To use granulating watercolors, you'll typically mix them with water on a palette and apply them to paper like any other watercolor, but the key difference is the pigments separate, creating a textured, speckled effect.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Understanding Granulating Watercolors
Granulating watercolors contain pigments that have larger particle sizes and varying densities. These particles tend to clump together and settle unevenly on the paper's surface, resulting in a textured appearance called granulation.
Steps for Using Granulating Watercolors
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Select Your Colors: Choose granulating watercolor paints. Many brands identify granulating colors specifically. Experiment with different colors, as some granulate more dramatically than others.
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Prepare Your Palette: Squeeze a small amount of the granulating watercolor paint onto your palette.
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Add Water: Gradually add water to the paint, mixing it until you achieve your desired consistency. The amount of water will affect the intensity of the color and the degree of granulation. More water generally encourages more granulation.
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Apply to Paper: Using a watercolor brush, apply the paint to your watercolor paper. Observe how the pigments begin to separate and settle into the paper's texture.
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Experiment with Techniques:
- Wet-on-Wet: Applying granulating watercolors to wet paper can enhance the granulation effect. The water allows the pigments more freedom to move and separate.
- Dry Brush: Using a relatively dry brush with granulating watercolors can create a more textured, broken effect.
- Layering: Applying multiple layers of granulating watercolors can build up depth and complexity in your painting. Let each layer dry completely before applying the next.
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Control the Granulation: While the inherent properties of the paint determine the granulation, you can influence it. Using rougher paper encourages more granulation. Tilting the paper while the paint is wet can also influence the pigment distribution.
Tips for Success
- Use textured watercolor paper: Rough or cold-pressed paper enhances granulation.
- Don't overmix the paint: Overmixing can reduce the granulation effect.
- Allow the paint to dry naturally: Avoid using a hairdryer, as this can disrupt the granulation process.
- Experiment! The best way to learn how to use granulating watercolors is to experiment with different techniques and color combinations.
Granulation Medium
As per the short answer, granulation medium can also be used.
- Prepare a separate palette for mixing with the medium.
- Mix a small amount of granulation medium into your watercolour paint before applying it to your paper.
This medium will enhance the granulation effect.
