Make a Simple Watercolor Wash, a tutorial by Joanne Groff

Make a Simple Watercolor Wash

Watercolor washes have many uses. A background for a card or a hand lettered quote. A first layer for a design or to add depth to a painting.

Not only are they useful, watercolor washes are simple too.

Ready to give one a try?

Simple Watercolor Wash — Watercolor washes can be a variety of shapes and colors.

You will need:

Watercolor paper (I am using Canson 140lb.)
Masking tape
Clipboard
Flat brush
Paint
Water
Paper towel

1. First, tape your watercolor paper to a clipboard or other surface to keep it from warping as it dries.

Simple Watercolor Wash Taped — Taped watercolor paper. We’ll try not to be distracted by my clipboard.

I like to cut my paper into quarters to work smaller. Then, if I want to use a wash for a card, I already have the right size. I also propped my clipboard to encourage the paint to run toward the bottom of the paper.

2. Next, use your brush to wet your paper.

Simple Watercolor Wash Water only — Can you see the sheen of the water layer?

Just paint the paper with a thin layer of plain water. You don’t have to wet your paper to make a wash. I did here because I wanted to add a couple of colors to my wash, and wet-on-wet helps colors blend better.

3. Choose your color or colors and wet your paint.

4. When your color is ready, load your brush with one color and brush it across the top of your paper.

Simple Watercolor Wash, Adding Color — Color brushed on to the middle.

I used more water than I did paint because I want my wash to turn out lighter, for a background.

5. Continue brushing across your paper.

If you dip your brush in paint before you brush the paper, you will have a darker wash. If you dip your brush in water, your wash will lighten as you work toward the bottom of the paper.

6. At the middle of your paper, add a stroke of another color.

Blend it in with several brush strokes. If you want one color, just continue brushing across the paper until you reach the bottom. Alternatively, if you want to add more colors, repeat the add and blend technique.

Simple Watercolor Wash, Second Color — Add a second color if you want. Keep it light and blend it a little with your brush. I added a hint of green.

7. Wait.

Let your watercolor wash dry completely.

8. Add the next layer to your design. Or remove the tape and add some hand lettering.

Simple Watercolor Wash Thank you — Here a colorful watercolor wash acts as a background for a hand lettered thank you card.

If you want more inspiration, here is a link to a post that uses watercolor washes to explore designs.

There you have it! A simple watercolor wash. You’ve just opened your artistic world to more possibilities. What will you use your watercolor wash for? I’d love to hear about it in the comments section.

Write it. Draw it. Dance it. Dream it. And above all … enjoy it!

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