Watercolor Techniques, Wet in Wet

Wet In Wet Technique

Using watercolor paint can produce exciting effects, especially using the wet in wet technique.  According to Wikipedia, "Wet in wet includes any application of paint or water to an area of the painting that is already wet with either paint or water. In general, wet in wet is one of the most distinctive features of watercolor painting and the technique that produces a striking painterly effect.  The essential idea is to wet the entire sheet of paper, laid flat, until the surface no longer wicks up water but lets it sit on the surface, then to plunge in with a large brush saturated with paint."  The paint will flow where the water is on the paper, creating soft edges.  When using multiple colors with this technique, the colors merge and create fascinating effects that cannot be gotten any other way.  So have some fun, and wet some paper and drop some color into it and watch it do all the work.  Enjoy!