If you’ve been here for any length of time, then you know I  have a slight obsession with watercolor. Part of it is mixing beautiful color combinations together, and another is creating abstract and unique textures. Creating unique textures allows you to then use them in designs, producing an outcome no other person is capable of replicating – ever. And that makes everything even more special. As you might imagine, I’ve spent many hours experimenting with watercolors and this week I want to let you in on 3 simple tricks to create unique watercolor textures of your own. It doesn’t matter which kind of watercolors you have on hand, either – these tricks will work with em all 😉
3 Simple Tricks for Unique Watercolor Textures
Mentioned in the video:
- Canson 140# cold press watercolor paper
- eyedropper for the bleach
- basic paintbrushes used
- concentrated watercolors used
- my watercolor texture kits: vol. 1, vol.2 + vol.3
Final texture outcomes from the video:
with salt water
with bleach water
with seran wrap
Here’s a quick summary of the 3 tricks mentioned in the video, along with measurements:
- Trick #1: Salt water wash. Put 1/2 tsp of basic table salt into 1.5 cups of water. Mix thoroughly until fully dissolved. Place a wash on top of your watercolor paper and lightly paint your watercolor on top of the saturated paper. Check out the unique texture results!
- #2: Five drops of bleach in your water cup. I’m using basic bleach found at any grocery store with about 1.5 cups of water in my water cup. Swirl it around until well mixed, then place a wash on top of your watercolor paper. Lightly spread watercolor on top while the surface is still saturated for some spidery-looking textures.
- #3: Seran wrap press. Paint a watercolor texture as you normally would (regular water), but this time on top of seran wrap. When finished, place your watercolor paper, texture side down on top of the seran wrap and press firmly. Flip over to smooth any areas/spread the color more thoroughly. Remove the seran wrap in one swift motion. Check out those edges!
- Get even more creative by applying trick #1 or #2 to the seran wrap for a bonus unique method!
- Want to convert your textures to digital? I have a full class on that here 😉
- If you try these out, I’d love to see them! Tag me on Instagram @everytuesday!
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Aastha vijay | October 4, 2016
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this was an amazing experimentation Teela!
I’ve gone through all your videos in 2 days, that’s the level of your teaching.
thankyou loads for driving this great cause: “helping ambitious graphic designers”.
I request you to make a video of how to “create your own fonts on illustrator”
Teela | Author | October 5, 2016
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Wow, that’s a lot of videos! I’ll be releasing a class next year on creating fonts – wayyyy too much info to fit into just a weekly tutorial 🙂 It’s coming though!
Joan | October 4, 2016
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Great tips! Who knew you could use salt, bleach, and plastic wrap when water coloring! I can’t wait to try this!
Teela | Author | October 5, 2016
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Thanks for checking it out! Definitely addicting!
Kate | October 4, 2016
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I love these! I knew about using salt on top of watercolor paintings, but salt in the water is a new idea to me. Thanks Teela!
heidi | October 5, 2016
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– great, great tutorial.. love the saran wrap method. Thanks!!
Gretchen | May 24, 2017
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I love your photo of the watercolor texture made with seran wrap. It popped up on my google images when I was searching for a watercolor texture. I noticed some other people have used it on their websites. I was wondering if you are restricting use of the photo. I would like to use it as a texture on a book cover.
Teela | Author | May 26, 2017
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Hey, it should not be being used on other websites without crediting the image. Using it on a book cover also wouldn’t be allowed – it’s too low of a resolution/quality anyway, so I’m it would be a very poor quality print, regardless. I have plenty of watercolor textures in my shop here, that when purchased as an extended license would allow unlimited use with it placed on items for sale. Appreciate you double checking!
Yuliya | July 26, 2017
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Dear Teela! thank you so much for amazing video ! that video *3 Simple Tricks…* inspired to create something NEW in my projects! A lot of new ideas and prosperity to you!!!!! with sunny smile from Odessa (BlackSeaCoast)!