Independent writing about watercolour
Guides, comparisons and reviews, from choosing your first materials to techniques that take years to settle. Practical where it should be, and slower where it matters.
Watercolour beginner mistakes: the five that matter most
Most early frustrations with watercolour come down to the same handful of problems. Understand what they are and why they happen, and the medium becomes considerably less mysterious.
Also worth reading
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Technique
Glazing in watercolour: transparent layers explained
Thin washes laid over dry ones, and the pigments that suit them.
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Materials
Artist vs student watercolour paints: what really changes
What separates the two grades, and when the difference matters.
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Reviews
Watercolour brushes under £30: four synthetic rounds compared
Compared by fibre, size range and published dimensions.
Where do you want to begin?
Start from the question in front of you. Each route leads to the guide that answers it.
Recent writing
New guides, comparisons and reviews, newest first.
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How to paint watercolour from a reference photo
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Watercolour terms explained: a beginner’s working glossary
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Simple watercolour subjects for beginners: what each one teaches
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Lost and found edges in watercolour: deciding where an edge should disappear
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Negative painting in watercolour: building shapes around the subject
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Should you sketch before watercolour painting? A decision guide
The letter
Once a month, worth reading.
New writing from the site, the occasional material recommendation, and brief notes on painting. Sent monthly, nothing more.
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