20 February 2025
Watercolour is a rich and fascinating painting technique, appreciated for its lightness and fluidity. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this art form offers endless possibilities for expressing your creativity. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of watercolour, the essential materials and some essential techniques for improving your skills.
The Eclats de Jacques Herbin range of watercolour inks includes 70 colours and is made in France. Discover 62 watercolour shades based on miscible, intense and transparent dyes, as well as 4 fluorescent colours, 3 metallics and a white pigmented opaque and covering colour. Available in 50ml, 250ml and 1l depending on the shade. Explore the different colours on the Eclats range page
Whether you want to use watercolour to paint flowers, landscapes, portraits or illustrations, our watercolour inks will suit your ambitions
Before you start, make sure you have the right tools. Here’s a list of essential materials:
The choice of paper is essential to the success of your creations. Choose a paper specially designed for watercolours with the following characteristics:
High grammage: For techniques that use a lot of water, a grammage of at least 300 gsm is essential to prevent the paper from curling under the effect of the water. A lighter paper can be used for illustrations or travel journals, which often require less water.
Type of grain: Depending on the effect you want, you can choose from three main types of grain:
Paper composition: Various types of paper can be used depending on the result you are looking for and your technique. Discover Clairefontaine watercolour papers made from cotton, cellulose or bamboo.
Formats: Blocks glued to the sides are practical to prevent the paper from moving while you work, while individual sheets allow more flexibility.
Choose brushes with soft, absorbent bristles, or synthetic ones. Different sizes (round n°6, n°10) allow you to work on details and larger surfaces.
A porcelain palette is ideal for mixing colours
Creating a colour chart is an important step in mastering your colours and understanding how they behave. To do this, take a sheet of watercolour paper and divide it into squares. Fill each box with a pure colour, then gradually dilute with water to create a gradation. Indicate the names of the colours and their references (if available).
Use this colour chart as a guide to help you choose the right shades for your projects and plan any possible mixes.
Miscellaneous accessories
Water cups, absorbent paper, pencil and eraser for sketching, masking tape and drawing gum
Washing involves applying an even layer of colour to the paper. You can use a flat or gradient wash to add depth to your work.
This technique involves applying paint to previously dampened paper. It creates blurred effects and smooth transitions between colours.
Tip: Use this method to paint atmospheric landscapes or water effects. Work quickly to prevent the paper from drying too quickly.
Use a relatively dry brush to add details or accents to a surface that is still wet. The advantage of this technique is that it allows you to achieve controlled effects while retaining the smooth transitions of watercolour.
Tip: Use this method to add tree branches or details to a background
Apply wet paint directly to dry paper. This technique produces sharp contours and precise details. Ideal for detailed work such as silhouettes or geometric patterns.
Tip: Mix shades or superimpose colours once the previous layer has dried to avoid unintentional blending.
Superimpose transparent layers to intensify colours or add subtle textures. Allow each layer to dry before applying another to avoid mixing the colourants. Ideal for painting shadows, creating deep shades or enriching floral patterns.
Watercolour is an artistic discipline that is both accessible and infinitely rich. With the right tools and regular practice, you can express your creativity to the full and create unique works of art. So go ahead, explore and let your imagination run wild!
Discover Eclats watercolour inks
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