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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Wash Techniques – Lesson 2


Watercolor painting offers endless potential—but only when the foundational watercolor wash techniques are fully understood and practiced. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or refining your skills, learning the core methods behind watercolor painting will significantly elevate the quality and impact of your work.

Here, we explore ten key watercolor techniques and concepts that every artist should know, each contributing to your confidence, control, and creative expression on the page.

The Importance of Washes

Washes are the foundation of most watercolor paintings. From creating soft skies to moody landscapes, understanding how to apply color evenly and purposefully can dramatically affect the outcome of your work. Washes are not just background fillers—they’re dynamic tools for mood, movement, and light.

Flat Washes: The Power of Evenness

A flat wash provides a consistent tone over a defined area. Achieving this requires the right brush, proper pigment-to-water ratio, and fluid motion. Mastering flat washes helps eliminate streaks and patchiness, which are often signs of inexperience.

Graduated Washes: Smooth Transitions

Graduated washes transition from dark to light or between two colors. This technique adds dimensionality and atmosphere, useful for everything from skies to shadows. It teaches you control over pigment dilution and brush pressure.

Wet-into-Wet: Embrace the Flow

The wet-into-wet method involves painting onto damp paper, allowing pigments to flow and blend organically. This creates soft edges and natural textures, making it ideal for backgrounds, clouds, and abstract effects. Timing and water control are essential here.

Hard and Soft Edges: Knowing the Difference

Hard edges form when wet paint touches dry paper, while soft edges occur when both surfaces are wet. Controlling edges is one of the most important skills in watercolor—too many hard edges can make a painting look rigid, while too many soft edges can lack definition.

Layering and Glazing: Building Color Depth

Layering, or glazing, involves placing transparent layers of color over dry paint. This allows you to deepen hues, adjust values, and build subtle color variations without disturbing the layers underneath. Glazing requires patience and timing but yields luminous results.

Lifting and Masking: Working With and Against Mistakes

Watercolor is often considered unforgiving, but techniques like lifting (removing pigment with a brush, sponge, or paper towel) and masking (using masking fluid or tape to preserve white areas) give you a way to maintain highlights and correct missteps without overworking the paper.

Working Light to Dark: Honoring Watercolor’s Nature

Unlike opaque mediums, watercolor works best when applied from light to dark. You can’t paint white over dark in watercolor, so preserving light areas from the start is crucial. This requires forethought and planning, training you to visualize the painting before you begin.

The Role of Water Control

Mastery in watercolor isn’t just about color—it’s about controlling water. The ratio of water to pigment affects everything: transparency, edge quality, blend-ability, and flow. Beginners often use too much or too little water, leading to uneven results. Developing a “feel” for water is a major milestone in your growth.

Practice, Observation, and Patience

As with any artistic discipline, watercolor takes practice. Observing how water, pigment, and paper interact will teach you more than any single technique. Be patient with the process, celebrate small improvements, and keep a record of your work to track growth over time.

Final Thoughts

Watercolor rewards those who are willing to embrace its unpredictability while mastering its control. These foundational techniques—flat washes, graduated washes, wet-into-wet, edge control, and more—are not just skills, but tools of expression. Whether you’re painting landscapes, portraits, or abstract art, the principles outlined here will help you create work with clarity, depth, and emotional impact.

Start with intention, stay curious, and most importantly, enjoy the process.

Four-Part Lesson Series

This blog article is the second in a series of four introductory lessons in watercolor painting.

Lesson 2: Watercolor Wash Techniques

Welcome to the next watercolor lesson! Today, we’ll dive into three foundational techniques: flat washes, wet-into-wet backgrounds, and graduated washes with soft/hard edges. These skills form the backbone of watercolor painting, providing depth, texture, and atmosphere to your artwork.

Materials Needed:

Lesson Outline

1. Flat Washes

A flat wash is a smooth, even application of color across the paper, perfect for creating skies or other uniform areas.

Steps to Create a Flat Wash:

  1. Slightly tilt your watercolor paper (use a board or clip to hold it steady).
  2. Pre-mix enough paint in your palette to cover your desired area. Aim for a consistent pigment-to-water ratio.
  3. Load your brush with paint and start at the top of the paper, making horizontal strokes from one edge to the other.
  4. Work quickly, reloading your brush often to maintain a consistent bead of paint at the edge of each stroke.
  5. Gently lift the bead at the end to avoid backruns.

Exercise: Flat Washes

  • Create a flat wash using a single color. Repeat with a second color for practice.
  • Optional: Sketch a simple shape (e.g., a square or circle) and fill it evenly with a flat wash.

2. Wet-into-Wet Backgrounds

The wet-into-wet technique allows colors to blend seamlessly, creating organic textures and soft transitions.

Steps to Create a Wet-into-Wet Background:

  1. Wet the area of your paper with clean water using a large brush. Ensure it’s damp but not puddling.
  2. Load your brush with paint and gently touch it to the wet paper. Watch as the pigment spreads.
  3. Add additional colors or layers while the paper is still wet, letting them blend naturally.
  4. Tilt or rock the paper slightly to guide the paint flow.

Exercise: Wet-into-Wet Background

  • Wet an entire sheet of paper and create a background using 2-3 colors. Experiment with blending and see how they interact.
  • Try tilting the paper to control the flow and shape of the colors.

3. Graduated Washes with Soft/Hard Edges

Graduated washes transition smoothly between two colors or from dark to light, while edge control adds visual interest.

Steps to Create a Graduated Wash:

  1. Pre-mix your colors (e.g., one darker, one lighter, or two different hues).
  2. Start at the top of the paper with a more concentrated pigment.
  3. Gradually add water to your brush or switch to a second color as you move down, creating a smooth gradient.
  4. For soft edges, wet the area beside your wash beforehand. For hard edges, let each section dry before continuing.

Exercise: Graduated Washes and Soft/Hard Edges

  • Paint a gradient from dark to light using a single color.
  • Paint a gradient between two colors, focusing on smooth blending.
  • Practice creating soft edges by wetting the area around your wash. Add hard edges by painting adjacent sections only after the first is dry.

Reflection and Tips

  • Compare your washes to evaluate consistency and blending.
  • Experiment with different paper textures and brushes to observe their effects.
  • Use flat washes for bold backgrounds, wet-into-wet for dynamic textures, and graduated washes for depth and dimension.

With consistent practice, these techniques will become second nature, allowing you to bring your creative vision to life. Don’t forget to have fun and explore the unique possibilities of watercolor!

