Wanting to try watercoloring?

[Techno Mermaid]

I apologize if this isn't where this belong... However, I really have been having trouble with digital media. I've sat there, for years, with different people trying to explain it to me..But it's just not clicking. I mean I've completed pictures, and been proud but...

I think Traditional media peaks my interest more. I've looked it up, and am really interested in experimenting to see if watercolors are something I'm going to be more comfortable with. I've heard of different types of watercolors, and I know I should try mixing them up, but I honestly don't know which ones, or where to go to even purchase any.

An artist I admire puts up his method of watercoloring, which is a mixture of watercoloring and colored pencils. I know that I won't automatically be at the status he is, but practice makes perfect, and I gotta experiment to find my medium.

So here's a list of water colors I've heard of;

Winsor&Newton Artist' watercolor
Holbein Artist' watercolor
Old Holland Classic watercolor
Shinhan Artist' watercolor
Van Gogh watercolor

Any advice on which one I should start with, and where I could go to purchase some? I think I'm going to be using Prism Colored Pencil's, cos I've drawn with those and liked the results. I'd appreciate any help, again I apologize if I'm repetitive, or this doesn't belong here.

[Atomic Octopus]

Honestly, I don't think the brand itself matters very much. I have about four different kinds of tube watercolors and I mix them all together. I have Cotman, Maries, Grumbacher and Daler-Rowley and I they all get the job done equally well for me. Get something not too expensive to start out with. Some people like to work with the the cheaper crayola brand cake watercolors and that works fine for them (I just prefer the tube ones myself). You can pick some up at a local craft store like Micheals or order some from Dickblick.

[Techno Mermaid]

Atomic Octopus

Honestly, I don't think the brand itself matters very much. I have about four different kinds of tube watercolors and I mix them all together. I have Cotman, Maries, Grumbacher and Daler-Rowley and I they all get the job done equally well for me. Get something not too expensive to start out with. Some people like to work with the the cheaper crayola brand cake watercolors and that works fine for them (I just prefer the tube ones myself). You can pick some up at a local craft store like Micheals or order some from Dickblick.

Oh okay! Thank you so much! This is exactly why I ask, because I'm very new to the watercolor field, so like a moron I would have ended up spending a fortune on things I don't understand yet. Thanks again, I appreciate your answers! 8D

[alliistar]

i love to water color but i need to buy more paper

[Kaxen]

You can mix brands. My watercolor professor suggested buying different colors from different companies. Since they all use different formulas, some of the "same" colors look slightly different. I'm using a mix of Holbein, Winsor & Newton, and Sennelier.

Also, if you ever need a vibrant hot pink, get Holbein's "Opera" everyone else's hot pink is darker or less vibrant. I normally hate hot pink, but Opera is such a sexy paint, I've been inspired to use more hot pink. xD


I always suggest Michaels because they almost perpetually have 40% off coupons and sometimes 50% which is good for getting a set.

And don't forget to get nice thick watercolor paper. Trying to make watercolor work on bad paper can be a bit... burning_eyes

[Spindlewick]

Although I have had little experience with watercolour (I'm more into gouache), make sure you look into really good watercolour paper. The certain paper you get can really make or break you learning the techniques of layering and applying.

[Ms Spook]

Watercoloring is very soothing. I would start out with a koi watercolor pallet. The one with 24 colors. Very portable and the colors are fantastic. It's also cheap coming in on eBay at about 21$ with free shipping.

I made both of these with watercolor. The second one was mixed media with prismacolor pencils.


http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh535/Rachael_Aryn/pika.jpg

http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh535/Rachael_Aryn/WIPD.jpg

[Techno Mermaid]

Kaxen

Yeah, that's actually what I see a lot of water color artist do, because they say some colors from certain brands are better, or prettier. And thank you for that advice. I happen to really like pink, and so that will probably end up helping me greatly!

