Page 26 – Homesthetics

12 Must-Know Watercolor Tips for Beginners & Pros

Why and How to Use Watercolor Mediums to Enhance Your Painting Game

Learn How to Use Watercolor on Wood

13 Best Watercolor Sketchbook for Creatives

11 Best Watercolor Brushes for Beginners & Professionals

15 Must-Have Watercolor Supplies for Beginners & Artists

Stretching Watercolor Paper & How To Keep Watercolor Paper From Warping

Learn How to Paint Watercolor on Canvas Easily & Successfully

16 Must-Know Painting En Plein Air With Watercolors Tips & Tricks

Learn The Basic Watercolor Painting Techniques For Beginners

Cold Press vs. Hot Press vs. Rough Watercolor Paper

83 Best Watercolor Painting

While painting on paper is fairly common, using watercolor on wood can create interesting effects and a distinct style, making it a great medium. Wood also allows the watercolor to stick better to the surface, and the colors appear brighter, especially when you prepare it well using proper primer and varnish.

Since watercolor paint is a diverse medium that is robust and easy to apply, it can be used on various flat surfaces, such as watercolor paper, wood, glass, and fabrics. Most artists prefer wood panels since they’re compatible with most paints, and their natural wood grains can add elegance and texture to the work of art.

However, working with wooden surfaces can also be quite tricky since they are porous in nature. So, you must create a suitable and well-prepared flat surface before you paint watercolor on wood, and this can be done by choosing the right natural grain and applying primer.

Besides these techniques, you must know other important steps to create a watercolor painting on a wood panel. We will discuss those steps in this guide, so keep reading!

How To Use Watercolor On Wood: A Step-by-Step Guide

Materials You Need

As with any other art medium, achieving the best results to create watercolor paintings on wood highly depends on the materials used. Good quality materials - from wood and varnish to art supplies like brush and paint - all of them play an important role in the process of creating long-lasting art.

Many artists who work with watercolor paints have started utilizing various eco-friendly surfaces, such as a thick canvas and synthetic, recyclable materials like Yupo papers. However, watercolors on wood remain the most preferable for their unique pattern and smooth surface.

Here are the materials you will need to get started:

High-quality watercolor paint
Sandpaper
Dust removal kit
Primer for prep work
Varnish for sealing
Paper towel or damp cloth
Mask, eye goggles, and gloves for safety
Water and paintbrush

These materials are easily available at craft stores, so you need not worry about their availability.

Step 1: Know Your Watercolor Paint

We are all aware of how watercolors work, but we’d like to reiterate a few key points for better understanding. Firstly, different watercolors have different compositions. However, most of them are made using gum arabic, a binding agent that combines with water to activate different colors. Some other brands also use linseed oil as a binding agent for their watercolor paint.

So, it’s important to look into the binding agents used and other chemicals included in the paint when you purchase it from the local craft store. You can also avoid the hassle of checking every watercolor product by using trusted brands, such as Daniel Smith or Winsor & Newton.

After purchasing the watercolor paints, activate the pigments in a palette to understand how they might appear on different materials.

Step 2: Preparing the Wood Surface by Sanding

Most often, you find a wood panel or piece that has a nice natural grain or texture - that’s why you must sand the wood to prepare it for watercolor. Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the areas where you will add paint. This will create a smoother finish that will help the pigment pop when activated.

If you have a large piece of wood or a wide wood panel, you can try sanding a smaller area in the middle. This will alleviate the surface surrounding the middle, giving a framed look. Many artists use this method since it’s quite difficult to frame wood. Attach the sandpaper to a drill for better grip and control, and ensure you sand the wood in a well-ventilated room.

Step 3: Remove Dust And Wood Shavings

After the sanding process is over, you’ll find several wood shavings and a significant amount of dust on the wood and the workstation. You must remove this unless you want a different kind of texture that utilizes wood shavings - but be warned, they’re quite tricky to incorporate.

The best way to remove the fine particles from the surface is by simply blowing the loose debris off. We recommend using a vacuum cleaner with the blower settings and adding a thin nozzle to the opening. Blow the air both with and against the wood grain. This will create a striated intersection on the wood, which will give you a canvas-like appearance.

Alternatively, you can use a bottle of compressed air, which is often used to remove dust from computer keyboards.

Step 4: Apply Primer

When the wood is properly sanded, wipe down the surface with a damp cloth and paper towel to prepare it for primer application. Since watercolor paints contain gum arabic, they may be tacky while applied on a surface with no primer. Moreover, a primer helps the watercolors move fluidly on the surface, making it easier for you to blend and layer them.

The best primer for watercoloring on wood is watercolor ground, preferably in an iridescent gold color that compliments the natural finish of the wood. You can use this primer directly from the container and apply them on wood, metal, canvas, etc. At first, apply a light coat with a synthetic flat brush to get a smooth texture, but if you want a rough texture, use a brush with natural bristles instead.

