In watercolor, the brightest white is usually the paper itself. Instead of adding white paint, you plan your white areas and paint around them.
How do I save white areas?
- Plan them first. Before painting, decide where your whites go, such as a shine on an apple, a cloud or a sparkle on water. Mark them with a very light pencil outline.
- Paint around them. Use the tip of your water brush to paint carefully up to the edge of each white area, leaving the paper untouched.
- Start light. Begin with your lightest colors and work toward darker ones. It's easy to add color later and much harder to take it away.
- Keep the brush damp, not dripping. Too much water can flow into your white areas. Dab extra water on your wristband or a tissue.
What if I painted over a white area?
- While it's wet: blot it with a clean tissue, or lift the color with a clean, damp brush.
- Once it's dry: rewet the spot gently with clean water, wait a few seconds, then blot. You may not get back to pure white, but you can lighten it a lot.
Can I use white paint?
Yes, for small final touches. A few dots or lines of white paint on top of a dry painting can add highlights, like sparkles in eyes or snowflakes. Use it with less water so it covers well, and add it at the very end. White paint is available as a single color in our shop: https://tobioskits.com/collections/watercolor-paints
Good to know
To make a color lighter, add water instead of white. White paint mixed into watercolor can make colors look chalky. Our color mixing chart explains more: https://tobioskits.com/pages/watercolor-color-mixing-chart