Mastering Watercolor Painting: Part 5 - Pro Tips for Watercolor Painting

Practical tips can improve your watercolor painting experience. By mastering water management and mistake correction, you’ll gain confidence in your watercolor skills and achieve more polished results.

Controlling Water: Adjusting Paint-to-Water Ratios for Different Effects

One of the trickiest parts of watercolor is managing the balance of pigment and water. Watercolor relies on dilution, and the more water you add, the lighter and more transparent the color will be.

Video courtesy of Steve Mitchell

Water Control Guidelines:

Full Pigment (Very Little Water) – Produces rich, opaque strokes that are closest to gouache. Best for bold accents and deep shadows.

Creamy Consistency (Moderate Water) – The balance between thick pigment and flow. Best for base washes and mid-tones.

Tea or Transparent Wash (High Water Ratio) – A very diluted wash that creates soft backgrounds and gentle color transitions. Best for skies, mist, and atmospheric effects.

Glazing Consistency (Thin Layers) – A light, even mix used for layering transparent color without disturbing previous layers. Best for adding depth to skin tones and landscapes.

📌 Pro Tip: Test your water-to-paint ratio on scrap paper before applying it to your actual painting to ensure the right effect!

Fixing Mistakes: Lifting, Layering, and Blending to Correct Errors

Watercolors are more challenging to correct than acrylics or oils, but mistakes can still be adjusted with the right techniques.

How to Fix Watercolor Mistakes:

Lifting Wet Paint – Immediately blot with a tissue, paper towel, or sponge to remove excess pigment and create highlights.

Lifting Dry Paint – Use a damp brush or a stiff-bristle brush to gently scrub and remove dried pigment. Some colors lift easier than others—staining pigments (like Phthalo Blue) are harder to remove.

Blending Out Hard Edges – If a transition is too harsh, use a damp brush with clean water to soften and feather out the edges.

Glazing Over Mistakes – If an area looks dull or unbalanced, layer a thin glaze over it to harmonize the colors and improve contrast.

Using White Gouache for Corrections – Traditional watercolors do not use white paint, but gouache or white watercolor can help restore highlights or adjust small areas.

📌 Pro Tip: Instead of trying to "erase" mistakes, incorporate them into the painting—happy accidents can add unexpected beauty to your work!

Using Watercolors with Other Painting Mediums

Watercolor is a versatile medium that can be used alongside or in combination with other painting mediums. Watercolors can be successfully mixed with many other mediums, but understanding their transparent, water-reactive nature is key. Whether using ink for outlines, gouache for highlights, or acrylics for bold contrasts, thoughtful layering and planning will ensure successful combinations! Due to its water-soluble and transparent nature, it interacts differently depending on the medium. Here’s a breakdown of how watercolors work (or don’t) with various painting materials.

Eugène Delacroix (French, 1798–1863). Goetz von Berlichingen Being Dressed in Armor by His Page George.Watercolor and bodycolor with gum arabic on wove paper. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Watercolor + Other Water-Based Mediums

Watercolor + Gouache

How They Work Together: Since gouache is essentially an opaque watercolor with added white pigment, the two blend easily.

Techniques: Use gouache for highlights and bold details while keeping watercolor for transparent washes.

Best Practices: Gouache can be applied over watercolor layers, but layering watercolor over gouache may reactivate the gouache and create muddy effects.

Watercolor + Acrylic Paint

How They Work Together: Acrylic paint is permanent when dry, while watercolor remains rewettable. Acrylics can be used as a base, with watercolor layered on top for a resist effect.

Techniques: Use acrylic for underpainting or bold shapes, then add watercolor washes for depth.

Best Practices: Since acrylic is plastic-based, it repels watercolor when dry, so watercolor should be used first or applied with an acrylic medium for better adhesion.

Watercolor + Ink (India Ink, Acrylic Ink, or Water-Soluble Ink)

How They Work Together: Waterproof inks (like India ink and acrylic ink) allow watercolor to be layered over them without bleeding. Water-soluble inks, on the other hand, blend with watercolor for dynamic effects.

Techniques: Ink outlines can be used before or after watercolor application for added definition.

Best Practices: If using water-soluble ink, be aware that watercolor will reactivate it, which can be either intentional or accidental.

Watercolor + Watercolor Pencils/Crayons

How They Work Together: Watercolor pencils and crayons allow for controlled application before activating with water.

Techniques: Draw with pencils or crayons first, then use a brush and water to blend.

Best Practices: Harder pencils work well for fine lines; softer crayons create expressive, textured marks.

Watercolor + Colored Pencils

How They Work Together: Colored pencils can be used for fine details or texture over dry watercolor layers.

Techniques: Layer watercolor washes first, then refine edges or details with colored pencils.

Best Practices: Use oil-based colored pencils for smooth layering and wax-based ones for more resistance.

Watercolor + Graphite/Pencil Sketching

How They Work Together: Watercolor can be painted over pencil sketches, but some graphite may smudge or mix with the pigment.

Techniques: Use light sketching or waterproof graphite to prevent unwanted blending.

Best Practices: Harder graphite (H-grade) is less likely to smudge than soft graphite (B-grade).

