Lesson Plan - Watercolor Basics

Watercolor basics Lesson Plan

 Art 141 Art for Elementary Teachers 

Instructor Kelly Parker 

10 pts 

 Watercolor basics – you will create one sample for each of the techniques below. 

Divide paper into 12 sections. Label each section as you paint it with the technique used. When mixing colors remember to rinse your brush between colors and change the rinse water often when it is dirty, watercolors muddy quickly. 

 Materials – 1 sheet of watercolor paper, watercolors, brushes, water tub, other supplies below 

1. Washes - The most basic watercolor technique is the flat wash. It is produced by first wetting the area of the paper with water to be covered by the wash, then mixing sufficient pigment to easily fill the entire area. The pigment is applied to a sloping surface in slightly overlapping horizontal bands from the top down. Once complete the wash should be left to dry and even itself out - don't be tempted to work back into a drying wash, the results are usually disastrous! a. Use a regular pencil to add lines to a watercolor wash after it has dried. b. Wet the paper then incise the paper with a sharp tool and add a watercolor wash. c. Lay on a layered wash of colors then sprinkle on rocks/pebbles and let it dry. d. Lay on a layered wash of colors then use a straw and drop a few drops of alcohol into it. e. Use salt to texture your background - sprinkle salt on a wet wash of watercolor let dry and brush off. f. Lay tissue paper over wet paper, let dry. Then either pull off tissue or use watered-down glue to attach. 

 2. Wet in Wet - Wet in wet is simply the process of applying pigment to wet paper. The results vary from soft undefined shapes to slightly blurred marks, depending on how wet the paper is. The wet in wet technique can be applied over existing washes provided they are thoroughly dry. Simply wet the paper with a large brush and paint it into the dampness. The soft marks made by painting wet in wet are great for subtle background regions of your painting. 

3. Wet on Dry – (wet brush on dry paper) for more controlled paintings. Dry brush is almost the opposite watercolor technique to wet in wet. Here a brush loaded with pigment (and not too much water) is dragged over the completely dry paper. The marks produced by this technique are very crisp and hard-edged. They will tend to come forward in your painting and so are best applied around the center of interest. Using a round brush, apply color to dry paper – controlled strokes and color. Using a round brush make marks with the tip of the brush. 

 4. Use plastic wrap for unusual background effects (stretched or crumpled) lay down a wash and lay plastic wrap on wet paint add another color under the plastic wrap, let dry, and pull off. 

5. Lifting Off - Use paper towels or tissue paper to blot or lift color from the paper for interesting backgrounds. Most watercolor pigment can be dissolved and lifted off after it has dried. The process for lifting off is simple - wet the area to be removed with a brush and clean water then blot the pigment away with a tissue. Using strips of paper to mask areas of pigment will produce interesting hard-edged lines and shapes. 

6. Use crayons for a resist effect. Apply crayon to paper in desired design, brush over with watercolor. a. Use bright colors of crayons or oil pastels and overlap some colors, then paint over and into the drawing with watercolor. b. Use something pointed and scrape back into the waxy surface for another effect. 

7. Dropping in Color -This technique is simply the process of introducing color to a wet region of the painting and allowing it to blend bleed and feather without interruption. The result is sometimes unpredictable but yields interesting and vibrant color gradations that can’t be achieved by mixing the pigment on the palette. 

8. Markers – using an old marker draw on your paper then brush with water. 

9. Sponging – create a puddle of watercolor on the lid (palette) then dip in a sponge. Sponge color onto the paper. 

10. Masking tape stencil – apply masking tape in a design on paper, watercolor over the tape. When almost dry peel off tape for a resist. 

11. Spattering – using a toothbrush or other stiff bristle brush, dip in paint on the palette then run your finger over the bristles above your paper to create a spatter of color. 

 12. Draw with Charcoal – Using clean water and a brush, go into the charcoal and blend to make value changes.