Moreover, you must remember that the watercolor ground makes the surface more absorbable, so ensure you use little water. When applied in thin layers, the iridescent gold primer will create the perfect canvas for your art.

Another primer you can use instead of watercolor ground is Gesso, which is affordable and easy to use. Mostly used for acrylic and oil paints, an even layer of super heavy or light Gesso that resolves absorption issues and allows the watercolor to move more freely. The most prominent benefit of Gesso is that it doesn’t yellow over time, but it requires thorough sanding if you decide to use more than one layer.

Step 5: Painting with Watercolor on Wood

Painting on wood with watercolor is similar to painting on other surfaces - you can follow your favorite painting technique, preferred texture, and artistic goals. However, we recommend applying the paint with thicker layers compared to when you apply watercolor on canvas or paper. A thicker consistency with less water content will stick better onto the wooden surface and prevent dripping.

Alternatively, you can apply a great number of very thin layers of watercolor paint. In this case, you need to be extra careful so that the layers aren’t too thin to avoid dripping and are thick enough to have a visual impact.

Step 6: Finishing and Sealing the Wood

The final step in creating a watercolor painting on wood is sealing it with a varnish. This step ensures your artwork lasts longer - the varnish protects the wooden surface from humidity, preventing it from rotting or yellowing with age. When it comes to watercolor paintings, we recommend sealing the wood with clear-coat spray before applying varnish, like Krylon.

If you want to protect your watercolor painting further, consider applying an epoxy resin layer (artist-grade) to the already sealed surface of the painting. This will provide extra protection to the gum arabic in watercolors, which are vulnerable to moisture.

You can also protect your painting with glass by making a customized wooden frame, but ensure the glass isn't too thick. Glass can provide robust protection against humidity and prevents warm color from fading due to bright lighting.

Advanced Techniques

Wood serves as an excellent medium to experiment with different painting techniques. We’ve already discussed how artists prefer building the painting layer by layer, especially when it comes to wood. This offers better results than simply daubing it on the surface, but it takes quite a lot of time and patience. So here are some other techniques you can employ to achieve your artistic goals:

1. Blending

Properly using blending techniques in your watercolor painting can give you the advantage of creating certain interesting textures and shadow effects. To get started, choose a particular color and create a dark and light version using white and black, as required.

Start with either the dark or light shade. Then, while the paint is still wet, add the other shade and blend them gently. Make sure the first layer of color starts to pop through the second layer - the two shades shouldn’t totally mix with each other.

2. Ombre Effect

Ombre is a very popular technique among artists, who use it to express a single shade through various iterations by reflecting light from different angles. For example, you can start with a very dark shade of color and progressively lighten it until it’s totally white.

The easiest way to create the perfect ombre is by “washing” the wood before applying paint. Simply cover the surface with a thin layer of water, and then add a dark pigment at the bottom of the wooden piece. While moving towards the top, keep adding pigment in small amounts and ensure you wash it down to create lighter shades. And although this method can be a bit messy, it creates a scattered yet romantic effect.

These two methods aren’t the only ways you can create interesting watercolor paintings on wood. Experiment with different shades, textures, and water content to find a style that suits you best.

How To Use Watercolor On Wood FAQs

Most wood species can be compatible with watercolor paints, but we recommend using soft wood types. Consider pine or even balsa since they absorb the paints better, making them last longer. Hardwood, such as oak, maple, or rosewood, has a tendency to soak too much watercolor, which prevents them from showing up brighter and lasting longer.

Yes, absolutely. Preparing the wood before applying watercolor paint is important since it ensures you have a fresh, smoother surface to work with. Unwanted texture and ridges can ruin your painting by disintegrating the color and not giving you the pigment you wanted.

Most watercolor types are compatible with wood as a medium. If you properly prep the wood, apply high-quality primer and varnish. And just to be on the safe side, consider purchasing brands that are trustworthy and have been on the market for a long time.

Yes, you can. Combining watercolor paints with acrylic or oil paints can give you a thicker application, which easily sticks on the wood surface and doesn’t drip.

The best way to protect a watercolor painting on wood is by applying a nice coat of varnish on the completed piece of art. You can also frame it with glass to protect it from humidity and dust, helping your art last longer.

To Sum It Up

Wood can be a good medium for watercolor painting, especially if you want unique patterns and textures that cannot be achieved on paper or canvas. The one disadvantage of using watercolor on wood is the amount of time lost in thoroughly preparing the surface, but the awe-inspiring results are more than enough for compensating it.

And if you’ve never tried watercolor on wood or considered doing it, you may want to try it out - the whole process is fun and worthwhile. You’ll get better color payoffs, better ombre and layering effects, greater durability, and unique textures, which will help you create memorable art. This experience will also help you understand how watercolor paints respond to different mediums.

Alternatively, if you want to try something less complicated first, consider using textured clay to get the hang of how textured surfaces like wood really work.

