Refers to the painting technique or the artwork itself. Often used in compounds like 水彩画 (watercolor picture) or 水彩絵の具 (watercolor paints).
彼女は水彩で風景を描くのが好きだ。
She likes to paint landscapes in watercolor.
He painted the flowers in the garden in watercolor.
この展覧会には美しい水彩がたくさん展示されている。
Many beautiful watercolors are exhibited at this exhibition.
After retiring, I started learning watercolor painting.
水彩 is painting with water-based paints, whereas 油彩 is painting with oil-based paints, the two main contrasting media in Western-style painting.
Used when referring to individual sheets or works on paper; for the painting as a piece, speakers may also use no counter in context.
watercolor paper
watercolor painter; watercolorist
transparent watercolor; aquarelle
gouache
watercolor pencils; water-soluble pencils
Standard kanji spelling for watercolor painting.
From 水 (water) + 彩 (coloring), referring to painting with water-soluble pigments.