 |
| Full set of professional watercolour. Photo by: jacksonsart.com |
This time we talk about another important subject
in watercolour paintings, since watercolour is one of the popular mediums compared
to any other materials we used in paintings. Anyway, there are many types of
watercolour, and we might want to know what are their differences and which one
to use.
They are cheaper types of watercolours and
there is also an artist grade that can cost more expensive. What are their differences?
Watercolour is made cheaper for the student grade so it will be more affordable
for students to learn. This is possible by changing its ratios of their main
ingredients that consist of pigment, gum Arabic, additives and solvent. So, the
student grade is totally for practicing only, when we want to be a professional
painter, we need to use the artist grade watercolour for a few reasons.
 |
| Student grade allow student to practice and don't have to spend more on paints: Photo by: craftnikim.com |
 |
| Lightfast test result, showing the colours faded when exposed to light. Photo by: janeblundellart.blogspot.com |
Besides their qualities, artist grade
watercolour not only have a brighter coloured pigments, but they also blended carefully
to have a good texture. Professional artist has different preferences for the texture
quality, anyway, this high grade watercolour has far better texture (evenly)
than student grade watercolour. Other than easy to apply, watercolour must have
the transparent quality as one of the main characters for watercolour that
differentiate between watercolours than any other painting techniques.
The artist grade watercolour is more lightfast;
the quality of the pigment not prone to discolour when exposed to light. This
is very important to make sure the painting can be kept for a longer period of
time (and increase their value). The lightfast value, usually provided by the watercolour
manufacturer in their product’s specification (or you need to contact them to
know about the details).
Types of watercolour
 |
| Tube watercolour maintain its colour quality. Photo by: artsupplies.co.uk |
 |
| Winsor & Newton professional set of 24, comes in pan. Photo by: cassart.co.uk |
 |
| Liquid watercolour has a vibrant colour hues. Photo by: cowlingandwilcox.com |
Then they are a few different types of
watercolour (basically on their packaging). Some of them are coming in tubes
while some of them come in pan. Both of them have good quality of pigments, but
it’s totally depend on how you use your colours. If you don’t want your colours
mixed with each other, then a tube is easier to handle. Anyway, for travelling
purposes, pan is always easier.
The new
types of watercolour also known as liquid watercolour is ready to use types.
Mostly they have a brighter colour, but can also be diluted to produce paler
hues. This watercolour is suitable for traditional brush or an airbrush technique.
Usually it will be used together with traditional watercolour as a mixed media
(to give contrast in the painting).
Watercolour Sets
Watercolours are sold in sets of 6 colours up to
36 colours, you might want to know which set to choose. Since colours are
produced from three primary colours (Red, Yellow and Blue). You just need to
make sure, you have this three main colours first. Then you also might need to have
white and black because they cannot be produced by those three colours. Having
a bigger set of colours will speed up your painting process, and also producing
consistent quality of the colour.
It is important to know more about the
materials that you use for your paintings. Especially when you think about to
sell it to your customers. Good paintings should have durability for storage
(this will increase their value), and might be useful as future reference. It’s
Okay to have different quality of paints for practicing purposes and for the
real paintings.
 |  |  |  |
