Now that the holidays are over and we’re all still stuck at home, you might be looking for a new hobby to keep you busy and entertained through the winter. One of my favorite creative pastimes for all ages is watercolor painting. I love it because it’s cheap and easy – you don’t need much specialized equipment and even a total beginner can achieve some great results. There are also lots of fun techniques to try like using tape or masking fluid for resist painting. You can also try using reagents like salt or rubbing alcohol to create an interesting texture in your work. If you’d like to try your hand at watercolor painting, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has you covered with a great range of books for beginners. Check out some of the titles below and see what you can create!
If you’re looking for more inspiration, your library card gives you access to Creativebug where you can find over 1,000 creative video classes and tutorials. Two of my favorite classes exploring watercolor techniques are Resist Painting Techniques with Watercolor and Watercolor Effects Using Salt. Finally, from Jan. 4, check out the CLP YouTube channel @clpvideo to watch my beginner efforts at using tape resist and salt sprinkling techniques to make a watercolor greetings card. These cards are so quick and easy to paint that I’m planning on making enough to send them as thank you cards now that the holidays are over.
From galaxies in a teacup to a blooming field of flowers, Anna shows beginners how to create beautiful watercolor paintings in just 15 minutes. Anna’s philosophy as a watercolor teacher is that painting and sketching are for everyone.
Learn how to paint the beautiful night sky throughout the seasons while learning about sun signs and their place in astrology with Celestial Watercolor – complete with an overview of the tools and techniques of watercolor. Also available on Hoopla.
A contemporary paint-every-day watercolor guide that explores foundational strokes and patterns and then builds new skills upon the foundations over the course of 30 days to create finished pieces. Also available through Libby.
Featuring 200 of the best works of young, modern watercolor painters, paired with bite-sized painting tips and art instruction, Just Add Watercolor gives aspiring artists access to information about – and examples of – top work in the medium.
Your comprehensive guide to color mixing, including hands-on projects that illustrate a variety of color elements and techniques. Also available on Hoopla.
Learn to paint gorgeous watercolor flowers, houseplants, and arrangements with this inspiring guide that includes 30 step-by-step tutorials.
Watercolor Is for Everyone helps aspiring artists discover their creative potential through soulful, meditative painting exercises.