulation of color and enhances the effect of granulating
- Ox Gail Liquid Medium: Expanded flow when mixed directly with watercolors
Summary of some Watercolor Medium recommended to you:
Frequently Asked Questions | Advantages of Watercolor Painting
Here are some frequently asked questions about watercolor by beginners.
What are the best watercolor tools ?
Here are some of the best watercolor tools you can find on the market.
Is watercolor painting fun?
Sure. Watercolor painting can be a rewarding experience as it can be a tool for sharing ideas and connecting with the watercolor community everywhere. The best benefit is that watercolor is relatively easy to get started. With a few simple tools: paint, brush, water cup, and paper- anyone can start painting in watercolor.
Can I make money from watercolor painting?
There are hundreds of thousands of watercolor artists all over the world, and many of them still make money regularly in different ways.
It could be selling their watercolors, teaching watercolor painting at the studio or on youtube, getting a job on Fivver, selling ebook watercolors, etc.
Final thoughts about the advantages of watercolor painting
Besides the main benefits of watercolor painting that I have listed. The watercolor painting also helps you create fun for yourself, you can make money from selling your works. Or you are simply an oil and acrylic artist and want to experience watercolor as a second creative medium. As long as you like.
Also, each type of art material has its own advantages and disadvantages, so know your priorities before choosing the right one.
Whatever your reason for watercolor painting, it can be a great way to indulge your passion or express yourself to others. If you are interested in starting to paint watercolors, do not hesitate any longer!Â
So, what’s stopping you from starting to paint watercolors? Are you a professional watercolor painter? Did you give it up? Let me know your thinks in the comments section below.