Watercolor Techniques Cheat Sheet

Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Basic Techniques

Wet-on-wet
Apply paint to wet paper
Wet-on-dry
Apply paint to dry paper
Dry brush
Minimal water for texture
Lifting
Remove paint with damp brush
Glazing
Layer transparent washes
Salt technique
Sprinkle salt for texture

Color Mixing

Primary colors
Red, yellow, blue - can't be mixed
Secondary
Mix two primaries
Tertiary
Mix primary + secondary
Warm/Cool
Warm: reds, yellows; Cool: blues, greens

Materials

Paper
140lb+ cold press recommended
Brushes
Round and flat brushes
Paint
Student vs artist grade
Palette
For mixing colors
💡 Pro Tip: Let layers dry completely between glazes!
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