Proper Use of Water and Paper Wetting in Watercolor Painting July 29, 2000
Probably the single characteristic which makes watercolor different from all other color mediums is the fact that it is the only one in which the medium actually penetrates the surface onto which it is painted. This accounts for the brilliant translucence this medium is famous for.
In a practical sense, we experience it in this way. We put water on our watercolor paper with a brush, stroking the brush across the area we plan to paint in order to loosen and break up the sizing. When we have accomplished this, the water will be able to begin penetrating the paper. Our job is to apply our pigment at a time that the water can carry our pigment into the paper with it. The success of this process depends on a few important factors. Proper timing is essential. Pigment must be thick enough to produce a value which will be dark enough when it is dried 30% lighter than when it was wet. The brush we use must have a satisfactory pigment/water ratio. In other words, the brush must carry more pigment than water. Experience is the best help in judging when the water has begun to penetrate the paper. If we use artificial sable brushes we can make them “thirsty” by wetting them and pulling them through a tissue to remove most of the water. With this “thirsty” brush we can pick up pigment which we have introduced to the paper too early.
Sometimes we wet the paper properly and for one reason or another we get distracted and do not begin putting in pigment in time. After a time has elapsed we notice our error and decide to try to rewet the paper. This second application is in no way similar to the first one. That new water will sit on top, your pigment will run around in it and eventually pick its own place to enter the paper rather than what you wanted it to. If this happens to you, as soon as you notice you have waited too long after wetting the paper, dry the paper completely and try again.
If you have questions email us at rlwatercolor71@aol.com.
Enjoy painting!
Robert and Sharon
Robert Long Watercolors
12273 Emerald Coast Parkway, Unit 120 • Destin, FL 32550
Phone (850) 837-3220 • Fax (850) 837-3770
E-mail us: rlwatercolor71@aol.com
http://www.robertlongwatercolors.com