There are many ways to approach watercolor and we want to share a few introductory techniques that you can experiment with as you begin your creative practice. 

Wet on Wet 

This method is typically used for landscapes or large washes of color. You add wet paint to a wet surface and the results are a loose and fluid layer of color.

Once you have filled your water brush with clean water, use it to “paint” water onto paper, exploring different shapes and/or lines. 

Use your (now wet) brush to pick up pigment from your watercolor palette and brush it onto the shape. Move the brush from side to side.

On another shape, simply add dabs of paint- pay attention to how different amounts of water and pigment create different sized blobs. 

By now your painting has begun to dry- notice how it has dried drastically different from how we originally applied the paint. When using watercolors, adding wet paint to a wet surface does not allow for much control but this is the true beauty of it.

Wet on Dry 
This method is more commonly used and allows one to achieve more precision and defined shapes while painting. 

Begin with your dry paper. Wet your brush (gentle squeeze) and use it to pick up watercolor pigment and begin to paint on dry paper.

Play around with applying paint - using the least amount of water you can to activate the watercolor. Notice the textures that come from the brush. 

Once the paint has completely dried, you will again notice how different it looks from when we first applied the paint. Notice how different the lines and shapes look between the wet on wet technique and the wet on dry technique!