How to Paint a Background in Watercolor / Beginner Friendly Tutorial, by Mary K. Petty on YouTube. 4 min 33 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 33 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Tape your watercolor paper to a flat board so it stays flat when it gets wet. Use 100% cotton paper if you have it, since it handles water well.
Mix two or three colors in separate wells or a palette. Make each one a strong puddle of color, not a thin wash, so it still shows on wet paper.
Wet the paper with clean water using a large soft brush or mop brush. Spread the water evenly over the whole area and remove any standing puddles.
Wait about 30 seconds until the shine turns from glossy to satin. The paper should look damp, not dripping, when you start painting.
Load your brush with one color and touch it to the wet paper in a few places. Let the paint spread on its own instead of brushing it back and forth.
Add a second color beside the first and let the edges meet and blend. Leave a small gap of wet paper between them for softer transitions.
Tilt the board gently to move the paint and water around. Stop tilting when you like the pattern, then set the board back down flat.
Leave the background to dry flat and untouched. Do not blot or brush it while it is wet, or the colors can turn muddy.
Let the paper dry completely before you paint anything on top. A hair dryer on the cool setting can speed this up.
Tips and common mistakes
Test each color on a scrap of wet paper first, because some pigments fade a lot when diluted.
Keep the paper damp, not soaked. A visible puddle of water makes colors run together into mud.
Stick to one or two pigments per background. Too many colors mixed on the paper quickly turn gray.
If a hard edge or bloom forms, leave it. It can look like a cloud and is hard to fix once dry.
Questions
What does wet-on-wet mean in watercolor?
You wet the paper first, then add paint so the color spreads and blends on its own. It gives soft, loose edges instead of sharp lines.
Can I use normal paper instead of cotton paper?
Yes, but cotton paper takes more water and buckles less. With thinner paper, use less water and tape it down well.
How long does a wet background take to dry?
It depends on the room and how wet the paper is. Expect 15 to 30 minutes, or use a hair dryer on the cool setting.
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.
