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Watercolor Terms
Watercolor Methods and Techniques
- flat wash - applying pre-mixed, even value color to wet or dry ground.
- wet surface - there are many degrees of dampness, but an area freshly soaked with clear water will float the pigment and allow it to move freely over the ground; use brush soaked with water and paint.
- damp surface - to get more control but retain softness, wet paper with sponge, let water soak into paper until surface is shiny and no longer dripping wet.
- dry surface - apply brushloads of paint to dry surface for strong color in your wash, precisely where you put it, with well-defined edges.
- graded wash - applying color over a wet or dry ground where a change in value or color or both takes place.
- polychromatic wash - flat or graded wash in more than one color; prepare color puddles before beginning wash technique.
- glazing - applying diluted transparent washes over dry paint.
- wet-into-wet - apply wet paint into wet surface, another color or ground; when paint & surface are both very wet, paint spreads & bleeding occurs.
- wet-over-dry - wet color applied over dry one, will stay where you put it; start with lightest colors, first color will show through the second color.
- pointillism - applying dots of color next to each other for optical color mixing, for example placing red dots next to yellow dotted area to create orange.
- white line technique - paint directly, leaving white lines between positive shapes; beware of backruns (paint bleeds uncontrollably into previously painted area) hard to correct.
- dry brush work - applying stoke of paint quickly with nearly dry brush over dry ground or color, leaves previous color showing through; has characteristic ragged look because pigment hits only the peaks of paper's rough surface; good for grass or weathered wood.
- lifting - to lighten a color or correct a mistake: blot wet paint with clean tissue, or damp sponge; if paint has dried, rewet area with clean water first; to remove color in specific area, use a stiff bristle brush that's slightly damp with clean water; staining pigments won't be lifted completely.
- scraping - while paper is damp not wet, scrape off surface with palette knife or flat brush handle to create sharp or soft liner effects depending on how damp the paper is; use for tree branches, grass, or subtle highlights.
- sgraffito - scratching dry paint to reveal ground/whites; use razor, sand paper.
- straight lines - using straight edge of torn watercolor paper dipped in dark wash puddle; for tree limbs, etc.; continue tearing paper for smaller lines/branches.
- masking - using masking fluid to keep areas white; use old brush as mask ruins ferrule; apply mask to dry ground, allow mask to dry before painting, use clean water.
- wax resist - use white wax candle before painting for mottled effect, rub candle over and over an area so it won't accept paint.
- waterspotting - dropping clean water onto barely damp area of paint.
- spattering - to create texture, spatter paint onto wet or dry ground; use toothbrush, or tap loaded brush against your finger; drops landing on dry surface will keep their hard edges; for softer spots, spatter on damp paper; protect areas where spatters are not wanted.
- salting - sprinkling salt onto wet paint; salt absorbs color while drying.
- soaping - for unique effects, rub paint loaded brush into wet soap bar.
Drawing Lessons•
Pastel Notes•
Watercolor Lessons•
Watercolor Terms
Color and Landscape Painting•
Five Tone Values•
Basic Color
Oil Painting Lessons•
Oil Painting Tips•
Oil Painting Methods
© Copyright 2000-2007 Carol Santora
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