Page "Watercolor painting" Paragraph 30

* Pouring Color.

Some artists pour large quantities of slightly diluted paint onto separate areas of the painting surface, then by using a brush, spray bottle of water and / or judicious tilting of the painting support, cause the wet areas to gently merge and mix.

After the color has been mixed and allowed to set for a few minutes, the painting is tipped vertically to sheet off all excess moisture ( the lighter colors across the darker ones ), leaving behind a paper stained with random, delicate color variations, which can be further shaped with a wet brush or added paint while the paper is still wet.

A popular variation uses separate areas of red, yellow and blue paint, which when mingled and drained produce a striking effect of light in darkness ; areas of white are reserved by first covering them with plastic film, masking tape or a liquid latex resist.

( The technique was actually invented, and used for similar effect, by J. M. W.

Turner.