Wet on Wet Watercolor Technique

One of the ways you can be truly creative in watercolor painting is with the wet on wet technique. It is like painting with complete reckless abandonment! There are several methods of this technique such as wetting the entire page and then applying paint. But in this blog, I am focusing on another way of using this technique. The images in this bog, Wisteria and Orange Peel were created in the same manner. I start off with putting down a dot of very wet paint. With clear water and a generous round brush, I draw out the paint with upward loose strokes forming a flower shape. I then use a smaller brush with concentrated paint and apply that to the bottom. That is when the magic happens! The paint spreads upward creating a dark to light flower with very loose edges. Depending on the color, I add two or three more dabs of concentrated paint, sometimes the same color and sometimes a corresponding color. I do this for each flower. When I am satisfied with the effect, I paint in thin stems and sometimes add a bud . With this style of flowers, I generally do not put in leaves as the look is totally whimsical. A splatter of paint completes the look. Try this for yourself if you have not done so. Remember, to be truly creative, you have to be in the stage of play!