Watercolor Illustration
tips for getting started making precise watercolors
The essential tools for creating watercolors are simple: paint, brushes, and paper. That being said, because there are so few variables, it is imperative that the quality of your supplies is matched to what you plan to make.
When doing highly detailed work, I find that I can skimp on the quality of the brushes and the pigment but that using the highest quality paper is absolutely crucial.
For highly detailed work, your paper must be hot press, pure cotton, and no less than 90lb weight (140 lb weight is best). I personally use arches but hahnemuhle and fabriano make excellent papers, as I’m sure do other suppliers that I haven’t tried yet.
Pad of 9x12 Arches Watercolor paper link on blick
Size 2 Long-Round velvet touch link on blick
Size 6 Long-rouch velvet touch link on blick
Color Palette
A palette is highly personal. If you are not sure yet what subject matter you'll gravitate towards, a simple primary palette is more than sufficient.
Watercolor sold in tube form is excellent and can be easier to mix with; if you plan to be doing all of your work at a table/indoors I recommend tubes. Personally I prefer to use pan watercolors because I find them easier to use in the field. I keep my pans in a tin box and customize my palette based on what I'll be painting so that it is easily transportable.
When you find your preferred subject matter, it is recommended that your palette match your chosen subject matter to minimize the amount of color mixing you have to do. The colors you use most often depend on the subject matter that you are drawn to. For example, if you plan to paint mostly flowers and fruits it is helpful to have multiple bright, saturated colors on hand. If you are more interested in painting mammals it is handy to have a more saturated palette.
My basic palette consists of:
-indigo
-violet
-cyan blue or prussian blue
-French ultramarine blue
-Lemon yellow
-cadmium yellow
-vermillion
-primary or quinacrodine magenta
The following colors are helpful for painting the colorful parts of flowers/fruits:
-viridian
-pthalolite green
-opera
-quinacrodine purple
-transparent gold
The green parts of plants:
-hooker green light
-olive green
-forest green
-cinerous blue
-turquoise
If you plan to paint animals or duller subject matter such as stones/bones/wood, the following colors can be very helpful:
-yellow ochre
-burnt sienna
-warm sepia
-paynes gray
-alizarin crimson