Watercolor Material & Equipment with "Confidence"

            Forget what you have heard; forget what your friends have told you, the simple fact toward achieving success in watercolor painting, is in its simplicity. No other medium can boast such a claim. So now, repeat after me: “My Success will come from Simplicity and Confidence.”

            Great, now let’s jump into the required materials. To successfully create a watercolor painting, all that is required, is a piece of paper, some watercolor paint, a brush, and yes, water! Lots of water! It doesn't get any simpler than that. Yet, people try to make it more difficult than that, but why? You will find that most works of art; were created with the simplest of tools and skill.

"Jagged Fence" By. Shawn Stoffel

            Let’s go a little further with our equipment list. To create something a bit more detailed or defined, let’s toss in a pencil. Any pencil will do. There is no need to spend $6-$12 on a fancy pencil. That’s just silly. No, once your paint hits that paper surface, your pencil scribes will be covered and lost anyway. So, just make things as simple as you can, grab one of your child’s pencils from their school supplies, or purchase some inexpensive #2’s. 

Artist Shawn Stoffel in Plein-Air

                           

            You will learn through experience, and through experimentation, exactly what paper you will prefer to paint with. “All paper is preferred differently.” What this means, is that; no matter what brand; or what weight paper you use; somebody; somewhere; will prefer something different than what you are using for your work. No worries, there is actually some common sense to this. For example: Just because Joanna from down the street prefers 300# Arches for her work, doesn’t mean that you have to use it. For one thing; it is far more expensive than the 90# or even the 140# paper. The truth is; that most people who use 300# paper; simply shy away from the thinner papers; because they haven’t learned how to manage the process of wet paper buckling yet. But, as you learn the techniques to be confident in your watercolor painting, this process too will become as simple as anything else. Anyways, once that paper is locked behind glass and frame, it is hard for anyone to tell what the weight of the paper was.

            Experimentation in the beginning is everything. You shouldn’t be drawing 3-hour images and attempting to create a master-piece yet. Everything good takes time and it takes learning the basic fundamentals. Be patient, be confident, and know that your time will come. It is all just a matter of understanding. Follow along with my blogs and I will unlock all of the mystery for you.

"The White House" Instant Coffee Pigment. By. Shawn Stoffel

            So, to get started in watercolor painting, you will need just a few things. I recommend purchasing a sample pack of various weighted papers from your art dealer. Play around and experiment with all of it. Next, you will need some painters tape to adhere your paper to your art board. The tape need not be expensive art tape. 3M makes a wonderful interior painters tape that works perfectly when all four corners of your paper are masked down to your board. Your art board can simply be a piece of flat wood. I typically use ¼’’ luan plywood cut just a few inches larger than the paper size itself. You will need a few brushes. Be sure to find brushes specifically used in watercolor. Round, square, flat, it doesn’t matter. Some artists prefer only round, or only flat, I just think of how limiting that is towards your work. I keep all styles ready, but I have been known to grab and use whatever is closest to me at the time. Experimentation is the key; each brush style offers a specific uniqueness. Ahhh, -the paint! Yes, watercolor paint and paper will be the most important elements for your style. Not all watercolor paint-brands; or quality are the same. Some, you will prefer every time, some you will only use once in a great while. Having a good mixture of brand and quality, of watercolor paints, will give you options. I typically use whatever is on sale, and often tend to prefer Winsor & Newton and Holbein. But, as you will find out through experimentation, different watercolor pigments will have different effects on the different papers. 

"Marlin On" By. Shawn Stoffel

                

            Keeping things as simple, and as affordable as you can, in the beginning, will make the difference for you, and for your art, later on. Stay confident, and by all means, keep things simplistic. Experiment often and stay tuned-in to my next blogs. I will shed some light on watercolor techniques, drawing techniques and all of the professional secrets.

What did I ask you to repeat? Repeat after me: “My Success will come from Simplicity and Confidence.”