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JIM'S WATERCOLOR GALLERY
Wet-into-Wet
You have very little control over Wet-Into-Wet, but this in the hands of an experienced watercolorist is where the beauty lays in watercolor.
Wet paper, damp brush (not dripping wet). Hold it. Let me clarify that. If you don't want recognizable objects, then a dripping brush will be OK giving you a blend of colors.
Now if you want objects with no detail, maybe in fog etc., a damp brush is the way to go.
You do not want puddles of water on the paper just a dull satin finish.
Nothing utilizes the potential of watercolors like WET-INTO-WET.
You can wet the paper "ALL OVER", you can partially wet the paper in irregular patterns, or wet specific shapes, also, sprinkle water on.
Now you have choices in the way you apply paint to the wet paper. Remember you can tilt, to let colors run, you can tap the brush loaded with color and maybe pour out of small containers - get something like this:
PAPER WET PARTIALLY
Drag a flat brush across the surface. Brush does not have to be dripping wet. You can get this look.
WET BY SPRAYING
Just lightly spray (not a mist) but droplets of water, you load a brush with water and tap or shake water onto the paper. Now add paint with the edge of a palette knife and you get this effect
Now you can find other ways to express yourself in Wet-into-Wet. Have fun let it all hang out.
MORE OPTIONS
Magic time is when the wet paper begins to dry, it can also be a time when you can get yourself into...A BIG MESS.
When the paint takes on a dull sheen you can sponge, spray, drop paint or water, add salt, remove with very damp brush or scrape back with a knife.
Mark veins on a leaf with a sharp pointed instrument leaving a very dark vein or scrape back and produce light veins (showing some of the paper).
The ethereal effects created by Wet-into-Wet approach can add that all important element of mystery and intrigue to your work, with it you provide only the suggestion of reality. Viewers love to fill in with their imaginations to complete the pictures.
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