19.12.12

Facts About Abstract Watercolor Painting

By Celia Hall


The pairing of watercolor and abstract art is known as abstract watercolor painting. Abstraction in art is not designed to represent the recognizable or external realities of the world. Though it does strive to create its own visual language through use of textures, colors, forms and shapes. Watercolor is a form of painting that creates luminous and transparent designs because pigment that is used has very little fillers that obscure the pigment colors.

Materials necessary to begin the process are inexpensive. To do this type of work, you will need: pencil, paint, paper that can be used with the watercolors, brushes and time. Like most works of art, thought and time are a major part of the development process. Artists with all types of experience do this style of painting, including new art students and even seasoned painters.

People often assume that with abstract works anything will go. This is the truth of most art forms, but it is recommended that artists who are interested in this form learn the various technique and methods so they can be effective. Visual components of this art include a combination of shape, texture, color, line, form and pattern.

Abstract is used to indicate the removal of reality from the imagery. Depending on the artist, the removal may be slight, partial or complete. Most of these finished pieces are versatile meaning that the final project can be viewed at various angles and still serve as a piece of art.

There are many techniques applied in this process. This style of the art is considered demanding by most artists. Unlike acrylic and oil mediums, watercolors are known to move from the area they were places. They also take longer to dry than most other types and often require more product. These are mostly caused by the use of water.

A major difficulty with this type of paint is being able to anticipate how the water will react, instead of controlling its behavior. Washes and glazes, wet in wet, mixing, diluting, minimal palettes, lightfastness and drybrush are some commonly used techniques with watercolors.

Watercolor painting dates back centuries. The old art is seen in the cave paintings of Paleolithic Europe. In the past, Baroque easel artists mostly used this medium for copies, sketches and cartoons. With time, the medium evolved and became more popular. Nowadays, the paints that are used are just as durable and pigmented as oil and acrylic types. Abstract art also has a rich history, which began with mostly geometric, simple and linear forms.

Abstract watercolor painting is defined as the merging of watercolors, as a medium, and abstract art, as the style. Painters with all levels of experience work in this style. In order to master the craft, it is best when artists take the time to study the basics and how to correctly use this type of paint. Of course, thought and time go into this and other pieces of artwork.




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