The word tint has a very particular meaning in colour theory, but watercolour likes to do things a little differently! In this short tutorial I’ll explain why, unlike oils or acrylics, we generally don’t rely on white paint to make our colours lighter. Instead, the beautiful white of our paper becomes our white, and learning to preserve that brightness is one of the loveliest qualities of transparent watercolour. I’ll also explain what I mean when I use the word tint in my own teaching and why adding just a tiny suggestion of colour can sometimes be all you need. Most importantly, I want you to understand the principles without feeling trapped by rules. Learn them first, gain confidence with your materials, and then you can begin making your own creative choices and having a little fun bending them!
