Ten More Unique Watercolor Painting Ideas for Beginners
What are some unique watercolor painting ideas for beginners?
When I was asked about unique watercolor painting ideas for beginners, I started with the concept that everything is a shape. Simple organic recognizable shapes are the easiest to start with.
A single daisy, radish, apple, or leaf are examples of simple organic shapes. From this idea alone, you can develop many more than ten unique watercolor painting ideas for beginners.
Recognizable organic shapes are easier because you don’t have to be too exact.
What colors should beginners use?
Start with the primaries. I tend to use Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue Green Shade & Lemon Yellow.
With these 3 cool colors you can discover how to mix a whole range of beautiful colors.
To expand your colors further add it helps to have these colors readily available.
Neutral Tint to make rich darks.
Warm red – Cadmium Red medium Hue, Warm Yellow – Quinacridone Gold or New Gamboge, Green Apatite Genuine or Sap Green, Permanent Brown or Burnt Sienna and Cobalt Blue.
My 18 color studio palette has most of the colors I like to use but I can always get by with those 3 primaries.
a. Blue
b. Yellow
c. Rose
d. Optional: Neutral Tint – center circle – add to mix darks
Do you recommend that beginners can try to move on to the more complex objects?
My lessons are developed to help all levels paint from simple to more complex subjects because I break it down into step-by-step basics.
To make something complex simpler, try it as a silhouette shape so you don’t fixate on all the details.
From a Palm Tree to a whole city, you can simplify with a silhouette painting focusing on the light background and the outside shape.
Unique watercolor painting ideas from beginners to advanced
Everyone moves at their own speed. It’s like learning a language, you learn a few “words” concepts at a time and advance when you are ready.
Depending on a class I may do a warm-up that helps me see where someone may be at on their journey.
In my online programs I usually provide a series that invites you to move up when you are ready.
We know in our hearts when we want to step it up – it’s a very personal decision.
Sometimes a beginner will take on something too challenging then go to something simpler.
Or possibly a beginner try something challenging and nails it.
It’s always good to push yourself just enough and be open to failing.
We learn more from the failures and celebrate every little success.
My hope is that through these questions and answers, you’ve learned more than ten unique watercolor painting ideas for beginners!
