Featured piece
Watercolour beginner mistakes: the five that matter most
Most early frustrations with watercolour come down to the same handful of problems. Understand what they are and why they happen, and the medium becomes considerably less mysterious.
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On technique, materials, and artists.
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Where to buy watercolour paper in the US: a guide by format and budget
The right supplier depends on whether you want individual sheets, blocks, or pads, and how far you are willing to travel or wait for delivery.
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Where to buy watercolour paper in the UK: a guide by format and budget
The right supplier depends on whether you want individual sheets, blocks, or pads, and how much you want to spend on postage.
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Best hot press watercolour paper for botanical work
Materials Paper Guide Hot press paper rewards precision and punishes impatience. For botanical work, fine detail, and pen and wash, it is the right surface. Choosing the right one matters. 6 min read At a glance Fluid 100 Hot Press holds detail through the most layers. Hard, even sizing keeps edges crisp on the third…
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How to mix neutrals in watercolour without mud
Technique Colour Guide Mud in watercolour almost always comes from one of two things: the wrong pigment combination, or touching a wash that is not yet dry. 8 min read At a glance Mud comes from too many pigments or too much interference. Every additional pigment in a mix increases the chance of a dull…
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Watercolour brush shapes: what each one actually does
Materials Brushes Guide Watercolour brush sets tend to contain more shapes than most painters end up using. Understanding what each one does prevents buying brushes that will sit unused. 8 min read At a glance A round is the default brush for almost everything. A size 8 or 10 round with a good point covers…
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Wet on dry watercolour: structure without losing freshness
Technique Paint Guide Wet on dry has a reputation for producing stiff, overworked results. That reputation is about poor execution, not about the technique itself. 8 min read At a glance Damp is not dry. The most common wet on dry mistake is applying the next layer too soon. Wait until the paper feels cool…
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Wet in wet watercolour: how to work with it
Technique Paint Guide Wet in wet watercolour earns its reputation for unpredictability mostly because painters add colour without reading the surface first. The paint does not move randomly. It moves according to how wet the paper is, how much pigment is on the brush, and how much time has passed since the wash went down.…
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Glazing in watercolour: transparent layers explained
Technique Paint Guide Glazing in watercolour is the practice of applying one thin, transparent wash over another that is completely dry. Done well, it builds colour depth and luminosity that no single flat wash can produce. Done carelessly, it flattens colour, lifts the underlayer, and leaves the painting looking overworked. The difference lies almost entirely…
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Working light to dark in watercolour: why it matters
Technique Paint Guide Watercolour cannot be lightened once it is down. Working light to dark in watercolour is not a stylistic preference or a beginner’s shortcut. It is the structural logic of a medium built on transparency. 7 min read At a glance White in watercolour is unpainted paper. There is no white paint that…
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A core watercolour palette: the paints that never leave
Materials Palettes Guide A palette of six to ten well-chosen single-pigment colours covers most mixing needs. The difficulty is knowing which six to ten. 8 min read Building a core watercolour palette is one of the first real decisions a painter faces, and the advice available rarely helps. Twelve colours are recommended, then twenty, then…
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New writing from the site, the occasional material recommendation, and brief notes on painting. Sent monthly, nothing more.
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