2 Ways to paint a graduated wash
One of the most basic techniques worth mastering with watercolors is the wash. Washes are so useful and can be applied in so many ways. Whether you're painting a sunset, or a cloudy day, or feathers on a bird, a wash is a useful technique.
There are three types of washes that you can paint. You have the graduated wash, the flat wash and the variegated wash. Today, however, we're going to learn how to do a graduated wash.
A graduated wash is when you see one color fade from a darker value to a lighter value, or in some cases one color fade into a second color. You can create these washes in one of two ways:
With Wet on Wet: Wetting your paper first, then applying the darkest value at the top of the page, and then pulling the color down with your brush strokes.
With Wet on Dry: Applying the darkest value of the color, and then rinsing the brush and applying a stroke of a wet, less intense value directly beneath.
These two applications are demonstrated in the video below. I show you how to do this with just one color, and then with two.
0:00 Introduction
0:26 What is a Graduated Wash
1:20 Single Color Graduated Washes
1:39 How to properly wet your paper
2:25 The Wet on Wet Method for a Graduated Wash in One Color
3:25 The Wet on Wet Method for a Graduated Wash in One Color
5:00 The Wet on Dry Method for a Graduated Wash in Two Colors
6:20 The Wet on Dry Method for a Graduated Wash in Two Colors
Have you painted graduated washes? Which of the two methods do you prefer? Share in the comments below :)
And, as always, Keep Calm and Watercolor on!
