• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Blog
    • Watercolour
    • Drawing and Sketching
    • Tutorials
    • Art Education
    • Reviews
    • Social Media for Artists
  • YouTube
  • Free Resources
  • Digital Products
  • My Art Supplies
  • Work With Me
  • Contact Me
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Miranda Balogh

Miranda Balogh

Dream • Create • Inspire

  • ABOUT ME
  • Blog
    • WATERCOLOUR
    • DRAWING AND SKETCHING
    • TUTORIALS
    • ART EDUCATION
    • REVIEWS
    • SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ARTISTS
  • FREE RESOURCES
  • YouTube
  • Courses & Ebooks
  • Art Supplies

5 Best Watercolour Layering Tips to Get Great Results

November 6, 2024 · In: Watercolour

In order to become skilled at watercolour painting, you must understand how to layer watercolours properly.

Watercolour is a transparent medium, after all.

That means you should learn the best methods for layering watercolours so that your pigments appear transparent, vibrant, and luminous.

To achieve great results, the best watercolour layering tips include letting the layers dry completely before painting over them, applying thin layers, painting from light to dark, and layering different pigments as a way to mix colours.

In this article, you’ll expand your layering knowledge by learning about:

  • The importance of transparency in watercolour painting
  • 5 watercolour layering tips that’ll simplify your painting process
  • Mistakes to avoid and what to do instead for optimal layering

By the time you’re done reading, you’ll understand the best methods to apply watercolour so that every layer you paints looks transparent and bright.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Understand That Watercolour Is a Transparent Medium
  • 2. Let Every Layer Dry Completely
  • 3. Paint Light to Dark
  • 4. Apply Thin Layers
  • 5. Layer Pigments on the Paper to Create New Colours
  • Conclusion
  • Miranda Balogh

1. Understand That Watercolour Is a Transparent Medium

First of all, it’s important to understand that watercolour is a transparent art form.

The beauty of watercolours is best illustrated when the layers are transparent because that way, the vibrancy and brightness of the pigments really shine through.

In my opinion, the 3 most important qualities of a good watercolour painting are transparency, vibrancy, and luminosity.

Therefore, in order to achieve the best results, it’s ideal to paint with watercolour pigments that are transparent.

To do this, opt for watercolour paints that are made of single pigments because that means they’re only made of one single pigment as opposed to 2 or more pigments.

Single pigments are better because they perform more consistently and they mix more cleanly with other colours due to their simple composition.

On the other hand, if you paint with watercolours that have multiple pigments or they contain lots of fillers, those pigments often appear chalky and opaque. They mix less cleanly, often resulting in dull and muddy colours.

2. Let Every Layer Dry Completely

One of the most common watercolour mistakes beginners make is not waiting for the layer to dry before painting over it.

If you’re impatient and you don’t wait for the paint to dry, your next layer will blend with the previous layer because the wet pigments will naturally mix together.

As a result, you’ll accidentally create muddy watercolours that look dull and lifeless.

The solution to this problem is simply to wait. In other words, patience is key!

But if you’re a busy person, you might be wondering, “How long should I wait between layers?”

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer because drying time depends on the quality of your paper, how large the wash is, and how much water you used. So it can take anywhere from a few minutes to more than 10 minutes for the layer to dry.

That being said, the hard truth is that there are only 2 ways to approach this:

  1. Wait for the layer to dry, no matter how long it takes.
  2. Use a heat gun to dry the layer and speed up the painting process.

As you can see, watercolour is a beautiful medium that teaches us to slow down; to be intentional with every brushstroke and layer.

So if you’re able to shift your mentality in this way, you might discover that watercolour painting is a gentle hobby that teaches you how to live a slower and softer life.

What are the disadvantages and advantages of watercolour? First, watercolour strengths include its beautiful aesthetic and affordability. As well, painting with watercolour is a relaxing activity with therapeutic benefits. That being said, some of the cons of watercolour include the fact that it can be hard to learn without proper education and it can be difficult to fix watercolour mistakes.

3. Paint Light to Dark

One of the best watercolour techniques that you should use on a regular basis is painting from light to dark because it’s the ideal order for layering watercolours.

That doesn’t mean you have to paint light to dark in every circumstance. There are obviously exceptions to this rule.

That being said, the general rule of thumb is to start with lighter values and gradually build them up to darker values because it’s easier to layer dark pigments over light pigments.

If you’d like to learn more about values in watercolour painting and understand why they’re important, check out this article about how to paint watercolour value scales.

On the contrary, it’s not easy to paint dark to light because the dark pigment is too strong, so it often overpowers the light pigment.

That means your layers will either appear too dark or too opaque if you paint with dark values first.

Therefore, if you’re in doubt, always start with lighter values because you can always layer over them to darken the value. But keep in mind that painting in reverse is much harder to fix.

Check out the step-by-step watercolour layering tutorial below to see how I layered light warm colours first, and then followed up by layering dark brown pigments on top to create a watercolour landscape painting.

4. Apply Thin Layers

Applying thin layers is one of the best watercolour layering tips that every watercolourist should know.

“Why thin layers?” you might be wondering.

Well, thin layers look light and transparent. When you layer them on one another, their vibrancy shines through the layers more easily.

In addition, applying thin layers allows you to build up the vibrancy with greater precision and control, especially if you’re adding details and shadows to your subject matter.

On the other hand, if you apply thick layers, they often appear too opaque. That means you lose watercolour’s number one quality, which is transparency.

