Why granulation is affected by how long the paint sat in the pan

Paint has a history before it reaches the paper.

A pan that was fully dry and slowly rehydrated behaves differently from a pan that remained damp or was repeatedly disturbed while semi wet. Binder distribution shifts as water evaporates. Pigment settles inside the pan itself. Over time, layers form.

When water is added, pigment is released in a sequence. Some particles lift immediately. Others take longer. Some remain bound until more water is introduced. This order matters.

Granulating pigments are particularly sensitive to this sequence. A pan that was allowed to dry fully and rehydrate evenly often produces clearer separation on paper. A pan that was frequently reactivated while still damp can release pigment more uniformly, reducing visible granulation.

This is not about right or wrong use. It is about recognizing that paint arrives at the paper carrying its own internal state.

The way paint was treated earlier influences how it behaves later.

Once this is noticed, behavior that seemed inconsistent starts to make sense. The paint is not changing its mind. It is responding to its own recent history.

Nothing in watercolor begins at the moment the brush touches the paper.