Updated October 29th, 2026.
As an artist, watercolor painting is a valuable skill to have. The right watercolor painting techniques result in some incredibly realistic pieces, from stunning botanical watercolor illustrations to Bob-Ross-inspired landscapes. Plus, watercolor paint is relatively easy to work with. Its colors are vibrant, it dries relatively quickly and it is versatile enough to be used in a wide range of mixed media projects.
Of course, knowing how to paint with watercolor isn’t something that happens overnight. Some of the world’s most famous watercolor artists have been refining their advanced watercolor techniques (and even inventing some of their own) for years.
Still, if you’re looking to get started with watercolor painting, this watercolor painting guide offers practical watercolor techniques for beginners along with some best practices for choosing supplies.
What Supplies Do You Need for Watercolor Illustration?
Before you can begin practicing your watercolor techniques, it’s essential to start with the best watercolor supplies. From paints and brushes to paper and other accessories, there are a few things you’ll want to have on hand.
Watercolor Paints
First, keep in mind that not all watercolor paints are of equal quality — but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to break the bank to get the quality you’re seeking. As you shop for watercolor paint, look for brands that are labeled as “professional.” These paints should be made with a high pigment concentration and lightfastness (which refers to how readily the color will fade when exposed to the sun). Taking the time to read reviews of paint brands before you choose one can help inform your purchase.
Brushes
In addition to the right paint, you’ll need a variety of quality brushes to choose from as you work. This should include brushes of different sizes and shapes as well as a range of brush points to achieve various levels of detail in your painting.
Watercolor brushes are usually made from either natural hair, synthetic hair or mixed fibers. Natural hair brushes are ideal for watercolor because they can hold a lot of water, but they also tend to be more expensive than synthetic options. Consider trying out different watercolor brush types to see what will work best for you in the long term.
Paper for Watercolor
Not all paper works well for watercolor, which is mostly due to the fact that watercolor paints are very wet. Cheaper and lighter papers will not be able to absorb watercolor paint properly; instead, the paint will tend to pool on top of the paper and may run or drip.
As you search for the best paper for watercolor painting, look specifically for paper that is made of cotton or wood pulp. Paper also comes in a variety of weights, with heavier paper able to absorb more moisture. Different weights may be better for different projects, so it’s good to have some options on hand.
Other Tools and Accessories
One of the biggest perks about working with watercolor is that you don’t need a great deal of expensive supplies or accessories to get started. Aside from your paint, paper and brushes, some other tools to consider purchasing include:
- A quality paint palette (or several).
- Some containers for holding water.
- Sponges (for experimenting with paint application).
- Masking tape (for creating sharp lines).
What Are the Basic Watercolor Techniques?
Explore some basic watercolor techniques below, and consider checking out watercolor painting tutorials for each of these on a platform like YouTube to see them in action.
Wet-on-Wet Technique
The wet-on-wet watercolor technique, which was invented by Bill Alexander and made famous by Bob Ross, involves dampening the entire paper before applying paint. In watercolor painting specifically, this technique creates very soft edges and smooth gradients that can give paintings a highly realistic look.
Wet-on-Dry Technique
This watercolor technique is used when paint is applied directly to a dry piece of paper or canvas. Typically, this technique is best in watercolor when the artist wants to achieve a greater sense of precision and control. It’s also ideal for layering and achieving the most vibrant colors.
Glazing and Layering
Some artists will use glazing techniques, which involve applying extremely thin layers of paint over dried paint in order to create more dimension and depth. This technique takes a lot of practice to perfect — and because it requires each individual layer to be completely dry before moving onto the next glaze, it also takes some time and patience.
Lifting and Blotting
Lifting and blotting are useful techniques not just for correcting mistakes (like using too much water) but also for refining your work and even lightening areas of your painting. These techniques are generally carried out using a dry brush, paper towel, sponge or rag to absorb excess moisture and paint.
What Are Advanced Watercolor Techniques?
As you become more proficient in basic watercolor techniques, you may want to explore more advanced techniques to give your paintings greater depth and interest.
Negative Painting
Negative painting involves painting around the subject of a painting, rather than painting the subject itself. This technique, when executed properly, can empower artists to use negative space more effectively while creating more defined and controlled shapes.
Wet-in-Wet Detail Work
Not to be confused with wet-on-wet painting, wet-in-wet is a more advanced painting technique that involves mixing color with water directly on the paper. There are numerous ways to use this technique, but wet-in-wet usually results in softer edges while allowing colors to blend seamlessly into each other.
Creating Texture With Salt and Alcohol
Some artists will also experiment with salt and alcohol in their watercolor paintings. For example, sprinkling even a small amount of salt on watercolor paint while it’s still wet can create a unique mottled look as the salt absorbs moisture from the paint. Meanwhile, adding rubbing alcohol to watercolor sparks a chemical reaction that can create a bubbling effect. Experimenting with the use of salt and alcohol in watercolor painting can help you refine your techniques and take your paintings to the next level, although it does take practice.
How Do You Improve Your Watercolor Illustrations?
As you experiment with different watercolor washes and other techniques, there are a few tips and best practices to keep in mind to create remarkable watercolor illustrations and refine your expertise.
Planning Your Composition
Before you put your brush to the paper, it’s wise to plan your painting’s composition. This includes thinking about such factors as your focal point, the shapes you’ll be using, and the balance between negative and positive space. Many watercolor painters will even use a pencil to roughly sketch out key components of the painting before they begin.
Comprehending Water Control
Another area of watercolor painting that requires patience and practice is learning water control. Knowing the right paint-to-water ratio to use to achieve your desired results can be challenging when you’re first starting out, so you’ll want to practice water control techniques such as wiping off excess water and using the right water temperature to avoid puddles and achieve your desired look.
