Why Use Watercolor?

Some people have asked us why you would ever want to purchase a watercolor rendering over a tempera one. There are a few reasons, and we'll try and spell them out here.

1. Cost - The first reason to use a watercolor rendering over a tempera painting is this: it's cheaper. Watercolor is a faster medium to work in by nature, making the painting cost less overall.

2. No Strict Commitment - As a developer, sometimes, you aren't sure about the nitty-gritty details on your building. Things are subject to change. Watercolors can help when you're not entirely sure you want to commit to strict architectural detail, because they are usually painted more loosely than tempera images. By nature, watercolor is less "tight" than tempera, which means that you don't have to worry if, for example, the hinges on the entry door are not exactly like you thought they'd be when your project first began.

3. Mood - Watercolors can convey a mood and feel that is very distinct. Watercolors give homes a more classic feel. Take, for example, this watercolor painting for the Tuscan Hills development:

The painting gives one a sense of being home -- a sense of being, in effect, in Italy. Watercolors, furthermore, give a feeling of fine art to your image. The paintings look as if they could be hung in a gallery and are artistically distinct.

4. Style - No matter what has been said about watercolors "looking old", the truth is that watercolors have been around for a long, long time. A medium usually doesn't go out of style. What can change is the style in which the rendering is painted. At Kinateder, we keep on top of the latest trends in architectural illustration, and we do our best to make sure your project doesn't look like a blast from the past. Watercolors are a stylish way to make your rendering stand out above the myriad of poor computer renderings in the world*.

*Just a side note: great computer renderings do amazing things. We love computer renderings; we just want them to be good ones.