​You will load your brush with more paint than water for more vibrant colors.

For mid-tones, you will load your brush with equal parts of paint to water.

You will load your brush with more water than paint for more faded colors.

Manipulating Colors

Using Too Much Water

The Mistake

Too much water means that your colors will tend to be pale and washed out. You may have to paint over the area twice, dulling your initial wash and losing that appealing freshness. Too much water can also lead to drips which generally makes the paint difficult to control.

Using Too Much Water

How to Fix

You can avoid this problem by being aware of how much water is on the brush and how much water is already on the paper. You can dab excess water from the brush by dabbing it on a piece of clean cloth or paper towel. You may even need to gently squeeze the water out between your fingers first.

Used for details and lines, as well as filling areas with color.

Round

Used for filling areas with color.

Flat

Used for filling large areas with color.

Mop

​Used to create texture within a painting.

Comb

Used to create texture within a painting.

Fan

Used to trace outlines and for smaller details.

Liner

It will always be textured.

It will always be thick.

Some watercolor paper is made from cotton or other fibers.​

Watercolor

Paper