An Introduction to: Watercolour

Watercolours are a magical material that have been around since the very origin of painting. Discover the art of this fabulous medium, a little of its history and how to find the right watercolour artwork for your space. But first, a little introduction to the finer details.

So, what actually is watercolour paint?

Watercolour paint is an artistic material made when a pigment is suspended in a water soluble binder, most often gum arabic. By this definition, we can say that forms of watercolour have been around since palaeolithic times, creating the paintings you see adorning cave walls (it seems that humans have always loved decorating their spaces with beautiful art!).

Since the days of cave-painting, watercolour has evolved into the medium used in a variety of different ways; from ancient manuscripts to Italian frescos, and even that cutesy artwork in your Mum’s kitchen. 

Watercolours now come in a number of forms: tubes, pencils and as liquid in bottles. But, most commonly, you’ll see artists using ‘cakes’. These are the types of watercolours you will have likely seen in palettes.

The magic of watercolour

The beautiful versatility of watercolour means that there is plenty of opportunity to perfect a unique style. Experimenting with translucency is one of the strengths of the medium. Watercolour has an ability to be built up from a light wash to opaque blocks of colour. If we look at this summery piece by Sotos Zachariadis as an example, by leaving the facade of the building free of colour and working with the paper behind instead, we get a real sense of the burning Greek sun in the scene. Whereas, in ‘Series of Nature – Orange’ by Ze Ze Lai, diluting the paint to a wash, the reflection of the Pak Nai wetlands shine in the sunset.

Out and about

There’s a freedom to watercolour, which is often reflected in the works that arise from its versatility. Due to the fact that setup is pretty low maintenance, painting with watercolour can be done anytime, anywhere. Want to paint a watercolour on the beach at dawn? Go for it. Want to sit and spend a leisurely Sunday morning at the kitchen table? Sounds great! If inspiration has struck and you want to paint your fellow commuters on the train. . . well, you may get some odd looks, but this is very doable!

We could just imagine the artist Julie Zhu sitting in front of this buzzing cherry blossom, its scent filling the air as it’s immortalised it to paper. 

A real medium?

For a long time, watercolour wasn’t considered a serious craft but more of a preparatory sketch tool. It wasn’t until around the 18th Century that the technique was raised to an independent medium. Mostly due to the rise of the English school, and artists such as William Turner, this helped to popularise the craft across Europe. It was widely used in France, inspiring artists like Cézanne to adopt the technique. 

Artists have continued to perfect techniques in watercolour, pushing the medium further and further as we inch closer to the contemporary. One such artist is the incredible Shanti Panchal. Panchal has developed a unique technique using watercolour to build up colour, similar to how frescos are made. We particularly love these watercolour portraits depicting the subjects in domestic moments. You can see a large-scale example of her work at Brixton tube station, painted in 2022.

The right watercolour for your space, and the right space for your watercolour…

Watercolour artworks are both delicate in execution and appearance. This is because they’re often created with sensitive pigments, so it is important to find a space in your home where the work looks great, but will also last.

Our top three tips for making sure your new watercolour painting will last a lifetime can be surmised in a quick A,B,C:

A- Away from the sun

The delicate pigments of watercolour can easily bleach, so keep your lovely works out of direct sunlight.

B- Behind glass

Again, due to being painted on paper, watercolours are often more vulnerable than, say, a piece painted on board. They are also rarely varnished or sealed. Therefore, by placing the artwork behind glass, it will be protected from potentially damaging elements, such as moisture, air and dust.

C- Climate

Be careful not to pop your painting over a heater or somewhere too hot. This fluctuation in temperature will not only affect the pigments, but damage the paper, too.

In terms of which watercolour is right for you, well, you can really go with whatever your heart desires! However, if you’re truly stumped, here are a few helpful tips to guide you:

Placement

Abstract watercolours are great for adding vibrancy while keeping the colour story of the room quite easily. This piece ‘Liten Klippspegel’ by Ulla Ohlson would be perfect for a bedroom or sitting room, matching the warm vibes often found in those spaces.

Theme

Looking for a piece for a certain room? Well working with themes around that area is a good way to start. Food is a great one for kitchens, for example, and watercolour is great for depicting delicious morsels.

Memory

Watercolourists have the joy of being able to capture their subjects almost anywhere. This means there is an abundance of fabulous scenes that could spark memories of days past.

We hope this has helped you to understand the world of watercolours that little bit more, arming you with some knowledge before snapping up your next artwork.

Main image: Vanessa Filley, ‘Pulse Drawing #3’, 2022, 20 x 26cm, watercolor and coloured pencils on paper, Arbor3 Arts