watercolour QUESTIONS - Answered
- Kasia Avery
- Jun 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 30
I get messages all the time from Adventuers who are either just starting their watercolour journey or have been dabbling for a while and still feel a bit unsure about what they're doing, or know that something's not right and don't know how to fix it. And that’s normal! Art isn’t about getting everything right - it’s about learning and growing through the process of creative expression.
So I thought I’d gather up some of the most common questions I’ve received, and answer them here - all in one gentle, hopefully-helpful place.
And - exciting news! - we have just released a new course - Watercolour Florals. It's designed for watercolour beginners, yet chocked full of techniques all for painting different kinds of abstract flowers. It’s designed to help you feel more confident, more playful, and more yourself with your paints, while at the same time creating beautiful paintings. whether you're a total beginner or someone looking to reconnect with that spark.
Now, let's answer these questions!
Q: How do you pick the right amount of paint from the pan? Mine always look too dark.
Ah yes, the classic ‘why is this a swamp and not a sunset’ moment. You’re not alone.
The trick is to start with more water than you think, and build up slowly. Dip your brush in clean water, swirl it gently in the pan, and test the colour in a corner or scrap paper. You can always add more pigment — but it’s harder to take it away once it’s on the page.
Also: trust the drying shift! Watercolours dry lighter than they look when wet. Let it dry before judging.
Q: I heard that blow-drying or heating watercolours changes the colour - is this true?”
Hmm, yes and no. A gentle blast with a hairdryer will usually not affect it - it speeds drying along and I do it often. But if the air is particularly hot or if the paint is still puddly and pooling, it can sometimes cause chemicals reactions and shift how the pigments settle. Ideally let it air dry away from sunlight. Easier said than done, I know - I'm very impatient with it usually.
Q: What’s the difference between hot and cold press paper?
Cold press is slightly textured (like orange peel), so it gives you those dreamy broken edges and gentle grip on the pigment. Great for expressive work, soft blends, and granulating colours.
Hot press is smooth — think silky. It’s lovely for detailed linework, fine brush control, and mixed media (like pen + watercolour together).
My personal favourite substrate for painting with watercolours is ANY paper but covered with a thin layer of acrylic white gesso mixed with Plaster of Paris (super simple, put a cup of white gesso into an airtight container and a cup of Plaster of Paris. Mix well and put a thin layer on top of your paper. Let it dry entirely before painting. Close the container and save your mix for later) - it gives any paper the tooth that makes watercolours look gorgeous as well as subtle, slightly random texture.
Q: Can you paint over gesso with watercolours?
You absolutely can! Gesso turns regular paper or canvas into a more watercolour-friendly surface. Put a layer of clear gesso over a thin old book page, let it dry and all of a sudden that paper will take watercolours beautifully, giving a result that's very special.
Q: My paper curls and wrinkles. How do I avoid this?
To prevent this:
Use heavier paper (I recommend 300gsm/140lb or more).
Try using less water on your brush, as the wrinkling comes from it being too wet
Tape it down (washi tape on a board works wonders).
Or go full pro and stretch your paper first (soak, tape, dry flat).
If you want to fix your already wrinkled paper, find a clean flat/even surface, put your painting face-down & spritz the back with a spray bottle so it's evenly wet. Then lay down something flat (like a board) that is larger than the size of the painting, put something heavy on top (like books or a box) and leave for 24 hours.
And remember - a little ripple is okay. It’s part of the handmade charm. But if it’s really buckling, heavier paper is your friend, along with less water.
Q: Should my paper be wet or dry to start with?
Depends on what you want!
Dry paper = more control. Crisp lines, layered effects, detailed work.
Wet paper = dreamy blends. Soft edges, magical blooms, intuitive flow.
If you’ve never tried wet-in-wet painting, I highly recommend just wetting a whole area and dropping colour in - it's so satisfying. It feels like the paint is dancing all on its own.
Q: Is a water brush better than a normal paintbrush?
Water brushes are like the Swiss Army knife of watercolour - compact, clever, and super handy for travel or sketchbook work. I love them when I’m out and about or just playing.
However, for more nuanced work, natural flow, or expressive marks, a traditional paintbrush gives you more control, more variation, and a more human feel.
So - water brush for portability and fun. Normal brush for feel and finesse. I keep both!
Q: I’ve always used pan watercolours but have since found out that tubes exist. Are they better?
Better? Not necessarily. Just… different!
Tubes are like the juicy cousins of pans - they’re wonderful for mixing big washes, bold colours, or loose, expressive work. Pans are more compact, tidy, and great for sketchbooks and travel.
I think of pans as soft and steady, and tubes as bold and fluid. Try adding a few tubes to your set-up and see how they play together - they’re friends, not rivals.
And you can turn tubes into a little "pan-like" portable palette. See here.
Q: How can I fix mistakes in watercolour? With acrylic I can just paint over them!
It’s true: you can’t quite paint over mistakes like with acrylic. But you can…
Lift with a damp brush or tissue (especially if the paint is still wet).
Glaze - layer a new colour gently over the area (ideally not too wet and in several layers).
Cover with gouache (like a watercolour, but opaque) or coloured pencil (great for highlights or corrections).
Or just… embrace it. Some of my favourite bits happened when things didn’t go to plan.
And if all else fails? Turn it into a tree, a bird, a shadow. Watercolour is full of second chances - just a little more subtle than acrylic.
Q: I often put too much water on my brush, only realising when I get a big splodge of paint on my work, how can I stop doing this?
The easiest way is to stop using a jar of water, instead save that for washing the brush out only. To activate the paint, use a shallow lid (like a jam jar lid) and put some clean water in that, this means you can’t over dip your brush, keeping water from gathering on the ferrule and only being on the bristles of the brush.
If you have a clean spray bottle, you can also spritz water over the paint and let it sit to wake them up!
I hope these little tips and insights have helped to demystify a few of the trickier corners of watercolour painting. And don't ever forget that there’s not one “right” way to paint, and every artist (yes, including you) has their own rhythm to discover.
Watercolour is meant to be playful. A bit wild. Sometimes 'watery' in ways we didn’t intend - and that’s okay!
If you’re feeling inspired to keep going, or even start from the beginning with a little more support, our Watercolour Florals course might be just the thing. It’s full of gentle and clear guidance, creative encouragement, and lots of space to experiment, mess up, and grow. Join here.
Thank you for reading through. Keep asking questions. Keep showing up - because that is where the true beauty of art happens.
Lots of love,
Kasia x
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