learn to paint with watercolours

want to have my own paintings for the house!

I’ve got a few paintings and I’d like to sign them. The writer of the “Paintbox” book I’m reading uses a black pen to sign his work but I’d like to use a sharp pencil…maybe the 4H pencil. I’ve created the paintings without any worry but this signature thing is too exciting. I’m afraid that I will spoil my work. lol

I have paints, brushes, paper and a guide book for beginners. I have painted two pictures so far: a mountain landscape and a seascape. I have learned to create shades of colour, to lay washes and to mix colours.

This goal is actually nearing completion. I’ve been painting at least three nights a week, teaching myself out of a giant book, and I can already see a vast improvement. Learning really basic things, like how to do different types of washes, and how to look after my brushes and mix paints, makes a huge difference.

The stuff I’m producing is still pretty terrible – but at least it isn’t just blotches on the paper! I’m actually getting the hang of things.

Two Christmases ago, I bought myself some nice watercolour paints, appropriate brushes and some heavy paper, and set out to be creative. I put paint on a grand total of two pieces of paper, and abandoned both before they took shape. I realised suddenly that it wasn’t as easy as I’d expected – in fact, getting the stuff in my head onto the paper was going to take effort, and practice, and time.

I bought a book about watercolour technique, and added it to my watercolour pile. All my stuff has now been gathering dust for over a year. But I’m determined to make an effort.