Next Lesson

Click here to advance to the third blog article in this series of four introductory lessons in watercolor painting.

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Watercolor Techniques

Brushwork in Watercolor – Lesson 1

Techniques and Tips for Every Artist

Mastering brushwork in watercolor is essential for creating dynamic, engaging paintings. Like handwriting, brushstrokes become a personal signature, helping define an artist’s unique style. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, understanding brush techniques will take your watercolor work to the next level.

The Role of Brushwork in Watercolor

Brushwork is more than just applying paint—it’s a key element in conveying movement, emotion, and depth. It works alongside color choices and composition to create a cohesive and compelling painting. Some artists rely heavily on washes, while others use expressive strokes to build texture and detail.

Choosing the Right Brush

The most commonly used brushes in watercolor painting are round and flat brushes. Round brushes, with their tapered tips, are perfect for detailed work and fluid lines. Flat brushes, on the other hand, create bold, broad strokes and crisp edges, offering versatility for landscapes and architectural elements.

Pushed vs. Pulled Strokes

Brushstrokes generally fall into two categories: pushed strokes (where the brush moves away from you) and pulled strokes (where the brush is drawn toward you). By varying pressure, speed, and direction, you can create an incredible range of marks, from delicate lines to expressive, textured forms.

The Impact of Brush Pressure

A single brush can create a wide variety of marks based on how much pressure you apply. A light touch with a round brush produces thin, delicate lines, while pressing down on the brush creates thicker, more dramatic strokes. Flat brushes, when turned on their edge, can be used for fine lines or calligraphic effects.

Wet vs. Dry Brush Techniques

The amount of moisture in both the brush and the paper dramatically affects the final look of your strokes. A wet brush on wet paper results in soft, blended edges, ideal for atmospheric effects like misty skies. A dry brush on dry paper creates a broken, textured stroke, perfect for rough surfaces like tree bark or stone.

Learning from the Masters

Studying the works of master watercolorists offers valuable insights into brushwork techniques. John Singer Sargent, for example, skillfully combined drybrush strokes with washes to build depth and texture. His painting Brook Among the Rocks demonstrates how controlled, deliberate strokes can bring a composition to life.

Developing Your Unique Style

Every artist eventually finds their own balance between washes and brushwork. Some paintings call for broad, fluid washes to set the scene, while others require detailed, energetic strokes. Experimentation is key—play with different brushes, pressures, and techniques to discover what resonates with you.

Practicing Brushwork with Purpose

To refine your brush skills, dedicate time to intentional practice. Use old newspapers or sketchbook pages to test different strokes with a single color. Stand while painting to engage your entire arm and wrist for better control. Try holding your brush at different angles and even using the handle to scratch into damp washes for added texture.

Layering Brushstrokes for Depth

Watercolor is a medium that rewards patience. Start with light washes and gradually build layers of brushstrokes to create depth. Allow some areas to dry completely before adding detail, while in other sections, take advantage of damp surfaces to soften edges and create seamless blends.

Finding Freedom in Brushwork

Confidence in brushwork comes with time and repetition. The goal is to make your strokes feel effortless and natural. Be fearless—embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. The more you practice, the more intuitive and expressive your brushwork will become.

Mastering brushwork is a journey that evolves with every painting. By exploring different techniques, studying the masters, and practicing regularly, you’ll develop a brush style that feels uniquely yours.

Four-Part Lesson Series

This blog article begins a series of four introductory lessons in watercolor painting.

Lesson 1: Brushwork in Watercolor

Lesson Objective

By the end of this lesson:

  • Understand the importance of brushwork in developing their unique artistic style.
  • Learn about different types of brushes and their applications.
  • Practice a variety of brush techniques to create diverse textures and effects.

Lesson Outline

1. Importance of Brushwork

  • Brushwork defines an artist’s style and adds personality to their work.
  • With practice, brushwork becomes as distinct as handwriting.
  • It works in harmony with color choices and subject matter to shape the final artwork.

2. Tools of the Trade: Brushes

  • Round Brushes: Ideal for detailed work, featuring a pointed tip for precision and versatility.
  • Flat Brushes: Perfect for bold, wide strokes, using either the flat side or the chisel edge for thin lines or calligraphic marks.

Tip: Invest in a large round brush (#12–20) and a flat brush (1–3″) to cover most techniques.

3. Brush Techniques

  • Pushed Strokes: Begin near you and push the brush away.
  • Pulled Strokes: Start farther away and pull the brush toward you.
  • Variations:
    • Adjust pressure and direction for thick/thin lines.
    • Use the brush point for details and the body for broader strokes.
    • Explore dots, curves, and drybrush effects for texture.

Activity: Experiment with your round and flat brushes on scrap paper. Test strokes with different levels of pressure, paper wetness (dry, damp, wet), and brush loads.

4. Learning from Masters

  • John Singer Sargent: A master of layering drybrush strokes with washes to create texture and depth.

Discussion: Analyze examples of their work to observe how they balance brushwork and washes.

5. Creating Your Composition

  • Begin with light washes to establish the foundation.
  • Gradually add detailed brushwork as the paper dries.
  • Control the blending and edge sharpness by adjusting the wetness of the paper.

Assignment: Brushwork

Objective: Practice a variety of brush techniques to develop your personal style.

Instructions:

  1. Preparation:
    • Select a subject (photo reference or your choice) with opportunities for brushwork, such as landscapes, trees, or textured objects.
    • Use rough, cold press, or hot press paper, depending on your preference.
    • Limit your palette to six basic colors, mixing as needed.
  2. Sketch & Plan:
    • Lightly sketch the composition on your paper.
    • Create a value study in your sketchbook, focusing on light and dark areas.
  3. Painting Process:
    • Apply light to mid-value washes to establish the base.
    • While wet, experiment with splattering water or additional paint for texture.
    • Once dry, layer brushstrokes to add depth and detail.
  4. Focus on Brushwork:
    • Incorporate a variety of strokes (dots, curves, drybrush) with both round and flat brushes.
    • Use the brush tip for fine details and the body for broader shapes.

Evaluation:

  • Does your painting showcase a variety of brush techniques?
  • Is brushwork a dominant feature in your composition?
  • Did you experiment with different levels of paper dampness and brush pressure?

Tips for Success

  • Practice with a single color on scrap paper to build confidence.
  • Stand while painting to use your whole arm for better control.
  • Explore holding your brush in unconventional ways to create unique marks.
  • Be fearless! Mistakes often lead to creative discoveries.

