Archive for the 'Watercolor. Watercolor painting’ Category

There are no comrades for taste and color. Have you ever heard such a proverb? Undoubtedly. People can argue for hours about which artist is better and which is worse. However, it is difficult to find a lover of beauty who does not like watercolor.

Poetry in colors, flights of fancy, colored music - these are just some of the epithets that watercolor works deserve. Now we will try to plunge into this poetry and music in order to find out more closely what the world of watercolor is like. For beginners, this will be an unforgettable journey into the land of beautiful magic.

A bit of history

The amazing ability of watercolor to convey transparency attracted artists from all over the world. The great variability of writing techniques allows true magicians to create very cool things. Entering the museum on a hot day, you will certainly fight the temptation to throw yourself into the cool water of a lake or river painted in watercolor.

It is almost impossible to determine where and when watercolors were first used. But already in the 15th century, the outstanding German Renaissance master A. Dürer used watercolor with great success, creating amazing works.

It is not for nothing that watercolor is called color music and poetry. Airiness, brightness, mystery and some transcendent lightness, like a magnet attracts to water colors, this is how “watercolor” is translated from Greek.

Not only technical characteristics attract young painters to these paints, but also the laurels of the masters of the past encourage personal achievements and exploits on the pictorial front. Watercolor gained particular popularity in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The mists of London inspired many watercolor masterpieces by 19th-century English artists. One of them, W. Turner, simply sang in his works a love song to the hazy London streets.

Russia is famous for its watercolors of the century before last. K. P. Bryullov could not only create a filigree thing in oil, but the watercolor in his hands was just as flawless. A.A. Ivanov was a great master and lover of watercolor richness. His work was both simple and at the same time brilliant.

• I. E. Repin,
• V. I. Surikov,
• I. N. Kramskoy,
• M. A. Vrubel,
• V. D. Polenov,
• V. A. Serov,
• A. A. Deineka.

This list can be continued indefinitely. All the great artists of the past left their unforgettable watercolor strokes in the history of pictorial art.

In order to want to take up the brush and stir up the first watercolor, run to the museum to watch the classics! If you prefer to be inspired without leaving your home, then admire only some of the works of the masters of the past. Keep in mind that the screen does not convey the liveliness that real watercolor paintings breathe.

Watercolor basics

Where to begin? The question we ask ourselves when we really want something. Mastering watercolor is best with the acquisition of the most necessary. Here is a small list of what your future watercolor masterpiece will not take place without:

• Paints. There is a huge variety of varieties of watercolor paints, with all sorts of shades and additives. But a cool watercolorist should know that 8-10 primary colors are enough to work with. The best watercolor paints are produced in the glorious city of St. Petersburg. Watercolor with the addition of honey is brighter and tastier, but it is advisable not to eat it, but still use it for its intended purpose.

• brushes. Many experienced watercolor painters use just one brush. This is usually a good medium sized squirrel brush. If you like to hold different brushes in your hands, then use 8 to 16 numbers. Smaller brushes are usually used only for writing miniatures and drawing details. However, if you are a lover of impressionism, then forget about them. In addition to squirrels, kolinsky and sable are suitable. The main advantage of such brushes is the ability to absorb a lot of water.
• Paper. If you decide to practice with watercolor on notebook sheets or wrapping paper, then immediately throw this nonsense out of your head! For watercolor, you need a special thick, pimply paper of good quality. Having bought it, do not rush to immediately paint ninja turtles or a charming princess! First, let the paper rest for a few days, then check it for water absorption and how paints lie on a snow-white surface. If everything suits you, and the turtles are green and the princess is pink, run to the store and buy more good paper. It doesn't always work that way.

• Easel. The workplace also needs to be prepared in advance. Of course, you can create on the table, but you hardly need scoliosis, poor eyesight and other related products. Therefore, immediately purchase a good sketchbook with legs, then it will be equally convenient at home and in the field. If there is not enough cabbage for the easel, then a simple plywood board can be an excellent easel. The main thing is that you can attach a sheet of pimply paper to it, which you just stocked up.

