Artist Name: Michael Mackellow

Location: Rojales, Costa Blanca, Spain

Title of Artwork: Tiger for Samtec

Dimensions of Artwork: A3

Medium: (Oils, Acrylics, Watercolor, etc.)

Support: (Canvas, Paper, Board, etc.)

Website: http://tyger888.blogspot.com/

Describe this Piece: One of four tigers in watercolor, painted for my friends at Samtec USA

watercolor techniques

I have also included several excellent videos that demonstration watercolor painting techniques below. Enjoy!

Basic Watercolor Techniques

Flat Wash Technique

The flat wash painting method is a common one. This technique is usually used when large areas of your support need to be covered. It is important to lay out the watercolor wash evenly and uniformly. First, you dampen the area of your paper where you will be applying the wash. Be sure to have an adequate amount of water and pigment available before your begin. If you should have to stop for any reason, it will be rather difficult to match your layers. It is better to have more than less available. The angle at which you apply the watercolor wash is important. If the angle is too steep your wash will run down the paper. If the angle is too level, then there won’t have enough movement. Use a large brush for this technique and start your first stroke at the top of the paper. Continue applying the watercolor wash going down the paper, but alternate sides as you move down.

Glazing

Glazing in watercolor is when you apply a thin transparent color over a completed dry layer of color. This technique creates unique and interesting blends of new color. You will need to use a non-staining, transparent color for this watercolor technique. You will need to use a soft brush and try not too apply that much pressure.

Wet In Wet

Wet in wet is simply applying a wet wash over a wet surface. You start by evenly wetting the paper with a brush or spray bottle. Have a sponge handy to absorb any excess water. You want your paper to be evenly saturated. Then apply your watercolor.

Dry Brush

With the dry brush technique, you begin with a dry piece of paper. Then pick up some dry pigment with just a touch of water and apply to your paper.

The dry brush method is only recommended when you want to draw focus or create texture in your painting. It’s always a good idea to use different brush techniques in a single painting. This results in a more interesting painting.

Lifting Off

Artists use this technique when they want to remove watercolor from a certain area of the panting. It is usually done by first wetting the area that needs to be removed with a clean sponge and then absorb the color with a tissue. If you find that the color does not come off right away, then let the water soak in a bit longer and try again. If you still are unable to remove the color, dampen a bristle brush and gently scrub the area. Use extreme care when utilizing this method as it is possible to damage your paper.

Watercolor Painting Videos

Painting a Flat Wash in Watercolor

How to paint a flat wash in watercolor. Artist Debbie Johnson demonstrates her technique of a flat wash -- to lay down a flat, even area of color with watercolor.

How to Stretch Your Paper

Here is an old method for stretching paper that also prevents hard edges.

Watercolor Dry Brush Painting

A dry brush technique in watercolor painting uses very little water. Learn how to paint with a dry brush in this free art lesson video.

Watercolor Salt Technique

Demonstration of salt application on watercolor paper.

Soft Focus Watercolor Techniques

Learn techniques to create beautiful, soft-focus watercolor paintings on damp paper. Techniques include positive painting, negative painting, lifting, and using gouache. Presented by Elizabeth Flue

Recommended Watercolor Painting DVD’s

If you aren’t a big fan of learning from books, then I highly recommend you check out the following watercolor painting dvd’s from Creative Catalyst Productions. Creative Catalyst produces some of the highest quality DVD’s in the world and well worth every penny. I recommend Creative Catalyst throughout my website and in my newsletters and stand by them 100 %. Click the links below to see the pricing & ordering details for each video, including free previews.

The Traditional Watercolor Approach by Cheng-Khee Chee, Vol.2

Saturated Wet Technique by Cheng-Khee Chee, Vol.3

Improvisational Splash Color Technique by Cheng-Khee Chee, Vol.4

Crinkling Paper Technique by Cheng-Khee Chee, Vol.5

Marbleizing and Monoprinting Techniques by Cheng-Khee Chee, Vol.6

Recommended Books on Watercolor Painting Techniques

Artist: Pat Gerace

Location: Gap Pennsylvania

Title: “White Roses”

Medium: Watercolor

Dimensions: 8×10

Artist: Mary

Title: “Silent Beauty”

Medium: Watercolor

Comments From The Artist: I am familiar with oils and I would say I am accomplished in Oils.  However, I  have not touched a brush of any kind since 1986 when I lost my son in an accident.  I failed to see beauty for many years.  This time has passed and at the persuasion of my husband and a friend who gave me some watercolors and paper, I tried to do watercolor.  I am teaching myself and observing many different techniques.