Wrap-Up

Mastering brushwork is an essential step toward developing your artistic voice. Practice regularly and let your strokes evolve naturally.

Next Lesson

Click here to advance to the second blog article in this series of four introductory lessons in watercolor painting.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Guide

In this article, we’ll explore each essential watercolor technique that will elevate your watercolor paintings to new heights, adding richness and dimension to every brushstroke.

Watercolor painting is a captivating art form that thrives on subtlety and finesse. While the medium allows for fluidity and spontaneity, it also offers endless possibilities for adding intricate details and creating mesmerizing depth in your artwork.

The Materials You’ll Need

  • Watercolor paints (an assortment of colors)
  • Brushes (various sizes and shapes, including fine detail brushes)
  • Watercolor paper (choose a suitable texture)
  • Palette for mixing colors
  • Water containers
  • Paper towels or a sponge for blotting and lifting

Watercolor Technique Step-by-Step Guide

The Art of Layering

Layering is a fundamental technique that allows you to build depth and intensity gradually. Begin with a light wash of color and gradually add layers as each one dries. This technique enhances the richness of your colors and adds dimension to your artwork.

Wet-on-Wet Watercolor Technique

Wet-on-wet is a technique where you apply wet paint to a wet surface. To create controlled wet-on-wet effects, wet a specific area of your paper with clean water and then apply your paint. This method allows for beautiful blends and soft transitions in your artwork.

Dry Brush Watercolor Technique

The dry brush technique involves using a nearly dry brush to create texture and fine details. Load your brush with minimal water and paint, and then apply it to dry paper. This technique is perfect for adding texture to rocks, tree bark, or any surface that requires a rough, tactile feel.

Masking Fluid Watercolor Technique

Masking fluid is a technique for preserving white areas or creating sharp highlights. Apply masking fluid to the areas you want to protect, allow it to dry, and then paint over them. Once your painting is complete, gently rub or peel off the masking fluid to reveal pristine white areas.

Glazing for Depth

Glazing is a technique that involves applying a transparent layer of color over a dry layer to create depth and add complexity to your artwork. It allows you to achieve rich, layered colors that glow with luminosity. Experiment with glazing to capture the play of light and shadow in your paintings.

Details with Fine Brushes

The essential watercolor technique tool for adding intricate details to your artwork is the fine-detail round brush. Whether it’s the delicate veins of a leaf, the texture of feathers, or the fine lines of architecture, fine brushes allow you to capture the smallest nuances that bring your painting to life.

Patience and Practice

As with any artistic technique, patience and practice are key to mastering details and depth in watercolor. Don’t be discouraged by your initial attempts. Each stroke is a step toward excellence. Keep exploring, experimenting, and refining your skills.

Sign Your Artwork

To complete your masterpiece, sign your artwork with pride. Your signature is the final touch that marks it as uniquely yours.

Remember, the beauty of watercolor lies in its ability to convey the subtleties of light, texture, and depth. These watercolor techniques are tools that will empower you to bring your artistic vision to life. So, pick up your brushes, embrace the world of details and depth, and let your creativity shine through every stroke.

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Watercolor Techniques

Mastering Watercolor Brush Techniques

Unlock the world of texture and dimension in your watercolor paintings with an exploration of brush techniques. In this article, we dive deep into the art of using brushes to infuse your artwork with depth, texture, and a captivating sense of dimension.

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning your watercolor journey, these techniques will add a new layer of richness to your creations. Let’s embark on a brushstroke adventure that will transform your watercolor artistry.

The Power of Brush Techniques

In the realm of watercolor, brushes are not just tools; they are instruments that allow you to convey emotions, capture details, and create intricate textures. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned artist, mastering brushstroke techniques will open up a world of possibilities for your artistic expression.

1. The Versatile Round Brush

The round brush is a watercolor artist’s best friend. Its pointed tip allows for precise lines and details, while its round belly can hold a considerable amount of paint for bold strokes and washes.

  • Wet-on-Wet Technique: Apply water to your paper first, then load your round brush with paint. Touch the brush to the wet surface, and watch the colors flow and blend beautifully. This technique is perfect for creating soft, diffused backgrounds or dreamy landscapes.
  • Dry Brush Technique: Use a mostly dry brush with minimal water and plenty of pigment. This technique is excellent for creating rough textures, like the bark of a tree or the texture of rocks.

2. The Magic of the Flat Brush

Flat brushes are versatile tools that excel in creating straight edges, sharp lines, and broad washes.

  • Wash Technique: Flat brushes are perfect for laying down smooth, even washes of color. To achieve a graduated wash, start with a puddle of water on your paper and add diluted paint, letting the colors blend naturally.
  • Dry Brush Technique: Similar to the round brush dry brush technique, using a flat brush can create unique textures by dragging the brush lightly over the paper’s surface.

3. The Playful Fan Brush

Fan brushes are often overlooked but can add exciting texture and movement to your paintings.

  • Splatter Technique: Load the fan brush with paint, hold it over your paper, and use your finger or another brush to flick the bristles. This creates captivating splatter effects that can simulate falling rain, a starry night, or a field of flowers.

4. Experiment and Explore

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different brushes, sizes, and techniques. Mix and match brushstrokes to create rich layers, intricate patterns, and captivating textures. Remember, the beauty of watercolor lies in its unpredictability and the happy accidents that can occur when you let your creativity flow.

Your Brushstroke Adventure Begins

Now that you have a glimpse into the world of brushstroke techniques, it’s time to embark on your own artistic adventure. Grab your brushes and your favorite watercolors, and let your imagination guide you.

As you explore these techniques, keep in mind that practice is the key to mastery. Don’t be discouraged by your initial attempts. Each stroke is a step closer to achieving the textures and effects you desire.

Happy painting, and may your brushstrokes bring your art to life!

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Watercolor Techniques

How to Use Watercolor Pencils

Watercolor pencils are adaptable and engaging instruments that combine the accuracy of colored pencils with the fluid beauty of watercolors. Watercolor pencils offer a distinctive and pleasurable approach to expressing your artistic vision, regardless of your level of experience or where you are in your creative path.

This guide will explain what watercolor pencils are and show you how to use them skillfully to produce gorgeous watercolor-like effects.

What are Watercolor Pencils?