Well, you are ready to paint the first picture. Just remember that when you become a great watercolorist, there will be no price for this work. At an auction at Sotheby's, even buttons from the first creation will go under the hammer. What do you need to do to learn how to paint with watercolors?

Watercolor for beginners

First, let's get acquainted with the basic techniques of watercolor painting. What and how can it be done? Of course, you remember that watercolor is a transparent paint. No matter how hard you try, the bottom layer will always be visible. Therefore, the following methods are used in working with water-based paints:

• Wet. This method is a watercolor business card. No other paint can achieve such fantastic overflows that occur when mixing paints on wet paper. Try! Wet a large area of ​​paper with a brush, and then brush one color and next to another so that the strokes touch each other. Make a rainbow like this and let it dry. Hasn't it been a miracle?

Now a little about the technique of writing. What should you remember? Watercolor is beautiful until it's turned into dirt. This results in mixing more than three colors. Don't get carried away with this! Don't forget that three layers is already at least three colors! The best option for writing in watercolor is shooting at the bull's-eye, that is, immediately getting into color and tone, preferably. Therefore, they begin to prescribe a drawing from bright places, and finish with the darkest ones. Always apply a new layer after the bottom one has dried. Do not rush!

However, after trying it for the first time, many people ask themselves: “When will fame come?” The answer is simple: study, study and study again! To do this, constantly paint with watercolors, the more often you do this, the faster you will master the skill. It's like riding a skateboard. No matter how much you look at him, you won't learn how to ride. Only by standing on a skateboard and stuffing more than one bump, you can become a cool skateboarder. So it is in painting. Drop the skate, grab the brush! You will succeed!

This article is intended for beginners, that is, for those who are going to start learning something new, since any road begins with the first step. Just start and take your time trying to enjoy the process of mastering your drawing skills! Watercolor painting is both enjoyable and a bit challenging. It all depends on your approach. Watercolor is one of the most versatile genres of painting, in which you can paint almost everything: from realistic concrete images to abstraction and impressionism. Beginners are advised not to start with the idea of ​​​​creating a masterpiece, but with small steps, gradually and slowly.

Before you feel completely comfortable with watercolors, you will have to paint a lot. Don't give up if your first attempts aren't as successful as you'd like. Mastering the technique of watercolor requires a lot of effort and time, but it's worth it!

So, let's begin!

Steps

Lay a sheet of thick paper on the table. Draw something very primitive with a simple pencil. For example, square or circle

Apply a small amount of watercolor in any color to the white surface of the palette.

Wet the brush a little. If the brush absorbs too much water, remove it with a cloth or shake it gently.

Drop a little water from the brush onto the paint previously applied to the palette. One or two drops are enough, no more.

Dip the brush into the paint with water formed on the palette and pick up a small amount of paint. Next, paint over the geometric figure drawn on a piece of paper. If the paint is too thick and doesn't smudge, dip the brush in water and try again. Keep experimenting with different amounts of water and paint in the mixture until you get the right consistency. If you want light dry shades with a "dry brush" effect, then you need less water. If you want juiciness and brightness, then, accordingly, more, etc. Completely paint over the geometric figure drawn on paper.

Let the drawing dry.

Take a piece of watercolor paper and secure it to your drawing board with a piece of duct tape. Use a large brush or sponge to dampen the entire surface of the paper sheet. After that, try applying a few strokes of watercolor paint in different colors. See what results are obtained with different degrees of paper moisture when applying ink of various colors.

If you use too damp paper, you can get a very smooth and light color. Paint of different colors is mixed on paper, allowing you to get new shades. Try applying a blue stripe next to a yellow or gold stripe on wet paper, and then a red stripe. You will see how the colors are mixed, creating uniform color transitions.

Try letting the test pattern dry until the sheen is gone and the paper is still damp. Now the applied stripes will still have soft edges, but will become a little more defined. After the paint is completely dry, add details with a damp brush on dry paper.

