Watercolour Paint Techniques

Watercolour - how to paint

Wash Technique

A wash, as the name suggests, is a layer of transparent or thinned down paint. This is useful for large areas such as skies. A wash is generally an even coverage of pigment although it can also be graduated or variegated. A graduated wash changes from more intense to less intense in colour. A variegated wash is one that changes from one colour to another.

Watercolour - how to paint

Glaze Technique

A glaze is a term given to a wash that is painted over another colour usually to produce a third colour. There is no limit to the number of glazes that can be used; however, too many over each other may lead to the loss of clarity and result in dullness.