New Year, New Creative You: 5 Reasons to begin painting with Watercolors in 2023
There is no question that the last few years have been anything but relaxing. COVID, and the repercussions of the pandemic have rippled through our lives, and many of us are still dealing with the aftermath. Chances are that your mental wellbeing has taken a huge hit, and if I’m guessing, you probably haven’t had a lot of time for yourself, let alone to cultivate a hobby.
Time spent on things we enjoy, however, have a huge impact on our mental state. When we take time to do the things we love, we experience pure joy…the type of joy that almost makes us feel like a kid again. And that is a really good thing. It turns out, when we allow ourselves to experience something for the pure enjoyment of it, it improves our mood, decreases our stress levels, and even helps us ward off dementia, memory loss and other mental disease related to aging.
Whether you like resolutions or not, there is something beautiful about the idea of a fresh beginning. Why not make 2023 a New Year, New Creative You and gift yourself with the benefits of a hobby.
I encourage you to consider making watercolors that hobby and here’s why:
Most Convenient Painting Medium: Unlike other painting mediums, such as oils or acrylics, watercolors require very little to start. All you need is paint, paper, and a paintbrush. Furthermore, it is a clean medium that requires very little set up or clean up. There’s no need for drop cloths or other protection for your floors or surfaces. Also, watercolors can be done virtually anywhere and require very little space. And, since they are made with water, pigment and a binding agent (typically gum arabic), watercolors are non-toxic and odorless, making them a great choice for all ages.
Affordable: A simple paint set, a few brushes and a pad of paper are really all you need to start painting. Paint and brushes can last for years if you take good care of your supplies. I’ve been using the same brushes for 5 – 10 years, and some of my tubes of paint have lasted for years. And, unlike acrylic or oil paint, if the paint in your pan dries, you can rewet it and reactivate it, so there is little to no waste, saving you money in the long run.
Quick Drying Time: Watercolors take very little drying time. Painting mediums, such as oil painting, can take hours or days, even. Because of watercolor’s drying time, you are able to paint without a large time commitment. In some instances, painting for 30 minutes could be enough to create a beautiful piece of art.
Paint Anywhere: If you are a nature lover, or love to travel, you will find that painting with watercolors can be enjoyed virtually anywhere. They are the perfect medium to take with you on the go. Whether you want to paint at a favorite park, during a break on a hike, while relaxing at a café in Florence or at the beach, your paint supplies will happily go wherever you want. A small travel set of watercolor pans, a few brushes (or even water brushes) and a sketch-pad of watercolor paper take up little to no space in your suitcase, backpack, or carryon.
There are MANY Techniques to Explore: Although the foundational techniques of wet on wet, wet on dry and washes will get you very far with watercolors, there are also many other techniques that you can use to get different textures and different effects. Using salt, alcohol, plastic wrap, or even pen and ink, are fun and creative ways to achieve unique results. The more you explore and experiment, the more fun you’ll have.
There are so many more reason that watercolors are a great choice for a creative outlet, but hopefully these are a good start to whet your appetite.
If you’ve been painting with watercolors, share in the comments below what your biggest reasons are. If you haven’t started, share which of the above is most appealing to you!
Keep calm and watercolor on,
