I decided to share watercolor reference paintings and, perhaps, suggest a few simple watercolor painting ideas since there’s no shortage of passionate self-educating artists. I took many pictures of these paintings in numerous combinations, invested lots of time, and I love how they came out. I’m doing all of this in hopes to get something more happening at my studio.
When I was about to publish the new schedule, I noticed I have no suitable images to illustrate the new art classes and their subjects. The truth is that any pictures taken even 3-5 years ago, are not that bright. They look dark or pale, but never really on spot. Refreshed look is always beneficial, and in this visually-engaging era even more so. I suppose you know me by now, and the fact that I do not prefer minimalism in any area of my life. Therefore, I need my images to look rich, inviting and colorful, attention grabbing.
Taking pictures for images that represent what I do is not that simple as it might seem. I have plenty of material, that’s for sure. However, I need to choose small size artworks and add something that ties it all together. The glue for tying together images this year, is the color swatches on good quality watercolor paper.
For this season’s watercolor painting ideas, I specifically painted a few new 12 x 16 and 11 x 15 in (a quarter of full sheet watercolor paper) paintings. They are created without drawing, just applying watercolor washes, and then adding a few defining elements which seemed to be fitting. In the past, I used to make new reference paintings for acrylic and watercolor classes every year or even twice a year. Well, classes were ongoing, but COVID caused a major two-year-long disruption, and I lost a lot of contacts.
After about 300 pictures for watercolor and acrylic, I selected a few which I thought were the best. Watercolor wash is a fantastic way to get started with watercolor paints. I’d say the most enjoyable watercolor painting ideas are very basic, using wash, blending colors, allowing water and pigment to work.
For interestingness, you might add a few details which can be painted on top of watercolor washes. The next enjoyable watercolor painting ideas involve keeping your subject uncomplicated and choosing to lift paint instead of masking fluid application. Such artwork won’t be realism, but such techniques make your abstracted art stand out more. When you look at abstracted paintings online, you probably notice how they look very similar. Your personal style and details create difference and recognizability.
One more watercolor painting idea is as follows: paint the subject which you love and in colors you personally prefer. Tutorials might make you believe there are strict rules about using one or another color. There aren’t. You can choose any colors which speak to you. However, when painting with watercolor, I don’t ever use black or Chinese white. They make the look of dark areas muddy and light areas pale and opaque. For strong dark color, use numerous other options starting with Burnt sienna plus any type of dark blue, Payne’s grey plus any other clean color or Sepia on its own. Options for creating personal dark colors are endless.
I hear students saying that watercolor is more difficult than other media which, in fact, it isn’t. You simply practice using your brush to its full capacity, learn how to lift paint and switch between sharp and washed-out edges, as well spend some time just testing water and pigment proportion for watercolor wash. Paint flows only to these areas which are wet. It never goes into dry paper areas unless there’s a puddle of water. Realistically, we maintain control at all times. The number 1 thing to learn when using any medium is how to use your brush or brushes.
If you reside around or not far from Ajax, Ontario, I hope seeing you in my art classes: Art classes, schedule and registration
If you work on your own, try my watercolor painting ideas and let me know what the result was Get inspired by my art and purchase. Artistic products and art prints
Thanks for reading and have a nice September!
Your work is lovely! I love your choice of colors and all of the expert blending and use of light. I am especially in awe of the fact that you said you do not draw your subjects first.
Thanks very much!
Like I was saying, these are reference pieces for to just announce the watercolor classes. However, there’s nothing wrong with a smooth, quick watercolor wash, it literally takes no time.
I’ve been using watercolor for a long time, I mean decades, not years.
Certain colors were necessary for the background because I took pictures with iPhone, and it usually adds more yellow and less blue to an image.
I love these colors, sure, and blue plus soft green, plus warm shades and little bit of dark contrast make a good combination.
Most people who find watercolor hard, do not know how to use the brush and are afraid of water.
My real watercolor paintings are usually large and very large, like full sheet of watercolor paper 30 x 22 in or 76 x 56 cm.
I appreciate the comment!
Beautiful paintings Inese! I always love hopping over to your blog for inspiration. Thank you 💖
Thank you very much!
I’m always glad hearing that you can get inspired by what I’m posting!
the way you’ve captured fall colors goes straight to my heart <3
Thanks very much!
I honestly wish I could sometimes show everybody the actual paintings. I’m getting better with taking pictures of them, after a few hundred, LOL, but these paintings do feel right and attractive.
I like how you show your workspace & process too
It’s good it looks fine.
However, this current place we’re renting doesn’t have what I really need: more large windows, more daylight and wider and larger rooms. Some of the rooms are so small that I can use them only for storage. Husband told that back in the 70-s, they built this area for blue-collar workers. These were just dwellings without any kind of luxury to them, like high ceiling, lots of space and lots of light. The most interesting part is that such houses now cost a million each, that’s how far prices have gone up. Everything here is second and third grade and substandard.
I usually beautify any space where I stay and there have been many on both sides of the ocean. I’m just getting tired of it. It takes a lot of work to arrange or move an art studio. This time, I still keep some supplies in boxes.
As a personal painting space, one corner room is fine, especially in long daytime seasons.
I Hope you have a good Sunday!
same to you, Inese. it’s sad that lots of sunny windows has to be a luxury…
That’s what it has come to here. I do not get also why the buildings here are so dysfunctional. In Latvia, we had always high ceiling and lots of light. What they do here is put the roof straight above the window, no space between. Therefore it’s always shadowed off, but that is in these workers’ village type of houses.
We’ve rented also houses in other areas, like Scarborough, Pickering, Whitby. This part is probably the worst. I love painting buildings because of perspective and volume I can implement, but they are just so ugly and boring-looking here, that it makes no sense to draw or paint them.
I see on TV how in the States houses are still way more interestingly built. Well, I suppose row houses are everywhere, too. We’ve traveled to the US many times up to 2013, that’s when life was still nice. I loved some areas in many states. Interesting buildings are in French Canada and even down East, in Maritime provinces. Yes, this part of Ontario is boring with the huge cubicles and endless rows of the same and the same unattractive buildings.
my husband & I visited Ontario & loved it. the buildings, the landscape, the food were all wonderful
Ontario is huge, lots of places of attraction, just think Niagara or all the big lakes.
I live in a formerly industrial and up to now quite industrial suburb which has the big box stores and similar buildings on a flat land. Certainly, even Toronto itself is way nicer. It’s just not feasible to try renting in Toronto.
I don’t think you have visited this area because there’s nothing to see unless you want fast food places and gas-stations, etc.
sounds like they’re definitely lucky to have you there to bring color & art 🙂
You would think so. Some places are more appreciative for art, some simply – not that much. We were talking with a former student online how this is probably bad place for art. Selling art requires a neighborhood with certain level of income and living standards.
After I moved here, the pandemic started and lockdowns, and so I still don’t really know anybody in this neighborhood. I’m participating in some local groups and art association, but everything is put on hold still.
Our numbers are decreasing, and it might get better, but then again, it’s nuclear at the moment for how long I will be in this place. The rent is very high and we might need to look for something else. Who knows also what the landlord is thinking, we are on a month to month basis now.
Lots of variables! Some are completely out of my control.
Thanks so much for this nice conversation! I will stop by at your blog, too, but probably some other day. I don’t feel energetic or too well today, I’m gonna just take it easy.