We have a Michael's around us, so I may end up checking there before, just to see. n__n Thank you so much.

And good watercolor paper, got it! Thanks again.

Spindlewick

Alright. Thank you so much! Duly noted. Is there any watercolor paper you suggest in particular? o__o And if you don't mind me asking, what is gouache? I'll probably end up looking it up myself. Haha.

Ms Spook

Oh my gosh, your Pikachu is so very cute. ;___; kjfkej, and how smooth the second picture looks it's very pretty. Thank you so much for showing examples. Just out of curiousity, since you are a watercolor painter yourself, is it difficult to get the hang of, and is there any advice you'd give to a newbie like me? 8D; You use Prismacolor, which is exactly what I want to use.

Also [ Sorry for all the questions ] For paper, what would you recommend?

[Ms Spook]

Techno Mermaid

Oh my gosh, your Pikachu is so very cute. ;___; kjfkej, and how smooth the second picture looks it's very pretty. Thank you so much for showing examples. Just out of curiousity, since you are a watercolor painter yourself, is it difficult to get the hang of, and is there any advice you'd give to a newbie like me? 8D; You use Prismacolor, which is exactly what I want to use.

Also [ Sorry for all the questions ] For paper, what would you recommend?

The Pikachu one was actually the very first watercolor painting I did. C: If that gives you any idea about how easy it is. C:

The second on was all watercolor except for the eyes, lips, and white jewels on the arm band. I also did the white high lights in white gel pen.

Im self taught so my methods are kind of weird and hard to explain. sweatdrop I watch a lot of videos on YouTube of people drawing and painting. Hours and hours. C:

I used a Moleskine watercolor journal for those. They can be a little pricey. So don't worry about getting one. You can buy individual sheets of paper that you can cut to size on dickblick.com.

Because you need to stretch lighter paper before you color so it doesn't warp....go for the 240lb paper. It takes a lot of water before it starts to buckle.

I have a picture of just prismacolor pencil work if you would like to see.

You can also add me on here if you have any questions I can try to help. C:

[God-the-almighty]

You can even use those dry Prang watercolors they use in schools to make something decent. It's better to focus more on what you are doing.

[Techno Mermaid]

Ms Spook

The Pikachu one was actually the very first watercolor painting I did. C: If that gives you any idea about how easy it is. C:

The second on was all watercolor except for the eyes, lips, and white jewels on the arm band. I also did the white high lights in white gel pen.

Im self taught so my methods are kind of weird and hard to explain. sweatdrop I watch a lot of videos on YouTube of people drawing and painting. Hours and hours. C:

I used a Moleskine watercolor journal for those. They can be a little pricey. So don't worry about getting one. You can buy individual sheets of paper that you can cut to size on dickblick.com.

Because you need to stretch lighter paper before you color so it doesn't warp....go for the 240lb paper. It takes a lot of water before it starts to buckle.

I have a picture of just prismacolor pencil work if you would like to see.

You can also add me on here if you have any questions I can try to help. C:

It's so cute, I almost can't believe it. Then again, I'm such a pokedork as of late. @___@ Heh. But I'm really excited. I really love drawing, as a personal hobby for myself, and I've been so frustrated because I feel like TONS of people can do digital, and it's just...Very hard for me to grasp.

Yeah, I've heard of people using different things for different pieces. I want to one day be able to have my own set of methods that I use diligently. I'm actually very excited for watercoloring. I actually looked at copic's for a long time, but the price is what quickly turned me away from it. I find myself doing that too though. Looking at youtube videos, and tutorials and such.

And alright! I'll keep that in mind most definitely. I really like the sakura koi watercolors. They're in my price range, and they look interesting enough. Now all I need to do is teach myself about brushes, and such. Haha.