A specific kind of colored pencil called a watercolor pencil turns into watercolor-like washes when coupled with water. They are made by enclosing water-soluble pigments in a hardwood barrel, much like standard colored pencils. These pigments dissolve when water is applied, allowing you to create a wide range of effects, from delicate washes to bold, vibrant colors.

Compared to conventional watercolors, watercolor pencils provide more control and accuracy, making them a perfect option for artists who wish to create precise details while still utilizing the expressive properties of water-based media.

What are some techniques for using watercolor pencils?

Here are some techniques for using watercolor pencils:

  • Dry Use: Watercolor pencils can be used dry, like regular colored pencils, to create detailed drawings.
  • Wet Use: They can be activated with water to create a watercolor effect. This can be done by making marks with the pencil and then applying water with a soft brush. Once the material has been “activated”, it behaves like watercolor.
  • Wet on Wet: This technique involves wetting the paper with water before applying the watercolor pencil. The pencil marks will spread and blend with the water on the paper, creating a soft, blended effect.
  • Wet on Dry: This technique involves applying the watercolor pencil to dry paper and then adding water with a brush. This creates a more defined, detailed effect.
  • Layering: Watercolor pencils can be layered to create depth and texture. This involves applying multiple layers of color, either dry or wet, to build up the intensity of the color.

Overall, watercolor pencils are fantastically versatile and can be used in a number of different ways[1]. They can be used alone or with other media, and are clean and easy to use. It is always worth experimenting with different techniques to see what works best for you.

What are some tips for layering watercolor pencils?

  • Start Light: Begin with a light layer of color and gradually build up the intensity of the color with additional layers. This will help you avoid applying too much pigment too quickly and creating a muddy appearance.
  • Use Different Colors: Layering different colors on top of each other can create depth and texture in your artwork. Experiment with different color combinations to see what works best for your piece.
  • Use Different Pressure: Varying the pressure you apply to the pencil can create different effects. Applying more pressure will release more pigment and create a darker color while applying less pressure will create a lighter color.
  • Allow Layers to Dry: Let each layer dry completely before adding another layer. This will prevent the colors from blending together and creating a muddy appearance.
  • Use Water Sparingly: When layering watercolor pencils, use water sparingly to avoid diluting the colors too much. You can always add more water later if needed.
  • Test Colors: Before applying a layer of color, test the color on a scrap piece of paper to see how it will look when layered with other colors.
  • Use Different Techniques: Experiment with different layering techniques, such as wet-on-wet or wet-on-dry, to create different effects.

By following these tips, you can create beautiful and vibrant artwork with watercolor pencils. Remember to be patient and take your time, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques and color combinations.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using watercolor pencils?

  • Using the Wrong Paper: Watercolor pencils work best on watercolor paper or heavy-weight paper that can handle water and pigment. Using regular sketch paper or thin paper may cause the paper to warp or not hold the pigment properly.
  • Not Testing Colors: Before applying water to your watercolor pencil marks, it’s important to test the colors on a scrap piece of paper. This will help you see how the colors will look when activated and prevent any unwanted surprises.
  • Using Too Much Water: Adding too much water to your watercolor pencil marks can cause the colors to become diluted and lose their vibrancy. Start with a small amount of water and gradually add more as needed.
  • Not Cleaning the Brush: If you’re using a brush to activate the watercolor pencil marks, make sure to clean the brush between colors to avoid muddying the colors. Use a separate container of water for rinsing the brush.
  • Overworking the Paper: Overworking the paper by repeatedly layering and blending the colors can lead to a muddy and dull appearance. It’s important to know when to stop and let the layers dry before adding more.
  • Not Using a Light Touch: Watercolor pencils are versatile and can produce both light and dark shades. Start with a light touch and gradually build up the intensity of the color. Pressing too hard can make it difficult to blend and activate the pigment with water.
  • Not Using a Sharp Pencil: Keeping your watercolor pencils sharp allows for more precise and detailed work. A sharp point can create crisp lines and fine details that may be harder to achieve with a dull pencil.
  • Not Sealing the Artwork: Once your watercolor pencil artwork is complete and dry, it’s important to seal it with a fixative or a spray varnish to protect it from smudging or fading over time.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can enhance your experience with watercolor pencils and create beautiful and vibrant artwork.

Materials You’ll Need:

Before we dive into the steps, let’s gather the necessary materials:

  1. Watercolor pencils
  2. Watercolor paper or heavy-weight mixed media paper
  3. Paintbrushes (various sizes)
  4. Water container
  5. Paper towel or sponge
  6. Optional: masking tape, eraser, and pencil for sketching

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Sketch Your Design: To begin, use a standard pencil or watercolor pencil to softly sketch your design onto the watercolor paper. Making a light drawing will guarantee that the pencil lines blend in with the water.
  2. Color Application: Start adding color to your design with watercolor pencils. For deeper hues, apply more layers. The magic happens when water is applied, so don’t worry about blending at this time.
  3. Adding Water: Begin blending the colored pencil strokes using a paintbrush dipped in water. The pigments will become activated by the water and transform into washes that resemble watercolors. Try varying your water usage for various results; use more water for subtle washes and less water for vivid hues.
  4. Layering and Blending: Add further layers of watercolor pencil and, as necessary, mix with water. Different hues can be blended together for smooth transitions and layered to create depth.
  5. Detail Work: Watercolor pencils can be used without water for finer details. This enables your artwork to have fine lines and rich details.
  6. Dry or Wet-on-Dry: You can either put watercolor pencils to dry paper and then blend with water (wet-on-dry) to achieve the impression you’re going for, or you can do the opposite (wet-on-wet) for a more fluid appearance.
  7. Drying and Final Touches: Before adding any finishing touches, let your artwork completely dry. If further details are required after drying, use dry watercolor pencils.
  8. Sealing the Artwork: To prevent smudging, you can, if you’d like, seal your finished artwork with a fixative spray.

FAQs:

  1. Can you use regular colored pencils with water? Since regular colored pencils are not water-soluble, applying water won’t cause them to act similarly to watercolor pencils. Specific pigments made for dissolving in water are used in watercolor pencils.
  2. Do I need to be an experienced artist to use watercolor pencils? No, watercolor pencils are appropriate for painters of all levels of experience. They are a fantastic option for beginning and advanced painters alike since they provide both control and spontaneity.
  3. Can I use any type of paper with watercolor pencils? While standard drawing paper can be used, it is advised to utilize watercolor paper or heavy-weight mixed media paper instead. These papers are made to withstand water while avoiding warping.
  4. What’s the difference between watercolor pencils and watercolors? Comparatively speaking, watercolor pencils provide more control and accuracy than conventional watercolors. While watercolors are renowned for their more flowing and loose looks, watercolor pencils are ideal for intricate work.
  5. Can I erase watercolor pencil marks? Yes, you can partially erase watercolor pencil traces, however, it’s best to erase gently to prevent tearing the paper’s surface.

