Watercolour painting is an art form that is both ancient and perpetually modern, captivating with its fluidity and vibrant colours. In our 15 years installing… As a watercolour enthusiast myself, I have always been fascinated by the variety of pigments available – each offering unique properties and effects. Today, let’s dive into an enchanting world of metallic, glitter, shimmer, and real mineral watercolour paints, exploring their composition, colour quality, artistic implications, and how to use them effectively to create stunning nature scenes.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
Experimenting with Luminous Watercolour Pigments
Glittery, shimmery paints offer artists an enchanting dimension beyond traditional colour palettes, infusing their artworks with a dynamic, luminous quality that captures and reflects light in mesmerizing ways. Much like the magpie, drawn irresistibly to shiny objects, humans are naturally captivated by sparkle and brilliance, which these paints provide. This attraction allows artists to use shimmery paints not merely for decoration but as a powerful tool to add depth and life to their work. They enable the simulation of natural elements like glistening water, twinkling stars, or the iridescent sheen of bird feathers with a realism and vibrancy that flat paints cannot achieve. By incorporating shimmery watercolour paint, artists can elevate their work, engaging viewers’ senses and emotions more profoundly, and pushing the boundaries of traditional watercolour techniques.
Metallic watercolour paint is formulated with finely ground metallic pigments, which could be real metals like bronze or aluminium, or synthetic substitutes that mimic their reflective properties. These paints provide a uniform metallic sheen, similar to polished metal. They are somewhat opaque, which allows for strong coverage over other colours. Brands like Kuretake Gansai Tambi offer a range called “Starry Colors,” which includes metallic watercolour paints that are highly pigmented and show excellent luminosity on both white and dark papers.
In contrast, paints that incorporate small particles of mica or synthetic additives create a sparkling or iridescent effect. Glitter paints show visible sparkles, whereas shimmer paints give a more understated, pearlescent look. The vibrancy can vary, but generally, these paints add a luminous quality to your work. The Duochrome series by Daniel Smith, for example, create a unique visual effect by shifting between two distinct colours depending on the viewing angle and the quality of light.
Mineral watercolour paints are made from natural pigments derived directly from the earth, such as lapis bronzite, fluorite, or hematite. These paints offer a connection to the historical practices of the old masters and are perfect for those who appreciate natural beauty and subtlety in their artworks. They provide a depth of texture and colour unique to their composition, often with a granulating effect that adds visual interest to your paintings.
Choosing the Right Tools and Surfaces
The choice of tools and surfaces can significantly affect the application and final appearance of your watercolour paints, especially when dealing with unique mediums like glitter and metallic paints. For a smooth application of glitter watercolours, soft natural bristle brushes or synthetic brushes that hold less water are ideal, as they are gentle enough to pick up the fine particles without causing dispersion that might reduce the sparkle effect. Glitter can be a bit tougher to wash out, so it’s important to clean your brushes thoroughly after each use.
When it comes to paper selection, hot-pressed paper is a great choice for shimmering paints, as its smooth surface allows the pigments to sit evenly and reflect light uniformly. Textured cold-pressed paper can also work well, adding an interesting dimension to the shimmer. Synthetic papers like Yupo, with their non-absorbent surfaces, can also enhance the reflective properties of shimmering watercolours, creating intense, mesmerizing effects.
Mastering Watercolour Techniques for Luminous Nature Scenes
One of my favourite techniques to employ with glitter and shimmer paints is the wet-on-wet approach. By adding these sparkling paints to a wet surface, you can create mesmerizing, fluid patterns that catch the light with every turn, evoking the twinkling of stars in a midnight sky. For metallic or mineral paints, the dry brush technique can be incredibly effective, as lightly dragging a dry brush loaded with paint over rough watercolour paper creates a tactile, granular texture that is both visually and physically captivating.
Layering these luminous paints can also transform a flat painting into a dynamic scene. Start with a light wash of traditional watercolour, let it dry, then apply a thin layer of shimmer or metallic paint for an effect that exudes depth and complexity. Experimenting with the integration of other media, such as graphite or gouache, can further elevate the vibrancy and expressiveness of your work.
When it comes to capturing the essence of nature, the use of specialty watercolour paints can be truly transformative. Rendering realistic foliage, atmospheric perspective, and organic textures becomes an enchanting dance of light and shadow, where the shimmer of metallic accents or the granular texture of mineral paints add an extra dimension of realism and emotional resonance.
Embracing Creative Experimentation
Whether you’re looking to brighten up your artwork or explore the boundaries of colour and texture, specialty watercolour paints like glitter and metallics open up a world of possibilities. These vibrant mediums are not just for traditional painting; they can transform ordinary projects into magical pieces of art that resonate with energy and creativity.
For those who revel in the abstract, these paints offer a playground of visual effects. Use them to express emotions or atmospheres, where the narrative is colour, light, and texture. Integrate them with mixed media elements like collage or digital manipulation to create truly unique and captivating works of art.
Ultimately, the world of specialty watercolour pigments is rich with potential. By embracing these materials and techniques, you can transform simple swatches of colour into complex, radiant masterpieces that tell stories and evoke emotions. Whether through the playful twinkle of glitter or the deep sheen of metallics, your artwork can shine in new and unexpected ways. So, go ahead and sparkle! Experiment, explore, and let your creativity lead the way.
If you’re interested in learning more about watercolour painting, be sure to check out the Pencil and Paint Muse website for a wealth of tutorials, creative inspiration, and tips from experienced artists. Happy painting!
Example: Modern Abstract Painting Series 2024