Featured piece
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.
Read the pieceRecent writing
On technique, materials, and artists.
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Should you sketch before watercolour painting? A decision guide
Use a light pencil plan when placement matters, and paint directly when movement matters more than exact outlines.
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Watercolour colour mixing for beginners: a clear place to start
A first mixing strip with two paints you already own, showing how proportion, water and drying change the colour.
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How to keep whites in watercolour without using white paint
Plan the lightest shapes first, then choose between painting around them, masking, lifting or a small opaque accent.
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How to fix watercolour mistakes without overworking the paper
A way to assess a watercolour mistake by the paint’s moisture stage, choose the gentlest useful correction and know when the paper has had enough.
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Watercolour supplies for beginners: what each one is for
You can begin with a few colours, suitable paper, one brush and a plate. Here is what each supply does, and when the rest is worth adding.
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How long to wait between watercolour layers
There is no reliable number of minutes between watercolour layers. The look and feel of the paper give a better answer than the clock.
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How much water to use in watercolour: palette, brush and paper
There is no fixed ratio of water to paint. Judge the mixture, the brush and the paper by sight, then record your own paints with a strength strip.
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Watercolour palettes compared: plastic, metal and porcelain mixing surfaces
Plastic, enamelled metal and porcelain palettes behave differently. Choose by mixing visibility, weight, cleaning and where you paint.
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Mop vs quill vs round watercolour brushes
Mop, quill and round brushes overlap, but their construction changes capacity, control and the marks they favour.
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Watercolour brush sizes explained: what the numbers really tell you
Brush size numbers are relative, not universal. Learn how to compare dimensions, capacity and marks instead.
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New writing from the site, the occasional material recommendation, and brief notes on painting. Sent monthly, nothing more.
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