How I Learned To Love Watercolor Painting In The Most

Introduction

Have you ever picked up a paintbrush and just felt instantly peaceful and calm? Watercolor painting has that effect on me. It’s one of the reasons I love it so much.

I'm lucky enough to live in Colorado – the Rocky Mountains are my backyard - and while I appreciate all forms of art, there’s something special about watercolor paintings that captures the beauty of the state I love so much. Every time I see a watercolor painting of the mountains, a peaceful lake, or golden aspen trees, I feel like I’m instantly transported to Rocky Mountain National Park.

If you’re thinking about picking up a paintbrush and giving watercolor painting a try, I highly recommend it. In this article, I’ll share a few tips on how to get started. If you’re looking for some watercolor paintings of the Rocky Mountain beauty to hang in your home, I’ve got you covered there too!

The Beautiful State that Inspired Me

My husband and I moved to Colorado when we were in our late 20s, and I’ve been in love with the state ever since. From weekend hikes and camping trips to simply admiring the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and neighboring landscapes, I’ve been able to explore so much of beautiful Colorado. Naturally, I soon wanted to capture its magnificence in a creative way. I've always loved creating art, but never really latched onto any particular form. When we started camping in the mountains, however, watercolors seemed the perfect medium for expressing the landscape that I love so much. Not only can you have vibrant and bold hues, you can also have subtle and delicate nuances of light and shadow. With watercolor painting, I felt like I could truly portray the stunning beauty of the Mile High City and its surrounding mountains.

My Journey with Watercolors

Soon, I was hooked. I dedicated my weekends to painting or sketching the outdoors. Every day, I found myself wanting to capture the nuances of the ever-changing Rocky Mountains. Flowers and trees, wildlife and rivers, snow-covered mountains and summer hikes. I wanted to create it all on paper with my brush. I learned how to mix colors and create layers of strokes, and it was very satisfying. I printed out photos of the mountains and practiced painting them until I felt that I could truly capture the scene in a way that I was proud of. I even taught myself how to paint landscapes with a more minimalistic and realistic style, which allowed me to better capture the range of light and shadow in the different mountain backdrops.

Perfecting My Skills

Eventually, I took a few online classes and learned to use different brush strokes and shading techniques to make my paintings stand out. Before long, I had created enough paintings to fill up an entire wall in my home. I worked on my watercolor paintings almost every weekend, (and sometimes even while working my at-home call center job), exploring new techniques and trying to take them to the next level. I was enjoying my newfound hobby so much. What was once a daunting task now seemed so natural and intuitive, and provided a wonderful sense of calm.

My Advice for Those Who Want to Try Watercolor Painting

My advice for anyone wanting to try watercolor painting is to start by understanding your tools and materials. We've all had that experience of painting with Crayola pan watercolors on printer paper and... well... it sucks. Invest in decent-quality paper and paints, and make sure you have the right brushes. Once you understand the basics of watercolor painting, the next step is to take your time and practice often. Have patience and don’t expect perfection with every painting. Learn to love the imperfections and the amazing texture created by the drying paint. With time and practice, your style will become more and more refined. Above all else, have fun with it. Watercolor painting can be incredibly peaceful and calming, and it’s a wonderful way to express yourself through your art. Whether you come from Colorado or any other beautiful area, you’ll find yourself more inspired to paint after a morning in the great outdoors. So go ahead, try it! You won’t regret it.