A good watercolour wash can make all the difference in your painting. From dreamy skies to glowing backgrounds, washes are the foundation of watercolour technique. The best part? With a little practice, anyone can master them. In this post, we’ll walk you through three essential washes every beginner should know — plus the tools you’ll need to get started.
Why Washes Matter
Watercolour is all about transparency, layering, and light. Washes let you:
-
Build smooth backgrounds for landscapes or portraits
-
Create atmospheric effects like mist, dawn light, or shadows
-
Control intensity by adjusting water-to-paint ratio
Once you understand these basics, your paintings will look instantly more polished.
What You’ll Need
Here are a few essentials that work beautifully with washes:
-
Paper: A high-quality 100% cotton surface is key. Try Arches Watercolour Paper:
or Saunders Waterford Watercolour Paper - Brushes: A soft, absorbent wash brush makes life easier. Our Artworks/PrimeArt 311 Squirrel Wash Brushes hold loads of colour and water.
- Paint: Any artist-grade watercolour works, but for rich pigments, try Maimeri Blu Watercolour
1. Flat Wash
This is your bread-and-butter wash — an even, consistent layer of colour across the paper. Perfect for skies or backgrounds.
How to do it:
-
Mix plenty of colour in your palette (more than you think you’ll need).
-
Load your brush fully and lay down horizontal strokes, starting at the top.
-
Slightly overlap each stroke as you move down.
-
Keep the paper tilted so gravity helps keep the wash smooth.
Tip: Work quickly and don’t go back over drying areas, or you’ll get streaks.
2. Graded Wash
A graded wash shifts from dark to light, ideal for sunsets or soft shadows.
How to do it:
-
Start as you would with a flat wash, fully loaded brush and horizontal strokes.
-
With each pass, dip your brush in clean water to slightly dilute the colour.
-
Continue down the paper, letting the colour fade naturally.
Tip: Practice controlling the fade so the transition feels seamless.
3. Wet-in-Wet Wash
This is where the magic happens — soft, fluid blends that feel spontaneous and organic.
How to do it:
-
Wet the paper evenly with clean water (using a large brush).
-
While it’s still glistening, drop in your paint. Watch as it flows, blooms, and blends.
-
Add multiple colours for natural gradients — perfect for clouds or water.
Tip: Don’t overwork it. Let the paint spread on its own for best effects.
Final Thoughts
Mastering washes is the first step toward unlocking watercolour’s unique beauty. Start with these three techniques, and you’ll find yourself using them in almost every painting.
👉 Ready to try? Stock up on Arches Watercolour Paper:
or Saunders Waterford Watercolour Paper
Pair it with Maimeri Blu Watercolour
And grab an Artworks/PrimeArt 311 Squirrel Wash Brushes
With the right tools, your washes will look cleaner, brighter, and more professional.
