Artist Studio
Watercolor Painting Lesson
by Jennifer Branch
A sketch of my studio
Painting Lesson Level
BeginnerIntermediate
Advanced
Skill Building
Art Supplies
As much as I love drooling over Pinterest artist studios a watercolor artist really needs very little. I've painted some of the best paintings of my life sitting outside on a blanket under a tree! But need and want are 2 different things, aren't they?
I just finished repainting my entire studio bright white. I didn't even get the paint store employees to put any colorants at all in the cans. I have flat white for a smooth, non glaring wall and gloss white for the trim work. It was an awful lot of white to begin with but I love it now that I've gotten over the shock! The room color doesn't affect my paintings at all except to bathe them in a lovely soft light.
As you can tell, I love maps, especially antique maps. I always keep a modern map of the world so I can plan painting trips. I have a map of Mount Desert Island because I love going there almost every year to sketch. The other paintings and maps in my art studio rotate frequently.
I keep mats,packaging and stored paintings neat and ready so I can mail an ordered painting quickly! I also have a large format archival printer so I can print limited edition prints myself. I think it's extremely important to print art prints myself so I can have them as close to the original painting as possible. I can also control the quality by making certain that everything sent to a client is absolutely perfect.
I just finished repainting my entire studio bright white. I didn't even get the paint store employees to put any colorants at all in the cans. I have flat white for a smooth, non glaring wall and gloss white for the trim work. It was an awful lot of white to begin with but I love it now that I've gotten over the shock! The room color doesn't affect my paintings at all except to bathe them in a lovely soft light.
As you can tell, I love maps, especially antique maps. I always keep a modern map of the world so I can plan painting trips. I have a map of Mount Desert Island because I love going there almost every year to sketch. The other paintings and maps in my art studio rotate frequently.
I keep mats,packaging and stored paintings neat and ready so I can mail an ordered painting quickly! I also have a large format archival printer so I can print limited edition prints myself. I think it's extremely important to print art prints myself so I can have them as close to the original painting as possible. I can also control the quality by making certain that everything sent to a client is absolutely perfect.
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I'm using a John Pike palette right now. It fits beautifully in my drawer.
My most cherished studio item is my desk. I commissioned the desk from local carpenter Frank Garrett and paid for it with one of my first big projects as a professional artist. I love my desk.
It has a tilting side and a flat side. The tilting side moves to any angle I want it to (though I am considering getting my husband to make it tilt with a button and jacks.... hmmm.) The flat side is perfect to keep water level and brushes from sliding off the table. It's short, since I am short. I can stand or sit to paint and it's always the perfect height. My palette rests in a shallow drawer. No drawer sides in the way but it can be smoothly stored dust free at the end of the day. A nice shelf is a perfect place to store paper and blocks, as well as dirty and clean rags baskets. Everything I need to paint is within arm's reach.
It has a tilting side and a flat side. The tilting side moves to any angle I want it to (though I am considering getting my husband to make it tilt with a button and jacks.... hmmm.) The flat side is perfect to keep water level and brushes from sliding off the table. It's short, since I am short. I can stand or sit to paint and it's always the perfect height. My palette rests in a shallow drawer. No drawer sides in the way but it can be smoothly stored dust free at the end of the day. A nice shelf is a perfect place to store paper and blocks, as well as dirty and clean rags baskets. Everything I need to paint is within arm's reach.
My painting go bag is always ready and packed so I can go sketch on the spur of the moment.
And that's really what it's all about, everything in arm's reach. Everything easy to paint at a moment's notice. I'm lucky enough to have a dedicated art studio, but I also have my go paint bag packed and ready. I load it up with paints as soon as I'm back from a sketching session, so it's always ready!
A watercolor artist is lucky, since watercolor painting can be done on location or in my art studio in almost exactly the same situation. I prefer a small palette sketching, but I carry a regular palette if I'm going on a serious painting trip. I can paint at the kitchen table, under a shady tree, or in my studio. Anywhere I like! (But I really love painting in my art studio!)
A watercolor artist is lucky, since watercolor painting can be done on location or in my art studio in almost exactly the same situation. I prefer a small palette sketching, but I carry a regular palette if I'm going on a serious painting trip. I can paint at the kitchen table, under a shady tree, or in my studio. Anywhere I like! (But I really love painting in my art studio!)
Artist's Tips
Don't store brushes flat or down. Store them upright so they can dry.
Don't store brushes flat or down. Store them upright so they can dry.
