Materials
The natural support for watercolour is paper.
Paper is made in different thickness or "weight". The larger the piece we want to paint is, the higher the thickness of the paper should be.
Colours and texture also vary. For watercolours, the ideal is a white background or a slightly tinted one since the light in our piece are areas without any paint, or where the white background is visible.
There are three types of textures:
- Hot pressed paper: Its surface is smooth and even. This is ideal for detailed pieces (It is the first one in the picture below).
- The next one is cold pressed paper: Its texture is slightly rugged. This type is the most adaptable. It allows fine strokes as well as large washes and plains ones (its is sample 2 in the picture).
- Finally, we have coarse paper, with a rugged texture. It has the roughest surface and it is not appropriate for small details. The paint fragments on its surface, which is covered with small concave holes. This creates a final effect of a slightly "dotted" piece (sample 3 in the picture below).
Paper can be bought is separate sheets, or in different size blocks; from large Din A3, to small ones, which are ideal for cards.
You will also need materials which can easily be found at home:
pieces of cloth, glass or ceramic mugs to hold water and mixes.