The fist one was done and 3 years passed, I have now resummed full speed ahead to get my feet WET.  “SILENT BEAUTY” is my second finished project.  Finding and allowing myself time seems to be the biggest problem.  I am enjoying.

The following is a list of art instruction and resource websites for artists, from around the Internet. This list is by no means complete. I will be adding to it as I find more websites. If you know of any other sites not listed here please send me an email and I will review the website and possibly add it to this list. Thanks.

By Medium:
Acrylic Painting
Creative Spotlite	Here you will find free step by step acrylic painting lessons by experienced artists, acrylic painting tips and articles, quality acrylic painting supplies and a great selection of acrylic painting instruction books & videos.
Expert Village	Free acrylic painting videos from the popular site Expert Village.
Elin Pendleton	Daily Paintings, painting lessons and instructional DVD’s by Elin Pendleton, AAEA, WAOW
How to Draw and Paint	Nice selection of free acrylic painting lessons and videos by artist Bob Davies.
Frank Clarke’s SimplyPainting.com	Another very cool site with free lessons and videos. This site also has a store where you can purchase books, videos, dvd’s and kits.
Drawing
Draw Figures and Faces Like the Masters	“Learn the little-known secrets to Mastering the Human Form Through Figure Drawing techniques never before seen!”
http://www.drawspace.com/	Great site with many free drawing lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced.
“THE PRACTICE & SCIENCE OF DRAWING” By : HAROLD SPEED	Free online book covering many aspects of drawing.
Learning How To Draw	Free lessons on everything from perspective to portraiture by artist John Hagan.
Karmatoons Inc.	Drawing for classical animation.
Drawing Coach	Many free drawing lessons on a variety of topics including cartoon drawing, video lessons and more.
About.com	Drawing lessons and tips from the popular site About.com
The Draw Squad	Free drawing lessons. The Draw Squad also has a video series on drawing available for sale from their website.
http://www.learn-to-draw.com/	Free drawing lessons by artist Kirk Bjorndahl
Diane Wright Fine Art	Free drawing tutorials by the very talented artist Diane Wright.
Mike Sibley Fine Art	Wonderful website by the verty talented artist Mike Sibley. Includes free tips, work shops, books and more.
http://www.toadhollowstudio.com/	Drawing Lessons and Online Classes by Carol Rosinski
Colored Pencil
Creative Spotlite	Free step by step colored pencil lessons by experienced artists, quality colored pencil supplies, a great selection of instruction books and colored pencil instruction videos by some of the nations most talented artists.
http://www.cpsa.org/	The colored pencil society of America.
About.com	Colored pencil lessons and tips from the popular site About.com
http://www.elfwood.com	Colored pencil techniques from Elfwood Tutorials
Colored Pencil Points	Free colored pencil tips as well as information on supplies, color theory and more.
http://www.portrait-artist.org	Colored Pencil Portrait Tutorial
http://coloredpencil.freeforums.org/	Colored Pencil Discussion Forums
Ann Kullberg	Colored pencil website from the very talented artist Ann Kullberg offering lessons, books and workshops.
Oil Painting
Creative Spotlite	Free step by step oil painting lessons & demonstrations by experienced artists, oil painting tips and articles, quality oil painting supplies, great selection of oil painting instruction books.
Karin Wells: http://www.KarinWells.BlogSpot.com Portraits: http://www.KarinWells.com Landscapes: http://www.Oilpnt.com	Grab a cup of virtual coffee and stop by my Painting Studio to see what’s happening. Also come visit my Portrait & Landscape Galleries.
Oil Painting Classes on DVD with Walt Burger	Nice selection of instructional DVD’s by artist Walt Burger.
Bill Martin’s Guide To Oil Painting	Great guide to oil painting. This website takes you step by step through creating your own painting including the materials you will need to get started.
Learn to Oil Paint with Darell Crow	Popular oil painting site with Artist Darell Crow offering a free 2 hour oil painting DVD.
The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross	Website of the late Bob Ross. Bob Ross made the wet on wet painting technique very popular on his tv show. His site offers many resources for artists on a variety of different topics.
About.com	Lots of great tips and lessons on oil painting from the popular site About.com.
Seekingcenter.com	Awesome website by the very talented Artist Jim Thomas. Jim offers many free step by step oil painting demonstrations. Highly recommended.
Pastels
Creative Spotlite	Free step by step pastel painting & drawing lessons, pastel articles & tips, pastel art supplies and a great selection of pastel art instruction books.
The Pastel Journal	Website for the Pastel Journal Magazine.
About.com	Pastel lessons and tips from the popular website About.com
Pastel Society of America	Pastel Society of America
