Some of the common mistakes that can cause muddying is: Muddying can cause your radiant yellows to turn into a dull orange. Muddying is caused when two or more paints mix together instead of forming layers. One of the most common problems that can result in dull watercolor paintings is muddying. Here is a list of different watercolor papers and their pros and cons. Good quality paper for watercolor painting is designed to be heavier and has additives inside it which allow the paper to absorb moisture such that the tone remains flat and even.Ī cheap quality paper, in contrast, is liable to buckle and give inconsistent wavy tones.įor starters, try to work with at least 140 lbs. If your paper is not meant for watercolor painting or is of sub-standard quality, your paint will not set on it properly and can cause different colors to mix inadvertently. This is because, for watercolors, a good paper is a foundation for each layer of paint that you put on it. In watercolors, you can afford to buy cheap paint and brushes, but you cannot afford to buy cheap paper. One critical mistake that you can make, which might be causing a lot of harm and making your painting look dull, is using the wrong type of paper. Meaning it will not let any light through your paper, making the final product look dull and muddy. If you are layering with a staining watercolor and you’re not careful while adding layers or add too many layers, the painting will turn opaque. Staining watercolors are by far the most vibrant of the types, provided that you use them correctly.

Staining: Staining watercolors are designed to go deep inside the layers of paper and stain it.Meaning that while other types of watercolors can be removed or scraped from the paper, this will in effect dye the paper in its color.

However, if you’re worried about dull paintings, it is better not to use sedimentary watercolors as they tend to be thicker in both texture and color and leave a more toned impression rather than a vibrant one. These residues can add texture to the painting or be used to add additional artifacts if properly used. Unlike other forms of watercolors, sedimentary tend to have addictive qualities meaning they might be grainy, glossy, or thick.In some types of sedimentary watercolors, the residues are visible to the naked eye.

Sedimentary: Sedimentary watercolors are pigments that work by being deposited on the top layer of the drawing paper.

Their intensity is light, so if the color palette of your painting suits it, it is suggested that you use transparent watercolors. Transparent watercolors generally give you lighter and more vibrant colors.

Transparent: Transparent watercolors, as the name suggests, allows light to pass through them.They are light, airy, and when applied, they don’t stain the paper rather, they soak into it.

In watercolors, there are three main types of paint: Transparent, Sedimentary, and Staining.

This might be the culprit of your dull paintings.

If you’re new to watercolor painting, you might’ve chosen the paint that was the most accessible to you.

Watercolor painting meaning