Watercolor Terms, Definitions, and Examples

Wet on Wet When you saturate the paper with water then apply the watercolor paint. Or you can add watercolor paint onto a wet area of watercolor which has already been painted. Effect is a bleeding, blending or flared look to the watercolors/colors.

Wet on Dry Appling a wet layer of water color onto a dry paper or a dry section of painted watercolor. Layers of paint are generally washes of color or more watery applications of paint. The effect is you can see through the layers if you do layer colors and the edges of the brush stokes are crisp not soften.

Dry Brush Using a brush that is moist but not wet and picking up watercolor paint and then brushing it over the paper in one direction to create a broken brush stroke. You are able to see the white of the paper or the color underneath.

Glazing Glazing is much like wet on dry technique, but you are creating layers of transparent color. You allow one layer of watercolor to dry before applying additional transparent layers of color. Effect give a dept to the object and value ranges you normally not achieve by one layer of paint.

Lift off Method Using an absorbent material such as, tissue, paper towels, or a sponge to blot or pick up paint that may or may not be wanted. Effect is you can create details with this method or lighten colors or reduce values.

Sponge Method Using various size sponges or one size to add paint or remove paint from a canvas. Effect is an irregular pattern that is great for texture, leaves, folage, and rough surfaces.

Splatter Technique Using a paintbrush or tooth brush to create splatter patterns on the canvases. The artist will tap the brush against ones hand, or run a finger over a load toothbrush with paint which creates a spray effect. The effect is irregular smattering of paint droplets or a spray pattern.

Masking Masking is using either a liquid, tape, or stencil to block paint from covering a specific area on the canvas. Effect leave the white of the canvas or wash color visible after a painting has been completed over the masked area. Masks are removed after the desired result is met.

UnderPainting Roughing in the values of a composition before color is added. Generally this is done with Gray or Ocher color paint. Effect is you build up your values to help create depth and greater value strength in the composition.

Wash A overall application of watery watercolor either on a wetted canvas or dry to create an even or uneven range of color. This can be used in big or small areas. Depending on the purpose.

Line and Wash First the composition is drawn using a permanent not bleeding black marker/pen. Then thin/transparent washes of watercolor are applied over that drawing to enhance the composition.

Examples of Watercolor

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