• Home
  • Watercolor
  • Art Journal
  • Art Supplies
  • Mixed Media
  • About
  • Resource Library
  • Contact

Pink Spark Studio

Home » Watercolor Techniques

Watercolor Techniques

in Watercolor on 07/18/20

Sharing is caring!

784 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

This post contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products contained in this post. Please click my disclosure policy to learn more.

Watercolor Painting Techniques  

Painting with watercolors is something everyone should feel confident doing. I know that it can be intimidating at first, however, do not let that stop you from discovering the true joy and magic of watercolor paints.

This tutorial on watercolor techniques is to help you understand how watercolor works and the different things you can do with these paints. Part of what makes watercolors so fun and whimsical to work with is how unpredictable it is. So, feel free to play mourn with your watercolors as much as you want. Make mistakes, experiment, that is how you grow as an artist.

If you need some help choosing watercolor paints, brushes, or paper you can check out my tutorial Watercolors For Beginners.

Watercolor Supplies

The supplies I used for this tutorial are:

  • Canson Watercolor Paper
  • Mijello Mission Watercolor
  • Daniel Smith Watercolor Pthalo Turquoise
  • Masking Fluid
  • Paul Ruebens Mop Brush
  • Masking Tape

Watercolor Techniques

 

1.) Wet on Wet watercolor technique 

Wet on wet watercolor technique is a great way to get soft edges and feathery blends. You can create beautiful wet on wet watercolor paintings with ease after you learn this watercolor method.

First, wet your paper. I use a large round brush or mop brush. You want your paper to be shiny, but make sure you avoid pools or puddles of water. Pools or puddles of water will gather more paint in the area. So, if that is what you want, then go ahead and let your water pool. 

Now, while the paper is wet load your wet brush with some paint and apply it to the paper. You’ll see that the paint spreads out where the water is but doesn’t spread on the dry area.

 

Wet on wet watercolor technique

You can also apply wet paint to wet paint with this technique. The paint will have soft feathery edges bleeding into the bottom paint.

 

Wet on wet watercolor technique

This creates soft, diffused, blended edges and effects. You will not get fine lines or fine details with this method so keep that in mind.

 

 

2.) Wet on Dry Watercolor Technique

Wet on Dry is where you have a wet brush and you’re painting on dry paper. You can achieve very fine edges and have a lot of control with wet on dry watercolor technique.

You can easily achieve darker, bolder colors very quickly with this method.

Wet on dry watercolor technique

Dry on wet watercolor painting

 

 

 

3.) Dry Brush Watercolor Technique

This is where you are using  a mostly dry brush (since you’re using watercolor there will still be some water present) on dry paper. 

This method is great for adding details as you have control over exactly where the paint goes. You also can get interesting texture.

Dry on dry watercolor painting

Dry brush watercolor technique

 

4.) Masking Fluid and Watercolor Painting

Masking fluid is is a latex fluid that allows you to paint it on areas of your paper you want to keep white. 

This is the perfect solution to paint freely without worrying you’ll paint over small details.

Masking fluid allows you to plan out highlights and create fun patterns.

Using masking fluid is simple and easy. First, use a paintbrush you don’t care about because masking fluid can wreck your brushes. You can also buy bottles specifically for applying masking fluid. Optionally, you can use alternative tools like paper clips to apply small details.

 

Masking fluid watercolor painting

Once dry you can paint as normal without worrying about the paper underneath getting painted on.

 

Let your paint dry. When your paint is dry you can remove your masking fluid. 

masking fluid watercolor

 

To remove you can use your finger or an eraser.

 

Masking fluid watercolor painting

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com
If you found this tutorial helpful please buy me a virtual coffee and help support my blog.

5.) Salt on Watercolor Technique

There are a couple of ways to use salt with watercolors. Using salt on watercolor paint gives beautiful textures which can be used to create sand, snow and other effects in your paintings.

The first method is to apply your paint. Use a bit more color than normal. While your paint is nice and wet sprinkle your salt across your paint. I use Kosher salt to get bigger salt affects. However, you can also use regular table salt.

 

Salt on watercolor

Let your paint completely dry.

Once dry you can brush the salt off.

Salt on watercolor painting

6.) Salt Water and Watercolor Technique

This will give you less control than the previous salt method, however, it is a great way to get interesting textures and patterns.

