Maria Pia Delledonne

Watercolour is a prominent difficult painting technique,its execution to require an accurate drawing,a sure skilful knowledge of colours and their combinations,the ability to take the right decision even before starting,knowing it will be irreversible because IT WILL CANNOT BE CORRECTED.In fact,watercolor CANNOT BE CORRECTED,at most we can make  darker,with a following  veiling, a color may seem too light but we cannot change the colour,lighten it,modify the object,correct  lines,backgrounds,images not exactly what it wanted,etc.The result  remain what it is;you cannot change it.

It is just this very impossibility of any change,contrary to oils,acrylics and temperas,that makes it a painting technical less popular than the others and therefore surely more valuable than the others.In any case,it is sufficent a quick passage in the web to verify the considerable quantity of paintings to acrylic and oil on sale in comparison with watercolor paintings to make you understand how meaningful these words are.

Watercolours are available in dry and moist pans,reamy tubes and liquids in glass jars.
Professional artists use moist  pans or creamy tubes.These are colours use important pigments that can be diluted easily in water,producing pleasant and significant colors.
The end result is exactly the same when using either the pans or tubes.Choosing one or the either depends and the personal preference of the artist.

Now,let's talk the "support" used.Often,someone inexperienced and with little knowledge of watercolors might say -"painting on paper?!"-It is a grave error made by  those who see it as a frightful competitor and may take advantage of theie profession and trust they instil to degrade it.

Have you ever tried to paint with colours diluted with water on simple,everyday paper?It is impossible.The paper wrinkles,gets soggy and ruined....It is for this very reason that to simply use the word "paper" in the world of watercolours is extremely incorrect.You must talk about  cotton-paper,or better yet,fine paper made with 100% cotton carefully made and expensive.Among the most important brands of paper are Arches,Winsor &Newton,Fabriano,Grumbacher,Rws,Guarro....

Do not trust anyone who tries to talk to you about watercolours and simple,common design paper!

Lastly,a significant particular in the use of the white of the cotton-paper.In fact,white as a pigment-colour does not exist in watercolours.White is created by using the paper or rather,you must have the necessary knowledge and  know-how to exclude from the other colors the areas which must remain white and at the same time,blend them in with the rest of the painting.

Moist and dry watercolours