Painting backgrounds in watercolor can be a captivating endeavor, a means to unlock limitless possibilities not only in capturing the mood of a scenery but also in refining one’s artistic skills. The background provides the ambiance, setting the mood and tone of the painting. Despite its necessity, it is often a bit intimidating to many beginner painters to deal with the broadness of a background.
However, the beauty of painting backgrounds in watercolor lies in its simplicity and the dynamism it allows in terms of blending diverse colors. Even though backgrounds are generally loose and a little abstract, they can indeed be compelling when done the right way.
1. Planning Your Background
Planning is integral to achieving a well-rounded painting. You need to consider what type of background might best complement your subject matter. Start with a simple line drawing of the subject. Ask yourself what you want the background to do for the painting. Consider if the subject will have to stand out or blend into the setting. Taking time to understand these factors can help you avoid unnecessary corrections down the line.
2. Choosing the Right Colors
Selecting the right color for your background depends on the atmosphere you want to convey. Warm colors such as yellow and red create a cheerful, sunny atmosphere, while cool colors such as blue and green tend to evoke tranquility. Earthly tones can be the best choice for a simple, rustic setting. Additionally, careful use of color contrast can help your foreground subjects pop out.
3. Applying a Wash
A background wash creates a base tone for your painting. The simplest type of wash is the flat wash, which involves filling a defined area with a single color. Another option is the graded wash that transitions from a dark value to a lighter one. The variegated wash, on the other hand, allows you to blend multiple colors. Mastering these techniques can give you a great starting point for background painting.
4. Wet-on-Wet Technique
The wet-on-wet technique is ideal for creating soft and smooth backgrounds. Apply clean water to the section of the paper where you intend to paint your background, then add your color or colors while the paper is still wet. The color will softly spread out where the water has dampened the paper. This technique allows for a more blended, diffused effect ideal for creating skies, landscapes, or underwater scenes.
5. Dry Brush Technique
The dry brush technique is more about texture than color mixing. It can be effective for creating hard-edged, rough-textured backgrounds that contrast from the subject. It involves using a brush that’s either entirely dry or squeezed dry of most of its water and then loaded with undiluted paint. The brush is then dragged across the dry paper, creating textured strokes.
6. Negative Painting
Negative painting involves focusing on the space around your subject and creating shapes that define the objects in the painting. If your subject is light, paint a darker background to bring it to the forefront.
7. Simplify Complex Backgrounds
Instead of trying to paint every detail, consider the collective shape and color value of a complex area and paint it with broader strokes. This can add depth without cluttering the background with detail.
8. Layering Colors
Watercolor background painting demands the correct method of layering. Begin with the lightest wash and gradually layer on darker colors. Allow each layer to dry fully before applying the next. Layering requires patience and precision as it could dull or destroy the transparency of watercolors if improperly done.
9 Mock-ups and Practice
Before you start painting on your final paper, practice painting backgrounds on smaller pieces of watercolor paper. This habit helps you in visualizing the final painting and understanding the potential enigmas you may face during the process.
10. Perseverance and Learning
Perseverance plays a crucial role in learning how to paint backgrounds. If you’re not satisfied with your first, second, or even third attempt, keep practicing until you get the desired result. Remember that like all art forms, painting is a never-ending learning process.
To sum up, painting backgrounds in watercolor is an art form that requires patience, practice, thorough understanding of colors, and the manipulation of different techniques. By understanding the importance of planning, mastering the techniques and with constant practice, you will start noticing satisfying results in your background painting endeavors. The above techniques and tips are a great way to improve your proficiency over time and create enticing watercolor backgrounds.
