Wet on Wet

The wet-on-wet technique is my favorite for its spontaneity, fluidity, and ability to create beautiful, organic effects. I also love to observe how the colors mix and mingle on the wet paper. You can gently blend different colors together or layer additional washes to create depth and richness in your painting.

Here are 3 of many ways you can practice this technique:

Feathering involves using a brush to gently blend the edges of the wet paint, creating smooth transitions and avoiding harsh lines. It's a delicate process that adds subtlety to your watercolor work.

Feeding refers to adding more pigment or color to an already wet area. This can be done with a brush loaded with paint, intensifying the hues in specific regions. It allows for depth and richness in your watercolor painting. You can also flood one wet area into another simply by letting them tough at the edges.

Flooding is the act of applying a wash of clean water to the paper before adding pigment. This creates a diffused effect as the color interacts with the wet surface, leading to softer edges and a more gradual transition between colors.

Artists use these techniques together in various combinations. This will provide one with a range of possibilities for creating expressive and dynamic watercolor artworks. Experimenting with the timing and amount of wetness on the paper allows for a diverse array of effects. Have fun with this technique and try to be patient with the process, watercolor has a way of surprising you with beautiful little details.