Watercolor + Pastels (Soft or Oil)

How They Work Together: Soft pastels do not blend well with watercolor but can be used over dry layers. Oil pastels resist watercolor and create interesting textures.

Techniques: Apply soft pastel on top of watercolor for highlights or shading; use oil pastels to create a resist effect.

Best Practices: Fixative may be needed to prevent pastel smudging over watercolor.

Watercolor + Oil Paints

How They Work Together: Water and oil do not mix, making these two mediums difficult to combine. However, watercolor can be used as an underpainting on paper before applying oil paints with a separate oil-based primer.

Techniques: If using both, keep them in distinct layers or separate parts of a composition.

Best Practices: Watercolor should not be applied over oil paint, as it will not adhere properly.

Watercolor + Alcohol Ink

How They Work Together: Alcohol ink and watercolor repel each other due to their different bases.

Techniques: Dropping alcohol ink into wet watercolor creates unique, organic patterns.

Best Practices: Since alcohol ink stains quickly, it cannot be lifted like watercolor.

Watercolor + Metallic or Iridescent Mediums

How They Work Together: Metallic watercolors, inks, or acrylics can add shimmer and highlights to a watercolor painting.

Techniques: Mix metallic pigment with watercolor for luminous washes or use metallic accents on top of dried watercolor.

Best Practices: Metallic pigments can be opaque, so use them sparingly if maintaining watercolor transparency.

Best Practices for Mixing Watercolor with Other Mediums

Layering Order Matters: Since watercolor is rewettable, applying another medium on top (such as ink or gouache) can prevent unintended blending.

Test Before Applying: Some materials repel or reactivate watercolors unexpectedly. Always test on scrap paper first.

Use Fixatives as Needed: If combining watercolor with pastels or other dry media, a light spray fixative can help prevent smudging.

Consider Surface Choice: Watercolor paper is designed for wet media, but mixed-media paper may be better suited for combining multiple materials.

Using Fixatives for Watercolor

Unlike acrylic or oil paintings, watercolor paintings remain water-soluble even after drying, which makes protecting them a key concern. Applying fixatives and varnishes helps safeguard watercolor artwork, especially if it's going to be displayed without glass.

   

What is a Fixative?

A fixative is a spray coating designed to stabilize and protect artworks by preventing smudging, lifting, or reactivation of pigments.

Why Use a Fixative on Watercolor Paintings?

• Helps prevent accidental smudging when handling the painting.
• Provides a layer of protection before applying a varnish.
• Allows artists to frame watercolors without glass in some case.

Types of Fixatives for Watercolor

Workable Fixatives – Light coatings that allow for further painting or adjustments.

Final Fixatives – Permanent coatings that seal the painting and prevent lifting.

UV-Protectant Fixatives – Prevent fading from sunlight exposure.

How to Apply Fixative to a Watercolor Painting

1. Ensure the painting is completely dry before applying any fixative.
2. Work in a well-ventilated area (preferably outdoors or in a spray booth).
3. Use a spray fixative designed for watercolor (e.g., Krylon Workable Fixatif or Lascaux Fixative).
4. Hold the can 12–18 inches away and apply in light, even coats.
5. Allow layers to dry between applications. Avoid over-spraying, which can cause blotching.

Best Practices for Fixatives

• Test on a sample painting first to see how it affects color vibrancy.
• Avoid heavy applications, as too much fixative can darken colors.
• ⛔ Do not use hair spray as a fixative—it is not archival and can yellow over time.

Varnishing Watercolor Paintings

Why Varnish a Watercolor?

Varnishing is optional for watercolor paintings, but it provides a final, permanent protective layer that makes the painting more durable and allows for framing without glass.

Steps for Varnishing a Watercolor

1. Apply Fixative First – This prevents varnish from reactivating and smudging the watercolor.
2. Choose the Right Varnish –
   1. Glossy Varnish enhances vibrancy but may add glare.
   2. Matte Varnish maintains a softer look.
   3. Satin Varnish balances vibrancy with reduced glare.
3. Use a Spray Varnish – Brushed-on varnishes can reactivate watercolor and cause smudging.
4. Apply Multiple Light Coats – Let each coat dry thoroughly before adding another.

Common Varnish Brands:

• Golden Archival Varnish
• Winsor & Newton Professional Varnish

📌 Pro Tip: Avoid traditional brush-on varnishes, as they can disturb the watercolor layer.

Now that you learned about pro tips for watercolor painting, read the next part of our series, Mastering Watercolor Painting: Part 6 - Safety Tips for Using Watercolors. Watercolors are generally one of the safest painting mediums due to their water-based composition, but there are still some important safety considerations, especially regarding pigments, ventilation, and proper handling. CLICK HERE to continue reading.

 

Alabama Art Supply is your one-stop shop for all things art! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, we have everything you need to bring your creative vision to life. From paints and brushes to canvases, sketchbooks, custom framing, and more—if you’re looking for art supplies, we’ve got you covered. Don’t see what you need? Just reach out to us at 205-322-4741—we’re happy to help you find exactly what you're looking for!

 

 

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