Week 2 of Beetles, Bees & Brushstrokes
- Jennica Thurgood
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
Watercolor Techniques – Painting Bees
Dry Brush Technique – Creating Fuzzy Textures
How we did it:
Start with a damp brush (not dripping wet) loaded with pigment.
Lightly drag or rub the brush over dry paper.
Effect:
The dry surface catches the pigment on the raised texture of the paper, creating a soft, fuzzy look—perfect for rendering the bees’ fuzzy bodies.
Extra step for softness:
After laying down a bit of wet color, we used a dry, fluffy brush to gently feather or spread the pigment outward. This softens edges and enhances the fuzzy effect.
Wet-in-Wet Technique – Soft, Blended Fuzziness
How we did it:
Wet the desired area of the paper with clean water.
Drop in wet paint and let it spread naturally on the damp surface.
Effect:
The paint blooms and blends softly, creating diffused, fuzzy edges—great for soft transitions and underpainting fuzzy areas like the bee’s thorax.
Tip: Avoid overworking—let the paint spread on its own for the best results.
Lifting Technique – Creating Transparency
Purpose: To mimic the look of bee wings overlapping the body and to show light shining through.
How we practiced:
First, lay down a wash of color (we used various colors wet-in-wet to get rich layers).
While still damp: Use a clean, damp brush to lift out pigment where the wings overlap the body.
If mostly dry: Gently scrub the area with a damp brush, then blot with a paper towel to remove the lifted pigment.
Effect:
This removes some pigment and creates a lighter, transparent look, perfect for wing areas.
Wet-on-Dry Technique – Adding Definition
How we did it:
After the base layers dried, we used a brush with more concentrated pigment to paint fine lines and details directly onto the dry surface.
Example: Adding bee body stripes, wing veins, and other structured details.
Effect:
The strokes stay crisp and defined, allowing for layering and building up forms while maintaining control.
Soft Wash (Tea Consistency) – Transparent Wing Layers
How we did it:
Mix paint to a tea-like consistency (very diluted).
Apply a smooth, even wash to areas like the wings.
Effect:
This gives the wings a subtle tint and delicate presence without overpowering the rest of the painting.
Great for layering translucent effects.
Summary
Dry Brush & Wet-in-Wet → Fuzzy textures for bee bodies.
Lifting → Transparency where wings overlap.
Wet-on-Dry → Sharp details and structure.
Soft Wash → Light, airy wings.
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