Saltwater mixed with watercolor paints create magical crystallized effect.

For this method you simply fill a cup of water and then add about a teaspoon of water. Stir the salt until it dissolves. Now, 

Salt water and watercolor paint

7.) Alcohol on Watercolor Technique

Alcohol on watercolor creates blooms of patterns and textures that are delightful and varied. To paint with this method first paint on a layer of watercolor paint on your paper.

Now, you can sprinkle or spray on the alcohol. You’ll notice the areas the alcohol touches have little bursts where the paint spreads away. Also your paint will not go on over the alcohol areas, so keep that in mind.

Alcohol on watercolor

 

 

8.) Plastic Wrap and Watercolor Technique

Plastic wrap on watercolor is a technique that can give a ton of different outcomes. You can use this watercolor technique to create different textures to represent landscape textures such as snow or grass. You can also use plastic wrap on watercolor for more abstract paintings.

The trick is to play around and experiment with this method.

To do plastic wrap on watercolor you first paint a section of your paper with watercolor, I tend to paint it with a bit more water and paint. Now, lay down your plastic wrap. You can scrunch it up tightly or loosely. The paint will gather and lift with the creases if the plastic. Once you have your plastic wrap on the watercolor, let it dry completely.

Once dry, remove the plastic wrap and enjoy the texture.

Plastic wrap on watercolor technique

Plastic wrap on watercolor

9.) Sgrafitto

Sgrafitto is an Italian word that means, “to scratch.” This watercolor method is done by taking a sharp object like a need,e or pallet knife, and scratching into wet paint to create different textures.

This watercolor technique is great for natural patterns such as tress or grass.

I used my book binding needle for this example. I have seen some people scratch into the paper before they paint on it. You have to scratch really hard, though. I tried it on this example and you can even tell I scratched the paper. Scratching after you paint is much more effective and you have more control.

Sgrafitto watercolor

Sgrafitto watercolor painting

10.) Blotting

Blotting is a watercolor technique where you use a paper towel to blot sections of your watercolor. Blotting will lift off paint and leave an interesting texture behind.

I use this watercolor technique of lifting to create clouds and different sea scapes.

To achieve this watercolor technique you simply use a scrunched up pice of paper towel and blot the wet watercolor paint.

The paper towel I used for this example was really stiff and created sharp edges. Sometimes I use a a paper towel that is softer or just a tiny bit damp. This gives me a softer look.

The longer you hold your paper towel to your watercolor the more paint will come off. You can vary the pressure you use and how long you hold the paper towel on the watercolor.

Blot watercolor painting

11.) Tape

I was tape on with my watercolor paintings to create interesting patterns and to endure I get none, crips lines. All you need is some masking or wash tape, tape down sections of your paper. Then, paint around the tape, let dry and remove. The places that had tape on them will be white creating a nice visual effect.

Tape on watercolor paper

 

tape on watercolor for patterns

 

Watercolor painting with tape

I often tale down the edges of my watercolor paper to create a nice clean border. You can do this however you want. Your creativity will lead you as you explore this method.

 

Watercolor Painting Techniques

These techniques will give you ;lot of ways to play and experiment with watercolors. Allow yourself plenty of time to play around with these methods. Don’t be afraid to try them different ways than listed above. Also, don’t be afraid to use your good watercolor paper. Your art supplies want to be used.

I’d love to see your artwork and also answer any questions you may have. Feel free to come join me in my private Facebook group.

Your art deserve to be made. Break out your watercolor paint and paint until you can’t paint anymore. Develop that creativity you have inside of you and let your art shine. I hope this tutorial on watercolor techniques helps you out.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com
If you found this tutorial helpful, please buy me a virtual coffee and help support my blog.

Watercolor painting techniques

Watercolor techniques

Add a Comment

« DIY Sketchbook
Book Page Art for Art Journaling and Bonus Ideas »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hey, I’m Belladonna. I’ve been working as an artist for 10 years, but I’ve been studying and making art my entire life. I’d love for you to come join the fun, get messy and create some art with me.

 

If you found my blog helpful and wish to support my work buy me a coffee! Thank you for your support!

Disclosure Policy

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023

Pink Spark Studio Tamdiu discendum est, quamdiu vivas

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
784 shares