Watercolour doesn’t always go exactly where we planned – and happily, there are lots of ways to bring light back into a painting. In this tutorial I’ll show you how the timing of your lift can completely change the result. Lift while the paint is very wet and colour may flow straight back in; wait until it is almost dry and you can create a much sharper, cleaner mark. We’ll also look at staining colours and why some pigments need a little more careful timing. Then we’ll have some fun experimenting with different ways to remove paint, using cotton wool, kitchen towel, cotton buds, card and magic foam to create everything from soft glowing areas to crisp lines and interesting textures. This is a brilliant technique to practise and play with. Not only can lifting help rescue an area when something hasn’t gone quite to plan, it can also become a wonderfully creative tool for adding texture, sparkle and light to your paintings.
