Getting the balance between paint and water is one of the real keys to successful watercolour, and in this tutorial I’ll show you how changing that balance can completely transform the way your colour behaves. We’ll explore everything from rich, creamy mixes packed with pigment to beautifully pale, transparent washes, and I’ll explain when you might want to use each one. You’ll see how the amount of water affects strength, transparency, drying time and movement on the paper, helping you build much more confidence when mixing and applying colour. I’ll also share some of my practical palette habits, including how I keep my little “satellites” of colour separate, why I always work with two pots of water, and how to quickly wake up dried paint before you begin. This is a wonderfully useful foundation lesson that will help you understand your paints rather than simply hope they behave — giving you far more control, freedom and confidence as your watercolour skills develop.
