Posted on July 24th, 2024

 

Imagine staring out into the endless horizon, where the sky meets the tranquil sea, and feeling compelled to capture that serene beauty on paper.

 

Watercolor painting lets you do just that, with its ethereal wash of colors and the ability to layer pigments like the gentle waves on the shore.

 

If you're drawn to the idea of translating your love for the coastal scenery into a creative pursuit, then you're in for a delightful adventure.

 

Whether you're a local Floridian or a visitor enchanted by our picturesque beaches, mastering the basics of watercolor painting can transform how you see and interact with our breathtaking landscapes. And trust me, once you catch the watercolor bug, there's no turning back.

 

One of the first things you’ll need when starting your watercolor journey is to get your hands on the right supplies.

 

As you become more familiar with your tools, the essence of watercolor painting will begin to unravel before you, from the subtleties of brush techniques to the interplay of pigments on paper.

 

Ready to start this creative voyage?

 

Gathering Your Watercolor Painting Supplies

When diving into the mesmerizing realm of watercolor painting, gathering the right watercolor painting supplies is paramount. Start with a good set of watercolors.

 

For beginners, it's beneficial to invest in a quality student-grade set. Brands like Winsor & Newton Cotman or Sakura Koi offer vibrant colors without the hefty price tag, and you can usually find these at local Floridian stores such as the Michaels in Celebration or Sam Flax Art in Orlando.

 

Additionally, palettes come in pans or tubes, and while pans are compact and portable, tube paints offer more flexibility with mixing. Both options are great, but for beginners, starting with a basic set of pans is advisable as it limits the overwhelming choices and helps in managing your palette more efficiently.

 

The heart of watercoloring for beginners lies in the paper you choose. Watercolor paper is specifically designed to handle the water load and comes in various weights and textures.

 

Look for paper that's at least 140 lb (300 gsm) to avoid warping. Cold-press paper is generally the best for beginners because of its slightly textured surface, which offers a nice balance for detailed work and broad washes.

 

Brands such as Arches or Strathmore are renowned for their quality and can be readily found in Celebration's local art shops. Remember, working on poor-quality paper is one of the biggest frustrations for beginners. Investing in good paper will dramatically affect your painting experience and outcome.

 

Brushes are your trusty companions in this journey. For starters, having a few round brushes in sizes 6, 8, and 10 will cover most of your needs. A flat brush around 1 inch can be handy for washes and backgrounds. Opt for synthetic brushes, which are less expensive and more durable than natural hair brushes.

 

Stores like Hobby Lobby in Kissimmee or the local Art Systems in Orlando often have great selections. When you're selecting your brushes, make sure they have a good point and snap back into shape when wet. Properly caring for them by gently rinsing and drying will ensure they last longer. Together, these essential items will set the foundation for your creative exploration into the delightful world of watercolors.

 

Understanding Watercoloring Basics

Understanding the basics of watercolor painting is like learning any other new skill—begin with the fundamentals and practice consistently.

 

One of the core skills is color mixing. Watercolors are typically transparent, and their beauty lies in the layers you can achieve by mixing.

 

Start with a small palette of primary colors—red, blue, and yellow. From these primary hues, you can mix a whole array of secondary and tertiary colors.

 

For a simple exercise, try creating a color wheel. On a piece of watercolor paper, paint a small circle for each primary color. Then mix adjacent primary colors to create secondary hues—mixing yellow and blue to get green, red and blue for purple, and yellow and red for orange. This not only helps you get comfortable with your colors but also strengthens your understanding of how colors interact.

 

Another fundamental concept in watercolor painting is mastering various brush techniques. Brushes are not just for applying paint—they can create textures, patterns, and effects.

 

A practical exercise to get a feel for different brush strokes involves practicing lines and shapes on a scrap piece of watercolor paper. Use round brushes to paint thin lines by using the tip and thicker lines by applying more pressure on the belly of the brush. Experiment with your flat brush to create broad strokes, perfect for washes.

 

Additionally, practice the dry brush technique by loading a lightly damp brush with paint, then dragging it across the paper to create a textured, streaky effect, resembling grass or rough sandy textures you might find in coastal scenes here in Florida. These exercises will help you become more comfortable handling your brush and refining your technique.

