Watercolor Techniques Every Beginner Should Try

Aesthetic Archive
Jan 13
2 min read

Watercolor painting is a timeless and versatile art form, loved for its fluidity and unpredictability. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to experiment with new techniques, these five methods will help you unlock your creativity and elevate your skills. Let’s dive in!

1. Wet-on-Wet Technique

The wet-on-wet technique is perfect for creating soft, blended backgrounds and dreamy effects. Here’s how to do it:

Wet your paper with clean water using a large brush or sponge.
While the paper is still damp, apply watercolor paint. Watch as the colors spread and blend effortlessly!

Pro Tip: Use this technique for painting skies, water, or abstract designs.

2. Dry Brushing

Dry brushing creates texture and sharp details. It’s great for adding finishing touches to your artwork:

Dip your brush into paint, then blot off excess water on a paper towel.
Apply the paint to dry paper with quick, light strokes.

Pro Tip: This technique works wonders for creating grass, hair, or textured surfaces.

3. Salt Effects

Create unique, organic textures with nothing more than table salt:

Apply a wash of watercolor paint to your paper.
While the paint is still wet, sprinkle salt over the surface. Let it dry completely, then gently brush off the salt crystals.

Pro Tip: Experiment with different types of salt (table salt, kosher salt, or rock salt) to achieve varying effects.

4. Lifting

The lifting technique allows you to remove paint to create highlights or fix mistakes:

While the paint is still wet, use a clean, damp brush or a tissue to lift color from the paper.
This technique is perfect for creating soft highlights, clouds, or water reflections.

Pro Tip: Lifting works best on high-quality, heavy watercolor paper.

5. Layering (Glazing)

Layering, or glazing, involves building up transparent layers of paint to create depth and richness:

Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
Use diluted paint for a translucent effect.

Pro Tip: Layering is ideal for creating shadows, gradients, and detailed landscapes.

Tools You’ll Need

To get started with these techniques, gather these essential watercolor supplies:

Quality watercolor paints
A variety of brushes (round, flat, and detail)
Watercolor paper (140 lb or higher)
A mixing palette
Clean water and paper towels