Nobody knows when the first watercolours were made, but the evidence that it was a very long time ago can be found deep inside caves once inhabited by Palaeolithic man. Perhaps some powdered stone, dried blood or ash accidentally got mixed with a few drops of water and its properties as a paint were discovered. Or maybe our prehistoric forebears were more inventive and experimental than we give them credit for, and mixing paint had always been their intention. It is also known that watercolours were used in Ancient Egypt, as manuscripts still exist which are illuminated with such paints. But watercolour as we know it dates back relatively recently, to late mediaeval Europe.

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 painting onto paper with a hint of colour can lend warmth or coolness to a picture. Oils, on the other hand, are completely opaque even when spread thinly, so it doesn’t matter what colour the background medium is.

Buying Watercolours

Watercolour paints are usually bought in one of two ways – as dried blocks or in tubes. Powder is available but it more commonly sees specialist uses 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. Colour mixing will have to take place on a separate 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 in the shop look like oil paints, so care must be taken when purchasing them (and when purchasing oils, for that matter). They are used in much the same way as 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 cheaper than oils, they are a great material to practice, sketch and experiment with.

Author Bio: Peter Lee Greenspan is an art and craft writer working with Pullingers, and knows that high quality watercolour paints and watercolour brushes make all the difference.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: art supplies, paint, watercolours