Tag Archives: Watercolor textures

Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #167

October 20, 2026 – 8:22 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #166:

It’s fun to add texture and detail to your watercolor paintings with ink! I started with a graded wash for the sky and added a suggestion of distant trees. After this layer dried, I painted the first foliage layer of the 3 main trees. Next I masked out the tree trunks by cutting the shapes out of clear contact paper; then I painted the ground and sprinkled in a little kosher salt for texture.

Before adding more layers to the foliage, I lightened the one on the far right to make it seem farther away. I then applied different values of green with a piece of sea sponge to mimic the texture of leaves. I finished painting the grass with a stiff fan brush. After removing the contact paper, I used watercolor pencils to suggest bark on the tree trunks.

The final step was to scribble and stipple with a Micron 05 black pen.

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Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #163

June 20, 2026 – 7:12 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #162:

I started by getting the paper wet and painting the sky. While it was still damp, I used yellow to paint the first layer of the foliage. Next I painted the ground and distant trees. After these dried, I added another layer of trees. I waited for this to dry before painting the second foliage layer and starting the tree trunk.

When these were dry, I darkened the foliage in places and added more definition and detail to the tree trunk.

I used a stiff fan brush and darker green to suggest cast shadows under the tree. The final step was to add more detail with a 05 Micron pen. It’s fun to scribble in the foliage!

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Mystery Technique

Mystery Technique #162

May 20, 2026 – 10:16 pm

Curious about the techniques used here? You can learn more next month if you’ve signed up for email updates! 

ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #161:

Here’s the inspiration for this mystery technique! First I painted the background foliage. Next I applied clear contact paper over the tree hole shape before painting the bark. While the paint was still wet, I used the end of a metal paint tube to scratch in linear marks, then sprinkled on some kosher salt for additional texture.

After this layer dried, I brushed off the salt and removed the contact paper.

I also used contact paper to save the mushroom shape before painting the tree hole with the same techniques. When this layer was completely dry, I removed the contact paper and painted the mushroom.

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