Final Thoughts

You are now prepared to use watercolor pencils to explore your creativity after reading these instructions and advice. Always remember that experimentation is the key, therefore don’t be afraid to give new methods a shot and see what interesting results you may get.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Painting Light & Shadows

Watercolor technique – Painting light and shadows with color to accurately depict objects affected by light requires careful observation. It is important to notice the temperature of the light and how it changes the colors of objects illuminated by it. The temperature of natural light is warm at sunrise and sunset, and cool during midday. Also, artificial light is warm under incandescent lighting, and cool under fluorescent (or white) lighting.

Natural Light – Time of Day

Nita Leland, author of “Exploring Color” (affiliate link) describes the effect of light at the time of day as follows:

“Every time of day has its own special light. Early morning light is luminous and clear with high-key color and gentle contrasts. Tints of scarlet, blue-green and violet express the awakening day. At midday a harsher light reveals intense contrasts of color and value, bleaching out highlights. Late afternoon light has a softer golden glow, with distant objects veiled with mist moving toward chromatic neutral tones. Twilight and early evening light are luminous, tending toward blue and violet, with the sunset a deep rich crimson. Atmospheric buildup throughout the day causes red rays to scatter widely and fill the sky and landscape with color.”

~ Nita Leland

Suggested Watercolors:

Use the glazing technique with transparent and semi-transparent watercolors. For a warm, luminous glow, paint a very light yellow as the first layer. Use analogous colors in multiple layers for a bright, clear glaze. Use Primary colors to create Secondary colors. To tone down the intensity of a color, use its complementary color layered over or under it.

The purest transparent Primary colors to use are: Aureolin, Cobalt Blue and Permanent Rose.

Natural Light – Color In Shadows

In nature, shadows are not a flat gray or dark neutral color. Instead, the local color of objects are visible through the shadowed areas. Look closely and observe that there are more than one color within the shadows. For warm shadows use analogous colors that are darker than the object’s local color. Use the wet-on-wet technique and drop in colors in the shadow area and let them mingle naturally to create more interesting shadows. For cool shadows use transparent blues, violets, and greens.

Recommended

To learn my process and improve your painting skills follow me on Instagram @vanissajames and visit my website: Vanissa James Fine Art.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Textural Effects

Watercolor Technique – Textural effects are elements that are added to a watercolor composition to give it detail and depth, simulating textures found in nature and man-made objects.

Drybrush

Drybrushing is painting with an almost dry or slightly damp brush loaded with a small amount of paint. The side of the brush is applied lightly over the surface of the paper in quick strokes. Paint only touches the raised “bumps” of the paper texture, leaving a grained effect with white spaces between.

The drybrush textural effect is useful for depicting rough stones, wood grain of an old wooden building, the sparkle of sunlight on water, etc.

Granulation

Granulation is painting with watercolor paints that have grainy pigment particles. Some watercolor pigments are naturally coarse. Their granular particles settle into the depressions of textured watercolor paper, leaving a mottled effect. Mixing granulated watercolor with non-granulated watercolor will produce interesting two-color textures.

Following are Winsor Newton watercolor paints that are classified as granulated colors:

Lifting

Lifting is applying absorbent material to a damp painted area to lift off the color and show the white of the paper beneath. The shapes of soft clouds in the sky can be achieved using the lifting textural effect. This technique is also used to create highlights on a painted object. Tissue paper, paper towels, or Q-tips can be used for lifting.

Salt

The “Salt” technique involves applying salt to a damp painted area that is then left to dry before removing the salt. Each salt crystal absorbs the water from the wet watercolor paint on the paper surface it touches, leaving light star shapes. The paper should be left to dry completely before brushing off the salt.

Sgraffito

Sgraffito is applying a knife’s edge to a wet painted area to scratch out the watercolor, leaving light marks on the paper. This technique is used to create highlights in a painting. The shapes of the highlights need to be simple, and they work best with transparent, non-staining watercolors.

Spattering or Dropping

Spattering is applying watercolor by flicking paint off of a brush to create random spatters of watercolor on the paper surface. Dropping is applying watercolor by allowing droplets of paint to fall from the tip of the brush onto the paper surface.

Sponging

Sponging is applying watercolor with a sponge instead of a brush. The texture of the sponge imprints patterns onto the surface of the paper. A variety of textural patterns can be achieved using one or more colors layered with a sponge. This textural effect can be used for depicting foliage, masonry on a building, rocky crags, etc.

Streaking

Streaking is pressing aluminum foil or plastic wrap that has been crushed to form creases and wrinkles on top of the paper surface that is still damp with watercolor paint. The aluminum foil or plastic wrap is left on the paper surface until the watercolor paint has dried. When the foil or wrap is lifted off the paper, the creases and wrinkles will be imprinted on the dried watercolor paint, leaving a streaking textural effect with sharp lines and dark-and-light patches.

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Watercolor Techniques

How To Use Color For Shadowing And Contrast

This blog post addresses the question “How to Use Color for Shadowing and Contrast” asked by a student in my Watercolor Mini-Course.

Every object placed in daylight or artificial light will cast shadows and have shadows. The shadows vary according to the time of day or the direction of the light, and if the light is diffused by clouds in the sky or nearby objects. Contrasts between the object and its shadows are the differences between the tonal values dark and light, color temperatures warm and cool, and complementary colors.

Color In Shadows

There are three distinct shadows visible when objects are lit by direct light, they are:

  • Core Shadow – the dark band visible where light and shadow meet at the point where light no longer reaches the object;
  • Reflected Light – the light that bounces off the surface of nearby objects and reflects back onto the object; and
  • Cast Shadow – the shadow created by the object itself blocking the light on the surface the object rests on.

The above image illustrates the core shadow, reflected light and shadow, and the cast shadow of the banana. The bright light source creates a strong contrast of light and dark tonal values, in color contrast of warm and cool colors, and in the contrast of two complementary colors – Yellow < > Purple < or > the split-complement Blue-Purple.

Contrasting Colors

Think opposites:

The color Yellow in the banana has a warm temperature, a light tonal value, and is the complementary color opposite the Purple visible in the shadow.

