WATERCOLOR
The watercolor is an ancient technique of which we find evidence since the time of the ancient Egyptians and has continued to be used in all periods of the history of art, until today
How are watercolor paints made?
Watercolor paints are composed of only two elements: pigment (colored powder) and gum arabic, as a binder.
Gum arabic is a natural resin produced by some acacia trees ( Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal), it is edible (used in cooking to make gummy candies) and dissolves in water.
There are several preparations based on watercolor: colored pencils, chalks, pastels, watercolors in tubes and watercolors in tablets.
Pencils, chalks and crayons are used for retouching, while for painting you use watercolors in tubes or tablets.
BASIC RULES
The watercolor is transparent
white is the white of the sheet (if I want white areas I have to leave them at the start)
if I superimpose different colors, they add up
little pigment and a lot of water are used
what it paints is water together with the FORCE OF GRAVITY
it is painted by holding the support inclined to allow the water to slide downwards
the brush guides the water downwards ( only the tip is used, without squeezing the brush on the sheet )
you never go back to a painted and still wet area (otherwise you create spots or take away the color already applied
between one draft and the other you have to wait for the sheet to dry
Materials and tools needed to paint in watercolor
MATERIALS
WATERCOLORS
WATERCOLOR PAPER OR TEXTURED CARDBOARD F4
HARD BACKING (the back of a sketchbook or other hard cardboard)
PAPER TAPE
2 WATER CONTAINERS
WATER
PALETTE OR CONTAINERS TO PREPARE THE COLORS
ABSORBENT KITCHEN PAPER
STRIP OF ABSORBENT COTTON
SYRINGE (without needle)
INSTRUMENTS
-
WATERCOLOR BRUSHES (medium size 10)
PREPARATION OF THE WORKSPACE
the sheet must be smaller than the media
it should be glued with the paper tape making a frame all around
the sheet should not be peeled off until the job it is finished and dry
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |