5 Tips For Background Washes in Watercolor
Channel: Deb Watson
Date: 06/01/2021

Are your backgrounds marred by brushstrokes? These 5 tips for background washes can fix that, for smooth, beautiful watercolor background. 

For more watercolor tips, fun watercolor techniques and free online tutorials visit:
https://watsonwatercolor.com

5 Tips For Background Washes

1. Use good quality paper (I usually use Arches 140 lb. Cold Pressed, but there are a lot of good brands.) and soft wash brushes. (Shown are Silver Black Velvet Oval 3/4" wash brush and a 1" Hake wash brush.)

2. Mix more paint than you think you'll need. Extra is always good, in case you need a second coat, or for touch up later. And be sure there are no lumps left in the mix. Mixing your wash in a container makes it easy to save for another painting.

3. Plan your wash - start at one side and apply paint smoothly to the other side. You can tilt your board to let gravity help keep the color smooth, but don't go back into a drying wash.

4. Be sure to wipe up any puddles of color around the edges of the paper.

5. Don't rinse your brush or add water to your wash without knowing. Once you're ready to begin a wash, put your water bowl out of reach.

Lemon yellow (Dick Blick brand)
Transparent Pyrrole Orange (Qor Modern Watercolors brand)
Dioxazine Purple (Qor Modern Watercolors brand.)


----------------------- *ABOUT DEB WATSON* -----------------------------------------------------

Deb loved drawing from childhood, but was discouraged from 'wasting time on art'. She became a nurse, worked at the hospital and raised a family. But she kept painting. 

Over time, she became good at art and honed her unique style of self-taught painting into award winning art. Deb enjoys painting scenes from her small town communities - people, animals, places. 

Her scenes capture a moment in the ordinary everyday life.  Deb sees the beauty all around her and shows it to the rest of the world in her painting. Her watercolors have been in exhibits and won awards across the nation. Her work has been featured in many books and magazines and recently included in a museum exhibit of outstanding American women artists.

"I hope this video helps you enjoy your own art journey, but, if you want to improve your painting, check my websites because I'm always happy to help beginning artists find their joy." - Deb

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