Can Cheap PRANG Watercolors Create Professional-Looking Art? My Kingfisher Experiment 🎨
Hi there, fellow artists! I'm Valerie Englehart, and I've got a fun challenge to share with you today. After painting a rainbow protea flower with basic PRANG watercolor paints (you know, the kind that usually scream "elementary school art class"), I started wondering: could I actually paint in my style using these inexpensive supplies?
Well, curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to put these paints to the test with a kingfisher painting. Spoiler alert: the results were way more promising than I expected!
The Setup: Working Smart with Basic Supplies
Instead of using the brush that came with the PRANG set, I grabbed a couple of my own brushes - a trusty size six round and my script liner. I'm working on a 7x11” piece of Arteza expert watercolor paper, nothing too fancy but definitely a step up from the paper that usually comes with children's paint sets.
One thing I love about these PRANG paints? They actually have mixing wells built right into the palette. This turned out to be a game-changer for creating more sophisticated colors.
Starting Bold: No Sketching, Just Painting
Here's where I throw caution to the wind - I never sketch before I paint. I know, I know, it makes some artists cringe, but there's something magical about diving straight in and letting the painting evolve organically.
I started with a blue and green mixture for the kingfisher's head and body. That initial blue straight from the pan was incredibly vibrant - almost electric! But when I mixed it with green, something beautiful happened. The color became much more natural and bird-like.
Pro Tip: Taming Bright Colors
When working with children's paints, they tend to be quite saturated. To create more natural-looking colors, I mix in the opposite color on the color wheel. For that bright orange, I added some of my blue-green mixture to tone it down. The result? A much more believable bird coloring.
The Magic of Leaving Gaps and Soft Edges
I painted loosely around the head, deliberately leaving gaps for the lighter feathers. This technique gives the painting breathing room and prevents that flat, colored-in look that can happen with cheaper paints.
Using my size six round brush, I softened edges at the back of the head, letting colors bleed naturally. This is where watercolor really shines - those happy accidents and organic bleeds create texture that you simply can't achieve with more controlled mediums.
Building the Beak and Finding the Eye
The beak came next, and I kept it simple. I dragged that same blue mixture down to create the basic shape, then hinted at the lower beak. Sometimes less really is more - I could have added more detail, but the suggestion worked beautifully.
For the eye placement, I used just water to create a soft area, keeping my options open. This is crucial when you're painting without a sketch - you need flexibility to adjust as you go.
Color Mixing Success: Creating Natural Orange
Here's where the real magic happened. That PRANG orange was way too bright for a realistic kingfisher, but by mixing in some of my blue-green blend, I created this gorgeous, muted orange that looked completely natural. The beauty of working wet-in-wet meant this orange naturally bled into the beak area, creating subtle color variations that would have been difficult to plan.
Wings and Feathers: Working with Directional Brushstrokes
For the wings, I went with confident, curved brushstrokes following the natural direction of the feathers. I used mostly the flat end of my brush, which helped create those smooth wing surfaces kingfishers are known for.
The center area needed a lighter blue, so I mixed green into my blue and diluted it significantly. This created perfect mid-tones that gave the wings dimension.
Problem-Solving: When Things Don't Go as Planned
Not everything went smoothly - my bird ended up bigger than intended, and that eye was giving me serious trouble. It looked like a "black hole" at one point! But here's the thing about watercolor - problems often become opportunities.
I lifted some pigment with a thirsty brush to create that glassy eye look, and later I knew I'd need to bring in some gouache for the final highlights.
Adding Life with Foliage
No kingfisher is complete without a branch to perch on. I mixed that bright green with some orange to tone it down - again, working with those color relationships to create something more natural. I added simple leaves and let some areas bleed to create depth, keeping some elements out of focus so the bird remains the star.
The Final Touch: Gouache to the Rescue
After letting everything dry completely (thank goodness for hair dryers!), I brought out white gouache for those crucial eye highlights. Just a few small dots and suddenly my kingfisher came alive!
I also added some white dots to suggest the iridescent spots on the wings and back, plus a touch of shine on the beak. These small details made a huge difference in the final result.
The Verdict: Cheap Paints, Professional Techniques
Here's what I learned: it's not always about expensive supplies. Yes, higher-quality paints have better pigmentation and flow, but with the right techniques, you can create compelling artwork with basic materials.
The key is understanding color mixing, working with the medium's natural properties, and not being afraid to problem-solve as you go. Those PRANG paints, when mixed thoughtfully and applied with intention, created a loose, expressive kingfisher that I'm genuinely happy with.
Key Takeaways for Your Own Budget-Friendly Paintings:
Use mixing wells to create more sophisticated colors
Tone down bright colors by mixing with their opposites
Work wet-in-wet for natural color bleeds
Don't underestimate the power of good brushes
Keep some areas soft and out of focus for depth
A few strategic highlights can bring a painting to life
Remember, it's not about having the fanciest supplies - it's about understanding your materials and working with their strengths. Sometimes those limitations push us to be more creative and resourceful artists.
What do you think? Have you tried pushing inexpensive supplies to see what they can do?
Happy painting! 🎨