Tube watercolors and pan watercolors both contain the same paint pigments.

Tube watercolors have glycerin and other additives that keep the paint flexible in the tube. Tube watercolors produce more brilliant colors because you don't have to add so much water before you use them.

Pan watercolors are in a dry cube placed in a pan. They are portable and are the favored for painting in the field. Use small brushes to get the paint out of the pan. Large brushes will overlap into the adjoining pan colors.

tube and pan watercolors

what do you watercolor on?

Watercolor paintings have been done on paper for centuries.

Watercolor paintings on paper must be framed under glass with a mat to keep the painting from touching the back of the glass.

Modern technology has given us some other choices for today's watercolor paintings.

What Watercolor Paper should I use?

can you watercolor on canvas?

Yes, you may purchase "Ad" canvas specifically made for watercolors. Make sure the label says it can be used for watercolor.

Brush on a good amount of water to the entire face of the canvas to break the surface tension.

Let the water soak in before you start painting. This will prevent the paint from beading up or sliding around.

After the paint is thoroughly dry spray the painting with a "Ad" protective UV resistant spray. The painting may be framed with or without glass.

Aquabord, Claybord and Gessobord are made by Ampersand. They apply ph neutral Kaolin clay to one side of Masonite panels.

"Ad" Aquabord is textured like cold pressed watercolor paper. Claybord is smooth.

Either one may be used for watercolor paintings.

Spray the dried paintings with a "Ad" fixative to seal the paint. Then they may be framed without a mat or glass.

An often overlooked painting surface is "Ad" Gessobord. It is an ideal surface for traditional and water-based oils, alkyds, acrylics, collage, and mixed media.

Regular incandescent bulbs we use in our homes are warm. Paintings done under regular bulbs look dull in natural light.

Florescent tube lights are cool. We tend to over compensate and make the paintings too warm. So what should we use?

Daylight bulbs provide a balance of warm and cool light that is perfect for painting. They use about 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

daylight bulbs

how do i start watercolor?

A watercolor tutorial for beginners will answer your frequently asked questions about how to use watercolor, colors for your palette, what brushes to use and what to paint on.

i want to start oil painting

You can paint a colorful Baltimore Oriole with the beginning oil painting tutorial.

• Included are the color scheme, what brushes, colors and materials to use.

• Photographs and explanations of the painting steps.

do i have to know how to draw?

Some people have a natural gift for drawing. The rest of us learn how to draw with practice.

• "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" is a classic, inspiring book by Betty Edwards that helped me to learn drawing.

It is a powerful book for building your artistic confidence and skills.

a classic book

Oil and alkyd paints will keep for many days in a Masterson Palette Box.

Use your 12"x16" stay-wet palette box for acrylics.

Tube watercolor paints may be kept in a Aqua-Pro Watercolor Palette.