Watercolour
For transparent washes, light layers, gradients and paper-based work. Use suitable watercolour paper, control water quantity and keep whites by leaving the paper visible.
Painting guide
Painting: watercolour, gouache, acrylic and supports
A practical guide to choosing paint, paper, brushes, palettes, pigments, inks and preparation tools according to the technique you want to use: wash, flat colour, layers, detail, texture or mixed media.
Choosing the paint
Choose the paint according to opacity, water control and layering.
Watercolour, gouache, acrylic and ink do not behave the same way. Watercolour works by transparency and reserve. Gouache gives a matte, more opaque surface. Acrylic dries quickly and forms a resistant film. Ink gives strong colour, fluid lines and stains that are harder to correct.
Before choosing a paint, define the result: light wash, flat colour, precise detail, fast layers, opaque correction, texture or mixed media. The wrong paint can fight the paper, dry too fast, lift too much or cover details you wanted to keep.
Gouache
For matte colour, opaque correction, illustration, studies and flat shapes. It can reactivate with water, so avoid overworking the same area.
Acrylic
For fast layers, resistant colour, texture and work on prepared supports. It dries quickly: prepare palette, water and brushes before starting.
Ink and pigments
For strong stains, fluid marks, colour tests and experimental layers. Pigments require attention to binder, dilution and surface preparation.
Supports
The support decides absorption, edges and drying speed.
A paint that works well on one paper can bleed, buckle, dry dull or lift badly on another. Support choice is not secondary: it changes colour intensity, brush marks, correction and the amount of water you can use.
For water-based techniques, look at weight, fibre, sizing and surface texture. For acrylic or mixed media, check whether the support needs primer and whether it can handle repeated layers.
Watercolour paper
Choose it for washes, gradients and wet techniques. A heavier paper resists water better. Cotton paper usually allows cleaner lifts and slower drying.
Mixed-media paper
Useful for gouache, light acrylic, ink and drawing combined. It handles several materials, but it is not always made for heavy washes.
Canvas and board
Better for acrylic, texture and repeated layers. Check the primer: an unprepared support can absorb too much binder and weaken the colour film.
Sketchbooks
For colour tests, thumbnails, palettes, composition notes and small studies. Check paper weight before using heavy water or acrylic layers.
Brushes & tools
A brush is chosen by water capacity, edge and control.
A round brush, a flat brush, a wash brush and a detail brush do not solve the same problem. One holds water, another creates a straight edge, another covers a large surface, another draws a small mark.
Use the largest brush that still gives control. A brush that is too small makes uneven washes; a brush that is too soft loses precision; a brush that is too stiff can lift previous layers.
Round brush
For lines, small shapes, controlled washes and transitions. A good point gives detail without changing tools too often.
Flat brush
For straight edges, blocks of colour, geometric shapes and acrylic or gouache areas. The edge helps keep a form readable.
Wash brush
For large wet areas, gradients and soft backgrounds. It must hold enough water to cover the surface before the edge dries.
Palette, water and cloth
They control dilution, cleanliness and correction. Dirty water dulls colour; too much water breaks edges; an absorbent cloth helps adjust the brush before touching paper.
Painting techniques
Most painting problems come from water, timing and layers.
Backruns, muddy mixtures, rough edges and lifted colour often appear when the next stroke arrives too early or too late. Painting is not only about colour choice: it is also about when to touch the surface and when to stop.
Make small tests before a final piece. Test the dilution, the first layer, the drying time, then a second layer. This gives more information than looking at the colour in the pan or tube.
Test dilution
Paint one mark with more water, one balanced mark and one dense mark. Note which one dries cleanly on your support.
Build the first layer
Keep the layer simple. Establish the light, main colour zones and large edges before adding detail or texture.
Let it dry enough
Touching a damp layer gives soft transitions; touching an almost dry layer can create backruns. Drying stage matters more than the clock.
Layer without overworking
Add the next layer with a clear purpose: deepen value, correct shape, add texture or sharpen an edge. Stop before the surface becomes tired.
Kit & questions
A painting kit should match one technique first.
Do not start with every colour and every brush. Start with one paint family, the right support, two or three brushes, a clean palette and a test surface. Add mediums, textures and specialist tools after you know what is missing.
Watercolour kit
- Watercolour paint or ink wash material
- Watercolour paper, ideally heavy enough for wet work
- Round brush and wash brush
- Clean water, palette and absorbent cloth
Gouache or acrylic kit
- Opaque paint: gouache or acrylic
- Mixed-media paper, canvas board or prepared support
- Flat brush, round brush and detail brush
- Palette, water jar and surface protection
Mixed-media kit
- Ink, pigment, gouache or acrylic depending on the effect
- Prepared support or strong mixed-media paper
- Brushes, sponge, spatula or texture tool
- Test area before applying layers to the final piece
What is the best paint for beginners?
Watercolour is useful for learning water control, gouache for opaque colour and correction, acrylic for fast layers and prepared supports. The best choice depends on the surface and the type of image you want to make.
Why does watercolour paper buckle?
Paper buckles when it receives more water than it can hold. A heavier watercolour paper, a taped sheet and controlled water quantity reduce buckling.
Which brush should I buy first?
For watercolour, start with a round brush and a wash brush. For gouache or acrylic, add a flat brush. The goal is to cover surface, draw edges and add detail without multiplying tools.
How do I avoid muddy colours?
Use clean water, limit unnecessary mixing, let layers dry when needed and test combinations before placing them on the final surface.
Next step: choose one technique first: wash, opaque colour, acrylic layers or mixed media. Then select the support, brush and palette that match that use.
