'Burning Like A Star' - Watercolor Full Process

7 Tips for a Clean Watercolor Painting:

1. Stretch the Paper : Stretch your paper before starting to prevent warping.

• A flat paper surface allows the brush to move more smoothly and helps reduce uneven water pooling.

  Streching Tutorial : https://www.patreon.com/posts/44116400

2. Choose Quality Paper : Use 100% cotton paper, like Arches cold pressed paper, for optimal results.

• High-quality cotton watercolor paper may be more expensive, but it offers several advantages. For example, once you apply a layer of color and it dries, it is less likely to wash off, which helps achieve clean layering. Good watercolor paper also won't tear from masking tape and is suitable for long-term preservation without fading.

3. Create a Color Draft : Prepare a color draft, either digitally or hand-painted, before you begin to paint.

• When painting with watercolors, time management is the key. For techniques like gradient effects, you need to apply the paint quickly before it dries. Creating a color draft before can help you avoid hesitation while painting, allowing you to focus on the clean brush strokes.

4. Change Water Regularly : Replace your brush cleaning water when it becomes dirty.

• Keeping your brush and wash water clean can prevent mixing in other colors while painting.

5. Layering Technique : Apply watercolor in layers, allowing each layer to dry before adding the next.

• This is a technique I personally enjoy using. It a method of painting in sections, and it is also great for watercolor beginners.

6. If possible, use larger brushes and paint with minimal strokes. Achieving a clean effect with repeated/small strokes requires more skill.

7. Don't worry if your painting isn't perfect. As long as you understand the methods, you'll only get better with practice.

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TOOLS/

Paper : ARCHES Cold Pressed 185g/m² (A3)

Pencil : OHTO Sharp Pencil 2.0 (with Black color leads)

Watercolor : Mission Gold Watercolor 36-color Set with Mijello Watercolor Palette

(Sky : Daniel Smith Watercolor - King Royal Blue, Manganese Blue Hue, Jane's Black / Holbein Watercolor - LAVENDER / Liquitex Acrylic Ink - Fluorescent Orange)

(Clothes : Daniel Smith Watercolor- Electric Blue)

Masking Film : HOLBEIN TORICON SP100 masking film

Color Pencil : Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901

Making Tape : NIKKO TAPE

Highlight : Talens Plakkaatverf Gouache Paint White