WATERCOLOR

TECHNIQUES
What is Watercolor Wash?
A watercolor wash refers to a layer of color that is somewhat transparent applied with diluted paint. Typically,
washes are applied over a large area of a painting to help create backgrounds or build layers of color.
Flat Wash Wet on Dry
The aim with a flat wash is to create an even layer of color Application of wet paint onto dry paper.
all the way through the entire wash. Also, see Glossary of Terms.
Also, see Glossary of Terms.

Wet on Wet
Variegated Wash
Application of wet paint onto wet paper.
The aim with a variegated wash is to blend two colors Also, see Glossary of Terms.
smoothly from one into the other.
Also, see Glossary of Terms.
Dry Brush
A painting technique in which a paint brush that is
Lifting
relatively dry, but still holds paint, is used.
The removing or erasing watercolor from the surface of a Also, see Glossary of Terms.
painting. Lifting refers to the process of removing the
paint after it has been applied.
Also, see Glossary of Terms.
Graded Wash
The goal with a gradient wash is to slowly fade the color out until it is entirely transparent. You start
with full color on one end, and dilute it until the paint is nearly or fully gone.
PIGMENT CONSISTENCY

These are excerpts from the book by master watercolorist, Joseph Zbukvic (zbook-vich)
Tea
❖ This is the lightest toned wash
❖ Tea wash will run freely on a tilted palette.
Coffee
❖ This is the wash to use for quarter-tones.
❖ Runs freely, but less than tea.
Milk
❖ Use this consistency wash for half-tones.
❖ It will move slowly on tilted palette.
Cream
❖ Thick pigment used for three-quarter
tones.
❖ Will move only a bit, if at all, on a tilted
palette.
❖ Cream wash will not bead.
Butter
❖ Full tone pigment –no water.
❖ This will stick to the palette like glue.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Charging Hot-pressed paper
Technique that involves mixing two or more colors directly Smooth, slick paper that doesn’t easily absorb paint and
on the paper instead of premixing on a palette water

Cold-pressed paper Intensity

Lightly textured paper that absorbs paint and water A color’s saturation, brightness or strength

Flat wash Layering

Brushing successive strokes of color on a wet or dry surface,
with each stroke placed next to the other, to create an even
layer of color
Glazing
Applying thin, transparent washes of one color over another
color
Applying premixed colors over another wash to change its
value or intensity
Lifting
A technique for removing paint from a surface with a brush,
paper towel or tissue in order to correct mistakes, develop
textures, create highlights or change values

Gradated wash Lost and found edges

A wash in which the value gradually changes from dark to Also called broken or inferred edges; used to create and
light suggest movement

Granulation Masking fluid

Speckled effect when coarse pigment settles into the paper Liquid latex used to preserve the white of the paper and to
indentations as the paint dries create textures

Hard edge Palette

The outer perimeter of a shape or series of shapes, sharply Surface on which watercolors are mixed and/or stored
defined
Pan paint Tint
Small cakes of watercolor paint that come in half- or Created by adding water to the original color; the more
whole-pan sizes water that’s added, the weaker the intensity

Pigment Transparent paint

Dry coloring matter, usually an insoluble powder, that’s Consists of pigment mixed with gum arabic, glycerin, and a
mixed with water and gum Arabic to create paint wetting agent

Rough paper Value

Heavily textured paper A color’s relative lightness or darkness

Soft edge Variegated wash

Fading or disappearing edge Type of wet-into-wet wash that involves placing colors side
by side and then mixing and blending them along their
Scrubbing edges
A dry-brush technique used to lift paint from or add color to
an area of the surface Wet-into-dry (or wet-on-dry) wash
Also known as a glaze or layering wash; a wash that’s applied
Staining colors to a dry surface
Colors that absorb into the paper before the water has had a
chance to evaporate; they’re difficult to lift and will leave a Wet-into-wet (or wet-on-wet) wash
stain on the paper Painting on a wet surface and letting colors blend as they
may; looks strong and vibrant while wet but loses intensity
Temperature when the colors dry
The warmness or coolness of a color, depending on where
the color is situated on the color wheel
SOURCES
➢ https://littlecoffeefox.com/watercolor-washes-4-basic-techniques/#:~:text=A%20watercolor
%20wash%20refers%20to,or%20build%20layers%20of%20color.
➢ https://thevirtualinstructor.com/how-to-lift-watercolor.html#:~:text=The%20phrase%20%22lifti
ng%20watercolor%22%20means,after%20it%20has%20been%20applied.
➢ https://keikokawati.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/watercolourclock.pdf
➢ https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-techniques/watercolor-glossary-of-terms/
➢