Watercolor is a painting technique using paint made of colorants
suspended or dissolved in water. Although the grounds used
in watercolor painting vary, the most common is paper. Others
include papyrus, bark papers, plastics, leather, fabric, wood,
and canvas.
History of watercolor painting
Watercolor painting began with the invention of paper in
China shortly after 100 AD. In the 12th century the conquering
Moors introduced papermaking to Spain and the technology spread
to Italy decades later. Some of the oldest paper manufactures
include Fabriano, Italy, opened in 1276, and Arches, France,
opened in 1492.
The forerunner of watercolor painting in Europe was buon
fresco painting — wall-painting using pigments in a water
medium on wet plaster. One well-known example of buon fresco
is the Sistine Chapel, begun in 1508 and completed in 1514.
The earliest known use of European watercolor painting is
by Italian Renaissance painter Raffaello Santi (1483-1520),
who painted full-scale cartoons as precursors for tapestry
designs.
In Germany, Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) painted watercolors
in the 15th century. The first school of watercolor painting
in Europe was led by Hans Bol (1534-1593) and was much influenced
by Dürer's creations.
Other famous artists have used watercolor painting to supplement
their work with oil paint, including van Dyck (1599-1641),
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), and John Constable (1776-1837).
In 18th century Britain, Paul Sandby (1725–1809) was
called the father of British watercolor.
Watercolor paint
The broader term for water-based painting media is watermedia.
The term watercolor most often to refers to traditional transparent
watercolor or gouache (an opaque form of the same paint).
Watercolor paint is made of finely-ground pigment or dye
mixed with gum arabic for body, and glycerin or honey for
viscosity and to bond the colorant to the painting surface.
Unpigmented filler is added to gouache to lend opacity to
the paint. Oil of clove is used to prevent mold.
Techniques
Traditionally, watercolor paint is applied with brushes,
but it may be applied with other implements in experimental
approaches or mixed with other materials (usually acrylic
or collage).
The paint is thinned before application to allow for lighter
areas within the painting. This transparency provides watercolor
its characteristics of brightness, sparkle, freshness, and
clarity of color since light has passed through the film of
paint and is reflected back to the viewer through the film.
According to a tradition, dating from at least the early
20th century, the white of the paper is the only white used
in transparent watercolor. Opaque paint is seldom used for
whites or to overpaint.
Watercolor techniques have the reputation of being quite
demanding, although they are actually no more demanding than
those used with other media. Maintaining a high quality of
value differences and color clarity are typically the most
difficult properties to achieve and maintain.
The medium is effective in portraiture, figurative art, and
photorealism.
Watercolor proponents prize it as a studio medium for its
lack of odor and ease of cleanup, and also as a plein air
medium for its portability and quick drying.
Fingerpainting originated in China with watercolor paints.
