Why use Watercolour Paint
Watercolour paint is portable, lightweight and quick to dry.
Because the main support used with watercolour paints is paper, it makes transporting many works practical and low cost.
Watercolours are by far the best paints to travel with.
Expressing your ideas or getting to know a subject matter with water colour can be a great way to build to more substantial artworks.
Watercolour painting in the hands of a skilled painter or one who understands light and tone can be pure visual poetry. To capture the effect of light and atmosphere, to allow the paint and washes to react on the paper and turn an everyday subject into the sublime can transport the viewer.
Watercolours are very handy to travel and work with as the materials can be carried in a small portable box, or a pocket size foldout watercolour set that fits in a handbag.
Water colours have been around since Paleolithic times as seen in cave paintings. They are the most basic version of paint where pigment has been combined with water.
Watercolours were used in illuminated manuscripts in the Middle Ages and by botanical artists since the Renaissance. In the 19th century naturalists favoured watercolours to capture their subject matter. Watercolours are ideal for fine and detailed work as well as more spontaneous in the moment works.
Watercolours are sold in half or full pans which are colour blocks made to fit watercolour paint palettes, or in tubes.
The paint itself consists of pigment, Gum Arabic which acts as a binder, additives and solvents.
Excellent quality watercolours last for a long time and are not expensive compared to other paints especially considering how long they last.