5 simple watercolor techniques every artist should try

Whether you're just beginning your watercolor journey or returning to the page after a creative pause, reconnecting with simple techniques can unlock a sense of ease and joy. Watercolor isn’t about mastering the perfect brushstroke—it’s about listening. To the water. To the pigment. To your mood.

These five techniques are foundational, but more importantly—they’re freeing. They’re the kinds of techniques you can return to again and again. Like a ritual. Like breath.

Wet-on-Wet: Letting the Paint Lead

Wet-on-wet is where magic begins. You wet your paper first, then drop in color and watch it bloom, spread, and blend on its own. It’s intuitive and emotional—perfect for skies, florals, or abstract work.

This technique:

• Encourages softness and surrender
• Helps you release control
• Creates beautiful transitions between colors
• Try it when you need a gentle reset or want to express emotion without structure.

Wet-on-Dry: Building Structure with Intention

When you paint onto dry paper, your brushstrokes stay crisp and defined. Wet-on-dry gives you more control over where the paint goes, allowing you to build detail, contrast, and clarity.

This is great for:

• Layering petals or leaves
• Adding finishing touches
• Combining with loose backgrounds

It invites focus and balance—perfect if you tend to feel overwhelmed by the looseness of watercolor.

Lifting: Creating Light Again

Lifting is the technique of removing pigment after it’s been laid down—either with a damp brush, tissue, or cloth. It’s a way to create highlights, fix mistakes, or add soft detail.

Use it to:

• Soften harsh edges
• Add light into shadow
• Correct overly dark areas

Watercolor is one of the few mediums where removing can be just as creative as applying.

Layering (Glazing): Building Depth Slowly

Layering is the heart of watercolor. Let one wash dry completely, then add another on top. Each layer remains slightly transparent, creating luminous depth.

With handmade paints, you’ll often see beautiful separation or granulation emerge in each layer.

This technique teaches:

• Patience
• Timing
• How to build complexity without muddying

Layering is where your painting starts to feel real—soft shadows, color stories, quiet emotion.

Dry Brush: Texture That Tells a Story

Dry brush is about contrast. It’s used with very little water, letting the bristles drag pigment across the texture of the paper.

Try it to:

• Suggest rough surfaces (tree bark, rock, fabric)
• Create energetic lines or broken texture
• Break up softness with intentional edge
• Use dry brush sparingly—like spice in a recipe—to highlight or balance softness elsewhere.

Watercolor isn’t a skill to master. It’s a practice to return to.

- Looking to take your textures deeper? Read: Creating Depth and Texture in Watercolor
- Want to personalize your work even more? Try: How to Mix Your Own Custom Color Palettes with Handmade Paints