Do you want your watercolor paintings to look more professional? Learning how to create smooth, even washes is a simple skill that can completely transform your watercolor journey.
And as Olga Bonitas often emphasizes, mastering this technique doesn’t take long—but the improvement is dramatic.
In just a couple of hours, Olga Bonitas can show you how to perfect this one foundational skill and see real progress in your work.
Let her guide you through the process and help you enjoy watercolor painting even more.
Contents
What the Artist Needs to Practice Smooth Watercolor Washes
Let’s start by setting up the tools. Having the right materials can make this exercise more effective.
Watercolor Paper: Quality Makes a Difference
The artist knows watercolor paper is essential. But high-percentage cotton paper makes it much easier to get a smooth wash.
In this demonstration, the artist is using pretty cheap paper. Honestly, the painter doesn’t even know how much cotton it contains—it doesn’t say. And that’s fine for exercise.
If the artist can maste
Brushes: Size and Shape Matter
Now, let’s talk about brushes. The artist needs a big brush—squirrel hair or a good imitation—which works best.
It’s tough to get smooth washes with small brushes. Big brushes hold more water and pigment, which is exactly what is needed.
Other Supplies the Artist Will Need
Of course, the artist needs clean water, ideally in a couple of containers. Paints are also required, either in tubes or pans. Both work fine, and the painter will show how to use both.
And finally, a palette. The artist likes ceramic plates, but any palette or even a dinner plate will do the job.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Smooth Watercolor Washes
Now that everything is ready, let’s walk through the exact steps to make washes smooth and even. These steps are the heart of the exercise.
Step 1: Mix a Generous Amount of Paint
Before putting a brush on the paper, the artist takes time to mix enough paint. This is crucial.
Using Tube Paints
The artist starts by squeezing some tube paint onto the palette. Then, using clean water on the brush, the painter adds it to the paint.
There was some leftover water on the palette from cleaning; it’s okay. Quite a bit of water is needed.
The artist uses the brush to add water several times—or pours water directly onto the palette. The goal is to mix water and pigment thoroughly until it forms a smooth and even solution.
The artist is not speeding this up or skipping ahead because it’s important to know that mixing takes time. A rich mix of both paint and water is needed.
This way, there is a big puddle of ready-to-use paint that can cover an entire wash without stopping.
Using Pan Paints
If using pan paints instead, it’s pretty similar. First, the artist cleans the brush and fills it with water before touching the paint.
Then, the painter picks up some color and keeps adding water to the pan. This is done several times until the pan is full of water and a smooth color mixture is built. This mixture is then transferred to the palette.
Let’s take a closer look: add more water, blend it with the paint, and move it to the palette. Again, plenty of color solution is needed here.
Now, the artist should have two rich color mixtures: one from a tube and one from a pan. Both will work to create perfect washes.
Step 2: Prepare the Artist’s Paper for Success
This next step is often overlooked, but it’s beneficial. The artist slightly tilts their board. They use paper tape to fix the watercolor paper.
Then, something is placed under the board to slant it. The angle doesn’t have to be steep— even a small tilt helps the paint flow smoothly downward.
Prepare the paper
Step 3: Creating the Artist’s Smooth Wash
Now it’s time to paint. This is the fun part!
Single-Color Wash
The artist takes a big brush and loads it with paint. One horizontal line is made. Then the brush is dipped into the paint again for the second line.
A bit of extra paint pools at the bottom of each stroke. The artist calls this a “hanging drop.” That hanging drop is the secret to a perfect wash. It helps the paint flow smoothly from one stroke to the next.
The hanging drop is kept going until the end. That’s how that beautiful, even color is achieved across the entire section.
Another one is done. Same idea: paint one line and check for the hanging drop. If it isn’t visible, the brush releases more paint.
Then the painter continues, line by line, until the wash is finished.
Two-Color Wash
Once confident with a single-color wash, it’s time to try more advanced versions. These are great for learning color blending and control.
The artist starts just like before with the first color, such as purple.
Then, the brush is cleaned thoroughly. The second color, like green, is picked up and used for the next line.
These two are very different colors, so cleaning the brush again is vital before using more green.
Honestly, it’s not the artist’s favorite color combo, but this example still shows that the method works. Any colors can be used.
Graded Wash: From Color to Water
This time, the wash goes from intense color to clean water. The artist starts with the mixed color as usual.
Then, the painter paints the next line and washes some pigment off the brush—but not all.
Now, the artist thoroughly rinses the brush. A tissue is used to squeeze out excess water gently. The next line is painted to finish the wash.
A beautiful transition from color to clear water appears—smooth and natural.
Another graded wash is attempted for practice: first line, second line, then reducing pigment. Rinse, remove extra water, finish the wash.
Helpful Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
These little tips can improve results. Let’s go over them quickly.
Pale Stains or Uneven Spots
Sometimes pale, patchy areas appear in a wash. This can happen for two main reasons:
- Cheap paper often has too much glue in places, repelling water and paint.
- Natural oils from the artist’s fingers (sebum) can block the paint if the paper is touched too much before painting.
The artist always washes their hands with soap before starting to avoid this. And now, when these spots appear, the painter usually knows it’s just the paper.
Use a Big Brush
Big brushes hold more liquid—meaning fewer breaks in strokes. That’s what makes smooth washes possible.
Using a large brush isn’t hard. It’s often easier because the artist works faster and covers more space.
Thanks to the prepared mix and brush size, the painter can move quickly and confidently.
It also makes it easier to paint smooth shapes, not just backgrounds. If the artist is holding back because they’re scared of big brushes—don’t be. Embrace them.
Avoid Paint Bubbles
As the artist paints, little bubbles or pools might appear. These can dry unevenly and leave marks.
It’s a good habit to check the wash before it dries and gently remove any extra puddles with the brush. This keeps the wash looking clean and professional.
Final Thoughts
Now, the artist has everything needed to master smooth watercolor washes. With just a couple of hours of focused practice, paintings will look cleaner, more vibrant, and more professional.
So what’s the painter waiting for? Grab the brush, prep the paint, and give it a try. If questions come up or help is needed, drop a comment—the artist is happy to share more tips anytime!