How to Mix Watercolors for Ceramics

When mixing watercolors, they must first be mixed with water, then mixed with each other to produce variations of colors.

Watercolors are a universal medium used to paint everything from paper to canvas to ceramics. Most watercolors come in a tube or a dry plate, and require added water to dilute the pigment. This process is fairly easy, and the amount of water can vary depending on how light or dark you want the color.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Paintbrush
• Watercolor paint
• A ceramic item
• Paint tray

Instructions

1. Take your paintbrush and dip into your water dish. Once the brush is saturated, paint the bottom of your paint tray with the water, releasing the water into one of the compartments of the tray. Repeat this step for every color you plan on mixing, with a separate compartment dedicated to each color.

2. Take your brush and dip it into the watercolor pigment. Spread the color-saturated brush into your paint tray, releasing the color. Continue this step without rinsing the brush until the desired hue is achieved. Continue this process for each separate color, rinsing off the brush after completing each color.

3. If you want to mix two watercolors together, clean off your brush and dip it into the first color, making sure it is the darker of the two. Dip your brush into the second color, the color you want to mix the color on the brush with. Stroke the brush into the tray, releasing the pigment, and swirl the brush around until fully mixed. Repeat this step until the desired shade is created.

References

• Watercolor Paintings and Projects: How to Mix Watercolor