Using Water in Your Watercolors: Get to Know Your Supplies Series

Water is an essential “tool” in watercolor painting.

It’s used to dilute paint, control transparency, create washes, blend colors, and lift or soften edges. How much water you use—and when—has just as much impact on a painting as the pigment itself. In this post, we will only be talking about water as a supply, this is not a comprehensive guide to using water in watercolor painting! We'll cover the topics listed about in future posts, today let's look at it's place in our watercolor supply list...

Most artists work with two containers of water: one for clean water used in mixing paint, and one for rinsing brushes. This helps prevent muddy colors and keeps mixes clearer.

I'm picky and lazy so I prefer to wipe excess paint from the brush with a paper towel before rinsing. This keeps the water cleaner longer and reduces wear on brushes from repeated washing. I'm brilliant, I know.

Did you know that water temperature can subtly affect how paint behaves? Warm water encourages paint to flow and dissolve more quickly, while cool water slows movement and can offer a bit more control. These differences are small but noticeable with experience.

Beyond jars of water, many artists use spray bottles, droppers, or water pens. A spray bottle can evenly dampen paper for wet-into-wet techniques, while droppers allow precise water placement without disturbing layers. Water pens offer a portable, mess-free way to paint on the go or soften edges without carrying extra supplies.

In watercolor, water isn’t just a medium—it’s a decision-making tool. Learning to control it and deploy it are two of the most important steps toward confident, intentional watercolor work.

Happy Painting! - Em

This series walks through the core watercolor supplies, explaining what they are, how they behave, and why they matter, so you can make confident choices without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your setup, think of these posts as a practical foundation for painting with more ease and confidence.