I am relatively new to watercolor, and had only done a little wet-on-dry before.  For this drawing, I used all three techniques: wet-on-wet for sky and open water, wet-on-dry for snow drift contours and cave water, and dry-on-dry for snow texture.  I really like the dry-on-dry results.  It took a bit of practice, and I also found that different water brushes yielded different results.  The Sakura brush was easiest to use, for me.  I'm certain I'll be using all three techniques from here on out.  This was a great lesson!

When I was younger I was taught wet-on-wet but not the others. It was frustrating. This time I enjoyed it because I was curious what the paint would do. I like paintings that explore color, and wet on wet is a fun way to do it. I grew up in a watery area, and wet-on-wet is perfect for the play of light and color on water, or in the sky, or for fuzzy things in the distance. Wet on dry comes easiest. I like the possibility of detail. I’m still working on getting the right balance of pigment to water so I’m not getting that splodge at the end of the stroke. I had to really work at it to get the brush dry enough for dry on dry, but I like it for rough textures or stuttered white. It would be interesting to put a dry color over a lighter color so the light one shows through. I was thinking of sharing a wet on wet landscape sketch, but picked up the paper before it was dry and smudged it. Learn from my my mistake, y’all.

I used the wet on dry technique with the purple pansy and the wet on wet with the mallard. I would also like to learn how to paint the detail and catch the light colors in the flower or leaves. This was challenging with matching colors and adding details. I need practice with the dry brush technique. This is a first for me. 

I tried some pansies with the wet on dry technique. (Didn't know that was what I was doing when I painted this>)  I was mainly trying to match the colors. This is the first thing I have ever painted.  I'm not sure how to work in all of the details using water colors. I would like to use water colors in my journal, especially when coloring the birds I see.  Also leaves and plants.

I tried to incorporate each of the techniques, wet on wet, wet on dry, and dry brush. I had an hour outside, and finished with an hour or so inside. I was wishing I'd taken a photo to remind me of the color and light details. The dry brush technique will take some practice!

I like the control of wet on dry technique. I can see use for other methods though. Dry brush for details and textures, wet on wet for wash areas. it’ll be fun to try out in the field, but it’s pouring rain lately and it’d be all wet on wet if I went out now! Journaling in the Pacific Northwest isn’t easy.

I used wet on dry,  think is better to detail the plants. it dries quicker. It is important to have a good paper, mine is not good quality and does not work with many layers and gets bad with a lot of water. I would like to try wet on wet, but it seems a bit difficult. To apply this on my journal, a would like to start with simple specimens, such as a leaf or a flower, not a complete landscape. Because that way, i can find a compact palette and work on less details at a time.

My biggest question is how do you keep the paper from 'buckling' using too wet of a brush? This is all new to me, and the control is going to take some time. The hint of having a test paper handy for both color matching and now this brush technique, esp dry on dry, is quite handy. I'll be using these in the field next time out. I took a pic of a stream going under a bridge because I was too frightened to try sketching it...I think I'm ready! I loved seeing how some leaves caught on the edges of the rocks while others kept floating downstream. The light playing off the stream as it came through the trees also caught my eye. I'm going to take all the time I need to sketch, then paint, this scene!