The color Purple in the cast shadow of the Yellow banana has a cool temperature, a dark tonal value, and is the complementary color opposite of Yellow.

How to Create Shadows

Observation and understanding of color is key.

Use this Color Schemes page as a resource to find my blog posts about the 12 colors on the color wheel and their color schemes.

Look closely at the object to be painted, and determine its dominant local color.

Look closely at the object’s cast shadow, and determine what complementary color it is.

  • Yellow < > Purple
  • Yellow-Green < > Red-Purple
  • Green < > Red
  • Blue-Green < > Red-Orange
  • Blue < > Orange
  • Yellow-Orange < > Blue-Purple

For corresponding watercolor paint names for the above see What Watercolors To Buy.

Use transparent watercolors and/or semi-transparent watercolors, never opaque or semi-opaque watercolors. Why? Because shadows are transparent. You can see the color of the surface beneath the shadow. For the best results when painting shadows use the glazing and layering techniques.

Recommended

To learn my process and improve your painting skills follow me on Instagram @vanissajames and visit my website: Vanissa James Fine Art.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Variegated Wash

The watercolor technique Variegated wash is a process for blending two or more colors together on very wet watercolor paper using the wet-on-wet technique. This method is normally used for painting a blended background on a full sheet of paper. The resulting effect resembles a sunset.

Mix each watercolor separately with a sufficient amount of water.

Wet the paper with clean water using a large brush or sponge.

Tilt the paper on a board or easel.

Quickly apply the lighter watercolor across the top of the paper and let the paint flow down to the middle.

Turn the paper upside-down.

Apply the second watercolor across what is now the top of the paper, and let the paint flow down and blend into the first watercolor. You can adjust the amount of blending by the amount of time the paper is tilted.

Always allow the watercolor to blend by itself over the wet surface. It should look very free-flowing.

You can slow down the variegated bleed by laying the paper down flat.

For covering large areas, use a one-inch flat brush or an oval “wash brush” (also called a “mop brush”). To paint smaller areas with a variegated wash, use a round brush size 10 or larger.

Controlling the brush and the painting speed is important. The wetness of the paper needs to be consistent until the desired area is covered with the variegated wash. The tip of the brush should lightly touch the paper and move across the paper in a smooth, horizontal stroke.

When the variegated wash is complete, leave the paper flat until it has dried completely.

Optional: If desired, a second variegated wash can be applied over the first. After the first wash is completely dry, rewet the paper with clean water and apply watercolor as before to achieve greater depth and luminosity. Let the second wash dry completely.

Then proceed with painting the rest of your watercolor composition.

Recommended

Use 140 lb cold press archival 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. It is advisable to stretch the watercolor paper first to prevent it from buckling if you plan to cover the paper with a wet-on-wet variegated wash. To avoid stretching the paper, I recommend using a watercolor paper block.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Graded Wash

The watercolor technique Graded wash is a process for painting large, graded color backgrounds or underpainting for glazing and for smaller areas and objects in a composition using the wet-on-wet technique.

The watercolor is applied in a gentle graduated effect where the color value is darker at the top and gradually gets paler down to the bottom. This is achieved by painting the first few horizontal rows with watercolor paint across the top of the paper or desired area within a composition.

Next, dip the brush in clean water—not paint—and paint a row of diluted color across the bottom of the previous row. For each consecutive row thereafter, continue to dip the brush in water only to paint the next row until the bottom is reached.

By adding only water to the brush after each row is painted, the watercolor gradually gets lighter in value.

In addition to painting a background, the graded wash technique is also used for painting smaller areas and objects within a composition.

For covering large areas, use a one-inch flat brush or an oval “wash brush” (also called a “mop brush”). To paint smaller areas with a graded wash, use a round brush size 10 or larger.

Controlling the brush and the painting speed is important. The wetness of the paper needs to be consistent until the desired area is covered with the graded wash. The tip of the brush should lightly touch the paper and move across the paper in a smooth, horizontal stroke.

When the graded wash is completed, leave the paper tilted at a slight angle on a board or easel until it has dried completely. Then proceed with painting the rest of your watercolor composition.

Recommended

Use 140 lb cold press archival 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. It is advisable to stretch the watercolor paper first to prevent it from buckling if you plan to cover the paper with a wet-on-wet graded wash. To avoid stretching the paper, I recommend using a watercolor paper block.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Hard & Soft Edges

The watercolor technique hard and soft edges is a process of applying watercolor by blending a sharp edge into a blurred edge to make it appear to fade softly into the distance for depicting perspective and/or for forming three-dimensional shapes.

Hard Edges

Hard, sharp edges are best achieved using the wet-on-dry technique.

Painting hard edges can be achieved by using the tip of the brush to paint a line on dry paper. Then continue to paint in the shape of the object being painted.

For more control, masking fluid, masking film, or masking tape can be applied to the edges of the object to be painted. If using masking fluid, wait for it to dry completely. Then paint within the shape that has been masked off. After the painted area has dried, remove the masking.

Hard edges can also be formed by pushing pigment to the outside of a shape by first painting the shape then dropping clear water from the tip of a brush into the center of the shape. This will push the paint pigments to the outer edge of the painted shape forming a hard edge.

Soft Edges

Soft, blurred edges are best achieved using the wet-on-wet technique.

Painting soft edges can be achieved by brushing watercolor onto paper previously wetted with water. The edges of the painted area will spread outward causing a soft, blurred edge of color.

Soft edges can also be achieved by adding water to a clean brush and painting over a hard edge before the edge has dried. This method is used for fading a color to a lighter value in blending and molding shapes such as folds in fabric, depicting light and shadow reflected on forms, etc.

Recommended

To learn my process and improve your painting skills follow me on Instagram @vanissajames and visit my website: Vanissa James Fine Art.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Light To Dark

The watercolor technique light-to-dark is the process of applying colors that are light in value, such as transparent watercolors thinned with a sufficient amount of water, on the first layers of a painting.

Each layer is allowed to dry completely before the next layer is applied.

Middle value colors are applied next, followed by darker value colors.

Painting light-to-dark is the basic process for painting in watercolor. Each successive layer of darker color adds more detail to the objects in the composition defining its shape and depth.

