Simple Brushstrokes Make Clean Watercolors

Simple Brushstrokes Make Clean Watercolors - student project

When the brush moves freely and in character, with its purpose, the results can be very exciting. 

I like using Asian brushes, flat brushes, and the rigger brush for my watercolors. You can see below how the Asian Pointed brush has 'shaped out' the evergreens. The rigger brush made the long slender lines and the half inch flat brush completed the bigger shapes in blue and pale green. 

You can see below how the Asian Pointed brush has 'shaped out' the evergreens. The rigger brush made the long slender lines and the half inch flat brush completed the bigger shapes in blue and pale green. 

Simple Brushstrokes Make Clean Watercolors - image 1 - student project

The best way to get to know your brushes is to complete an entire painting with only one of them. You will soon find out what they can and can't do. Always use a brush for what it can do more easily than another brush. 

A good rule of thumb is big brush - big space - little brush- little space. The Asian brush does break this rule as it can do big shapes and little narrow shapes. The Flat brush breaks the rule as it can make thin lines when used on the side. 

The painting below is a simple wash technique with one #9 round brush. Time to complete drawing and painting was about 7 minutes.

Let your creativity come out quickly then stand back and see where it is leading you.

Simple Brushstrokes Make Clean Watercolors - image 2 - student project

Take your simple paintings and develop them with more paintings or another tool such as the computer. Below is a little ink and wash I did at the park with a class of summer students.

Simple Brushstrokes Make Clean Watercolors - image 3 - student project

Then I started playing with it using my computer.

Simple Brushstrokes Make Clean Watercolors - image 4 - student project

I like taking ink and wash watercolorings and then playing with them with my computer paint software. You can see the work in progress here.

Begin Creative Watercoloring is all about getting creative ideas and then developing them.This is the Illustrators way of producing original material. Below is the next level for this drawing. Observe the changes. All great Illustrations start with a little sketch. That is what our new class is teaching... creative watercoloring with small sketches.

Simple Brushstrokes Make Clean Watercolors - image 5 - student project