Practical Applications for Watercolors
When I first started teaching myself watercolor, I did what most do and started learning by practicing techniques. This was great for absolute basics and building a foundation since watercolor is very different from acrylics, which is what I was used to.
I quickly discovered though, that big swatches of color and loose blotches of paint only went so far. I was trying to develop my style and applying those techniques didn’t translate practically.
This problem has over time become less of an issue as I consistently learn and work and practice, but I wish I had more chances early on to take those techniques and use them all together using real subject matter.
So here it is! My solution was to take the tops of mushrooms and really give these techniques a place to shine as an individual piece, but all in one place. Tag me on my socials if you decide to paint along. I’d love to see them!
Paint along with me by downloading the mushroom printable, transferring it to watercolor paper and watching the video below!
Here is a helpful list and explanation of all the techniques I cover in the video!
Wet-on-Dry: Applying wet paint onto dry paper, allowing for sharper edges and controlled blending.
Wet-on-Wet: Applying wet paint onto a wet surface, allowing colors to blend and bleed into each other.
Dry Brush: Using a relatively dry brush with little water to create textured or scratchy effects on paper.
Layering: Building up layers of translucent color to create depth and complexity in the painting.
Glazing: Applying thin, transparent layers of color over dry paint to alter the hue or create a sense of depth.
Lifting: Using a damp brush or sponge to lift off paint from the paper, creating highlights or correcting mistakes.
Salt Technique: Sprinkling salt onto wet paint to create texture and organic patterns as the salt absorbs the pigment.
Masking Fluid: Applying a liquid mask onto areas of the paper to preserve them from paint, allowing for crisp highlights or intricate details.
Splattering: Flicking or splattering paint onto the paper using a brush, toothbrush, or other tools to create dynamic and random textures.
Dry-on-Dry: Applying dry paint onto dry paper, often used for fine details or stippling effects.
Negative Painting: Painting around the subject to define its shape, often leaving unpainted areas to create contrast and interest.
Graded Wash: Gradually transitioning from one color to another or from dark to light within a single wash, controlling the intensity of the pigment.
Blotting: Dabbing a damp brush or sponge onto wet paint to remove excess pigment or create textured effects.
Alcohol Technique: Mixing alcohol with watercolor paint to create interesting textures and effects, such as blooms or blooms with defined edges.
Spray Bottle Technique: Spraying water onto wet or dry paint to create diffused or speckled effects.
Sgraffito: Scratching or scraping the surface of dried paint with a tool to reveal the underlying paper or previous layers of paint.
Sponge Painting: Dabbing or dragging a sponge loaded with paint onto the paper to create soft, textured effects.
Wax Resist: Using a wax crayon or candle, draw or apply wax onto the paper before painting. When watercolor is applied over the wax, it resists the paint, creating areas where the pigment won't adhere. This technique can be used to create interesting textures, patterns, or to preserve highlights in your painting.
Monoprinting: This technique involves applying watercolor paint to a smooth surface, such as glass or acrylic, and then transferring the paint onto paper by pressing the paper onto the painted surface. This creates a unique, one-of-a-kind print with a blend of colors and textures. You can experiment with different pressure and techniques to achieve varied effects.
Pulling Apply a stroke using very little water and more pigment. Before the stroke is dry, take a moderately wet brush and pull the colour out from the darker stroke. You can pull the colour quite far depending on how dry that initial stroke is.