Identifying Color Values

Hues on the color wheel are divided into light, middle and dark colors. The top section of the color wheel has light hues. The middle section of the color wheel has middle value hues. And, the bottom section of the color wheel has dark hues. As follows:

Light Value Hue

  • Yellow
  • Yellow-Green
  • Green
  • Yellow-Orange

Middle Value Hues

  • Orange
  • Red-Orange
  • Blue-Green
  • Blue

Dark Value Hues

  • Blue-Purple
  • Purple
  • Red-Purple
  • Red

See What Watercolors To Buy for a list of watercolor paint names for the hues listed above. Each hue also has colors within it that can range from light to dark. For instance, there are very light yellows and darker yellows in watercolor paints. But, yellow in general is the lightest color on the color wheel.

Recommended

To learn my process and improve your painting skills follow me on Instagram @vanissajames and visit my website: Vanissa James Fine Art.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Flat Wash

The watercolor technique Flat wash is a process for painting large, solid-color backgrounds or underpainting for glazing and for smaller areas and objects in a composition using the wet-on-wet technique.

A sufficient amount of watercolor paint and water needs to be mixed ahead of time so that the color value is consistent throughout the flat wash process. If you have to stop to mix more watercolor with water, the paper will become dry, and your wash mixture will most likely not have the same color value as your initial wash.

For covering large areas, use a one-inch flat brush or an oval “wash brush” (also called a “mop brush”). To paint smaller areas with a flat wash, use a round brush size 10 or larger.

Controlling the brush and the painting speed is important. The wetness of the paper needs to be consistent until the desired area is covered with the flat wash. The tip of the brush should lightly touch the paper and move across the paper in a smooth, horizontal stroke.

When the flat wash is complete, leave the paper tilted at a slight angle on a board or easel until it has dried completely. Then proceed with painting the rest of your watercolor composition.

Recommended

Use 140 lb cold press archival 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. It is advisable to stretch the watercolor paper first to prevent it from buckling if you plan to cover the paper with a wet-on-wet flat wash. To avoid stretching the paper, I recommend using a watercolor paper block.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Mixing Colors

Watercolor technique – Mixing colors is combining two or more watercolor paints to create a variety of color mixtures. The most common method uses a palette to which paints are added and mixed together with water and other colors. Another method for mixing colors is by combining colors directly on the paper surface.

Best Watercolors for Mixing Colors

Not all colors mix well together. So, it is important to know which colors to choose before mixing them. Jim Kosvanec did extensive studies of watercolor paints and developed a color chart that categorizes watercolors into groups of colors by their characteristics. See Which Watercolor Paints Are Transparent for help in choosing watercolors for mixing colors.

For the best results, only use transparent and semi-transparent watercolor paints for mixing colors.

Mixing Colors on the Palette

Preparing a palette is central to starting the painting process. It involves selecting paint colors and placing a sufficient amount of paint for mixing on the palette surface. A palette can be made specifically for the purpose of mixing colors and have compartments to hold each paint color. It could also be an enameled butcher tray or a plain dinner plate.

Two color mixtures are prepared at the start of a painting:

  • The first is a large mixture of paint containing a lot of water for washes that will be used the most in the painting. A separate bowl or enameled butcher tray would be ideal for this purpose.
  • The second are small puddles of water mixed with color on the mixing area of the palette. The brush is used to drag color from the paint wells onto the flat area of the palette, where it is mixed with water.

When adding watercolor paint to the palette’s paint wells, arrange the warm colors on one side and the cool colors on the other side. Use two brushes, one for warm colors and one for cool colors, to keep colors and mixtures clear.

Mixing Colors on Watercolor Paper

Three different approaches used to mix colors directly on the watercolor paper are:

  • Glazing or Layering – is painting a warm Primary color as the first layer, and after it has dried, painting a cool Primary color as the second layer over the first. The two Primary colors layered over each other will result in a Secondary color. For example, a Blue layer painted over a Yellow layer will result in a Green color.
  • Organic Mingling – is dropping one color into a wet painted area of another color and letting the two colors mix organically.
  • Variegated Bleeds – is painting one color at one end of a shape and painting another color at the opposite end of the shape, then using the brush to drag the two colors together at the center of the shape, allowing them to bleed color into each other.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Glazing & Layering

The watercolor technique Glazing and layering are very similar processes for painting transparent and semi-transparent watercolor paint in layers, one color over another. What is the difference? The glazing technique is used to create luminous atmospheric effects and for underpainting a foundation for other glazes to be applied over it. Whereas the layering technique uses glazes specifically to build depth and three-dimensional form in stages.

In both the glazing technique and the layering technique, a layer of watercolor is allowed to dry completely before another layer is painted over it.

Watercolor Glazing Technique

Use the watercolor technique wet-on-wet when applying glazes.

The first step is to brush, spray, or sponge a layer of clean water on the paper surface.

Next, mix a sufficient amount of watercolor paint with water to cover the paper surface area intended for glazing. This could be the whole sheet of watercolor paper or just a portion of it.

For a luminous effect, apply a warm color—usually a transparent yellow such as Aureolin – as the first layer. As mentioned above, it is very important to let the layer dry completely before applying the next.

Before applying the next layer of transparent watercolor, rewet the paper surface lightly with water. If working with the same brush, rinse it thoroughly with clean water. Then dip the clean brush in clean water and lightly brush the water over the previous glaze.

What color to use for the next glaze is determined by the underlying glaze color and what the combination of the two (or more) color layers will result in. For instance, adding a transparent layer of blue over a yellow layer results in the color green. A transparent red over a yellow layer results in the color orange. A transparent blue over a red layer results in the color purple. And so forth.

Watercolor Layering Technique

Use the watercolor technique wet-on-dry for applying layers to build depth and form over an underpainting of glaze that can be applied wet-on-wet or wet-on-dry.

First, do a watercolor flat wash of the large, two-dimensional shape of a subject in the painting composition. Then let it dry completely.

Next, in stages, paint the smaller shapes over the large, two-dimensional shape.

Then paint the smaller, descriptive details as the final stage.

As each layer is applied, a three-dimensional shape is revealed.

Recommended

Use 140 lb cold press archival 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. It is advisable to stretch the watercolor paper first to prevent it from buckling if you plan to cover the paper with a wet-on-wet wash. To avoid stretching the paper, I recommend using a watercolor paper block.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Wet-On-Dry

The watercolor technique wet-on-dry is the process of applying a brush wet with watercolor paint to dry paper. This method allows a more controlled brush stroke for defining shapes and details and is the method most commonly used in watercolor painting.

