Perfection and control have become necessities in today’s world. No matter what we are doing, be it academics, profession or even a simple hobby, there’s an unspoken pressure to master everything we do. But what if we didn’t have to? What if we could just let go, step back and watch things unfold naturally?

That’s exactly the kind of freedom that we can experience through painting and especially with watercolours. There’s something almost magical about watching the paint flow across the paper, it spreads, blends and creates beautiful patterns on its own. It’s like watching a flowing stream. It takes your mind away from worries to the present, where you are fully focused on the spectacle before you, playing with the colours and creating details as inspiration strikes.

Many hesitate to try watercolours, thinking they are too difficult to control. But the beauty of it lies in embracing its unpredictability. Once you learn a few simple techniques, you will start to understand how watercolour moves, interacts and use its spontaneity to your advantage to come up with different watercolour painting ideas.

Here are some easy techniques to begin with:

1.      Wet on wet

 

Wet on wet technique involves applying wet paint over a wet surface. Start by wetting the watercolour paper with water, apply paint over it and you can watch the paint spreading and blending naturally.

You can also wet selective areas of the paper with a paintbrush to get desired patterns or to contain the paint spreading within a particular section.

2.      Wet on dry

This technique involves applying wet paint over a dry paper surface. This method gives more control over your brushstrokes and is suitable for creating fine lines and intricate details.

3.      Gradient

A gradient is used to create a smooth transition between different hues of a single colour. Start by applying a highly pigmented (less water ratio) colour in one single layer on your watercolour painting paper. Next, dilute the paint mixture with a little water and use it to paint the next layer below. Continue this process with each stroke till you get the lightest hue. This technique is particularly suitable for painting skies, water bodies or any soft backgrounds.

4.      Colours bleeding

Letting colours naturally blend with each other can create a stunning effect. Apply one colour onto the 300 gsm watercolour paper and while it is still wet, add the second colour next to it. Watch as they blend and form beautiful patterns.

5.      Dry on dry

For a rough, textured effect, use a dry brush with minimal paint on dry paper. This technique is excellent for creating fine textures like grass, fur or rough surfaces, as it leaves behind streaky, broken strokes.

6.      Creating textures

Salt: Sprinkle salt crystals over wet paint and let it sit. The crystals will absorb the pigment, leaving behind less pigmented areas that make an interesting pattern.

Sponge: You can also use a paper towel or sponge for creating textures. Dab the sponge on wet paint and you will get different textures depending on how much pressure you apply and how long you hold it on the paint.

7.      Splatter

For a dynamic, scattered effect, flick your paint brush over the 300 gsm watercolour sketchbook. You can use your fingers or another brush to control the direction and intensity of the splatters. This technique works great for creating effects like snowfall, starry skies, or pollen drifting in the air.

Choosing the right watercolour paper

 

Choosing a good paper for watercolour is very important when it comes to watercolour painting. Watercolour painting and its different techniques involve using little to a lot of water and hance the paper you use should be thick enough and be made of a suitable material to handle it. The Menorah watercolour paper is made of 100% cotton and it is 300 GSM thick. This means that the paper will not warp even when you use techniques like wet on wet. The cotton fibres hold pigment well, allowing colours to remain vibrant on the surface to add intricate details The paper's dual texture strikes the perfect balance by providing enough grip for controlled painting and also allowing smooth blending. Being acid free, the paper keeps your paintings safe and intact for a long time.

Painting with watercolours is more than an art form. As the colours flow and blend, so does our stress, it fades away and is replaced by a sense of calm and presence. It also teaches us a valuable lesson about embracing imperfections and letting go of expectations because the most beautiful things happen when we stop trying to control them.