12 Watercolor techniques for beginners

• Apply a generous amount of solid watercolor paint, keeping the surface wet.

Use for: Creating solid backgrounds.

• Start with a light, watered-down paint. Allow it to dry completely. The first layer is always lighter, in the background, far away.

• Apply the second layer darker, adding depth and perspective. Let it dry fully.
• Add a third layer.

Use for: Mountains and enhancing landscape perspective.

• Create a shape with watered-down paint. Let it dry.
• With a different color, add spots (small, concentrated areas of paint).
• Depending on the amount of water and drying time, these spots will create a smooth overlapping effect.

Use for: Mimicking animal skins

• Create a shape with sharp details and wet watered-down paint.

• With a different color, add spots, and let it freely blend.

Watch the paints blend and create a feathery effect. The first layer will define the space where the second paint can go.

Be mindful of the quantity of water, as it can crumble the paper.

Use for: Silhouettes.

• Apply two different watercolor paints, each one starting on the opposite side. Let them touch.
• Blend with an empty dry brush (no water, no paint).

Use for: Foggy or smooth sky transition effects.

• Apply very wet watercolor paint.
• Use a dry paper tissue to soak areas, revealing the paper underneath and creating soft random shapes.

Use for: Clouds.

• Apply very wet watercolor paint and allow it to partially dry.
• Soak areas with newspaper to create a sharp crack effect.

Use for: Clothes and movement.

• Cut a piece of paper to mask the area that will not get paint.
• Splash paint with a brush. Use your finger horizontally and tap it with your brush. A toothbrush also works.

Use for: Creating textured backgrounds.

• Use paint on a dry brush. Do not use too much water, use solid paint.
• Dry the brush slightly on a separate napkin, then open the brush fibers before applying.

Use for: Grass and fur.

• Wet the paper with clear water.

• Let it dry, but not 100%. (It will take some time to dry.)

• With a different color, add spots to create blurry, non-detailed shapes.

Do not use too much water with the new color. It will blend very smoothly.

Use for: Background elements, like trees at a distance.

• Watercolor solid wet paint (prefer a dark shade).

• Wait a few seconds… when the paint is still wet, drop clean water drops.

Tip: For a more dramatic effect, add grains of salt to the water drops. This will absorb and distort the cleared-up areas.

Use for: Underwater effect.

• Two different very wet watercolor paints, each one starting on the opposite side.
• Allow them to blend naturally.

Use for: Backgrounds.