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Cold Press vs. Hot Press vs. Rough Watercolor Paper

Watercolor canvases are the most popular art media among professional artists due to their huge margin of error, low absorbency, and high durability. Such qualities allow you to experiment with different art styles and techniques, such as wet-on-wet, gradient, lifting, etc., to create unique watercolor paintings.

Many watercolor artists prefer to work with watercolor paper since it’s a versatile medium with high mobility and absorbency.

This traditional art medium is coveted in the painting world due to its durability and the fluidity it allows the watercolor paints to achieve. However, many people are unaware of how well these paints work on watercolor canvas.

The quality of your artwork will depend on the kind of canvas surface you use since some watercolor paints appear brighter and blend better on certain watercolor canvases. But to start working with watercolor canvas, you need to gain a full understanding of the medium and the process of painting watercolor on it.

In this article, we will walk you through all the important details and help you gain mastery over yet another medium. Read on!

Watercolor Paper Vs Canvas: Which One is Better?

Before we further our discussion of watercolor canvas, let’s take a look at how paper and canvas fare when pitted against each other. We’ll discuss six determining factors: absorbency, versatility, lifting capacity, convenience, durability, and availability.

1. Absorbency

Watercolor canvases and papers have almost equal capacity when it comes to absorbing watercolor paints and fixing the painting surface. However, similar to watercolor painting on wood, you have to be extra careful while painting on canvas so as not to disturb the underlying layer. So, there’s going to be a significant learning canvas as you slowly adapt to the techniques and brush strokes that are compatible with normal canvas.

Moreover, building up each layer by washing and putting a glaze or varnish will be extremely difficult on your first try. But don’t lose hope - after a few tries, you’ll master painting on a canvas board and create amazing watercolor paintings.

Once you’ve learned how to blend and layer on watercolor canvas, you’ll notice that canvas surfaces accept watercolor paints less readily than paper. This low absorbency is ideal for painting styles like the wet-on-wet technique since it gives the watercolor artist more time to experiment with the pigment.

2. Versatility

Watercolor canvas is much more versatile than watercolor paper - you can easily create watercolor canvas art using acrylic paints, ink, and even pencils. Ideal for mixed media art, watercolor canvas allows sketching outlines of your subject matter and erasing any errors made. And you’ll find that artwork is much easier to display on stretched canvas instead of paper.

3. Lifting Capacity

Lifting capacity refers to the degree of ease of removing paint colors from the surface or washing it to start over. And watercolor canvas certainly has this capacity - all you need is some clean water and a paper towel, cloth, or sponge. Gently rub it on the canvas surface and get the paint off the surface. You can either erase and fix the error or completely erase your watercolor art to white to start over.

It is often possible to lift paint from watercolor papers as well, but it only works on hot and cold-pressed watercolor paper.

However, this lifting capacity of watercolor canvas products can often be a disadvantage, especially if an artist uses a lot of glazing. This technique is quite difficult on canvas since it requires a lot of patience to move around the watercolor paint without lifting any previous layer. You’ll have to learn how to glaze on canvas through a lot of trial and error, but try to master how to do it quickly without mixing the colors.

4. Convenience

You might often need to prepare your watercolor paper before painting, but a standard canvas doesn’t have this problem. After you purchase canvas boards or pads from the art supply store, you can directly start painting on them without any preparation.

This is because most watercolor canvases are made from 100% cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and are acid-free, but only a few watercolor papers have this quality. So, purchasing a traditional canvas will be much more affordable than looking for high-quality, artist-transfer paper.

5. Durability

Unlike watercolor paper, normal canvases don’t warp or wrinkle around the edges that easily - it is much more durable in this sense. Plus, they can resist wear and tear or any breakage that is caused by moisture or abrasion. However, you’ll find paint pooling in certain areas of a poor-quality watercolor canvas.

6. Availability

Watercolor canvases are widely available across most art stores, and you’ll find a wide range of sizes as well. The common type used by many artists is the stretched canvas, which allows you to paint on all four sides of the canvas board, giving you more dimensions to work with.

What To Consider While Choosing A Watercolor Canvas?

Always go for acid-free watercolor canvases that are made from 100% organic textile, such as cotton or satin. Keeping these two parameters in mind will save you from various difficulties during painting.

Firstly, an acid-free cotton canvas won’t react to watercolor paints and can create dissimilar colors, and secondly, they’re environment-friendly and not harmful to your health. But ensure you’re purchasing authentic watercolor canvas boards and not just normal boards covered in Gesso.

And since there are various kinds of canvases, including canvas pads, canvas boards, and stretched canvases, many people often get confused when faced with the options. Usually, the difference lies in the size of the canvas, so as long as there’s a label mentioning that it’s compatible with watercolor paints, you’re good to go.

There are two ways you can get started with watercolor canvas. Either you can buy a readymade canvas board, or you can prepare one using watercolor ground. However, preparing canvas can be quite challenging on your first try, so we recommend using readymade ones initially.

