Watercolor Techniques for Kids

"Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions", was what Pablo Picasso had said about colors. Come to think of it, it certainly does, otherwise why would we associate green with envy? Colors are an imperative part of our lives and this universe. Imagine if there were no colors, would a rose would have been a rose and a kingfisher with its striking blue color been the same? Great Painters have created magic with their colors and enthralled the world. Painting and drawing attributes a prime importance to colors. The amateurs normally start off with simple watercolor techniques for kids and then graduate to advanced techniques. To master the art, you gotta' catch them young, right? Hence, for those who want to have a go at watercolor painting, we have a mission here. Hop into this color battleship!

Easy Watercolor Techniques for Children

Wet on Wet Technique
This is an easy one. Take a large piece of white paper and fold it into half. Leave one of the halves half dry and wet the other with a brush. Now the children can experiment and play around with colors and see how the effect is different on both the halves. Talk about where the watercolor on the 'wet half' method could be effectively used. A dryer brush can also be used on both wet and dry sides of the paper. This is one of the best watercolor techniques to start off.

Light Wash
When you get a bit used to painting, you can do this. You have to do a 'wash'. For this, you would have very little color on your brush and they are applied very lightly, with a lot of water. See if you can paint a scene with the help of light washes of watercolors. If you cannot see the figure or the painting properly, come back to it after it is dry. Use a dark marker or pen to highlight the finer details. Was this fun? If it was, there are some more tasks before we accomplish our mission, therefore, keep reading!

Blotting
You thought paper napkins are used only with regards to hygiene? Well, no sire! It is not the case. Paper napkins come in quite handy. Kids normally spill colors and the place sort of becomes messy. Napkins are real saviors in this situation. Other than that, paper napkins can help you camouflage minor mistakes in the painting. They can be used to lighten dark colors or even blot away a color totally. Seems flimsy, but hey, it works. So hurry up, do this task, you have to collect points and complete the mission!

Sticky Matters
Okay, then, this task is a bit tough, guys, but you will surely get a high score if you finish this! Here's what you have to do, you can either do this with a painting tape or let's say, a watermelon or Sapota seed and paint around it, as if you are drawing a tree with all its parts. Of course, do not forget that this should be in relation with the seed. As far as the tape is concerned, use the tape on the areas of the paper where you do not want the paint to go. In short keep the paper plain there or block the other papers from blending into it. Try this with other watercolor painting techniques and you will have a fantastic time!

Blend The Color
This is going to be your last and final task, so hurry up! Blending the colors is one of the important watercolor techniques. Trees and flowers can be effectively portrayed or ruined, depending on how you use it. Hence, while you check out the color palette, use the underside of the lid to mix and blend the colors, without altering the original colors. What makes this very useful is that the underside of the palette's lid already has sections, which help you to mix colors properly.

There, you have accomplished the mission in good time! Great! But there are still some questions in your mind, which we will address.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to Know Drawing Before I Paint?
Well, it is not exactly necessary to know how to draw before you paint. You can directly go on to painting. Drawing could give you a better hand control, but it is not 'a must know'. Finally, the creation of art is important. How you reach there, is inconsequential.

What Kind of Paint Should I Use?
Choose whatever medium you are comfortable with. Starting from the beginners medium, watercolor, pastel colors, you can move onto acrylic, oils and water-based oils, you can pick anyone.

Is Learning Color Theory Essential?
If you want to create dramatic and enthralling results with colors, it's hard to say but yes, you might need to know more about colors and their effects and how they are mixed. Do not let the 'theory' intimidate you, just uncover the secrets of these colors!

Where can I Paint - On Paper or Canvas?
You can paint almost on any surface where the paint will stay and it would not harm the surface! So paper, canvas, wall; go for anything you like! Just do it!

How Many Paint Brushes are Required?
There is no rule as to how many brushes you can use while painting. Use as many as you want! But hey, if you want to paint with oils, you can have separate brushes for each color.

When do I Clean the Paint Brush?
Ideally, after every session of your painting daily, you should thoroughly clean the paint brushes. If you have to replace them, do not fret.

Go ahead and create magic with colors!