Learn to draw by Tissa Hewavitarane

Wet and dry techniques in watercolour painting

We have looked at basic watercolour techniques in the past. It is essential to know and study several techniques to understand transparent watercolour.

This lesson is an introduction in wet-into-wet and dry brush techniques. Wet-into-wet is the most spontaneous and exciting technique in watercolour painting.

It is difficult to use just the technique of painting on a wet background or just the technique of painting on a dry background in any given painting. Usually both are used at the same time to achieve the desired effects of each capturing the exact tones.

The only problem is that these two techniques demand completely different drying times between application of colours if the base is wet, the newly applied paint will spread and merge. If the base is solid, the brush strokes will appear definite and precise.

The wet background

The wet background allows effects of atmosphere, dull shades merging areas and blending of colours. The extent to which an added colour will spread depends upon the degree of wetness of the background. Controlling this enables the painter to work with great confidence in the area where the colour is being applied.

The wetness is controlled with absorbent paper, with a dry brush or sponge, or by the natural evaporation of the water. This technique is ideal for doing such things as cloudy skies, mist billowy trees, a rainy day.

To start with at first the base should be completely wet with a sponge or brush. Precaution has to be taken to avoid swelling and wrinkling of paper. You pin four drawing pins on the four corners of the board. Some painters tape the paper to the board. Wait for the paper to dry a little. If you paint while the paper is still soaking wet the colours will run all over and from the first stage your picture will get spoilt. Therefore, before you start painting give thought to every stroke you apply.

Drying time for each coat

To observe the drying time for each coat of paint, continue the same exercise. In this way you will have a reference paint close at hand involving the two methods that form this exercise. The work on wet paint is performed while the paint is drying. Study the painting reproduced here. It's a simple river scene using three colours: Hookers Green, Yellow Orchre and Burnt sienna. In doing a wash at times you may have to use heavy brushes. I have used Nos 8, 3 and 2 for thin lines. The Kent paper used is 250 grams.