Materials You Will Need

Let’s look at the materials you will need to create a watercolor painting on canvas and prepare the surface before you begin painting if required.

Canvas pad/ board
Watercolor ground
Watercolor Gesso
Watercolor paints
Paintbrush, sketch pens, pencils
Paper towel or damp cloth
Watercolor Palette
Fine-grit sandpaper
Varnish
Transfer paper (optional)
Masking fluid
Toothpick or earbuds

All of these supplies should be of good quality. Doing so is a foolproof way of avoiding various challenges one can face while painting, such as color pooling, high absorption, curling, warping, etc.

Preparing Canvas For Watercolor

If you prefer preparing your own watercolor canvas board instead of buying readymade ones, then this basic tutorial is for you. First thing first - you’re going to need watercolor ground, which is a specialized watercolor gesso to help the canvas absorb water-based paints.

Absorbent ground is necessary since most canvases aren’t absorbent enough to keep the colors in place. Even if you add a thin layer of normal gesso without applying ground, there are chances of the paint running off.

Before you prepare the watercolor canvas, you’ll be faced with various watercolor ground choices, but we recommend using the one by Daniel Smith if you’re a beginner. Try using an absorbent ground that is transparent and smooth in texture since it will ease the process of spreading.

The aim is to get a flat, smooth surface for painting, so you can also sand the canvas after applying gesso. Here’s a detailed look into the process:

Step 1

If your watercolor canvas pads or boards are raw, apply two layers of standard gesso to cure the canvas before applying the absorbent ground. Let it completely dry.

Step 2

Apply at least two to six layers of watercolor ground to your pre-stretched canvas, and allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next one. Moreover, if you want a textured surface, start applying the watercolor ground more roughly, starting from the second layer. In this case, you’ll have to apply more layers than you normally would for a smoother surface.

Step 3

Let the watercolor ground cure for at least 24 hours before painting watercolor on it. When it’s completely dry, you can start painting watercolor, oil, and acrylic paints on the surface.

Tip

If you want a very even and smooth surface to paint on, use a fine-grit sandpaper to sand the canvas when it’s completely dry.

Applying Watercolor Paint on Canvas

Now that you know the basic differences in the effects of watercolor paints on canvas and paper, you’re ready to get started. Keep in mind that there will be a period of experimentation and adjustment, which you’ll use to get ahead of the learning curve.

From learning how much paint to use in a single stroke to the glazing process, there’ll be quite a few things you need to get the hang of. So, we recommend utilizing your first watercolor canvas art as a test run.

Experimenting with different brush strokes, paint dilution, and concentration is the key to unlocking the power of blending, layering, and lifting techniques. You can reuse your watercolor canvas simply by lifting colors to correct any errors - this helps prevent waste and achieve a finished painting.

So, as long as there aren’t any layers of sealant or varnish, you can continue to tweak your artwork with different techniques. If you’d rather not lift colors repeatedly, you can cover the error with watercolor grounds and start all over again.

Step-by-Step Guide:

There aren’t any specific instructions for creating a watercolor painting on a canvas pad or board since every artist has their own art style. The basic steps are similar across different painting types, whether you’re using acrylic paint, watercolor, or oil paint. But you can always follow some recommended guidelines to make your first attempt successful. Follow these steps:

Step 1

Before you use watercolor on canvas, lightly sketch the subject and ancillary drawings on the surface with a pencil. If you’re worried about leaving grease stains on the pre-stretched canvas, consider using transfer paper while sketching. Masking fluid is another agent that helps in safeguarding your canvas and waterproofing the painting. You can also use this fluid if you wish to keep certain areas of the painting uncolored - do it at this step itself.

Step 2

Now you can begin painting watercolor on canvas. If you want a more solid base for your painting, use a background wash before getting started. Then proceed to add layers, details of the subject, and glazing. However, be wary while applying the glaze since it can be tricky - experiment with your mixing time and paint-water ratio.

And as always, there’s always the option of lifting color and starting over if you haven’t applied a sealant.

Step 3

If you’re feeling adventurous, try creating mixed-media art. Watercolor paints are compatible with various other media, such as acrylic and oil-based paints, so take advantage of this ability. You can also incorporate watercolor paints in an acrylic painting and vice versa - take your pick!

Step 4

As we’ve mentioned before, any error you make while you use watercolor on canvas can be corrected through color lifting. But there are other techniques as well. Simply use earbuds or a toothpick to scrape some of the paint off the area where you’ve made a mistake. And since watercolor canvas is quite durable, you won’t need to worry about ripping or tearing it.

Moreover, you can correct a fully dried painting - simply add water to the area using a round brush and scrub the paint off.

Step 5

Ensuring your watercolor canvas art is completely dry is a huge step towards increasing its longevity. Let the painting dry for at least 24 hours - this will also give you enough time to decide whether you want to make any changes before sealing.

