Five Key Winsor & Newton Watercolour Painting Mediums

Granulation Medium is useful when you want to add interesting dimensions to otherwise flat areas, as it gives a mottled appearance to colours which normally have a smooth wash, or enhances the effect of granulating colours (like ultramarine blue).

For maximum effect, dilute watercolours with the medium alone. By diluting the colour further with water, a variety of results can be achieved. Granulation is greatly affected by different watercolour papers. For maximum granulations use rough-texture paper and for less granulation use a medium-texture surface. Granulation Medium is resoluble simply by re-wetting.

Blending Medium slows the drying time of watercolour to allow for more blending. It can be used in a number of different ways. For maximum blending time mix the medium directly with watercolour. Dilution with water will produce a variety of blending/drying times. Drying rates will vary and depend on temperature and air flow.

Alternatively, you can apply the medium directly to the paper in preparation for the watercolour. Any initial beading of colours will disperse as blending continues. Once dry, further washes can be applied over any washes which include Blending Medium.

Lifting Preparation allows dry colour washes, including staining colours, to easily lift from paper with a wet brush or rag. It must be applied to paper first and allowed to dry. To use, apply to the whole surface and allow to fully dry. Once dry, continue painting washes as normal over the Lifting Preparation and allow these to dry.

Areas or details can then be removed by taking a soft brush dipped in tap water, gently moistening the area to be removed and blotting off the dissolved colour. For larger areas a sponge can be used in place of the brush. This process can be repeated until the required degree of removal is achieved. The removed areas can then be left white or painted over with further washes.

Washes will be most successfully lifted within five or six hours after the initial application, but will remain more removable than if paper alone had been used. Lifting Preparation does not make the watercolour more soluble, so there is no worry about multiple washes becoming muddy.

Permanent Masking Medium masks areas of paper to make them water resistant. It can be applied directly to white paper, to dried paint on the paper or mixed with watercolours first.  All watercolour paint mixed with Permanent Masking Medium remain open and workable whilst the painted area is still wet. Once dry, the area becomes isolated and cannot be fully penetrated by further paint. A hair dryer can be used to speed the drying. Brushes should be washed in warm water and soap before using other colours to remove the medium from the brush.

The example above shows areas of paper treated with Permanent Masking Medium and allowed to dry. When the water colour wash is then painted over, these areas they remain isolated.

How does Permanent Masking Medium differ from Art Masking Fluid?

• Permanent Masking Medium is not removable
• Permanent Masking Medium can be added to colour
• Art Masking Fluid is recommended for crisp whites, larger areas of masking and is faster drying, whilst Permanent Masking Medium is recommended for fine detail and expressive effects within the painting.

Texture Medium is used to add fine texture to paintings, creating the impression of depth and structure. It can be applied directly onto the paper or mixed with watercolours first. More layers of colour can be applied over the top. Texture Medium is re-soluble but like all watercolour washes, some colour will remain on the paper.