10 Essential Watercolor Techniques Every Artist Should Know

Painters have been drawn to watercolor for ages because it is such a versatile and expressive medium. Learning new skills can help you reach your full creative potential regardless of your level of experience. We'll look at ten fundamental watercolor techniques in this post that every artist should be familiar with. These techniques will improve your abilities while also assisting you in producing gorgeous, expert-quality artwork. So let's examine how to get the most out of your best professional watercolors and enter into the vivid world of watercolors!

1. Wet-on-Wet Technique

The wet-on-wet technique is one of the most basic yet powerful methods in watercolor painting. It involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface, allowing the colors to flow and blend naturally.

• How to do it: Wet your paper thoroughly, then apply your watercolor pigment. The paint will spread and create soft, blurred edges.

• Why it’s essential: This technique is perfect for creating backgrounds, skies, or any soft, flowing elements. It also enhances the natural blending ability of watercolors.

• Best used with: High-quality watercolor paints, especially if you want a smooth, even spread.

2. Wet-on-Dry Technique

The wet-on-dry technique contrasts with the wet-on-wet method. Here, wet paint is applied onto dry paper or a dried layer of paint.

• How to do it: Use a dry sheet of paper and apply your watercolor pigments. This creates sharp, defined edges.

• Why it’s essential: This technique is great for details, textures, and layered painting. It gives you more control over your brushstrokes.

• Best used with: Professional-grade watercolors that offer rich, vibrant hues for detailed work.

3. Dry Brush Technique

The dry brush technique adds texture and interest to your artwork by using minimal water with your paint.

• How to do it: Load your brush with watercolor paint but use very little water. Then, apply it to dry paper for a rough, textured effect.

• Why it’s essential: This technique is perfect for adding texture to landscapes, fur, or grass. It can also be used for creating dynamic strokes in abstract pieces.

• Best used with: Best professional watercolors that maintain pigment intensity, even with minimal water.

4. Graded Wash

A graded wash is a smooth transition from a darker to a lighter shade of color. This technique is crucial for painting skies, water, and other natural gradients.

• How to do it: Start with a concentrated amount of watercolor on your brush, and as you move down, add more water to create a gradual fade.

• Why it’s essential: This method adds depth and dimension to your paintings, giving them a professional touch.

• Best used with: Professional-grade watercolors, which create even and smooth washes.

5. Flat Wash

The flat wash technique creates a solid, uniform layer of color on the paper. It is commonly used for backgrounds and large areas of color.

• How to do it: Mix enough paint and water to cover the entire area you want to paint. Use consistent, horizontal strokes to apply the color evenly.

• Why it’s essential: This technique is excellent for setting the foundation of your artwork, creating a balanced and even color base.

• Best used with: High-quality watercolors for uniform coverage without patchiness.

6. Lifting Off

The lifting off technique involves removing paint from the paper to create highlights or correct mistakes.

• How to do it: Use a clean, damp brush, sponge, or paper towel to blot or scrub the wet paint, lifting it from the paper.

• Why it’s essential: This technique is great for creating highlights, softening edges, or correcting errors in your painting.

• Best used with: The best professional watercolors, as these pigments tend to lift more cleanly without staining the paper.

7. Glazing

Glazing is the process of layering transparent washes of color to build up depth and richness in your painting.

• How to do it: Apply a thin, transparent layer of watercolor over a dried layer. Repeat this process to build up color intensity and depth.

• Why it’s essential: Glazing adds dimension to your painting and is particularly useful for creating shadows and highlights.

• Best used with: Transparent, professional-quality watercolors that layer beautifully without becoming muddy.

8. Salt Texture

Using salt in watercolor painting creates an interesting and unique texture. This is perfect for adding an element of surprise and randomness to your art.

• How to do it: While your paint is still wet, sprinkle coarse salt over the surface. As the salt absorbs the water, it creates crystallized patterns.

• Why it’s essential: This technique adds texture and interest to your work, ideal for backgrounds or abstract designs.

• Best used with: Professional watercolors, as the pigment separation with salt is more dramatic and visually pleasing.

9. Masking Fluid

Masking fluid (or frisket) is used to block off certain areas of your painting to preserve the white of the paper or previous layers of paint.

• How to do it: Apply masking fluid to the areas you want to keep white or untouched. Once it’s dry, you can paint freely around it, then peel it off when you’re done.

• Why it’s essential: This technique is excellent for preserving highlights, fine details, and crisp edges in your work.

• Best used with: Professional watercolors, which create vibrant contrasts once the masking fluid is removed.

10. Splattering

Splattering is a fun and spontaneous technique used to create random speckles or droplets of color on your painting.

• How to do it: Load your brush with paint, then flick or tap it over your paper to create splashes of color.

• Why it’s essential: Splattering is perfect for adding energy, texture, and randomness to your artwork. It works well for starry skies, ocean spray, or abstract pieces.

• Best used with: High-quality, vibrant watercolors, so the splatters stand out and retain their color when dry.

Choosing the Best Professional Watercolors

Using the best professional watercolors is crucial to assure the quality of your work now that you know the fundamental watercolor techniques. When compared to student-grade paints, high-quality watercolors provide more brilliant results, smoother application, and stronger pigment.

• Why choose professional watercolors?

  • Pigment Quality: The best professional watercolors contain higher concentrations of pigment, making the colors more vibrant and easier to mix.

  • Consistency: Professional watercolors maintain a consistent texture, allowing for smooth washes and blends.

  • Lightfastness: Professional-grade watercolors are often more lightfast, meaning your artwork will resist fading over time.

Finalization

Developing proficiency in these ten fundamental watercolor techniques can elevate your artwork to a new level. These techniques, which range from the control of glazing to the fluidity of wet-on-wet, can assist you in producing polished, expert results. To get the vivid colors and flawless application that make watercolor painting so distinctive, keep in mind that using the best professional watercolors is essential.

These methods will be useful assets in your creative toolbox regardless of your level of experience in watercolor painting. So pick up your favorite set of professional watercolors and brushes, and get to work creating!