Granulated Wash in Watercolor Painting

Granulated Wash in Watercolor Painting

Article by Vladimir London, Watercolor Academy tutor

A granulated wash is not a separate method as such: this term describes a possible appearance of a plain or gradated wash.

Painting by Anna Ivanova, Watercolor Academy tutor

Paints made of heavy pigments with comparatively big particles tend to separate from the water and precipitate, leaving pigment sediment on the bottoms of the paper tooth. An artist can use this effect intentionally, creating interesting textures.

For this purpose, use paints with heavy pigments. For example, cerulean, ultramarine, emerald green, viridian, rose madder, and raw sienna will granulate to different degrees, while other paints like phthalocyanine blue do not granulate at all.

Painting by Anna Ivanova, Watercolor Academy tutor

To achieve granulation, the board needs to be tilted more horizontally (about 10 degrees) for the paint to run down more slowly and allow the pigment enough time to settle down. In addition, you must turn the board horizontal when the wash is finished but still wet. And finally, you can do the following trick: shake the board quickly in a horizontal motion while the paint is still wet. This will encourage the separation of pigment.

A layer of paint on paper which is too soft and absorbent may dry before the pigment granulates. For this reason, the dry-brush method is not suitable for granulation.

To encourage the separation of the pigment, you can add a granulation medium into the mixture.

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