Graded Wash watercolors techniques

Graded Wash - The second basic watercolor wash skill. Learn how to make an evenly graded dark to light wash. Preparing to washDraw a square or rectangle on your paper.

Select a darker hue for your wash (it's easier to see) and mix a liberal amount of medium intensity (30-50% value) paint your brush. In a clean part of your palette mix another puddle at about half the intensity of the original mixture.

Charge your brush with paint from the darker mix, and starting in the upper left corner touch your brush to the paper and gently pull a straight line of paint to the upper right corner.

Light Dab your brush on a sponge or paper towel and refill your brush with the lighter mixture.

Start your second stroke overlapping the bottom of the previous stroke. Notice that the left side of the stroke has already flowed together with the top stroke. Let gravity do it's work.

LighterRinse your brush and blot it on a towel or damp sponge, refill from the lighter mixture. Make your next overlapping stroke.

LightestRinse clean and dip your wet brush into the lighter mixture, further lightening the wash. Lay your next overlapping stroke.

A clear finishRinse your brush well and using clear water start your last overlapping stroke. Squeeze the water out of your brush and pick up the bead of paint at the bottom of the wash. Perfecting a graded wash may take a little more practice than a flat wash, but any time painting is time well spent

TIP 1: If your stroke doesn't flow evenly or breaks up, charge your brush and repeat the stroke IMMEDIATELY.

TIP 2: Try practicing your graded washes with different colors and intensities. Each color has it's own physical properties that affect how they feel and flow in washes.

TIP 3: Practice transitioning one color into another for interesting multi-color effects.


Current Category: Watercolors Techniques & Tips >> Graded Wash Techniques
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