How to manage the bead in a watercolour wash
The bead is the moving band of liquid at the lower edge of a wash. Its size and continuity control how evenly the wash develops.
Technique
Technique
Watercolour blooms and backruns: causes, control and deliberate use
A bloom records a difference in moisture between neighbouring passages. Recognising the drying stage lets you prevent the mark or place it deliberately.
Materials
Transparent vs opaque watercolour pigments: what changes on the paper
Materials · Guide Two paints can share a hue and still behave differently once they cross a dark mark or
Materials
Staining vs non-staining watercolours: what changes on the paper
Materials · Guide Staining describes how firmly dried watercolour resists removal. It varies with the finished paint and the paper,
Materials
How to care for watercolour brushes: the habits that make them last
Materials · Guide 2 min read Good brush care is a short routine: rinse thoroughly, remove water gently, reshape the
Reviews
Watercolour brushes under £30: four synthetic rounds compared
Four synthetic round brush ranges under £30, compared by fibre, size range, published dimensions and where to buy, with the limits stated.
Materials
Kolinsky sable vs synthetic brushes: is the difference worth the price
Materials · Guide 2 min read Kolinsky sable and synthetic brushes differ in water holding, spring, point and cost, but
Materials
Earth pigments in watercolour: PY43, PR101 and why the codes matter
Materials · Guide Earth pigments are colours made from natural or manufactured iron oxides. Ochres, siennas, umbers and earth reds
Materials
Where to buy watercolour paper in the US: a practical guide
Materials · Guide Choose the supplier after you have chosen the paper: the practical checks are range, format, delivery and
Materials
Where to buy watercolour paper in the UK: a practical guide
Materials · Guide Choose the supplier after you have chosen the paper: the useful checks are format, range, delivery practicality