As well, it’s harder for the colours to appear colourful because they lose their vibrancy under all that thick, heavy paint.

Lastly, applying thin watercolour layers allows you to use the white of the paper in creative ways, such as when you’re painting snowy landscapes, misty scenes, and fluffy white clouds like in the painting below.

In this blog post, you learn about the top 5 watercolour layering tips that’ll improve your paintings. You learn that the best way to layer watercolour is to paint layers that are thin, bright, and vibrant, with a focus on maintaining transparency. As well, you learn about the top watercolour layering techniques that you should use to create even and smooth layers. So by the time you’re done reading, you’ll understand that layering in watercolour is easier than you think!

5. Layer Pigments on the Paper to Create New Colours

Did you know that you can mix watercolours directly on the paper?

It’s true! You don’t have to premix colours in a mixing well or on your palette.

Layering pigments to create new colours on the paper is an excellent way to add shading, create textures, or add dimension in your painting.

So let me show you how to do this.

In the following example, I’m demonstrating how to layer watercolours on the paper to create green. I painted an X so you can easily see where the layers crossover to create the green hue.

  1. Choose a yellow pigment of your choice and dilute it.
  2. Load up your brush with a paint-to-water ratio of roughly 40% paint to 60% water.
  3. Use a flat brush to paint a rectangle on your watercolour paper by using the wet-on-dry watercolour technique. Tilt the rectangle on a diagonal to paint one side of the X. As well, make sure the layer is thin so that it retains its transparent and luminous qualities.
  4. Wait for the first layer to dry completely.
  5. Rinse off your brush and then dilute a blue pigment of your choice. Load up your brush with a paint-to-water ratio of 40% paint to 60% water. Make sure it has the same consistency as the first layer your painted.
  6. Use your brush to paint a diagonal rectangle over the first rectangle by using the wet-on-dry technique. Cross it over the first layer so that you create an X.
  7. Wait for the second layer to dry.
This is one of the best watercolour layering tips. There is an image of an X painted with watercolours. There is a blue diagonal rectangle painted over a yellow diagonal rectangle. Where the two colours overlap in the middle, they've created a green hue.

And voilà! As you can see, when you layer the blue over the yellow pigment, both pigments mix together to create a beautiful green hue.

So take some time to experiment with different colour mixes to understand how you can mix colours directly on the paper.

In addition, you can use the colour combinations and ideas I’ve listed below to help you brainstorm your next painting project.

  • Layer blue over yellow to create green (Use it to paint trees, leaves, and grass)
  • Layer red over yellow to create orange (Use it to paint sunset skies and flowers)
  • Layer purple over yellow to create brown (Use it to paint trees and mountains)

Conclusion

In this article, you learned about the 5 best watercolour layering tips for beginners that’ll improve your watercolour artwork and make your painting process smoother and easier.

Layering is an essential skill in watercolour painting, so make sure you spend the time learning how to master this skill.

Not only will it improve the quality of your paintings, but understanding and applying these layering strategies will make the painting process a lot more enjoyable for you.

Now I want to hear from you!

Which of the 5 layering tips is your favourite? Share your opinion in the comment section below!


Miranda Balogh

Miranda Balogh

Artist & Online Educator

Miranda Balogh is a self-taught artist who inspires her audience to step into their power as artists so they can create beautiful artwork with confidence. Subscribe to her art channel on YouTube to enjoy more art content!

    By: Miranda Balogh · In: Watercolour · Tagged: Beginner Artist, Painting, Watercolour

    You’ll Also Love

    Learning how to shade with pencil can be tricky for complete beginners. To help them succeed, this blog post shares the best shading tips and techniques to create smooth shading. As well, this blog post explains the importance of studying light and shadow, layering graphite properly, and using a variety of values to create contrast. So check out these art tips to discover how to improve your pencil shading skills.How to Improve Your Shading for Better Drawing Results
    If you want to learn how to get better at drawing and improve your sketching skills, you need to know how to practice drawing. To do this, you need to learn how to use values in your drawings and pick good reference photos. As well, you should do easy drawing exercises and draw from life to improve your art skills. So check out these beginner drawing tips to discover how to start drawing with confidence.How to Get Better at Drawing in 4 Simple Steps
    In this ultimate drawing guide, you learn how to draw as a complete beginner. In it, you start by learning about the best drawing supplies for beginners. Then, you learn about the fundamentals of drawing including shapes, values, and basic drawing techniques. As well, you learn about easy drawing tips to help you get started with drawing. And as a bonus, this guide shares a list of easy drawing ideas that are perfect for beginners.How to Draw for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Next Post >

    3 Awesome Watercolour Warmups to Help You Paint Better

    Primary Sidebar

    Follow Me

    SEARCH

    Meet The Artist

    Meet The Artist
    Hey there!

    My name is Miranda! I'm an artist and art educator from Canada. My mission is to teach you how to confidently step into your power as an artist so you can create beautiful artwork that you're proud of! I’ll show you that...

    Read My Story

    SUBSCRIBE TO MY ART CHANNEL

    Subscribe to Miranda Balogh's art channel on YouTube to watch free watercolour tutorials, get drawing and sketching tips, and get tons of art advice to make you a better artist.

    ENROLL IN THE WATERCOLOR ACADEMY

    Check out the Foxsy Watercolor Academy to learn how you can improve your watercolour paintings and become the artist of your dreams!

    Footer

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2025 · Designed by Foxsy

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    COOKIE SETTINGSACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT