Watercolor Paint and Paper
Watercolor painting is probably, if not the most authentic renaissance era mediums that we see in use today. The Origins of Watercolor art came to western artists as it entered the scene in the late 1400s.
Many artists at the time had to formulate, prepare and quantify their watercolor paints and would often keep their recipes to themselves. Artists would create color pigment, that consisted of natural earth or vegetable fibers ground to powder. Lastly, the concoction was mixed with gum or egg, which were used in the Renaissance era. When we look back on the history of the origin of watercolor, we can see almost parallel similarities between the origins of the paper and paint.
The origins of watercolor are tracked further back in the history of European painting.
Photo by Steven Johnson
Watercolor paint is one of the key factors when it comes to this medium, but without the correct canvas, your painting will fall flat. There are currently many types of paper available that are manufactured for use with watercolors.
Watercolor paper can be made of wood pulp exclusively or mixed with cotton fibers. This gives the surface the appropriate texture and minimizes distortion when wet.
Watercolor papers are usually rough, hot, and cold-pressed papers and provide a different texture and look. If you are a beginner, the best advice would be to always get the best quality paper as it makes a huge difference in the quality of your work.
The professional watercolor papers are made of 100%cotton which helps the penetration of pigment into the fiber with the help of water. Rough papers my favorite, are made out of raw pulp when it lays flat. Cold press is made by using cold iron-on rough papers to make it mildly flat. And Hot press is when you use a hot iron to make the paper very flat and smooth.
Watercolor papers are usually rough, hot, and cold-pressed papers and provide a different texture and look.
Hotpress papers are great for having a smooth finish however it is very hard to do dry brush technique on them. They don’t absorb water as much as the cold press papers and dry faster.
Another important aspect of choosing paper is the paper’s weight. The 140lb is ideal. And lastly, the color of the paper is also very important to consider. There are many different colors available in the market such as Extra white, White, and Natural. I prefer natural for portraits and urban paintings and prefer extra white papers for cool scenery like winter landscapes.
There are many different colors available on the market such as Extra white, White, and Natural.
Now it’s time to talk about what kind of paint is the best to use for watercolor?
Watercolors usually appear translucent and appear luminous because the pigments are laid flat in a pure form with few fillers obscuring the pigment colors. Watercolor is an expressive medium that is referred to as a holistic approach to painting. When you choose watercolor paint always go for the best quality available in the market. I personally don’t like those that come out of the tube. It’s very hard to work with them especially if you live in a very dry and hot climate. They need to keep moistured constantly and tend to crack and turn into dry particles. I love those that come in a set of 16 or 24 blocks.
Watercolor is an expressive medium that is referred to as a holistic approach to painting. When you choose watercolor paint again always go for the best available in the market.
At Naz Kobari © we implement a variety of watercolor collections and incorporate them into our silk scarves, ties, and pillowcases. Overall, watercolor paintings are considered a unique way to creatively convey dreams, illusions, emotions, and bright feelings using water-soluble pigments. It’s very satisfying!
