WATERCOLOR PAINTING TECHNIQUES

WET-ON-WET TECHNIQUE: Apply watercolor paint to WET paper. Paint is applied BEFORE the next color has dried, so that they run together and create soft edges. Paper surface must be damp to start and stay damp through the entire process.

WET-ON-DRY TECHNIQUE The “Classic” technique Watercolor paint applied to a DRY surface. Each new wash is laid over paint that has already dried. Colors are built up in washes, with highlights left as white paper.

DRY BRUSH Start with a light wash. Use a dry brush to add more saturated and bolder color.

Watercolor City on the Water Goals Use Wet on Wet Wash to create a sky and the reflection of the sky on water Use Control Wash/Dry brush to create the silhouette of a city on the water Materials: Masking fluid (already applied) Watercolors – 2 warm and 1 cool color Large flat brush Small round brush

Identify the colors – If you could only use 2 warm and one cool, which would you use? Why do you think we will use wet on wet for the sky and water? Why do you think we will use the control wash/dry brush for the buildings? How does the reflection indicate water rather than land?

How is the light reflected on the water? How do the buildings grab our attention?

How do the buildings differ from the reflection of the buildings on the water? How does the color of the water differ from the color of the sky?