Water Colour tutorial

Since 1832, Winsor & Newton has been at the forefront of colour innovation; relentlessly working and testing to create water colours that inspire artists. That history continues today with our full range of Professional Water Colours.

Winsor & Newton is known for outstanding colour performance and versatility. With 109 colours, the Professional Water Colour range offers bright, vibrant colours and unrivalled performance. Available in tubes, pans, sticks and markers, all carefully formulated with the purest pigments.

Discover limitless colour potential for your next piece with Winsor & Newton’s Professional Water Colours.

Expert Colour. Endless Possibilities.

During this workshop, you will get to know all about the Winsor & Newton water colours and learn various techniques.

It is important to take the following points into account:

• A layer must be sufficiently dry before a new layer is applied, otherwise the first layer will dissolve when the second layer is added.

• Always work from light to dark: watercolour is all about retaining light areas as these can’t be added in a later stage.

• Work from soft, thinned shades to more intense, brighter shades.

Using a 4 sided water colour block from Winsor & Newton, the top sheet is divided into 2 by sticking a strip of water colour tape in the middle.

Then place the block on the table at an angle of 45 degrees.

We need:

• Winsor & Newton Water Colour paper block • Various colours of Water Colour paint in tubes• Winsor & Newton Water Colour Markers• Winsor & Newton Water Colour Sticks• Water colour brushes• A palette• Clean water• Tissues/wipes

Make your own free water colour

Preparation

Before you create a definitive work, use a test sheet to try out:

• Creating a wash

• Creating shapes and layers

• Using Professional Water Colour Sticks

• Using Water Colour Markers

You can apply these techniques and materials to a second sheet of Winsor & Newton Water Colour paper.

ProfessionalWater Colour

CotmanWater Colour Brushes

Professional Water Colour Stick

Block

WaterColourMarker

Applying a wash is an essential technique in the art of water colour and is used to build up colour layers to create an effect of depth and detail.

There are various ways to apply a wash and each have their own effect. A few examples which can be applied to dry and wet paper:

Creating a wash A wash with graded shading

A Wash with graded shading

B Even wash

C Wash with graded colours

D Wash with textures

In this explanation, we will focus on applying a wash with graded shading to dry paper (A), and also a wash with texture (D).

1 Place the pre-stretched water colour paper block at an angle of 45 degrees. Choose a colour for your wash and mix this with water to create a smooth mix.

3 Start at the top of the sheet and paint a stroke from left to right: using the water colour brush. Use an undulating stroke to minimise the risk of streaks.

5 The brush will take up the drips and edges from the previous stroke so that they blend smoothly.

7 Continue until you reach the bottom of the paper. As you move down, load the brush with less paint and

more water. If you do not add more water you will create an even wash (B). If you add another colour to your mix, you will create a colour change (C).

2 Applying a wash is all about working quickly. So make sure you have sufficient paint on the palette. Drench the water colour brush in the mixture of paint and water.

4 After finishing the first stroke, make sure the second one partially overlaps the first.

6 Continue the undulating motion avoiding the colour streaking. With every new stroke, add a little more water.

8 If you wish to add a second layer, you should let the first layer dry first. To add textures (see next step), you may continue, you should let the layer dry first.

B

C D

A

1 Once the wash has been applied, a texture can be added by dabbing shapes onto the colour field using paper towels or a dry sponge.

3 A ‘lifting’ technique can also be applied to create textures. To do this, use a dry brush to pick up paint and then add marks, lines or textures to the wash.

2 In a blue wash, you can easily create clouds in the sky by applying a texture.

TIP Winsor & Newton produces the watercolour medium Lifting Preparation which allows you to easily remove dry washes from the paper.

D wash with texture on dry paper

Creating shapes and layers is an important aspect of creating an interesting image.

When creating a water colour, you can use dry or wet paper. If using the wet in wet technique, the paint will flow freely and there is little control. In order to create shapes in a more controlled manner, we will be working with dry paper.

Shapes can be created by:

1 Drawing a shape which then will be coloured in.

2 Directly drawing a shape with water colour paint.

3 Creating a shape using a stroke of paint, i.e. the shape of the brush determines the shape. The use of a wet or dry brush makes a big difference.

In this explanation, we will:

1 Create shapes

A Controlled shapes

B Washed shapes

2 Create a layered composition

Creating shapes and layers

1A Controlled shapes

1

3 2

To create washed shapes, we first add a little water to the paper with a brush and then ‘guide’ the shape by using the brush. We then dip colours into the ‘water shapes’ using our brush. These colours can blend freely on the paper, but always stay within the wet areas. After drying, the washed shape will remain.

By dividing shapes and lines across the paper’s surface, you can create a composition. A combination of various shapes can be an interesting technique to apply. By applying multiple layers, which overlap one another (layering), the intensity of a water colour will increase. By adding transparent colours over one another, you can realise rich colour effects.

Come up with your own colour effects and shapes to create a personalised, layered composition.

If required, a new colour or detail may be applied after drying.

1B Washed shapes 2 Create a layered composition

Use very well thinned and light shades for the first layer.

In the subsequent layers, this is intensified with darker, more powerful shades, creating a contrast.

Use brighter colours in the next layer, that are less thinned.

1 Very thinned colours are used on wet paper to paint light, gentle shapes.

2 After drying, the same colours are applied to this layer, but on a dry background and less thinned. The result is a layered effect with a sense of dimension.

2

1

3. Add another color and wash wherever you want.

1. Create a shape of water to the paper and dip a color in it using a brush.

4. The colors will blend but will always remain within the wet areas.

2. The paint will flow but can be adjusted with the brush if required.

How do Professional Water Colour Sticks work?

Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Sticks are a versatile aid for any artist drawing and/or painting their composition. The colour can be applied to paper like a pencil before adding a small amount of water to create a wash. Alternatively, it can be used directly with a brush like pan colour, or used to add detail to an existing water colour artwork.

Are the Professional Water Colour Sticks the same quality as Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour tubes and pans?

Yes! Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Sticks are made of the same professional grade pigments as Professional Water Colour tubes and pans, as our Innovation and Development team know that pigment loading is optimum for the brightest colour performance.

How do the Water Colour Markers work?

You can use the Water Colour Marker to draw, just as you would with a regular marker pen. The transformation occurs when you apply water to what has been drawn, turning it into a water colour painting. The sooner water is applied, the better the resulting washes. You can then blend the colours just as you would with traditional forms of water colour.

Can the Water Colour Markers be used with other traditional water colour paint (tubes and pans)?

Yes! Winsor & Newton Water Colour Markers can be used with water colour paint. Feel free to blend as you please with paint from tubes, pans, and / or our Professional Water Colour Sticks to create a variety of washes and effects.

Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Sticks Winsor & Newton Water Colour Markers

How to: get the most out of Professional Water Colour Sticks and Markers and find tips and techniques on www.winsornewton.com/uk/discover/tips-and-techniques/for-water-colour

Step by step

Check www.winsornewton.com/uk/masterclass-collection for more tips & tricks. Sign up for the Winsor & Newton masterclasses and receive a new dose of inspiration and techniques regularly!

Now it is up to you!

Use the materials and techniques to suit your approach and make your free water colour.

With your newly learned techniques, you can discover endless possibilities withWinsor & Newton’s Professional Water Colours!

Water Colour tutorial

Create shapes and layers

Experiment with Professional Water

Colour Sticks

Combine and create your own water

colour

Experiment with Water Colour Markers

Create a wash

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