10 basic watercolor tips, by Andrea Nelson Art on YouTube. 2 min 33 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 33 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Work on watercolor paper rather than printer or sketch paper. A 140 lb or 300 gsm sheet holds the water without pilling, buckling or tearing.
Tape the paper to a board along all four edges. Masking tape or painter's tape holds it flat so the sheet does not warp as it dries.
Fill two jars with clean water. Use one for rinsing your brush and keep the other clean for mixing, so your colors stay bright.
Wet each pan of paint with a drop of clean water and let it sit for a minute. Softened paint lifts onto the brush far more easily.
Load the brush with water first, then pick up color from the pan. Roll the bristles gently instead of scrubbing at the paint.
Rinse the brush in the dirty jar between colors, then dip it in the clean jar. Blot it on a cloth so you do not carry muddy water into the next color.
Lift an unwanted patch while the paint is still damp. Use a clean, barely damp brush and blot the area with a tissue.
Heat the tape with a hairdryer on a low setting if it starts to tear. Peel it back slowly, keeping it flat against the paper.
Rinse your brushes and lay them flat to dry, with the bristles over the edge of the table. Leave the paint pans open until they are completely dry.
Tips and common mistakes
Change the rinse water as soon as it turns muddy, or every color you mix will look dull.
Do not press a dry brush hard into the pans, since it damages the bristles and cracks the paint.
Test each mix on a scrap of the same paper before you put it on your painting.
Questions
Do I really need watercolor paper?
Yes. Thin printer paper soaks up water and pills, while watercolor paper is sized to take the wet paint. A 140 lb or 300 gsm cold press sheet is a good starting point.
How much water should I use?
Start with less than you think and add more. A damp brush and a slightly wet pan give you control, and you can always add water but not take it away.
Why does my tape tear the paper?
Paint or water has probably soaked under the tape and weakened the paper. Dry the edge with a hairdryer on low, then peel the tape back slowly and flat.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
