Watercolor Workshop: Techniques!

Welcome welcome!

When I think about watercolor techniques, I like to divide them into two categories, so that's what we'll do here. 

Get out your supplies: paper, paint, brushes, paper towels,white crayon, and two containers of water. One to rinse, and one to dip in for fresh water--this way you can avoid your lighter colors turning to mud in your palette.

Ready? OK! Here is where I explain the two category idea.

 Category one: Wet on Dry. This means: wet paint on dry paper. Wet paint on dry paint. This can help you build up layers of color, or combine techniques to create a really nifty effect (this is how you get bricks that look like bricks and stone that looks like stone).

Category two: Wet on Wet. This means: wet paint on wet paper. Wet paint on wet paint. If you look at the image below, you can see the difference most clearly in the 2 bottom examples--the graded wash.

If you want your colors to blend softly, use the wet-in wet. 

 This week and next week we'll be doing Wet on Dry.
You'll need to gather up some household supplies for these week lessons.

Kosher salt

Table Salt

Paper towel

Terry cloth towel

Spray bottle

Painter's Tape

Synthetic sponge

Natural (sea) sponge

I like to make a note at the top of my page, so that when I look back later I can remember what I was working on.

To start, pick a color, any color. I chose blue and purple because of the high-contrast value--it would be easier to see what I'm talking about here.

Grid up your paper again. You'll need sixteen squares when we're all done.

SQUARE ONE: Kosher Salt

Lay down a wash of color*. Sprinkle Kosher Salt in the wet paint. When the paint is COMPLETELY DRY, brush off the salt crystals. This leaves you a nifty snowflake like effect.

* "a wash of color" is when you load your brush up with wet paint, and fill in a space with the paint.

SQUARE TWO: Table Salt.

Lay down a wash of color. Sprinkle Table Salt in the wet paint.When the paint is COMPLETELY DRY, brush off the salt crystals. This leaves you a smaller snowflake like effect.

SQUARE THREE: Natural Sponge, Dry

Lay down a wash of color. Blot up some of the color with the sponge.

SQUARE FOUR: Synthetic Sponge, Dry

Lay down a wash of color. Blot up some of the color with the sponge.

SQUARE FIVE: Natural Sponge, Wet.

Lay down a wash of color. Blot up some of the color with the sponge.

SQUARE SIX: Synthetic Sponge, Wet.

Lay down a wash of color. Blot up some of the color with the sponge.

SQUARE SEVEN: Natural Sponge, Dry.

Get your paint good and wet. Dip the sponge IN THE PAINT and apply to the paper.

SQUARE EIGHT: Synthetic Sponge, Dry.

Get your paint good and wet. Dip the sponge IN THE PAINT and apply to the paper.

SQUARE NINE: Natural Sponge, Wet.

Get your sponge wet, and squeeze out all of the excess water. Get your paint good and wet. Dip the sponge IN THE PAINT and apply to the paper.

SQUARE TEN: Synthetic Sponge, Wet.

Get your sponge wet, and squeeze out all of the excess water. Get your paint good and wet. Dip the sponge IN THE PAINT and apply to the paper

Using the blotting technique.

Using the sponge instead of a paintbrush.

SQUARE ELEVEN: Blot with Paper towel.

Lay down a wash of color. Blot up some of the color with the paper towel. Some of the texture from the towel should leave an imprint in the paint. You can try folding the towel and seeing what kind of results you get from different edges.

SQUARE TWELVE: Blot with a terry cloth towel

Lay down a wash of color. Blot up some of the color with the towel. This will give you a softer, more diffuse look.

SQUARE THIRTEEN: Splatter!

Load your brush with color, pull bristles back with your thumb and slowly release.

SQUARE FOURTEEN: Splatter over a wash.

Lay down a wash of color. Let it dry completely, then splatter paint over the top.

SQUARE FIFTEEN: Wax resist

Draw on your paper with a white crayon. Lay down a wash of color.

SQUARE SIXTEEN: Wax resist over a wash.

Lay down a wash of color. Let dry completely. Draw with a white crayon. Lay down a wash of a second color.

There you go! Five techniques: Salt, Blot, Sponge paint, Splatter, and Wax Resist. 

Mix and match three and see what you like best. 

Next time we'll add a few more techniques, and then I'll talk you through using these to create an image.