Protecting Your Watercolor Canvas Art

The high resistance of canvas against humidity and debris is the most common reason why most artists prefer this medium after trying it. So, it doesn’t require glass or a wooden frame to protect it from the elements.

If you decide to hang your art on the wall as decoration, ensure you apply a thick layer of UV-resistant spray varnish or sealant. It’s always better to use spray varnish than brush a sealant on the surface since it can smear or lift the paint.

Remember that you can’t make any changes to the watercolor painting once you’ve sealed it, so ensure everything is in order. Also, ensure you spray the varnish only when the artwork is completely dry.

Moreover, you only need about three light layers of sealant to protect your painting, but ensure you let each layer dry for 20 minutes before applying the next. When you’re done sealing the painting, let it cure for a while, preferably for another 24 hours, before handling it. Properly sealing after you use watercolor on canvas makes it water-resistant, ultra-violet rays resistant, smudge-proof, and durable.

Different Watercolor Techniques

Learning about the basic techniques of watercolor painting can go a long way in preparing you to create a masterpiece. Of course, trial and error is a compulsory part of the journey, but having some knowledge reduces the chance of errors.

1. Lifting Technique

This technique is very useful for correcting areas or creating low-pigmented subjects such as clouds or eyes. It actually “lifts” the pigments from the surface of the watercolor paper or canvas. To do this, first, you cover the entire painting surface with a light coat of water and then paint the area with any color you want.

Ensure you use a lighter shade since lifting a darker shade is quite difficult, and we recommend scraping the paint in this case. Then, before your paint dries, use a clean brush or paper towel and firmly press it on the area where you don’t want color. This way, the paper towel or brush will soak the excess paint, leaving behind a colorless or lighter area.

2. Gradient Technique

This basic yet effective technique lets the watercolor bloom from a lighter to a darker shade. While creating a color gradient, you should pay close attention to the water-paint ratio to get a beautiful result. It is mostly used to paint sunsets, oceans, or landscape backgrounds.

After priming the surface with water, start with a dark shade of any color and add a thick layer on the uppermost part of the canvas or paper. While the paper is still wet, quickly keep adding layers and bringing the color to the bottom with clean, horizontal strokes without dipping the brush in an additional color. As you create layers upon layers, the brush consistently loses color, creating the beautiful gradient effect we’re aiming for.

For sunsets that include different colors, you can re-do the process with another color on top of the completed gradient while the surface is wet.

3. Wet-on-Dry Technique

The previous techniques involved the “wet-on-wet” art styles, so we’ll talk about something different here. A wet-on-dry technique denotes using paint on a dry surface - this process helps you make certain details stand out and set properly onto the canvas.

First, wet the surface and create a background with one color - apply it evenly and let it completely dry. You can use gradient or lifting techniques to create beautiful backgrounds in keeping with the theme of the main subject.

Once the background is completely dry, take a thin or pointed brush and draw your details using darker pigments.

Warning

Don’t add a lot of water to the paint since it can lead to unwanted blending or diffusion.

4. Wet-on-Wet And Wet-on-Dry Combination

This combined method is very popular for creating oceans or lakes with ripple-like effects. After covering the paper or canvas with water, you need to use the same technique as when creating a gradient effect. The only difference here is that you need to totally disconnect your brush from the paper occasionally to create negative spaces.

Next, while the paint is still wet, add darker pigment to create more depth - do this with wavy brushstrokes. However, the darker strokes should reduce in frequency as you reach the top of the canvas or page. This wet-on-wet technique allows the darker pigment to seep into the lighter one, creating a rippling, water-like motion.

Moving on to the wet-on-dry portion, using a side-to-side motion, apply blue strokes swiftly, but let the color fade as it moves to the top. Ensure you don’t add too much water to the color this time - the strokes should be dark and detailed.

Even though this technique is quite elaborate, it can be very effective in creating difficult themes such as water and sunsets.

Tips For Creating Watercolor Painting On Canvas

Now that you know all about creating watercolor paintings on canvas, here are some suggestions you can follow to enhance the experience. These tips will make the process a lot easier and enjoyable:

1. Start Off With Landscapes or Bouquets

Many artists prefer canvas to watercolor paper since it helps you to experiment more freely by allowing you to correct errors without worrying about starting over. And errors can get particularly daunting when creating a landscape with various minute details, such as trees (including branches, leaves, flowers), sky gradient, water, etc. So, we suggest taking advantage of the margin of error given by canvases and starting off with a serene landscape like a pine forest.

2. Drying Time

Wait for at least 24 hours before applying varnish or paint coating to your finished piece. This will prevent the colors from accidentally washing off or blending with the varnish or coating product. Also, read the label of the varnish carefully and follow the directions while working with it.

3. Choose The Right Varnish Method

Always use spray varnish on the canvas for watercolor paints since applying glaze or coating with a brush can lift the colors from the painting you’re trying to safeguard. Moreover, using a spray-on method is more convenient - you’ll be done with just three coats and won’t need to wash your brush or hands repeatedly to take the solution off.