To begin with, try to depict a very simple subject that can be multi-colored. Mix some sky blue paint. Draw a sketch of the hills and the tree. First paint them with a wet brush on wet paper. After that start adding some big details with a wet brush. Finally, when the paper is completely dry, add the smallest details with a wet brush on dry paper. That is, the larger the parts, the more wet the paper should be.

You can determine that the paper is completely dry by its temperature, which can be checked by holding the back of your hand over the paper, but without touching it. The leaf should not be cold. In order to acquire the skill of determining the temperature in this way, you will need to practice a little. But this is necessary, since any touch can lead to damage to the pattern and the appearance of grease stains from the skin of the palms on its surface. Do not remove the adhesive tape until the paper is completely dry. The tape helps keep the paper from curling, keeping it even and flat, eliminating unevenness caused by changes in humidity and ink exposure.

You can use ready-made watercolor blocks in which all four sides of the paper are glued like the top edge in a notebook. It is a little more expensive, but very convenient for a beginner.

Try applying light paint to the surface of the paper, and before the paint dries, sprinkle salt on it. You will get interesting effects that can be used to paint landscapes with snowflakes in the sky or lichen on the rocks.

Try drawing on paper with a white crayon, wax crayon, or the tip of a candle to see how the lines appear when watercolor is applied to them.

Try cutting shapes out of sticky masking tape and painting over the resulting stencil to get a specific outline. Everything that is sealed with screen film will remain unpainted.

Always start your watercolor painting by painting in the darker areas and outlining the lighter areas. Isolate or mask everything that should remain white. Get used to the "negative image" as this will also help you get more accurate outlines of objects than if you draw them first and then stroke them with the background. Try starting your image of the cup with its surroundings and background behind the handle, leaving the details of the cup itself for last. You will feel a big difference in image accuracy!

Try applying the "glazing" technique. Once the watercolor is completely dry, mix in a small amount of paint in a contrasting shade and quickly paint over the area. This will change the color, and if you did it right, won't blur the image. Light golden paint applied by glazing on the illuminated areas of the landscape can make the sunlight much more expressive.

Read books and articles on watercolor and try them for new ideas. Watch videos on YouTube and other portals to learn more about watercolor painting techniques. After that, try to draw something that you really like. An interesting type of painting is Sumi-E or Japanese ink painting, which transforms beautifully into watercolor drawings.

• Many instructors begin their courses by teaching the wet-brush-on-wet-paper technique, but it is preferable to start with the most common technique, wet-brush-on-dry paper.
• If you're using quality embossed watercolor paper (such as Arches), don't throw away the sketches or bad paintings you made on it. You can always paint over them again with acrylic or gouache, or use it as a backdrop for a pastel painting. This paper will also look better whatever you draw on it, and if you draw something pretty, your painting will last longer and won't turn yellow.
• Watercolor paints are produced in various forms: in tubes, in the form of a pencil or in cuvettes. There are also watercolor crayons. This article used watercolor from tubes.
• Try to find the type of paper that suits your painting style. Different types of paper have different characteristics. Arches paper is free from most of the disadvantages and is the most versatile, even allowing you to wash off the watercolor image, dry it and reuse it.
• If you are using paint in pans, do not throw them away after the paint runs out. You can always reuse the cuvettes by filling them with paint from tubes, after thoroughly washing them, and you will have the opportunity to fill the cuvettes with your favorite colors, without being guided by the standard sets in which the cuvettes are supplied.
• Do not buy the most expensive paper or natural sable brushes. You can spend a large amount of money on a purchase, but it is not necessary! Quality synthetic brushes, a small palette with good paint (artist paint is better than student paint) and 300g/m² cold-pressed paper is most suitable for beginners. Buy a few consumables to start with and gradually buy more as needed.
• Cuvette sets are handy for painting outdoors or on the go. The paints in them are not easy to mix in large volumes, but they are very useful for working with a wet brush on dry paper. For travelling, it is best to choose a medium to large pointed tip brush, which is included in the ditch kits. However, to draw fine details, you will need a smaller brush. For sketching while traveling, studying or lunch breaks, a pocket block of watercolor paper is suitable. Some kits (such as Winsor & Newton) include a water bottle, collapsible palette caps, and so on.
• One of the best manufacturers of watercolor paints is Winsor & Newton. The "Cotman" brand is designed specifically for beginner use. It is cheaper and therefore you can experiment in peace without fear of high costs. "Cotman" accessories from Winsor & Newton are of excellent quality and suitable for students.
• The wet brush on wet paper method also works well before the wet brush on dry paper method within a single painting.

