How Do You Paint Wet on Wet?
Wet-on-wet painting, also known as alla prima or direct painting, involves applying wet paint onto a previously applied layer of wet paint or onto wet paper/canvas. This technique allows for beautiful color blending and unique effects, but requires careful control.
Different mediums utilize slightly different approaches:
Watercolor Wet-on-Wet
- Wetting the Paper: Begin by wetting your watercolor paper with clean water using a brush. This creates a receptive surface for the paint. You should be able to see the sheen of the water if you tilt the paper. (Emily Wassell)
- Applying Paint: Apply wet watercolor paint to the wet paper. The paint will bloom and spread organically, creating soft transitions and interesting color effects. (Emily Wassell)
- Controlling the Spread: A clean, damp brush can be used to lift and move the paint around, controlling its flow and placement. Blotting with a tissue can also help manage excess water or pigment. (Louise De Masi)
Oil Painting Wet-on-Wet
- Consistency is Key: The wet-on-wet oil painting technique requires careful control of the paint consistency. The initial layer shouldn't be too thick or thin, allowing subsequent layers to blend effectively without disrupting the underlying paint. (Michael James Smith Art, reddit r/oilpainting)
- Blending and Layering: Apply subsequent layers of wet paint directly onto the previous layer while it's still wet. This allows for seamless color blending and a unique luminosity. (Jayne Good)
- Liquid White (Bob Ross Method): A liquid base coat, often referred to as "liquid white," can be used as a foundation for this technique, enhancing the blending capabilities. (Bromleys Art, Bill Alexander)
Remember that achieving detailed work in wet-on-wet oil painting can be more challenging because of the blending nature of the technique. (reddit r/oilpainting)
