How to Paint a Watercolor Wash Background

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10 May, 2022

How to draw a watercolor background

It is very interesting to work with watercolors. I love doing watercolor washes. They are perfect for crafts, abstract art, gift tags, etc. Follow me on Instagram to see what I do with these watercolors!

The best thing about this technique is that it is almost impossible to make a mistake! It is perfect for all ages and fitness levels!

Here is a video tutorial on how to draw a watercolor background:

Tools needed for washing watercolors:

dr f martens ink bombay india
watercolor paper
flat brush 1 inch wide
Water
handkerchief or piece of cloth
masking tape
cardboard or plate
Bib (never use it and sometimes regret it)

you know:

I am using Dr. F Martens Bombay India . They are very bright and retain most of their color when dry. They also dry out the shiny look. You can use this technique with any watercolor... but you will lose some of the brightness and a little water will make the finish look chalky.

Stage 1:

First, cut the paper to the desired size. I love the large 5" x 7" display, it's easy to frame it later...fold it like a postcard...or cut it out for a bookmark or gift card.

2nd step:

Then stick the paper to the waterproof work surface. If you're not sure if you should write in ink on your dining table... it's not worth it! Take a piece of plywood from the garage or a neighbor and glue paper to it. Then put on a plastic bag and work on it.

Step 3:

Fill the plate with ink. It's very fluid, is that a word? It's runny so be careful when filling in the holes... some ink will go far... I filled the holes almost to the top and painted over twice as much watercolor as the image below.

Fourth step:

Now use a brush and clean water. Apply a layer of water to the paper. Do not fill out the paper completely. I use an old cup for a glass of water... and then I don't accidentally drink it while I'm working!

Fifth step:

Now dip your brush into the desired color of ink and run it through the water on the paper.
Add additional colors if you like. (Again, watch the video above if this doesn't make sense)

Color combinations:

Some colors work well, others don't. Do you remember how to mix colors in elementary school? You know, red and yellow make orange... blue and yellow make green... and red and blue make purple. These are good colors to apply next to water when blended into a new color.

It's better not to add additional colors (the opposite of the color in the color chart)... for example: red and green (though I did it in the video), purple and yellow... and orange and blue. These colors, when mixed, make brown... or dirt, as we call it.

Another great mixing tip is to use colors that are close together in the rainbow...or groups of 3-5 colors on the color wheel. The reds, oranges and yellows on the page are stunning. Yellow, green and blue favorites. Blue, green and purple work too!

Be creative and try! Let the *older* kids play with color theory too. (Disclaimer: my kids are older... my son is 11... so he might not remember what younger kids might be doing... it's ink... so things get messy).

Step 6: Wait until the paper is completely dry. You can use a hair dryer to speed things up... but I usually have a lot of other things that allow me to multitask, so a few minutes is not a big deal.

Watercolor paper curls slightly when wet. The tape needs to hold its shape while it dries... so keep it in place while it dries.

Step 7: Finally, remove the masking tape and enjoy the magic of mixed ink! I love how the colors rotate, change and blend.

find errors and fix them:

If this technique is difficult for you... I think you are not using enough water. It's amazing to put water on paper, but that's what makes this technique so effective.

Now add quotes with captions, use them as gift tags, hang them as art, cut ribbons for bookmarks, or fold them into a handmade postcard. The colors flow and blend beautifully!