Angela Marie Moulton - 15-Minute Painting: Effortless Watercolor: From Sketch to Finished Painting in Just 15 Minutes!

While many people may feel inspired to paint with watercolor, the challenge is finding the time to make it happen. This book will help you get started using approachable projects that can be completed in just 15 minutes. Of course, you may take more time, but you should be able to complete each project in one sitting.

But remember, there are no hard and fast rules. You are in charge. You are in control. Sometimes all one needs is a little nudge. And now, you are off and running!

One of the keys to quick painting is to have your supplies gathered and ready to go before you begin. Organization and cleanliness are important for a pleasant and joyful experience. The following pages include some tips for creating the perfect environment for effortless watercolor painting.

In this book, the projects are painted on watercolor paper. There are other options, such as watercolor panels and stretched canvas; however, we will concentrate on using watercolor paper. Watercolor papers come in different weights, sizes, and textures. They also come in different formats, such as sketchbooks, blocks, or loose sheets and rolls.

Paper weight is usually measured in pounds. The heavier the weight, the thicker the paper. A heavier paper is a good choice when using lots of washes of paint. Thinner or lighter-weight papers are usually the smoothest papers. They are more likely to buckle and ripple with large amounts of water. Thinner papers may need to be taped down or stretched.

Watercolor blocks are pads that are bound on all four sides, which prevents the paper from buckling. Once the painting is dry, insert a flat palette knife under the top sheet of paper and gently slide along the edges to remove it from the block.

A watercolor sketchbook is portable and great for painting on-the-go. Because the paper is not taped or fastened on the edges, the paper can only take small amounts of paint. Otherwise, the pages may ripple or curl at the edges.

Watercolor pads are similar to sketchbooks as they are fastened at one end. Like a sketchbook, smaller-sized pads are great for traveling or outdoor painting.

Use your finger to remove air bubbles and prevent seepage.

WATERCOLOR PAPER

Loose watercolor paper sheets should be taped down to prevent rippling. I use a maple plywood board as my support. Maple and birch plywood are great because they can absorb large quantities of water without warping. You can use washi tape, masking tape, or paper kraft tape to attach the paper to your support.

Some other support options are watercolor panels, rolls, and canvas. If you want to explore more options for painting surfaces, these are great places to start.

Tape along all four sides to secure the paper to the watercolor board.

PAPER TEXTURE

Watercolor paper comes in different textures. The size and type of artwork, as well as the amount of washes of paint, should determine what kind of paper to use.

Hot-pressed paper is very smooth and usually lighter in weight than cold-pressed paper. The paper has been pressed with heat, resulting in a smooth surface. Hot-pressed paper is suitable for smaller works, fine-detailed work, and especially portraits. I say smaller works because it is thinner and more likely to buckle, but it can be stretched for larger sizes.

Quick Tip

Paper weight is usually measured in pounds. The heavier the weight, the thicker the paper. A heavier paper is a good choice when using multiple washes of paint.

Cold-pressed paper has a rougher texture and is heavier than hot-pressed paper. There is a definite tooth to the paper that absorbs more paint and water. Cold-pressed paper is suitable for many types of artwork, from landscapes to figures. I think it is the most adaptable of all the watercolor papers.

Rough paper is the roughest paper, with a definite and pronounced tooth. It is great for large washes of paint and for landscapes where a rough texture adds depth to the foliage and atmosphere.

Stretching watercolor paper involves completely immersing it in water (usually in a tub of water), and then laying it flat on the plywood board and fastening with a paper tape. The paper shrinks as it dries and is stretched.

Once completely dry, remove the paper with a straight-edge blade like a box cutter, a retractable knife, or an X-Acto knife. This process is a little time-consuming, but you are welcome to challenge yourself by using this technique.

Quick Tip

Round brushes have a slightly different formula for measurement, as the measurement is based on the circumference. For this book, dont worry too much about brush size. Just use your eyes to judge which sizes you want to work with. Almost any small or medium brushes will be suitable.

BRUSHES

Watercolor brushes are made especially for use with watercolor paints. They come in both natural and synthetic bristle. The handle is usually either wood or metal. Brushes can be super soft or stiff and coarse. Brush handles can be long or short.