Watercolor Techniques

Wet-into-wet is one of the most beautiful—and misunderstood—watercolor techniques. When it works, the results feel loose, luminous, and alive. When it doesn’t, beginners often feel like the paint has a mind of its own. If you’re learning watercolor in Maryland or anywhere else, understanding timing  and water control  is the key to making wet-into-wet work for you instead of against you. Wet-Into-Wet Wet-into-wet (or Wet-on-wet) is a watercolor technique where wet paint is ap

Learning to paint clean, beautiful washes is one of the most important skills in watercolor. Flat and gradient washes form the foundation and background for many paintings. When these washes are smooth, everything layered on top looks better. If you’re learning watercolor, mastering these two wash types will beautifully improve your paintings—no matter what you like to paint. What Is a Watercolor Wash? A wash is a broad, even application of diluted paint across the paper. Was

In watercolor painting, the “water-to-paint” ratio is one of the main ways to control transparency, intensity, and texture. In other words, it's REALLY important to master! Using terms like “tea,” “milk,” and “cream” is a helpful way to think about it. Imagine a saucer of each liquid, how do they act when you tip the saucer side to side? Can you see through the liquid? How much does it move? Mastering the right water-to-paint ratio in watercolor painting takes good observatio