 

Water control is pivotal in watercoloring basics, making the medium unique and sometimes challenging. Watercolors work by diluting paint with water to various degrees, which affects the intensity and spread of the color. To understand this better, try exercises that focus on creating gradients and washes. Begin by practicing wet-on-wet, where you paint water over an area of the paper first, then add your paint. The paint will spread easily and blend into soft edges, ideal for skies or ocean scenes.

 

Next, try the wet-on-dry technique, applying wet paint directly onto the dry paper, resulting in more defined edges helpful for detail work like coral reefs or boat outlines. Lastly, practice graded washes by loading your brush with paint and water, then dragging it down the paper, gradually adding more water to create a smooth transition from dark to light. This practice will enhance your ability to control the flow and intensity of your colors, making your watercolor journey much more enjoyable and rewarding.

 

Creating Your First Simple Watercolor Landscape

Now that you’re equipped with the right supplies and fundamental techniques, let's get to creating your first simple watercolor landscape. We'll start with an easy watercolor painting of a scenic coastal view.

This step-by-step watercolor painting guide will help you capture the serene beauty of a local Floridian beach, perfect for beginners.

• Begin by lightly sketching the scene with a pencil on your watercolor paper.
• Outline a simple horizon line about a third of the way down from the top, where the sky meets the sea.
• Add a few elements like gentle waves, a distant shoreline, and perhaps a small silhouette of a boat or a cluster of palm trees.
• Keep your pencil marks light and easy to erase, as they'll serve as just a reference for your painting.
• Starting with the sky, use your 1-inch flat brush to create a wash. Dip your brush in clean water and evenly wet the sky section of your paper using broad strokes.
• Then, prepare a light wash of blue by diluting a small amount of blue paint with plenty of water. Apply this blue wash over the wet sky area, allowing the color to spread and blend naturally.
• Add a touch of pink or yellow in the lower part of the sky to suggest a sunrise or sunset. Remember, keep the colors soft and light to maintain the airy feel of the sky.
• Next, as you get to the horizon line, switch to your round brush to add some distant clouds with a slightly darker shade of blue or gray. Blend these softly into the wet wash for a realistic effect.
• Once the sky is dry, move on to the ocean. Use your round brush and a slightly stronger mix of blue paint for the water.
• Start near the horizon with a light wash, blending darker shades as you move toward the foreground to create depth. To mimic the movement of waves, use gentle, horizontal strokes, leaving small gaps of white paper to represent the foam on the wave crests.
• For added realism, incorporate a bit of green or turquoise into your blue mix for a more vibrant coastal scene.
• You can also include subtle reflections from the sky by lightly adding hints of the sky colors onto the water. When painting the shoreline, use a sandy color mix of yellow ochre and a touch of brown. If you place some palm trees or a boat, use your smallest round brush for details. Add a few shadows, paying attention to the direction of light.
• Finally, let your painting dry thoroughly.

This simple watercolor landscape not only captures the essence of our beloved coastal scenes but also provides a wonderful opportunity to practice basic techniques and enjoy the relaxing process of watercolor painting.

 

Final Thoughts

As you continue to explore painting, consider how the vibrant scenes and serene coastal landscapes captured in our watercolor artworks could inspire your next project.

 

At Hubert's Watercolors in Celebration, we specialize in bringing the stunning beauty of cities and coastal views to life through our paintings. Immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of the deep blue sea through the captivating watercolor artwork titled "Serene Depths: A Majestic Sea Turtle." Find out more about it in our shop.

 

We also offer a diverse array of watercolor artworks showcasing the allure of coastal life and urban beauty, perfect for both enthusiasts and collectors. Transform your spaces with pieces that reflect the serene depths of our surroundings and awaken a sense of calm and admiration in your daily life. If you have queries or need assistance selecting an artwork that complements your style, don't hesitate to reach out.

 

We're always here to help at [email protected] or you can call us at (305) 984-1459. Your artistic journey should be nurtured with passion and guidance, and we are delighted to be a part of it. Keep painting, keep dreaming, and let each piece you create be a testament to your evolving artistry.