Understanding Color Theory
A solid foundation in color theory is also critical to creating the best watercolor paintings, so don’t overlook this. Knowing how colors work together, how they can elicit emotion and how they can affect the overall perception of an art piece are all essential as you develop your watercolor skills.
What Are Common Watercolor Mistakes to Avoid?
In addition to following some best practices in watercolor painting, there are also a few common mistakes that beginning painters make when working with watercolor.
Overworking the Painting
One of the most common errors painters make when they first start working with watercolor is overworking their paintings, which means the artist has repeatedly reworked and altered an area (or multiple areas) of a painting to the point that it looks muddy or washed out. This mistake can be avoided with a little foresight and experience; the more you continue to work with watercolor, the easier it will be for you to decide when to stop working a color.
Inconsistent Water Control
When your water control is lacking, you can end up with puddles of water and paint that could ruin your painting. Proper water control takes time and practice, but a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to improving your water control include:
- Always erring on the side of using less water.
- Tilting your paper to check for pooling and puddles.
- Blotting excess moisture with a paper towel or dry brush.
- Using a heavier paper that will absorb more water.
Rushing the Drying Process
Sometimes, artists will be so eager to complete a painting or move onto the next step that they try to rush the drying process. However, it’s important that the entire surface of the painting is dry before adding any new layers or dimension to the work. If the paint isn’t completely dry, adding more paint can cause the existing layers to smudge and bleed into each other.
Learn More Watercolor Illustration Techniques in an Art Degree Program
Creating magic with watercolor is a skill developed over time with plenty of practice, persistence, and experimentation with both basic and advanced watercolor techniques. By exploring these techniques and being careful to avoid some common mistakes for beginner artists, you can begin producing eye-catching works of art in due time.
Looking to develop your artistic talents in a setting that supports your creativity and growth? Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design offers a number of degree programs to suit your goals, including our popular Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration that is available both online and on campus. In this program, students develop key illustration, technical, conceptual and business skills while building a portfolio they can be proud of.
Get in touch to learn more about any of our programs at RMCAD, or get started with your online application for admission today.
Frequently Asked Questions: Watercolor Illustration
What supplies do you need to start watercolor illustration?
Getting started requires four essentials: paints, brushes, paper, and a few basic accessories. Professional-grade paints are worth the investment because they carry more pigment and resist fading in sunlight, and quality options exist without a large budget. A small range of brush sizes, shapes, and tips covers most needs, with natural-hair brushes holding water well and synthetic or mixed-fiber brushes offering a lower-cost alternative. Good watercolor paper matters most of all, since cotton or wood-pulp paper in a heavier weight absorbs moisture and prevents pooling, and a palette, water containers, sponges, and masking tape round out a beginner kit.
What is the best paper for watercolor?
The best watercolor paper is a heavier-weight sheet made from cotton or wood pulp, because it can absorb wet paint instead of letting it pool on the surface. Thin, inexpensive paper tends to buckle and causes colors to sit and spread unpredictably, which makes controlled work difficult. Cotton papers are prized for their absorbency and durability, while wood-pulp options offer a more affordable entry point. As a general rule, the heavier the paper, the more moisture it can hold, which gives an illustrator more room to work with wet techniques.
What are the basic watercolor techniques for beginners?
Four foundational techniques give beginners a strong starting point. The wet-on-wet technique involves dampening the paper before applying paint, producing soft edges and smooth gradients. The wet-on-dry technique applies paint to dry paper for sharper precision, control, and vibrant layering. Glazing and layering build depth by laying thin, transparent washes over fully dried paint, which rewards patience. Lifting and blotting, done with a dry brush, paper towel, or sponge, removes excess water or paint to lighten areas and correct mistakes.
What is the difference between wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry?
The two techniques differ in whether the paper is damp or dry when paint is applied, and the effect each produces. Wet-on-wet means painting onto paper that has been dampened first, which lets colors flow and blend into soft edges and gentle gradients, ideal for skies, backgrounds, and atmospheric effects. Wet-on-dry means applying paint to dry paper, giving crisp edges, greater control, and more vivid, defined layers suited to detail and structure. Many illustrations combine both, using wet-on-wet for broad washes and wet-on-dry for the sharper elements on top.
How do you create texture in watercolor?
Texture can be introduced with a few simple materials that interact with wet paint in distinctive ways. Sprinkling salt onto a wet wash absorbs moisture as it settles, leaving a soft, mottled, star-like pattern once dry. Dropping or brushing rubbing alcohol onto wet paint creates a bubbling, blossoming effect where the pigment is pushed aside. Sponges can also be used to dab in irregular, organic texture. Each of these effects takes practice to control, so experimenting on scrap paper first helps an illustrator learn how the materials behave.
Why does watercolor control depend on water?
Water control is central to watercolor because the paint-to-water ratio determines how pigment flows, blends, and dries on the page. Too much water leads to puddles, uneven drying, and loss of control, while too little can make colors dull or streaky. Learning to wipe excess water from a brush, tilt the paper to spot pooling, and manage how saturated each wash is takes time and repetition. Mastering this balance is what separates muddy, unpredictable results from clean, luminous work, and it is one of the most important skills a watercolor illustrator develops.
What are the most common watercolor mistakes to avoid?
Three mistakes trip up most newcomers, and each has a clear fix. Overworking a painting by reworking the same area repeatedly leads to muddy, washed-out color, so knowing when to stop is a skill that grows with experience. Inconsistent water control causes pooling and uneven washes, which can be managed by using less water, tilting the paper to catch puddles, blotting excess moisture, and choosing heavier paper. Rushing the drying process is the third, since adding paint before a layer is fully dry causes smudging and bleeding, so patience between layers is essential.
