How to mix watercolor paint 3 ways // Beginner watercolor tips and techniques, by Louise De Masi on YouTube. 13 min 29 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 29 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Squeeze a small amount of each colour into separate wells of your palette. Leave a gap between colours so they do not run together.
Let the paint in the wells dry and harden before you start. Dry paint is easier to control than wet paint sitting in water.
Dip a clean brush in water and pick up a little paint from one well. Mix it in an empty well to make a wash.
For palette mixing, add a second colour to the wash a little at a time. Stir with the brush until you get the shade you want.
For mixing on the paper, paint a wet stroke of one colour on your paper. While it is still wet, touch a second colour next to it and let them blend.
Tilt the paper slightly to help the two colours flow together. Stop before the paper dries if you want a soft edge.
For glazing, paint a thin layer of one colour and let it dry completely. Then brush a thin layer of a second colour over the top.
Keep each glaze light and let it dry between layers. Build up the colour slowly rather than adding a thick coat.
Tips and common mistakes
Rinse your brush in clean water between colours so you do not muddy your mixes.
Fill the space around squeezed paint in the palette so water cannot pool around it.
Test each mix on scrap paper before you paint it on your artwork.
Questions
Do I need a special palette to mix watercolour?
No. Any palette with wells or a flat white plate works. A palette with sloping wells helps keep water from pooling around the paint.
What is the difference between mixing on the paper and glazing?
Mixing on the paper blends two wet colours at once. Glazing means painting one thin layer, letting it dry, then adding another colour over it.
Why should the paint in my palette be dry?
Dry paint lets you control how much water you pick up. Wet paint sitting in water can flood your brush and give a watery mix.
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.
