Goose Gateway
Water Coloring
Water colors have the lowest viscosity of other materials which grants them an ethereal feel.
GAGOOSE
Color Wheel & Exercises
I see you’re getting goosebumps! Let’s just make sure it’s from excitement and not from fear from of starting watercoloring! Like a goose taking to water, you’ll soon be gliding through these activities with ease. You’ll focus on painting a color wheel, an essential tool for any artist, and on watercoloring exercises to understand all the techniques you’ll need to perfect your painting.
Just as a goose relies on its flock for direction, your color wheel will guide you through the world of hues and shades, preparing you to make any color all on your own. You’ll learn to mix primary colors to create secondary and tertiary ones. At some point, you won’t be just one of the geese following in formation, but you’ll be leading the gaggle.
Let’s get our ducks—or rather, our geese—in a row. In addition to the color wheel, you’ll also be working on various watercoloring exercises, including gradient fades, filling in evenly, and creating textures. These exercises will help you build the foundational skills needed for creating more complex compositions.
At this time, don’t be afraid to experiment! If you make a mistake, remember that even the most graceful goose occasionally ruffles its feathers. You’ll be splattering, sponging, salting, and oiling—exploring the full range of what watercolors can do. Dive into each technique with the curiosity and enthusiasm of a goose discovering a new pond.
By the end of this journey, you’ll have a vibrant color wheel and a portfolio of techniques that will serve as your artistic arsenal. So spread your wings and fly into the colorful world of watercolors!
Master Oamie’s Thoughts
Watercoloring is an additive process which means that your brushstrokes are recorded permenantly to the your paper and can not be subtracted or removed.
SWUGLY
Project Design
Time to prep our watercolor paper! Just like a goose engaging in preening to prepare its feathers for flight, we need to stretch our special watercolor paper. Since regular paper will wrinkle up like a featherless goose in a rainstorm, we need to ensure our paper is properly stretched. This special paper has a unique texture to absorb the water and pigment, unlike flat writing paper.
To avoid a wild goose chase, we will plan out our project and avoid unnecessary chaos. Only a silly goose would not prepare. After all, if you don’t plan, you’ll cook your own goose.
Once we finish prepping our paper, it will be time to accurately draw our subject onto it before we can get our brushes wet. Think of this step as laying down the breadcrumbs for a goose to follow—every line and detail will guide your painting to success. Taking the time to draw your subject carefully ensures that the painting process will be a golden goose.
Master Oamie’s Thoughts
Before the advent of acrylics, Gouache was used in the graphic design industry for its fast drying qualities.
SWAILUNA
Water Color Project
Like goslings following their mother, you’ve been guided by your teacher, but now you’re ready to spread your wings and navigate the waters of watercolor painting on your own. Watercolors are often one of the first art materials handed to fledgling students because they’re inexpensive and easy to clean. However, don’t be fooled; watercoloring is a very difficult painting method to master and should be treated with a great deal of respect. Despite its easy entry, the process of mastering it is more challenging than other art forms. It takes time to turn from an ugly duckling to a gorgeous goose!
As you embark on your watercolor painting project, remember to approach it with the determination and resilience of a migrating flock. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks or mistakes—instead, see them as opportunities for growth and learning. The flight is where the fun and beauty lie, not just in arriving at the destination. Like geese honing their flight skills through practice, your watercolor journey will be marked by experimentation and discovery.
Remember, the journey of mastering watercolor painting is just as important as the final result. Every brushstroke and wash of color contributes to your growth as an artist. So, spread your wings and embrace the creative journey ahead, knowing that with each step, you’re soaring closer to artistic mastery.
Master Oamie’s Thoughts
Watercoloring has always been challenging for me because it can’t be erased or covered up the way acrylics and oil paints can!
