Watercolor

Watercolor Painting Tips & Articles

Welcome to the Watercolor Painting section of CreativeSpotlite.com. On the following pages you will find an awesome selection of step by step watercolor painting demonstrations, techniques and tips that I am certain you will find enjoyable. The watercolor instruction on the following pages has been generously donated by professional artists from all over the world. We are most grateful for their generosity and we hope you enjoy! Happy watercolor painting!

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  • Watercolor Painting Techniques - My Priming Method

    By Susan Harrison-Tustain

    My Priming Method gives a magical transparent glow to my watercolors. It allows soft gradations of color which help to describe the form of my subject in such a way that it feels as if the subject has a true substance. Things you need to know about this watercolor painting technique: Your pigments must be transparent or semi transparent.

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  • Watercolor Techniques - My Simple 3 Step Process

    By Susan Harrison-Tustain

    I developed my Priming Method over a period of many years, and I now teach this watercolor technique to all of my students. It is a simple but very effective 3 step process:The first step is to apply water to the region you wish to paint and then allow the moisture to be absorbed into the paper.Next, while the paper is still barely damp from step one, i.e. the sheen of the surface has just disappeared, lay in another light wash of clear water....

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  • Watercolor Tips and Hints For Stretching Watercolor Paper

    By Susan Harrison-Tustain

    Below you will find instructions on how I love to stretch my watercolor paper. It is interspersed with many hints and tips to ensure you don't come unstuck by the 'traps for young players'. I want this to be a reference point so I have explained everything that I can possibly think of that could go wrong - so you will have all of the remedies should you encounter a problem.

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  • My Watercolor Palette - A Magical Palette of Hues

    By Susan Harrison-Tustain

    I am often asked what colors I use to create my luminous and transparent reality. It is not a straightforward answer. But one of the main reasons my work looks as if the subject has a presence is because I use a multi-layered technique using transparent or semi-transparent watercolor.

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  • Getting Good, Soft Edges in Your Paintings

    By Robert and Sharon Long

    Several terms are used for getting good soft edges. Some artists call it “losing edges,” others us the term “feathering edges.” This technique is essential in doing paintings of sand and snow...

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  • Thoughts on Painting Things Which are White

    By Robert and Sharon Long

    Some of the most striking paintings we’ve seen have had a white object or objects as their centers of interest. Buildings, flowers and dresses head an ideal sort of list...

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  • Masking Technique Tips For Watercolors

    By Frank Broadhurst

    Quite often people will ask how I managed to paint a big loose wash around an object in a painting that has very complicated edges without letting the wash dry before I'm finished...

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  • A Few Choice Words About Brushes

    By Robert and Sharon Long

    Sharon and I are frequently asked, “What brushes should I buy?” We reply: “What size paintings will you be doing?” Almost always we hear, “What difference does it make?”

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  • Transferring Value System from Reference Photo to Painting

    By Robert and Sharon Long

    Aside from shapes, values are the most important part of our painting. They are also the part we most often misjudge and paint incorrectly. First we must know that value has nothing to do with color...

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  • Getting Rich, Vivid, Strong Color Into Your Watercolor

    By Robert and Sharon Long

    One of the bad raps watercolor has taken over the years is that it's colors are pale, washed out, looking almost faded. At the same time other media offered strength and contrast...

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