by: callumasterman
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Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 Time: 9:16 AM -
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As far as application is concerned, watercolour is a very easy medium to work with. As its solvent is water, there is a ready supply to allow the artist to dilute it to suit their own needs, and if it dries out a little it can easily be brought back to its normal state. In terms of technique, watercolours are semi-transparent, meaning that the brightness of the paper provides much of the light. This makes it difficult to use watercolours on darker surfaces, although using some lighter shades or red, yellow or orange paper can lend warmth or coolness to a picture. By contrast, oils on the other hand, are completely opaque even when spread thinly, so it doesn't matter what colour the background medium is.
Article Source: DirectoryArticles.com
Buying Watercolours
Watercolour paints are sold in two main formats by art material suppliers – as dried blocks or in tubes. Powder is also seen sometimes but it's more often reserved for specialist use and visual effect application than simple painting.
Most people will be familiar with blocks of watercolour as we will all have used them in primary school and playgroups, although our memories might be a little messier than the grown-up experience. The block itself can be used as a miniature palette, its top being dampened with water straight from the brush and the paint applied to the paper. Mixing paint from different blocks to create new colours would normally take place on a palette though. Dried blocks can be bought in sets, usually encased in a tin with a lid, for a completely portable painting kit. The inside of the lid can be used as a palette, and there might even be a slot for a few brushes. The great advantage of watercolour blocks is that they are designed to be dried out and wetted continually, so they can never be spoiled by leaving the lid open or not using them for a while.
Watercolours in tubes might resemble oil paints, so pay close attention when purchasing them (and when purchasing oils, for that matter). Watercolours are applied using similar techniques as when painting with oils in that they are squeezed onto a palette and mixed to suit the needs of the artist. However, because they can be diluted so readily, they allow the full range of opacity from an almost transparent wash to the thick and undiluted transparent state.
Watercolours allow a wide range of painting techniques to be used, from wispy wash effects to stark, high-contrast application. Combined with the fact that watercolours are normally much lower cost, they are a great material to practice, sketch and experiment with.
Callum has painted in both oils and watercolour paints and frequently uses special watercolour brushes to achieve the exact effect he wants. Callum has written about painting, art and photography for several websites and publications.
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