Beginners Guide To Experimenting in Watercolour Painting, by Karen Rice Art on YouTube. 14 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Tape a sheet of 300gsm cold pressed cotton paper to a board so it stays flat while you work wet. Keep the paper dry for the first tests.
Load a size 10 round brush with clean water and paint a wet patch across the top third of the paper. Let the sheen stay visible.
Drop in Quin Gold and Hansa Yellow while the paper is still wet and watch them blend. Then add a touch of Ultramarine at one edge to see a soft green form.
Paint a second wet patch and drop in Cerulean and Quin Rose side by side. Tilt the board slightly so the colours run into each other.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt onto a damp wash and leave it to dry completely. Brush the salt off once the paper is dry to reveal the speckled texture.
Scribble black and brown watercolour pencil onto sandpaper and pick up the dust with a damp brush. Tap it into a wet area for a grainy effect.
Draw a simple shape with masking fluid using a kebab stick or an old brush. Let it dry fully, then paint over it and peel it off once the paint is dry.
Mix a little granulation fluid into a dark wash of Paynes Grey and Burnt Sienna and paint a loose shape. Spritz it lightly with water to push the pigment around.
Use the 1 inch flat brush to paint a dry, streaky band of Burnt Sienna on dry paper. Compare it with the soft wet edges from earlier.
Let every test dry, then label each one with the technique and colours used so you can repeat the ones you like.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the paper damp but not puddling, since too much water is the main cause of muddy colour.
Rinse your brush between colours and blot it on paper towel so you do not carry dark pigment into light washes.
Never use your good brushes for masking fluid, as it dries hard and ruins the bristles.
Test salt and granulation on scrap paper first, because results change with paper dampness and pigment choice.
Questions
Do I need expensive paints to try these experiments?
No. A basic student set with a yellow, red, blue, burnt sienna and a dark grey covers every test here. Cotton paper matters more than the brand of paint.
Why did my colours turn grey and dull?
You probably mixed too many pigments or used too much water on paper that was already drying. Stick to two colours per wash and keep the paper evenly damp.
How long should I let masking fluid dry?
Wait until it feels completely dry and no longer tacky, usually a few minutes. Painting over wet masking fluid smears it and can tear the paper when you peel it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
