The tie-dye technique involves wetting your paper and then dropping different colors of paint onto it. The colors will blend together and create a unique, tie-dye effect. This technique is great for creating abstract or colorful backgrounds in your painting.
12 Watercolor Techniques to Try
Watercolor is a versatile medium that can be used to create a range of effects, from soft and delicate washes to bold and vibrant colors. However, with so many techniques to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the most essential watercolor techniques for beginners. Whether you’re looking to create a simple landscape or a detailed portrait, these techniques will help you achieve the results you want. From wet-on-wet painting to dry brush techniques, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started with watercolor painting. So, grab your brushes and let’s get started!
Basic Watercolor Techniques
These watercolor painting techniques will help you create beautiful and stunning pieces of art.
Wet-on-Wet Technique
This is one of the most popular watercolor techniques. It involves applying wet paint onto a wet surface. This allows the colors to blend and flow together, creating soft and beautiful transitions. To use this technique, wet your white paper with a brush or spray bottle and then apply your paint. This technique is best suited for creating soft backgrounds, skies, and watercolor washes.
The wet-on-dry technique involves applying wet paint onto a dry surface. This technique allows for more control over the paint and is ideal for creating sharp edges and details. Make sure your paper is completely dry before applying the paint. This technique is best for creating detailed paintings, such as portraits or still life.
Watercolor cloud painting tips and tricks
Menu
Video course
Come on in, join me in the studio, and peek over my shoulder as I show you in real-time exactly how to do the techniques that you’ve heard about, read about, and wondered how to do. If terms like glazing, scumbling, and incising have you scratching your head, if you have no idea how to successfully execute a graded wash, if you struggle to blend or lift paint, then this course is for you!
Knowledge is power, and with this video library of essential watercolor techniques, you’ll finally understand the terminology and learn the skills needed to be successful with watercolor.
I designed Watercolor Essentials as a companion to my step-by-step watercolor lessons, to provide a visual explanation of the techniques I talk about in the written tutorials. These are the indispensable techniques that I teach in my classes and use every time I sketch. Glazing, blending, washes, incising, lifting, drybrush, scraping, spattering – it’s all covered here!
The course includes more than twenty demonstrations of essential techniques for sketching and painting with watercolor PLUS recommendations for the best tools and materials to use for sketchbook journaling.
It goes hand-in-hand with my PDF lessons but is also a valuable resource for anyone who wants to add to their repertoire of watercolor painting techniques.
This course is for you if.
- You’d like to see demonstrations of the techniques described in my downloadable step-by-step painting lessons
- You’re new to watercolor and are looking for a clear, concise introduction to the medium
- You’ve painted with watercolors for years but would like to become a more confident painter
- You want to explore new-to-you painting techniques
Through my years of teaching, I’ve realized that many sketchers struggle with the basics of mixing paint, glazing, blending, and other techniques needed in order to paint with confidence. I did, too, when I first started sketching.
We all want to relax and enjoy painting, but watercolor is a challenging medium, and, without the basic skills needed to create what we envision, it can be an exercise in frustration. But when you have a solid foundation of skills and knowledge, you’re free you to paint with joy and confidence. You can paint what you’re passionate about and have fun doing it!
Watercolor Essentials offers a shortcut to building that necessary foundation. It’s filled with the techniques, tips, and tricks that enable me to paint with assurance, knowing that I can translate what I see into watercolor every time I put brush to paper. With full-length painting demonstrations and clear step-by-step explanations, it’s a course that can help you to gain that same level of confidence. All it takes is a little practice!