Warnings

• NEVER leave a brush in a jar of water with the bristles down. However, if you have a brush cleaner that has a coil spring, you can leave the brush in the water without the bristles touching the bottom of the can. If you have brushes made in China, try wringing them out with your fingers and hanging them on a stud or hook with a loop on the handle, this will allow the brush to maintain its optimal shape.
• Do not use the same brushes for water-based paints (watercolor, acrylic, gouache) and oil paints (for oil painting, pastels). Once a brush has been used on oil paints once, it should always be used on that type of paint. Mark the brush handle with labeled tape to avoid confusion.
• Wash your brushes with mild dish soap or a special brush cleaner (such as Masters Brush Cleaner & Conditioner). This will remove any residual paint, but some colors may remain. In addition, it will extend the life of the brushes.
• Don't try to shape your brush with your lips. Use only your fingers. Be aware that some coloring pigments can be toxic and hazardous to health.

What will you need

• Several tubes of multi-colored watercolors
• 640 g/m² watercolor paper that won't warp when exposed to a lot of water compared to other types of paper
• Watercolor brushes - size 8
• Two cans of water
• A piece of white plastic or porcelain plate for the palette
• A roll of paper towels or old clean rags.

Article Information

wikiHow is a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. When creating this article, 13 people worked on editing and improving it, including anonymously.

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Artists love to use watercolors. And all because with their help it is easy to create masterpiece paintings, when working on which it is possible to choose a variety of techniques that are perfect for these colors.

The techniques described below will help you deal with the question of how to learn to paint with watercolors. They are ideal for both professionals and beginners, becoming a source of inspiration and strength.

Watercolor and flat brush

So, let's figure out how to learn how to paint with paints using a flat brush for this.

First, draw a rectangular shape with a pencil, this is necessary to indicate the edges of the layer. Pick up some dark color on the brush. Climb to the upper left corner of the rectangle and gently, without pressing, draw a straight line to the right.

Advice: if you are left-handed, then it will be more convenient for you to start from the right and lead to the left.

Dip the brush into the paint again, but this time work on the bottom of the shape. Drawing a line from corner to corner, try to cover the collected paint after the top stroke.

Reminder:

• the accumulated paint should drain freely, if for some reason this did not happen, then it is necessary to slightly tilt the easel;
• remember that a strong tilt can lead to an uncontrolled "flow", so it is worth working quickly and accurately on the picture, and have a sponge on hand that can wipe off excess drops.

Then you need to repeat the previous step, again overlapping the top stroke.

Clue:

• to create a smooth edge of the picture, you can use the flat part of the brush;
• to achieve a smooth edge, you need to stop at the end of the horizontal line and stretch the brush first up and then down;
• the stroke should be continuous, not intermittent, for this, follow the fullness of the brush with paint.

You need to repeat the above steps until the entire rectangle is painted over. It is better to do it in one tone.

The note:

• the more popular and better the paper for drawing, the easier the technique is given to you and the better the drawings turn out;
• broken strokes with a “full” brush indicate that the paper is too thick or rough; to soften it, simply sprinkle with water or wipe with a damp sponge and leave to dry.

The drawing will be completed after you pick up the excess paint left over from the final touch. Leave the work itself to dry at an angle, the paint will take on an interesting look. After completing the work on the figure, take care of the brush, rinse it and dry it.

To learn to paint with paints, you need to be hardworking, because this is painstaking work that generously rewards those who put effort into it.

