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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.
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On technique, materials, and artists.
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Should you sketch before watercolour painting? A decision guide
Getting Started · Guide For most subjects, a few light pencil lines help, mainly for placement, proportion and reserved white shapes. They do not need to describe every edge. Paint directly when a loose, responsive wash matters more than exact position. 7 min read Watercolour does not require a drawing underneath it, and you do…
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Watercolour colour mixing for beginners: a clear place to start
Getting Started · Guide Two paints you already own are enough to see how colour mixing works. Make three mixtures between them, dilute each once, then let the samples dry. The small strip that results shows which colour dominates, how water changes strength and how a mixture settles on your paper. 6 min read Watercolour…
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How to keep whites in watercolour without using white paint
Getting Started · Guide In transparent watercolour, the clearest white usually comes from paper left unpainted. Mark the largest light shapes before the first wash, paint around them, and allow smaller highlights to emerge as the picture develops. Masking and lifting can help, but neither replaces deciding where the light belongs. 6 min read You…
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How to fix watercolour mistakes without overworking the paper
Getting Started · Guide The safest correction begins with a pause. Look at whether the paint is wet, damp or dry, then decide whether the mark needs removing at all. Wet paint can often be absorbed, dry paint may be lightened or integrated, and a damp passage is usually best left alone. The aim is…
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Watercolour supplies for beginners: what each one is for
Getting Started · Guide You can begin with a surprisingly ordinary setup: a few colours, paper that suits them, one dependable brush, clean water, a pale plate for mixing and an old cloth. This page describes what each of these does for you and when other things start to be worth having. It does not…
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How long to wait between watercolour layers
Getting Started · Guide There is no single drying time between watercolour layers. A small, pale shape on light paper can look dry within a few minutes, and a broad wet passage on heavy cotton can take a good deal longer. For a separate, clean layer, wait until the paper is matt, matches the dry…
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How much water to use in watercolour: palette, brush and paper
Getting Started · Guide There is no ratio of water to paint that holds for every palette, brush and sheet of paper. Judge it by sight in three places: the mixture on the palette, the load in the brush and the sheen on the paper. Too much water and too little each leave their own…
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Watercolour palettes compared: plastic, metal and porcelain mixing surfaces
Materials · Guide Watercolour palettes compared by material solve different problems. Porcelain offers a stable white mixing surface; plastic saves weight; enamelled metal combines a paint box with folding mixing space. 4 min read A palette does more than hold colours. Its colour affects how mixtures are judged, its surface affects whether washes spread or…
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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
Materials · Guide A size number identifies a brush within a manufacturer’s own range. It is not a universal measurement, so the useful comparison begins with dimensions, capacity and the marks the brush makes. 4 min read Watercolour brush sizes are not standard across manufacturers. A size 8 from one maker can be narrower, longer…
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