Watercolor. Watercolor has been used in art to create diverse and expressive works that reflect aesthetic sensibilities and artistic traditions. From the detailed realism of Western watercolor painting to the minimalist approach of Japanese sumi-e and the expressive brushwork of Chinese guohua, watercolor offers a rich and varied means of artistic expression across artistic traditions. Watercolor painting in Western art can be traced back to the Renaissance, when it was primarily used for sketches and studies. However, it was during the 18th and 19th centuries that watercolor gained prominence as a standalone medium, particularly in England. Artists such as J.M.W. Turner, John Singer Sargent, and Winslow Homer are known for their mastery of watercolor techniques, which often involve transparent washes, layering, and a focus on light and atmosphere. Western watercolor painting often emphasizes realism, detail, and the representation of the natural world. In Japan, watercolor painting is closely associated with the traditional art of sumi-e ink wash painting and the broader category of Nihonga traditional Japanese painting. Sumi-e originated in China and was introduced to Japan in the 14th century. It involves using a brush and black ink made from soot and animal glue, which is then diluted with water to create various shades and tones. Japanese watercolor painting often features a minimalist approach, with an emphasis on brushwork, simplicity, and the evocation of nature and its essence. Chinese watercolor painting has a long and rich history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Like Japanese sumi-e, Chinese watercolor painting is based on the use of ink and water, with the addition of colored pigments when needed. This art form often emphasizes the expression of the artist's inner emotions and spirituality, as well as a deep connection with nature. Techniques such as wet-on-wet, dry brush, and graded washes are commonly used to create atmospheric landscapes, flowers, birds, and other subjects. Watercolor or watercolour, also aquarelle, is a painting method in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-based solution. Watercolor refers to both the medium and the resulting artwork. Aquarelles painted with water-soluble colored ink instead of modern water colors are called by experts. However, this term has now tended to pass out of use. The conventional and most common support, material to which the paint is applied, for watercolor paintings is watercolor paper. Other supports or substrates include stone, ivory, silk, reed, papyrus, bark papers, plastics, vellum, leather, fabric, wood, and watercolor canvas. Watercolor paper is often made entirely or partially with cotton. This gives the surface the appropriate texture and minimizes distortion when wet. Watercolor papers are usually cold-pressed papers that provide better texture and appearance with a weight at least 300 gsm. Under 300 gsm is commonly not recommended for anything but sketching. Transparency is the main characteristic of watercolors. Watercolors can also be made opaque by adding Chinese white. This is not a method to be used in true watercolor. Watercolor paint is an ancient form of painting, if not the most ancient form of art itself. In East Asia, watercolor painting with inks is referred to as brush painting or scroll painting. In Chinese, Korean and Japanese painting it has been the dominant medium, often in monochrome black or browns, often using inkstick or other pigments. India, Ethiopia and other countries have long watercolor painting traditions as well. Many Western artists, especially in the early 19th century, used watercolor primarily as a sketching tool in preparation for the finished work in oil or engraving.