5 Must-Try Techniques for Painting with A Watercolour Palette

Watercolor painting is a very expressive and whimsical medium for creativity. One of the attractions of watercolors is their fluid, translucent quality and ability to create lovely results with minimal work.

Whether you’re a beginner or a professional artist wishing to refine your skills, a watercolor palette is a necessity that allows you to experiment with unlimited artistic expressions. Unlike most art media, watercolors are easy to use, easy to prepare, and require little equipment with which to start.

Also, one of the best things about painting with a watercolor palette is that it is incredibly versatile. You can produce delicate washes, dramatic textures, or even tiny details with a little water and a bit of stroke. Mastering a few simple techniques can take your artwork to the next level, regardless of style. This article explores five techniques you should try to get the most out of your watercolor palette.

1. Wet-on-Wet Technique

The wet-on-wet technique is one of the most popular and effective methods in watercolor painting. It creates soft, fluid washes, perfect for painting skies, clouds, water, and soft, dreamy backgrounds. The key to mastering this technique is understanding how water and pigment react with the paper.

Start by wetting your watercolor paper with clean water using a brush. The surface should be evenly moist but never saturated. Once your paper is prepared, wet your brush in your watercolour palette and place the paint softly onto the damp surface.

When the paint meets the wet surface, you’ll be surprised at how it spreads and combines smoothly, producing a delicate, fluid look. The colors combine naturally, with subtle gradations that cannot be attained with most painting techniques.

It creates a realistic, natural effect, but it takes time. Don’t overbrush the paint, as this will likely muddy the colors. Instead, let the water and pigment naturally flow; beautiful textures and gradations will accumulate in their time.

2. Dry Brush Technique

The dry brush technique produces strong, textured strokes in your watercolor painting. Unlike the soft, fluid effect of the wet-on-wet technique, this technique creates rough, broken lines that give your artwork personality and depth. It is especially useful in painting such subjects as tree bark, rock surfaces, tall grass, or folds in fabric and in suggesting movement and energy in your composition.

Dip your watercolor brush in your palette, but with minimal water. The aim is to leave the bristles very dry so that the paint does not spread so evenly. Wipe any surplus moisture in a paper towel before using it on the paper. Run the brush lightly over dry paper, allowing the rough pigment to spread to give a dramatic, textured effect.

Because the brush is never loaded with water, the strokes will be broken and expressive, making this a good method for adding details and general visual interest to your painting. Try using a stiffer brush or layers built up with dry strokes for a more dramatic effect.

3. Salt Texture Effect

For a simple, playful method to add texture, try sprinkling salt in your watercolor work to achieve a magical, starry look. Paint a wet space with your watercolor palette and choose a color to give some texture. While the paint is wet, lightly sprinkle salt over the area and watch as it absorbs the colour in particular spots.

Once the paint is completely dry, carefully brush away the salt, and the lovely patterns left by the salt appear. This technique is great for creating the illusion of frost, stars, or the texture of nature. Experimenting with the type of salt, such as fine table salt or coarse sea salt, can give varying results, making each painting unique.

4. Layering and Glazing

Use the layering technique to add richness and depth to your watercolor works. Start with a light wash with your watercolor palette instead of applying all your colors in a single application. When the first coat dries, apply a second coat slightly darker than the first one.

By repeating this cycle, you can gradually build color and achieve a more realistic and detailed painting. It produces shadows, highlights, and depth in portraits, landscapes, and still-life paintings. It is a patient process, as each coat must dry before the next coat is applied to avoid unwanted blurring. Layering can impart a painting with beautiful gradations between light and dark areas.

5. Splatter painting

Splattering is an excellent way of adding spontaneity to your artwork for a playful, dynamic effect. To do this, load your brush with watercolor paint from your palette so that it is wet but not so wet that it is difficult to control. Tap your brush above your paper against another brush or your hand. Scattered little paint droplets spread over the surface, creating a dramatic texture.

This method is suitable for creating background depth, starry night skies, or adding an expressive, abstract touch to your work. The water level you use with this method will control the size of the splatters, so try varying the moisture level to obtain your desired effect. To be more in control, try using a toothbrush rather than a regular brush for more delicate splatters.

Final Thoughts

Watercolor painting is a rewarding and enjoyable activity. These five approaches offer differing ways to exercise creativity, whether in subtle gradations, forceful textures, or playful bursts of color. The best way to become proficient is through practicing, experimenting, and having fun.

So, grab your watercolor palette, try these techniques out, and let your imagination run wild. Don’t be afraid—nobody is right or wrong. Enjoy the process and see what your imagination comes up with.