4. Take Your Time

It is a common misconception that you must seal the painting immediately after completion. However, you can wait for a few weeks before you decide to apply the varnish. This will give you enough time to decide whether you’re satisfied with the finished product. But ensure you keep it in a dry, cool place away from contact.

5. Create Your Preferred Texture

Watercolor ground often creates a chalky, uneven texture that many people might not prefer. If you want a smoother surface, simply sand it down with fine-grit sandpaper. Then, take a cloth (preferably with no lint or lose threads) and remove the excess dust. Now you have a smooth, even canvas for watercolor.

How To Paint Watercolor On Canvas FAQs

No, a pre-stretched canvas you purchase from the art store is already primed with watercolor gesso or absorbent ground. So, you won’t need to prime a readymade canvas – just start painting as you normally would on watercolor paper. But if you decide to make your own canvas, then preparation is necessary. Refer to the step-by-step guide on preparing a canvas, as this article mentions.

A traditional canvas allows you to use pretty much all kinds of watercolors, including gouache, watercolor in tubes, pans, liquid watercolor, markers, etc. All you need to do is ensure the surface is wet enough for the pigment to show up and blend with others. Moreover, when using watercolor markers, the surface requires sanding since markers don’t thrive on textured canvases.

Overall, you need to be careful about the paint-water ratio for most kinds of watercolor products.

Watercolor canvas is a great surface for creating mixed-media art. Since the material is quite durable, unlike cold and hot pressed paper, it readily accepts other media like acrylic paint, ink, graphite pencil, etc. Many experts recommend experimenting with different media on canvas to achieve different depths and dimensions.

If you decide to make your own raw canvas before painting, our step-by-guide on preparing a canvas will be helpful. As such, you need to cure the canvas with at least two layers of standard gesso. Then, you need to apply two to six layers of watercolor ground.

Depending on the texture preference, you can either roughly or smoothly apply the absorbent ground from the second layer. Let the canvas cure for 24 hours after this process. Once completely dry, sand the surface for an extra smooth base.

You can use all watercolor techniques on canvas – lifting, layering, blending, gradient, ombre, wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, etc. Just be careful about the paint-water ratio and let the colors dry properly, and you’re good to go.

Typically, watercolors don’t bleed on canvas unless you’ve neglected to use the right water-to-paint ratio and drying time. After painting one section, let the area dry completely before you paint the next section – this will prevent the color from bleeding unnecessarily. Moreover, priming the canvas well is another way to ensure it readily accepts the paint.

You can directly hang the painting or let it rest against a shelf or wall when the artwork is cured and dried. However, if you don’t prefer the raw look of canvas, you can get it framed in a wooden or glass frame based on the preferred aesthetic. If you’re unsure how to fix it in a frame, send it to a photography shop specializing in framing.

The spray varnish that you’ll use after finishing the paint will sufficiently protect it from UV rays, humidity, and dirt. However, you can never be too careful – so you should put the canvas in a dry area that is away from direct sunlight and human traffic. You can also consider framing it in a wooden frame to protect it from rodents and debris.

To Sum It Up

Before ready-made canvases were invented, artists had to stick to watercolor papers for their art. And even though the paper did allow brighter hues and mobility, people started demanding permanent structure as the art style evolved. Thus, watercolor canvas gained popularity as the most preferred art medium for watercolor, gouache, and even oil-based paints.

If you’ve never tried painting on canvases before, we recommend using it since it allows you to experiment with different techniques more freely. And if you do make mistakes, you can always lift the color or scrub the area to get the paint off. You’ll never know the full scope of your artistic abilities, especially when it comes to watercolors, if you don’t try painting on canvas!

See you next time!

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The Winsor & Newton Granulation Medium is one of the best high-quality options to add depth to your artwork. The QoR watercolor medium by Golden is a close second and can help you increase the luminosity of your painting. On the other hand, the Holbein Ox Gall Medium is best for working with painting techniques like wet-on-wet.

Sometimes, a good watercolor medium is all you need to elevate your paintings.

A medium helps you alter the properties of your wet paint. For instance, you can play with the consistency, texture, and drying time of your paints by mixing them with a suitable medium.

However, which one should you go for and why? In this article, I will tell you about the top 5 watercolor mediums in detail.

5 Best Watercolor Mediums

1. Winsor & Newton Granulation Medium - Best For Adding Depth And Playing With Textures

Winsor & Newton Watercolor Medium, Granulation Medium, 75ml...

Increases the granulation of color, giving a mottled...
For maximum effect dilute colour generously with medium...

What I like

Easy to apply and remove
Helps create a smooth wash easily
Adjusts gloss and texture
Lasts long

What I don't like

Extremely runny texture

The Winsor & Newton Granulation Medium is a must-have for every watercolor enthusiast. It can help you add a decent texture and depth to your paintings. All you need to do is use your best watercolor markers or pencils to sketch your drawing and mix this medium with your choice of watercolor paint or ink. This way, you can easily experiment with a granulated effect!

