14 Watercolor artist | APRIL 2019
Glazing
Layering watercolor over previously
painted areas that have dried is
another color-mixing method. Light
refl ects off the top layer of paint fi rst.
Th e results diff er subtly, depending on
which color is painted fi rst and what’s
layered over it, once it has dried.
Technically, the colors don’t really mix
because they sit on top of one another;
however, they’re mixed visually. Th is
technique can be used to add depth
and saturation, or to darken and neu-
tralize a previously painted color.
Too many brushstrokes will reacti-
vate dried color and lift it. I call this“waking the children.” Children don’t
like to be awakened, and neither does
your paint. When color is lifted, it can
create unintended mixes because
you’re inadvertently blending them
on the paper.Color Charging
Charging color into an area of wet
paint produces vastly diff erent results
depending on which color is used
fi rst. Load a juicy amount of paint
onto your brush and lightly touch
it to the previous wet color. Let the
colors blend naturally.
Typically, I fi nd that dropping
darker colors into lighter values
works well; however, you can also
get amazing results when you charge
lighter colors into darker values. Th e
hues will remain harmonious even
when complementary colors are used.MAKING TRANSPARENT
COLORS FUNCTION
AS OPAQUE
You can make transparent paint
appear opaque by dropping strong
color on top of darks, which results in
a chalky, opaque look. If you have
dark values in a painting and want to
energize them, you can place a lighter
value color on top of dry paint.
Th is is a modifi ed glazing technique
and works best if you don’t touch the
darks with a brush. Here’s how: Use a
lot of paint on a brush tip and
squeeze a drop of color on top of your
dark value. When dry, the puddle will
form a hard edge. If you want to
feather the edges, take a spray bottle
and spritz water between the puddle
and dry paper. Th e color will spread
out depending on the amount of
water applied. If you want to preserve
details, apply masking fl uid to protect
colors and shapes before applying
paint, as in Perfume Bottles, Tunisia
(on page 11).MIXING COLORS
ON THE PAPER
Mixing watercolors on the painting
surface is where the magic happens
as the medium’s transparency and
free-fl owing qualities take over.Wet-Into-Wet
Placing pure colors next to each other
on wet paper produces beautiful
results. Th e colors will blend when
connected with water and allowed
to merge, or “kiss,” as in the sky and
other areas in Potosi Afternoon
(above). Avoid blending colors with
a brush; instead, let the water do the
work and watch what happens.Turn to page 16
for a demo
Potosi Afternoon
(watercolor on paper, 22x15)Watercolor Essentials