Gradient

As in the first technique, we will need an outline for study. So, we draw with watercolor for beginners in stages. Dip the brush into dark paint and draw a stroke.

Then you need to thoroughly wipe the brush and scoop up a lighter shade with it. After that, you can make a new stroke, which will capture the bottom of the previous one. If you stop for a second, you will notice that the left side has merged with the previously drawn one.

Blot the brush again, wipe it off. Take a lighter color and repeat the action. Follow these rules until the entire shape is filled with paint.

Advice: with interrupted, uneven strokes, it is a good idea to dip the brush in the paint and go over the previously made line.

When finished, remove excess paint with a clean brush. You can try this technique in different colors.

Glaze watercolor

The lesson can be very interesting even for a child, as it will require imagination. It is great for landscapes.

This technique requires improvisation and imagination. For example, we will draw an impromptu landscape. In our work you will see how this can be done. The brushes that you have can be used in the work. They don't have to be the same as ours.

First, draw the sky and the river. Moreover, the blue paint must be separated by water, so that in the future a waterfall will turn out.

We will make the clouds a rich pink color, and the mountain - yellow, with the same shade we will walk along the edge of the picture. To make it clearer how the layers interact, the example uses transparent and light colors.

By mixing two shades of blue, we get a beautiful color for the horizon, do not forget to shade the mountainside.

Reminder: layers must dry; for this you can use a hair dryer, but you can’t keep it close, and the air flow should be light; avoid hot air and steam.

To shade some elements, use a bright color, such as orange. On our canvas, he favorably emphasized the sky and the coast.

Clue: excess drops are wiped off with a clean and dried brush.

For an unusual paint texture, apply light pressure on the brush as you work on the mountaintop shade.

To "revive" the waterfall, draw circles on it in blue. And after washing the brush, you can apply a couple of details to the banks.

After the paint dries, darken the bubbles, for example, with purple. The picture will sparkle with new colors.

Large details, such as trees, are needed to link the elements of the picture. We drew with round crowns, but you can make them different. For trunks, take a dark color. Don't forget the little things like the grass in the foreground, it can be green, blue, etc.

By combining red and pink, we will add the final features. Fruit on trees and near their trunks.

This technique is a flight of fancy. The layers interact with each other, and you can see this by looking at our sketches. Dark shades are more pronounced, but mixed with light ones, we get something unusual.

wet painting

In this part we will tell you how to draw with paints on wet paper. Painting performed in this technique looks very beautiful.

We paint with watercolors step by step. Therefore, take a piece of paper and sprinkle it with water. Remove excess drops with a sponge, try to distribute the moisture evenly, the paper will be like satin. If it shines, then you need to go over the sponge again, removing the water.

When starting a drawing, first take care of the background, since then it will be easier with the creation of the main objects. For this reason, we started from the sky. We draw it until we fall in love with this piece of the picture. Blurry strokes will create an unusual effect.

After the sky, we proceed to the grass, making for this only a couple of strokes. The drier the picture, the less strokes float.

Trees will make the picture more voluminous. The first time we apply a lighter shade of green, and the second time it goes darker. On the horizon, we will also add a couple of trees.

Among the grass we will place the stones created with the help of gray. When drawing them, it is necessary to leave gaps.

In the picture it is better to use shades not to mix, work either only with cold or warm ones.

In order for the picture to play, you need to add at least one flower, they are not clear, but interesting. They are created with a crimson hue that spreads as it suits him. To mark the center of the flower, simply blot the excess with a dry brush.

Finally, you will have to put a drop of water on the spots, so they can mix with the green grass.

Trying yourself in this technique, it is important to stop in time, so as not to overdo it with blur and not get dirt as a result. The drawing is certainly strange, but very attractive.

Dry brush

We will talk about how to paint with watercolor using a dry brush. In the process of work, the paint is drawn on the brush, the excess is removed with a sponge, and then applied to the sheet.

First of all, let's make a sketch in pencil. We conditionally designate the sky by drawing a brush over the sheet.

