This week, we explored 5 different watercolor techniques. The first one we tried was a flat wash. Basically, it involves loading the brush with water and paint, making broad strokes back and forth to lay in an even tone of color. This is useful when painting a background or large solid area.
Then, we did a graded wash. This is useful for laying in skies or water to show depth.
Then, we did a wet on wet technique. We used our brushes to saturate the paper and then made strokes of color on top to see what happens. Using more than one color makes those colors bleed together. I think this was the kids' favorite, because it you end up with such a unique results. Wet on wet is a technique that is truly "watercolor-esque" and can't really be duplicated in oils or acrylics.
Next, we did a dry brush technique. This is used to lay in broad saturated strokes of color.
Finally, we layered some color over part of our flat wash. We talked about how layering color is a way to mix colors right on the paper. The transparency of watercolor lends itself to layering.
Next week, we'll start on our landscape using the techniques we went over today. Here's all the techniques, in a row:
By the way, I'm trying to collect white (black doesn't work... can't see the colors well) styrofoam containers for paint mixing.
I'm looking for the smaller ones... around 5 1/2" x 8". Please send them in with your kids if you can. Thanks!
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