How to paint a variegated wash in watercolor., by Louise De Masi on YouTube. 22 min 18 s.
- Video length
- 22 min 18 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Set cold pressed watercolor paper flat on a board. Tape the edges if the paper tends to buckle.
Put a small amount of each color in separate palette wells. Use Cobalt Blue, Winsor Violet, Winsor Lemon and Transparent Orange, or similar colors.
Add clean water to each color and mix a strong, runny puddle. Rinse the brush between colors so the wells stay clean.
Dampen the paper evenly with clean water for a soft blend. Stop before water pools on the surface.
Load the round brush with one color and paint a loose band across the top of the wash area. Work fairly quickly.
Paint the next color beside the first band while the paper is still damp. Let the edges touch so the colors merge.
Continue with the remaining colors, changing brush load and direction. Do not scrub back and forth.
Tilt the board gently or add a little clean water at the edges to help the colors flow. Leave the wash flat to dry completely.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the paper damp but not shiny wet; standing water causes blooms and muddy edges.
Rinse the brush well between colors so the wash stays clear.
Test colors on scrap paper first; watercolor dries lighter than it looks.
Do not overwork the wash; too much brushing lifts paper fibers and dulls color.
Questions
What is a variegated wash?
A wash that uses two or more colors that blend across the paper. It is often used for skies, backgrounds and loose paintings.
Can I paint a variegated wash on dry paper?
Yes. Paint bands of color side by side on dry paper and blend only where they meet. Wetting the paper first gives softer, more flowing edges.
How do I stop the colors turning muddy?
Use clean water, rinse your brush between colors and avoid pressing or scrubbing. Limit each area to two or three colors that sit well together.
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.