Pastel Artists Canada	Pastel gallery that represents approximately 200 pastel artists. This site also has tips and tutorials for pastel artists.
Nancy Doyle Fine Art	Website of artist Nancy Doyle. This website offers a variety of resources including free art lessons and art history.
MidAmerica Pastel Society	MidAmerica Pastel Society
Chicago Pastel Painters	Chicago Pastel Painters
The Connecticut Pastel Society	The Connecticut Pastel Society
Pen & Ink
Creative Spotlite	Free lessons and other resources on pen and ink.
PEN DRAWING BOOK	Free online book with over 5 chapters of lessons with illustrations.
Homeschoolarts	A few free pen and ink lessons.
About.com	Pen and Ink drawing lessons from the popular site About.com
Watercolor
Creative Spotlite	Free step by step watercolor painting lessons by experienced artists, watercolor painting tips and articles, quality watercolor painting supplies, great selection of watercolor painting instruction books.
Susie Short Studio	Great website by Watercolor Artist and Workshop Instructor Susie Short. Lots of great watercolor tips and DVD’s and Videos.
WATERCOLORPAINTING.com	Great site with many free lessons covering everything from how to hold a brush to advanced watercolor techniques.
John Lovett Watercolor	Wonderful site from professional Australian artist John Lovett. Free painting lessons as well as an excellent selection of DVD and CD learning products.
Frank Clarke’s SimplyPainting.com	Another very cool site with free lessons and videos. This site also has a store where you can purchase books, videos, dvd’s and kits.
http://www.handprint.com	Very good guide to watercolor painting including free tips on brushes and paints, watercolor techniques, and more.
Fountain Studio	Great site by artist Ellen Fountain with a section containing watercolor lessons and tips. Fountain studio also has a section where you can purchase videos, workshops, one on one training and more.
Expert Village	Free watercolor instruction videos from the popular site Expert Village.
Larrys Art	Free watercolor lessons and tips by artist Larry Weiss
By Subject
Animals & Wildlife
Creative Spotlite	Free step by step animal and wildlife painting lessons and other great resources.
Learn How to Paint Wildlife and Animals	Website of the very talented wildlife artist, Jason Morgan. Jason offers free step by step demos as well as an instructional cd and ebook you can purchase to learn how to paint wildlife from your home.
Sue Dickinson Wildlife Art	Website of the very talented wildlife Artist Sue Dickinson. Sue has original paintings and prints for sale as well as free step by step demos.
Landscapes & Plein Air
Creative Spotlite	Free landscape painting lessons by experienced artists, landscape & plein air painting supplies and a great selection of landscape & plein air books.
About.com	Landscape painting tips from the popular website About.com
Pleinair Workshops	A guide to outdoor painting workshops in the U.S. and abroad.
http://www.cpaps.org/	Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society
http://www.whiskeytownpleinair.com/	Whiskeytown Plein Air Painters of Northern California
http://www.pap-se.com/	Plein Air Painters of The Southeast
http://www.pleinairpaintersofutah.com	PLEIN AIR PAINTERS of UTAH
http://www.michiganpleinair.com/artist/	Michigan Plein-Air Painters
http://www.pleinairecottageartists.com/	The Plein Air Cottage Artists
http://www.pleinairflorida.org/	Plein Air Florida
http://www.pleinairpaintouts.com/	Plein Air Paint-Outs offers a comprehensive guide to plein air painting organizations all over the world.
http://www.pleinairaustin.org/	Plein Air Austin
http://www.pleinairartistscolorado.com/	Plein Air Artists of Colorado (PAAC)
http://www.pleinairpaintersoregon.org/	Plein Air Painters of Oregon
http://pleinairpaintersofga.com/index.html	Plein Air Painters of Georgia
http://www.p-a-p-a.com/	Plein Air Painters of America
http://www.pleinairopen.com/	The Plein Air Painters’ U.S. Open is a yearly event that celebrates plein air painting. It is an open competition offering awards and exhibitions.
http://www.pleinairpaintersofhawaii.com/	Plein Air Painters of Hawaii
http://ohiopleinairsociety.com/	The Ohio Plein Air Society (OPAS)
http://www.pleinairpaintersofidaho.org/	Plein Air Painters of Idaho (PAPI)
http://www.pleinairpaintersofutah.com/index.html	PLEIN AIR PAINTERS of UTAH
http://www.pleinairamerica.com/	Website for the public television show “Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape”
Art Discussion Forums
Creative Spotlite
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ConceptArt
Artspan Forums
http://coloredpencil.freeforums.org/
ArtPapa.com
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MisterArt.com Discount Art & Craft Supplies
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Artsuppliesonline.com
Rex Art
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Art Instruction Videos
Creative Catalyst Productions
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Liliedahl Video Productions and Sales
http://www.art-video.com/
Art Instruction Books
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