Watercolors, What to Do First? Play Around as a Child

A Watercolor (Very) First Lesson for Beginners - Creatively Exploring Colors

New watercolor case: from drawing to first colors exploration

Spoiler alert: this is a first watercolor painting lesson for beginners that is a little off the beaten path.

If you're like me, when you buy #artmaterials, you always feel that nervous excitement of wanting to try it out right away, accompanied by hesitation and some fear about what you should do with it first.

I teach my #art students to keep the memory of that emotion alive by #painting the new material while trying it out and learning small details about it, and copying some information from the box before it's thrown away. Usually, they do this in their sketchbook.

It could be a box of watercolors, pens, or a simple pencil.

Keeping that record will help us when we go to buy something new because we will know exactly what we like and what we don't.

Thanks to this habit, I know the exact name of my favorite green and the one I dislike.

Watercolors: What to do first? Play around as a child.

Watercolor painting is a beautiful and versatile art form that allows artists to express their creativity using vibrant colors and flowing brushstrokes. As you embark on your artistic journey with a new #watercolor paint box, you can take several exciting steps to familiarize yourself with its contents and unleash your imagination on paper.

Today, I will describe what I usually do every time I buy a new box of watercolors, from opening it in advance to creating a drawing and carefully exploring the colors in each block.

Step 1- Revealing the box

Start by finding a quiet, well-lit space to immerse yourself in the artistic process fully. Gently hold the watercolor pad box, feeling its weight and texture. Take a moment to appreciate the expectation that exists within you.

Slowly open the box, savoring the revelation of the artistic treasures hidden within. Let yourself be captivated by the sight of neatly arranged watercolor blocks, each promising a world of color and possibilities.

This is sooooo cool!

Step 2 - Creating a drawing

Now that you've opened the box find a blank page in your sketchbook, place the watercolor box over the sheet, and copy the outline.

Please take a moment to look at the box and draw a detailed representation of it on paper. Pay attention to the shape of the box, contours, and internal divisions. Whatever intricate designs or complex logos it may have, I'll let you decide whether to include them. This drawing will be a lovely keepsake of the first encounter with your watercolor pans box.

Step 3 - Exploring the Colors

With the drawing complete, it's time to dive into the vibrant world of watercolors. Carefully examine each watercolor pan, appreciating its unique character and qualities. The wrapper usually displays the name of the color and sometimes includes additional information such as lightfastness ratings or transparency levels.

Unwrap the watercolor pads one by one, revealing the captivating hues that await your artistic exploration, but make sure to keep each block's wrapper intact. Arrange the color display as you like.

Paint your drawing, but do not worry about doing it perfectly. It's just your first contact with the watercolors, and this is just the beginning.

We will study small color tables to understand better the tones, values, and levels of transparency each color offers in a future lesson.

Step 4 - Learning the names

As you unwrap each watercolor pad, be careful noting the color names. In my case, I like to glue the color`s paper wrap in front of a painted square. I do this on a separate page, but I like to keep them side-by-side.

Writing the names by hand will help you remember them so it might be the best option at first.

Both options allow you to refer to specific colors when planning future artwork.

If you liked the experience and final result, from now on, consider doing a similar exercise every time you buy some art supplies.

You'll end up getting a better view of the material's potential while having fun and adding a beautiful page to your sketchbook.

Embarking on a creative journey with a watercolor pad box is an exciting experience. By carefully opening the package, creating a design of the box, exploring the colors one by one, and creating a color wrap map, you are setting the stage for countless imaginative works of art.

Remember, this process isn't just about painting - it's about embracing the joy of discovery, learning, and self-expression.

So, grab your brushes, dip them in the colors that beckon to you, and let your imagination run wild on the pages of your sketchbook.

Happy paintings!