The best thing about this medium is that you get to work with various textures. You can achieve anything from subtle changes to bold transitions by adjusting the granulation medium you add to your paint.

For instance, when I wanted to paint a house using watercolors - I used the granulation medium to create textures that resemble that of bricks or wood. Or, if I wanted to create elements like a leaf, this medium helped me achieve a textured and mottled appearance for the same.

It is important to note that the Winsor & Newton Granulation Medium is a little runny in texture, which is great if you want to create a soft blended look in your painting surface. However, you can find better options if you are looking to paint precise details in smaller sections.

Color: Clear | Finish type: Matte | Form: Liquid |Package: Bottle | Volume: 75 ml or 2.5 oz.

2. Qor Watercolor Medium- Best For Enhancing Luminosity

GOLDEN QoR Watercolor Medium, 2 oz. Jar, Professional...

Watercolor Medium is a general purpose medium used to...
It also increases the gloss and saturation of colors when...

What I like

Increases luminosity
Improves pigment intensity
Ability to provide both matte and glossy finish by varying the amount of medium used
Comes with a dropper

What I don't like

No instruction manual

If you like adding a transparent, glossy texture to your paintings, the QoR medium by Golden might be the best option. It can be used to create a variety of glazes and textures and is suitable for both beginner and professional watercolor artists.

You can adjust the glossiness of your painting by varying the amount of medium you add to your paint. For instance, I used to add a normal amount if I wanted my artwork to shine brightly and fewer drops to achieve a more matte finish.

The QoR medium also allows you to enhance the intensity of your watercolor pigments, which is why it is popularly used to work with vibrant colors. I used this medium to add beautiful elements like a flower, tree, or sky to my paintings. It also helped me create a smooth and even dry wash, which helped me further elevate my art piece.

This medium has a dropper, making it very easy to use. However, you can also use a brush or spray bottle to apply it as per your convenience.

The only drawback with this product is that it comes with no instruction manual, which might be a problem for beginners who rely on such manuals to learn product use. Other than that, the QoR medium is definitely worth a try.

Color: Clear | Finish type: Gloss | Form: Liquid |Package: Bottle with dropper | Volume: 59 ml or 2 oz.

3. Holbein Ox Gall Medium - Best For Using Wet-On-Wet Technique

Holbein watercolor medium 60ml ox gall

Holbein Ox Gall Medium - 60 ml bottle
60 ml

What I like

Improves flow and transparency of a watercolor paint
Works great with watercolor painting techniques, such as wet-on-wet
Extends the drying time of your watercolor paint
Enhanced adhesion allows the artwork to last longer

What I don't like

Strong odor

Made from the extract of cow bladder, the ox gall medium is popular for increasing flow and transparency of watercolor paints. The one sold by Holbein is a great option, especially if you are looking for a medium to prevent blotching on your watercolor paper.

The Holbein ox gall medium allows artists to create smooth and even washes in their artworks while giving them great control over the flow of watercolor paint. All these features make this artist-grade wetting agent an ideal medium for the wet-on-wet watercolor painting technique.

Using this medium, I could easily create smooth transitions, gradients, and hues in my watercolor painting. It also prevents the paint from drying out quickly, which helped me paint for long hours without needing to constantly re-wet my painting.

However, the Holbein ox gall medium has a strong odor. If you are sensitive to strong smells, there might be better options for you.

Color: Clear | Finish type: Matte | Form: Liquid |Package: Bottle | Volume: 60 ml

4. Sennelier Watercolor Binding Medium - Best For Creating Custom Watercolor Paints

SENNELIER Watercolor Binding Medium, 200ml Bottle, 6.76 Fl...

Contains gum arabic, honey, water and a preservative
Thin with water

What I like

Made up of good-quality materials like gum arabic and honey
Easy to use
Can make paints more versatile
Smooth texture

What I don't like

A little costlier than the others

The Sennelier watercolor binding medium is easy to use and best for artists who want to avoid sticking to a particular watercolor paint pigment or consistency. It has a smooth and consistent texture and blends decently well with watercolors.

This Gum Arabic-based medium enhances the flow and transparency of watercolors, which is why they are popularly used while painting with certain techniques, such as glazing and layering. Apart from that, you can mix this medium with your watercolors to create your custom palette or use it to modify the existing properties of your paints.

If you like purchasing only high-quality art tools, the Sennelier watercolor binding medium will not disappoint you. It comprises ingredients, such as gum arabic, honey, and water. As a result, the medium works well to help enhance the overall quality of your artwork.

This medium comes from a very reputed brand and is a little costlier than other mediums. However, a great quality product seldom comes at a low price.

Color: Clear | Finish type: Semi-gloss | Form: Liquid |Package: Bottle | Volume: 200 ml or 6.8 oz.

