Start with less water than you think. With the water brush, you control the amount with a gentle squeeze, so you can add a little more at any time. It's much harder to take water away once it's on the page.
How do I control the water with my water brush?
- Squeeze gently. A light squeeze sends water to the tip. Aim for a tip that looks damp and shiny, not dripping.
- Wake up your paint. Add a few drops of water to the well, wait about a minute, then swirl with the brush until the paint feels creamy.
- Adjust in the mixing area. Move some paint to the white mixing area on your palette and add water one drop at a time until you like the shade.
- Dab off the extra. If the tip is too wet, touch it to your wristband, a tissue or a cloth before it goes on the paper.
How do I know if I'm using the right amount?
- Too much: puddles sit on the paper, colors run where you don't want them, the page ripples, and the color dries very pale.
- Too little: the brush drags, and strokes look streaky or scratchy.
- Just right: the paint glides on and leaves an even, slightly shiny stroke that settles into the paper.
Good to know
More water gives you soft, light color, and less water gives you strong, bold color. Watercolor also dries lighter than it looks when wet, so test each mix on a scrap page first.
Your wooden palette only needs a few drops at a time. See our article "How much water is too much for my wooden palette?"
If your pages ripple, see "How do I stop the paper from buckling or curling?"