Nicole Klist, a reporter for Vogue magazine, explains: “At around age 10, I was enrolled in a community art class, where on the first day we were asked to draw a bowl of fruit placed on the table in front of us. Tracing the silhouettes of bananas and grapes didn't come naturally to me, but I was having a good time nonetheless—that is, until I later learned the teacher had suggested my mother take up alternative extracurricular activities. I never returned to class, but that didn't stop me from continuing to draw poorly for years. By exercising my inherent right to create poor art, I learned a valuable life lesson: you don't have to be good at something to benefit from it. My most recent summer hobby exemplifies this best: watercolor painting. Doesn't it relax and stimulate me?”
Luckily, watercolor is well-suited for beginners for several reasons. "First, it's a very accessible medium," says illustrator Megan Morrison of Travel Write Draw, noting that beginner sets are readily available at most art supply stores. "I also think the ability to create transparent washes makes watercolor more accessible for those nervous about putting that first brushstroke on a blank sheet of paper." Every mark doesn't have to be perfect; rather, you can gradually develop the painting. "Watercolor also dries relatively quickly, making it a convenient medium for traveling and painting wherever inspiration strikes." In fact, one of the best features of watercolor paint sets is that they're portable, meaning it's a hobby you can take with you, painting en plein air wherever your vacation takes you.
Once you've mastered the brushstrokes, consider your color palette. Morrison (who is classically trained in fine art and fashion illustration) is a proponent of learning to mix hues based on primary colors. "Throughout my career, there have been countless moments when I didn't have exactly the color I needed," she says; thanks to her knowledge of color theory, she can create custom hues. It takes some trial and error, but it's especially useful for skin tones, plants, landscapes, and other natural subjects. "I think mixing my own colors produces a much richer and more believable result," she says. If you're unsure of your mixture, she recommends having a spare sheet of watercolor paper to test before you begin: "It's a simple habit that allows you to check both color and saturation, giving you the opportunity to add more water or pigment before it hits your painting."
"The watercolor set I used this summer is from the Japanese brand Kuretake. It comes in a tiny travel case and includes 12 non-toxic watercolors, a built-in mixing tray, a brush, a pencil, and a water bottle." "It's so compact and easy to use (and clean) that almost every evening after finishing work, I turn on some music and paint for 30 minutes to unwind from the day. Now that I have a routine, I look forward to bringing my kit along with me on my upcoming travels, just like Morrison recently did," says Klist. "I was just in Sardinia, staying above Cala di Volpe in the Costa Smeralda region," says Morrison, "and the incredible turquoise waters, along with the vibrant flowers framing the view from my terrace, immediately inspired me to pull out my paints and capture the scene."
And you can sign up and try out this new hobby of playing with paints and colors right now at the relaxing art studio in the heart of Baku – Art & Creativity Club!