You can draw a horizon line with trees in green, highlighting a place for a lake. The layer for the barrel is made of purple and blue paint.

Take your time and let the painting dry. After that, it will turn out in the lake to make a stream of water and a reflection of a tree. Do not forget to shade the coast, for this we took mixed blue and green. Again, wait a while for the drawing to dry.

The next layer of wood we will do in a bright blue tint, this will help create the appearance of bark and shadows.

The next step is to transform the background trees using orange. We will place small accents on them in gray. After that, let's deal with the reflection of the trees.

As for water, for more realism, we took two colors and mixed them: brown, saturated green. When working on the lake, it is important to change the pressure on the brush.

Reminder: paint with a wet brush will be flat; dry brush - the way to rich and intense colors.

Add grass in front of the tree. We shade the sky and the lake.

Important points for all techniques

1. As for removing excess moisture, then sponges or paper napkins are needed, it is better that there are several of them. In addition to the fact that they can correct the behavior of colors, you can also create clouds.
2. Sponges are perfect for this role, as they are displayed in an interesting way in the picture and absorb excess moisture very well. When working with paints, do not rub the paper with a sponge, as there is a high probability that it will be damaged.
3. If you need to make highlights, then it is better to use paper towels, which instantly absorb excess paint. If a mistake is made, it is easy to wipe it out.
4. Remove unnecessary and dry brush, which just needs to be washed and dried.
5. You can also spray the problem area with water, and then blot with a sponge or hand.
6. Fabrics are used to create unusual textures.

How to discolor paint that has dried

To do this, you need a cloth and water. Moisten the area you don't like, rub lightly and use a dry brush to remove excess.

What brushes are needed for paints

To remove oil and acrylic paints, you will need a brush with stiff bristles, you can’t scrape off strongly, because the picture may be damaged. Moisten the area, rub and remove excess.

If you sprinkle a picture, and then attach a paper towel to this area, you will get unusual bright spots.

To change the texture, sandpaper can be used, which is gently rubbed over sections of paper.

Experienced craftsmen can even use a blade or knife for clear lines and highlights.

To more fully master the watercolor lessons, find and watch videos that show the work of the master.

Watercolor painting is an interesting process that allows you to depict thoughts, fantasies, dreams, positive emotions on paper with colored paints.

The process helps to relax the soul and body, it eliminates negative emotions, negative energy, stress.

Not everyone can boast of excellent skills and knowledge in this matter. Some people don't have the will and some don't have the time.

But these are trifles, if you start to study in depth drawing with watercolors, then it will draw you in with its diversity.

Drawing tools

You can paint with watercolors on your own at home, the main thing is to carefully prepare for this matter.

To make learning easy and hassle-free, you need to purchase the necessary drawing tools. They must be comfortable and of good quality.

It is worth noting! Go to a special art supply store. In this place you will find suitable watercolors.

Preference should be given to sets of medium size, consisting of 12-18 colors. Most importantly, it should not be childish.

In addition to paints, you will also need other drawing tools:

• shallow container with wide sides. The tool will be required to mix different colors of paints.
• Compulsory The brush is the drawing tool. There should be several brushes with sizes from 0 to 6.

  Preference should be given to products with mixed fibers. It is easier for beginners to mix paints with a brush number 3.

• cup for water. Water is needed for grading washes.
• Napkins from a paper base. With the help of them, excess water and paint are eliminated.
• Simple pencils with hard-soft or hard lead for sketching the outline of the drawing.

What should be the paper?

Paper is of particular importance, and it must be special. A simple thin canvas will not convey the brightness and naturalness of the pattern. As it dries, it usually crusts over and the colors become dull.

Preference should be given to thick, glued paper, it should not delaminate.

But in order to choose it correctly, you should carefully study the selection criteria:

In order to learn how to paint with watercolor from scratch, you should carefully study the technique. The advice of experienced artists will be useful in this matter. They will help create a portrait, still life or vivid landscape.

In order to embody ideas with paints on canvas, it is worth studying tips and advice for beginners from experienced artists:

1. Consider that when dried, the watercolor becomes light.

   If you want the drawing to be saturated, then apply more paint, but use less water.