5. Winsor & Newton Aquapasto - Best Gel Watercolor Medium

Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Medium, Aquapasto,...

A translucent gel medium that reduces flow
Thickens watercolors and gouache to give an impasto effect

What I like

Gel texture
Thick consistency
Easy to blend
Can be used to create effects with impasto medium

What I don't like

Makes the paints appear slightly lighter than they originally are

Sometimes, all your painting lacks is a little opacity - and that is exactly what the Winsor & Newton Aquapasto watercolor medium provides you with. Its gel-like texture medium allows you to create a sense of depth in your artwork and play with several effects.

The consistency of this watercolor medium is quite thick but can be thinned out to achieve your desired texture. It blends with wet paint easily, and there are no hassles even when using the Aquapasto medium with acrylic paint sets.

Using this blending medium, I got to work with a huge spectrum of effects. It helped me create everything from smooth and glossy effects to rough textures. Like any good blending medium, it slows the drying time of your painting - thus making it easier to paint for a long time.

The Aquapasto is well-known for its thickening abilities while working with watercolors and gouache. Hence, you can also use it to create an impasto gel medium effect in your painting.

However, if you prefer using luminous paints in your artwork, you might not love the Winsor & Newton Aquapasto. It makes watercolors appear slightly lighter and less transparent.

Color: Transparent | Finish type: Matte | Form: Gel |Package: Tube | Volume: 60 ml

Quick Comparisons Of Watercolor Mediums

Watercolor Mediums	Color	Finish Type	Form	Package	Volume
Winsor & Newton Granulation Medium	Clear	Matte	Liquid	Bottle	75 ml or 2.5 oz.
Qor Watercolor Medium	Clear	Gloss	Liquid	Bottle with dropper	59 ml or 2 oz.
Holbein Ox Gall Medium	Clear	Matte	Liquid	Bottle	60 ml
Sennelier Watercolor Binding Medium	Clear	Semi-gloss	Liquid	Bottle	200 ml or 6.8 oz.
Winsor & Newton Aquapasto	Transparent	Matte	Gel	Tube	60 ml

Factors To Consider While Buying Watercolor Mediums

1. Quality

The quality of mediums you use can make or break your artwork. Hence, only go for high-quality ones made up of ingredients like gum arabic and cellulose. Also, ensure that they are acid-free to prevent accidental damage to your paintings (and to yourself!).

2. Type Of Medium

Depending on the type of your painting, you may require a specific kind of medium. You can choose from various mediums, such as gesso, varnish, and masking fluid while looking for one. Further, it is best to go for gum arabic-based mediums if you want a binding effect in your paintings.

3. Compatibility

You need to ensure that your art tools are compatible with your choice of medium. For instance, applying a medium that needs water for activation on watercolor sketchbooks that can only hold a small amount of water is not a good idea. Doing so may lead to the paper getting damaged.

4. Budget

Finally, you should find a medium that suits your budget well. You should carefully assess the functions you need your medium to serve and then decide on a budget that doesn't strain your wallet.

FAQs Related To Watercolor Mediums

The different kinds of mediums available on the market are texture medium, granulating medium, permanent masking medium, lifting preparation medium, and so on. You can also go for an iridescent medium or a varnish, depending on the type of your painting.

The mediums differ in texture, consistency, and their effects on the watercolors you combine them with. You should choose one based on the blending techniques you will use in your artwork and the textural effects you wish to create.

Yes, you can mix different mediums to achieve a specific effect. However, check their compatibility first to see whether they will work together. You may also experiment with their proportions and apply them to your artwork.

You should store your mediums properly in a cool and dry place to ensure their longevity. It is best to keep them away from direct sunlight exposure and extreme temperatures. Additionally, make sure to wipe the cap of your medium bottle using a paper towel so that it is sealed properly.

You can apply mediums to your painting by using tools like a wet brush, sponge, or spray. The amount of medium that you use should depend on several factors such as the kind of finish you want in your illustration and the consistency of paints that you are aiming for.

A good medium (binding medium, lifting preparation medium, etc.) can help you increase the vibrancy of your paints and enhance their transparency. You can also use a medium to create a wide range of effects, such as adding gloss or creating an iridescent medium. However, certain watercolor mediums can alter the color of your paint by either lightening or darkening its hue – thus making it difficult to achieve your desired shades.

Conclusion

It is best to experiment with different mediums to find which one suits you best. Additionally, you should apply them in layers to increase depth and add texture. Following these tips can help you create stunning artwork. You can also go through a tutorial on sites like Skillshare to practice your skill of medium application.

The Winsor & Newton Granulation Medium is one of the best options. It provides much room for a creative experience, and you can add a lot of depth and texture using this medium.

However, if you like a glossy finish in your paintings, the QoR watercolor medium won't disappoint you. The Holbein ox gall is the best medium to create wet or dry washes and works well if you like creating smooth transitions.

And with that, I have reached the end of this blog post. Goodbye!

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