Barred Owl - Master Class
Using Watercolor For Serious Paintings
How does painting a master painting differ from quick watercolors?
While most watercolors are light and washy and finished in an hour or two, watercolor can also be used for paintings every bit as detailed and rich in color as oils or acrylics. These do take as long as oils and acrylics, so be forewarned that this won't be finished in an hour or two.
Watercolor has many advantages as a painting medium.
- Inexpensive, compared to oils and acrylics
- Easier to stop and pick up where you left off
- Non-toxic paints and supplies
I mount my paintings on panel, varnish them, and frame them just as any oil or acrylic. In quality, viewers can't tell which medium I used, but I feel the colors in watercolor are more vivid and glowing. I also find it easier to paint fine details - watercolor can be very precise. It's also faster than oils, with less drying time (I use a hair dryer - I have no patience for waiting.)
So, here's how I do it, and you can, too!.
Your Instructor
Hi, I'm Deb Watson - a self taught artist and long time watercolor teacher
My story is simple.
I loved drawing from childhood, but was discouraged from art as a waste of time. So, I became a nurse, worked at a lot of hospitals and raised a family. But I kept painting.
Over time, I became better at the realism I loved, and just kept working toward improving through painting and self-study. I've always enjoyed painting scenes from my life and small town community (which I call my Small Town America series).
My paintings are not usually famous or majestic subjects, often they're just everyday stuff I see around. But I see so much beauty there, and show it to the rest of the world by painting it.
Now, my watercolors have been in exhibits and won awards across the nation. Yet, it's when my art connects me to other people that it's really done what I wanted, and teaching certainly does that!
Happy Painting.