15 Watercolor Techniques You Need to Know

15 techniques and how they can help you solve a variety of issues in your paintings

How do I lighten an area?
— when damp, drier brush
— when dry, rewet, maybe scrub, and dap with paper towel
— make the area around it darker

How do I remove paint?
— when damp, drier brush
— when dry, rewet, maybe scrub, and dap with paper towel

How do I make a soft edge?
— wet on wet technique
— make one side wetter,
— make one side drier

How do I make a sandy / rocky texture?
— dry brush techniques

How do I create textures on trees?
— dry brush, spread out brush
— can also work on barns

How do I create a great grey?
— mix 3 primary colors together, but heavier on blue

How do I create a shadow?
— cool colors, for sharp edge, dry brush
— for hard edge, wet on wet or combo

How do I make a flat area of color?
— Flat wash

How do I create texture?
— load brush with paint, flick it, or snap it against something

How do I keep an area white?
— wax
— white crayon
— liquid frisket (liquid latex)

My colors are too cartoonish!
— Mix with the complimentary color

How do I make black?
— mix 3 primaries together, don’t do it in one layer, do it in 2,3 or 4.