Frequently Asked Questions Just For You
Watercolor questions and answer section for the last pigment. If I haven’t answered it here, please drop me a message.
Do watercolor paintings fade over time?
Original watercolor paintings from the 1700’s and 1800’s fade, because of the materials that were used to create them during those periods. Today, the watercolors used hold their colors and are archival and they can last for more than 100 years. However, any watercolor left in the sun is subject to fading. I have destroyed many different paintings by accidentally leaving them in an area exposed to sunlight. I recommend not hanging paintings in direct sunlight.
Why is watercolor painting so hard?
Watercolor painting can be hard to control, because you have to paint quickly before the water dries. The water makes marks unpredictable and results spontaneous. For an in depth explanation of all the reasons artists consider watercolor painting hard, I have an article here.
What type of brushes do watercolor artists use?
Every artist prefers a different style of brush. Brush displays will tell you if their bristles were created for acrylics, oils, mixed media, or watercolors. Typically, the best brushes for watercolor painting are extremely soft and made of animal hair. There are many alternatives today if you are trying to avoid animal-based products.
How long does it take to complete a watercolor painting?
Painting time depends on the artist’s ability, style, and level of detail. Detailed botanical paintings can take hundreds of hours to complete spanning months. Simple wet-in-wet stylized paintings can be completed in a matter of minutes. I share a very short project in this video tutorial. My watercolor course also shows how to use wet in wet to complete simple floral stationary cards.
Why Do Most Watercolor Artist’s Not Use White?
White watercolor feels like cheating for some traditional watercolorists. Watercolors rely on water to and pigment to create their translucent effect. Using white can feel like using gouache or other mixed media materials, because it is semi opaque. I discuss white watercolors in depth in my article about how to use white watercolors and I provide a short example of how they can be used in botanical painting.