2. Desirable pre-check colors. You can use a piece of paper for this.
3. note that dried watercolor still remains soluble.

   If it is moistened with a damp brush, then it will be possible to work with it again. But do it carefully, otherwise the canvas may be damaged.

4. Better move from light to dark. There is no white color in watercolor, it is replaced by a sheet of paper.

   If you want to make the drawing bright, natural, then it is advisable to start with light, gradually darkening the work.

5. For drawing It is worth using a comfortable and high-quality brush. It should not be deformed, in the process of applying paint, hairs should not fall out of it.
6. Before Before starting to draw, carefully study the drawing that you want to depict.

   It doesn’t matter at all what it will be - a forest, space, sea, sky, a bouquet of flowers, an apple or a watermelon, seasons (summer, autumn, winter, spring), any flowers (tulips, roses, lilies, poppies).

   To begin with, study the object, its outlines, primary colors, this will help to correctly depict it on the canvas.

Step by step drawing techniques for beginners

To depict a beautiful portrait, landscape, nature, water, flowers, fruits and other bright moments of life with watercolors, you should carefully study the master classes for beginners, which can be done in stages or steps. They will help you quickly learn this business even at home.

Interesting! You can paint with watercolors with children, this process will seem fascinating and exciting to them.

To learn how to paint with watercolor, you can watch video tutorials on the Internet.

After studying all the principles of this process, you can easily depict any drawing - forest, trees (spruce, birch), space, sky, water, sea, oceans, landscapes, still lifes, as well as portraits of people.

Useful video

Discover creative watercolor painting ideas on Craftsy!

Ready to learn painting? Here are 7 watercolor ideas for beginners and experienced painters alike..

1. Flowers

The translucent nature of flowers makes them a great subject for watercolor painting because watercolor paints allow you to start with very light tones and build up the hues and shadows as you go. Watercolor paints are also fluid. If you work on it, you can achieve a smooth texture that closely mimics the texture of the flower petals. Plus, who doesn't love flowers?

Learn how to draw realistic flowers with the Craftsy "Realistic Watercolors Step by Step" class, or get started with our free blog tutorial.

2. Landscapes

Whether you want to try air painting or paint a complex, layered landscape, watercolor is the perfect tool for the job! Take advantage of the light properties of watercolor paints to depict the sky, clouds, water and snow.

Landscapes are a good solution for beginners. You don't have to be precise with shapes and lines. Landscapes will also help you depict consistently what you imagine in your mind! Want to try? Get started with this step by step landscape painting tutorial.

3. Fruit

Watercolors by nature have a refreshing quality, especially if you leave some highlights here and there. This makes painting fruit with watercolor perfect. The fruits also have simple shapes, allowing you to practice creating highlights and shadows in a simple, straightforward way. Light and shadows are all contained in one form.

Beginning artists can create a fruit still life using the contents of a homemade fruit bowl. More advanced artists can paint from photographs of nature, including leaves and backgrounds.

4. Wildlife

It takes a little practice, but you can achieve many textures with watercolors. You can create soft, fuzzy strokes for the fur image; wide strokes for feathers; and stains of paint for scales. The possibilities here are endless. Draw your favorite animals, birds or insects using your texture arsenal and even create some new textures.

5. Architecture

Although complex, buildings lend themselves well to watercolor painting because they allow you to easily convey the textures of wood, stone, and brick with simple strokes. Even the clean structures of the buildings create an amazing contrast with the dirty organic forms of the landscapes around them.

6. Still life

Objects made of glass or porcelain are still life painting subjects because they reflect or transmit light. Watercolors are great at depicting light, so play with the reflections and have fun! Before you begin, read about the three main elements that every watercolor still life should include.

7. Portraits

For more advanced watercolorists, it is recommended to try your hand at watercolor portraits. They can be complex, but also very useful. The expressive nature of watercolor paints allows you to show the personality of your subjects. Get started with portraits along with the guides on our website.