Wet-On-Dry Technique

A variety of wet-on-dry brush strokes can be achieved for making natural-looking marks, lines from thin to thick, sharp edges, and textures depending upon how the brush is held and how much watercolor paint is on the brush.

  • Lightly touching the tip of a wet brush to the dry paper produces a thin line.
  • Pressing the side of a wet brush down onto the dry paper produces a thicker mark or line.
  • Lightly stroking a dry brush (one with very little watercolor paint on it) produces texture.

Wet-On-Dry Wash Technique

Unlike the wet-on-wet wash technique, it is difficult to lay a wet-on-dry wash without the brush strokes showing. So, the wash will have streaks if you don’t work quickly.

The paper should be tilted slightly on an easel or board so that the watercolor paintbrush strokes flow downward more evenly. This will make the brush strokes less visible.

For covering large areas, use a one-inch flat brush or an oval “wash brush” (also called a “mop brush”). To paint smaller areas with a wet-on-dry wash, use a round brush size 10 or larger.

The brush needs to be full of watercolor paint. Apply the brush in an even stroke across the full width of the paper. Then immediately fill the brush again and brush across the bottom edge of the previous brush stroke the full width of the paper. Repeat this process until the desired area is covered with paint.

When the wet-on-dry wash is completed, leave the paper tilted at a slight angle on a board or easel until it has dried completely. Then proceed with painting the rest of your watercolor composition.

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Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Technique Wet-On-Wet

The watercolor technique of wet-on-wet is the process of wetting the paper’s surface first with water before applying watercolor paint to it. The water can be brushed on, sprayed on, or sponged on the paper. Watercolor paint is then brushed on while the paper is still wet or damp.

Wetting the paper first allows the watercolor paint to spread or flow when it is brushed on the wet surface. Whether the watercolor paint spreads or flows depends on the angle of the paper surface. If the paper is laid flat on a table, the watercolor paint will spread out from where the paintbrush tip touches the paper. How much the color spreads is dependent on the wetness of the paper. If the paper is placed at a slant on an easel, the watercolor paintbrush strokes will flow downward.

Wet-On-Wet Wash Technique

The wet-on-wet “wash” is used for painting large, solid-color backgrounds or underpainting for glazing and for smaller areas and objects in a composition.

  • Flat Wash Technique – painting an area with watercolor paint in a seamless color value without evident brush strokes showing.
  • Graded Wash Technique – painting an area with watercolor paint from a dark to a light color value by adding more water to the paint brush instead of adding more watercolor paint.

A sufficient amount of watercolor paint and water needs to be mixed ahead of time so that the color value is consistent throughout the wet-on-wet wash process. If you have to stop to mix more watercolor with water, the paper will become dry, and your wash mixture will most likely not have the same color value as your initial wash.

For covering large areas, use a one-inch flat brush or an oval “wash brush” (also called a “mop brush”). To paint smaller areas with a wet-on-wet wash, use a round brush size 10 or larger.

Controlling the brush and the painting speed is important. The wetness of the paper needs to be consistent until the desired area is covered with the wet-on-wet wash. The tip of the brush should lightly touch the paper and move across the paper in a smooth, horizontal stroke.

When the wet-on-wet wash is completed, leave the paper tilted at a slight angle on a board or easel until it has dried completely. Then proceed with painting the rest of your watercolor composition.

Recommended

Use 140 lb cold press archival 100% cotton rag watercolor paper. It is advisable to stretch the watercolor paper first to prevent it from buckling if you plan to cover the paper with a wet-on-wet wash. To avoid stretching the paper, I recommend using a watercolor paper block.

Related Posts

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Watercolor Techniques

What Are Watercolor Techniques

In this post, I will define what are watercolor techniques and provide a list of techniques with brief descriptions for each. Definition: A “technique” is defined as a way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure; a skillful or efficient way of doing or achieving something.

So, a watercolor technique is a method, procedure, or process to achieve a particular desired effect when painting in watercolor. Mastering watercolor techniques gives the artist the ability to control the application of watercolors to the painting surface.

By practicing watercolor techniques, you will acquire the know-how and skills to paint flat and three-dimensional shapes and textures, depict light and shadow, use colors, and reserve white space in your composition.

Wash Techniques

  • Flat Wash Technique – creates a continuous flat color without showing evidence of brushstrokes
  • Graded Wash Technique – creates a gentle, graduated dark-to-light effect using one color
  • Variegated Wash Technique – creates a gentle graduated blending effect using two or more colors

Wash techniques are the basic methods used for watercolor painting and are the primary skills learned and practiced by the beginner in watercolor.

Wet & Dry Techniques

  • Wet-On-Wet Technique – water is applied to the paper first before painting watercolors on it
  • Wet-On-Dry Technique – painting watercolors on dry paper (without prewetting the paper)

Wet and dry techniques are used for laying washes and creating textural effects.

Preserving White Space

  • Planning and saving white space – determining, before starting a painting, where to leave white space in the composition and avoiding applying watercolor to those saved white spaces
  • Resist Technique – applying waterproof materials such as masking fluid or Frisket, masking film, and masking tape to the paper surface before painting to preserve white space

Preserving white space is essential for painting in watercolor because, unlike painting in oils, white watercolor paint is not normally used. Instead, the white of the paper serves the purpose of the white areas needed in a watercolor composition.

Applying Watercolor

  • Glazing Technique – layer of transparent or semi-transparent watercolor paint applied to a wet surface, then left to dry before adding the next layer of transparent or semi-transparent watercolor paint over the previous layer
  • Layering Technique – glazing layers to build depth and three-dimensional form
  • Light to Dark Technique – light watercolor applied first, then left to dry before adding darker watercolors in succession
  • Hard and Soft Edges Technique – blending a sharp edge into a blurred edge to make it appear to fade softly into the distance for perspective and three-dimensional form

These techniques for applying watercolors to paper are the basic methods for painting in watercolor.

Textural Effects

  • Drybrush Technique – painting with an almost dry brush with only paint loaded onto it
  • Granulation Technique – painting with watercolor paints that have grainy pigment particles
  • Lifting Technique – applying absorbent paper to a damp painted area to lift the watercolor
  • Salt Technique – applying salt to a damp painted area that is then left to dry before rubbing off the salt
  • Sagraffito Technique – applying a knife’s edge to a painted area to scratch out the watercolor
  • Spattering Technique – flicking paint off of a brush to create random spatters of watercolor

Textural effects are elements that are added to a watercolor composition to give it detail and depth.

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