Yes. I'd love to see them! You can PM them to be if you'd prefer, and will do. Thanks for being so nice. ;o;

[Ms Spook]

Techno Mermaid

Ms Spook

The Pikachu one was actually the very first watercolor painting I did. C: If that gives you any idea about how easy it is. C:

The second on was all watercolor except for the eyes, lips, and white jewels on the arm band. I also did the white high lights in white gel pen.

Im self taught so my methods are kind of weird and hard to explain. sweatdrop I watch a lot of videos on YouTube of people drawing and painting. Hours and hours. C:

I used a Moleskine watercolor journal for those. They can be a little pricey. So don't worry about getting one. You can buy individual sheets of paper that you can cut to size on dickblick.com.

Because you need to stretch lighter paper before you color so it doesn't warp....go for the 240lb paper. It takes a lot of water before it starts to buckle.

I have a picture of just prismacolor pencil work if you would like to see.

You can also add me on here if you have any questions I can try to help. C:

It's so cute, I almost can't believe it. Then again, I'm such a pokedork as of late. @___@ Heh. But I'm really excited. I really love drawing, as a personal hobby for myself, and I've been so frustrated because I feel like TONS of people can do digital, and it's just...Very hard for me to grasp.

Yeah, I've heard of people using different things for different pieces. I want to one day be able to have my own set of methods that I use diligently. I'm actually very excited for watercoloring. I actually looked at copic's for a long time, but the price is what quickly turned me away from it. I find myself doing that too though. Looking at youtube videos, and tutorials and such.

And alright! I'll keep that in mind most definitely. I really like the sakura koi watercolors. They're in my price range, and they look interesting enough. Now all I need to do is teach myself about brushes, and such. Haha.

Yes. I'd love to see them! You can PM them to be if you'd prefer, and will do. Thanks for being so nice. ;o;

I have been too! Haha, I've been trying to hatch a shiny Zorua. I have to go pick up my Platinum game from the mail and I got a wifi charm for my ds. C:

I'm absolutely horrible at digital. I own a tablet but it practically collects dust.

You don't really have to worry about brushes right now since you are starting out. I just use the water brush that came with the set. Just make sure its clean in between colors. C:

[Techno Mermaid]

Ms Spook

I have been too! Haha, I've been trying to hatch a shiny Zorua. I have to go pick up my Platinum game from the mail and I got a wifi charm for my ds. C:

I'm absolutely horrible at digital. I own a tablet but it practically collects dust.

You don't really have to worry about brushes right now since you are starting out. I just use the water brush that came with the set. Just make sure its clean in between colors. C:

That's so awesome. Zorua's are so cute. My favorite Pokemon is Shiny Pachirisu, and then Shiny Whimsicott. I love shinies. *___*; I used to stalk the pokeforums, before it became a troll infested place.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've tried, as I continue mentioning, but it's really hard for me. My girlfriend sits there, and is able to do it so pretty, and I ask her to teach me, and I just can't grasp it. Then again, my girlfriend is constantly irritated because I am my own worse critic, and I never tend to like any of my art pieces enough to show them off. I suppose I want to be comfortable with my style, before I do anything like that.

Oh! Alright! n__n I know a person said to keep two water cups near you at all times with watercoloring. So thanks again. 8D

[la balena]

Ms Spook

Watercoloring is very soothing. I would start out with a koi watercolor pallet. The one with 24 colors. Very portable and the colors are fantastic. It's also cheap coming in on eBay at about 21$ with free shipping.

I hope it's also available the little papery container of white squares that's inside the set-- I've ripped holes into a few by accident and if I spill water into them, it leaks out of the palette confused

[Ms Spook]

la balena

Ms Spook

Watercoloring is very soothing. I would start out with a koi watercolor pallet. The one with 24 colors. Very portable and the colors are fantastic. It's also cheap coming in on eBay at about 21$ with free shipping.

I hope it's also available the little papery container of white squares that's inside the set-- I've ripped holes into a few by accident and if I spill water into them, it leaks out of the palette confused

The set I'm talking about it hard plastic. D: