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Watercolor Blending Techniques
Have you ever wondered how watercolor artists achieve those beautiful, subtle colors that just seem to melt into one another? The key is blending. With just a few basic techniques, you (and your students!) can blend your watercolors with the best of them.
Blending vs Mixing
Although these terms sound similar, blending watercolors is different from mixing them.
- Mixing happens on the palette before the paint touches the paper. When colors are mixed this way, they create one uniform color when applied.
- Blending happens on the paper by placing colors next to or over one another so they flow together. This creates a gradual transition from one color to the next, similar to the colors in a sunset.
And of course, two mixed colors can be blended. Together, these techniques offer endless possibilities to explore while painting.
Wet-On-Dry Blending
Wet-on-dry blending involves applying wet paint to dry paper. If you want the color to fade in a specific direction, gently blot your brush on a towel to remove some moisture, then pull the paint in that direction. Using this technique, you can create two areas of color that blend softly into one another. Or, if you allow each layer to dry before applying the next, you can build multiple layers of color on top of one another, each with a crisp, defined edge.
Wet-On-Wet Blending
Wet-on-wet blending involves wetting an area of the paper before applying wet paint. This technique can make it more difficult to control how the paint spreads, but with a little practice, you can achieve beautiful results. You can even apply two colors to the same wet area at the same time and watch the colors blend on their own in interesting, natural ways.
Graded Wash
A graded wash is handy when you want to cover a large area in a color that fades out in one direction (like the sky off in the distance, for example). You can use either wet-on-dry or wet-on-wet for a graded wash, but wet-on-wet typically provides smoother results.
Blend by Lifting
Blending by lifting is just like it sounds – you lift some of the paint off of the paper. You do this by painting an area, then going over the freshly painted area with a dry brush or towel. This creates a lighter area within the field of color. It’s a great way to create clouds, for example.
With these simple techniques and a little practice, you’ll take your artwork to the next level. Happy painting!