Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Join me on Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio Want to make your art stand out? In this video, I share 10 practical watercolor techniques that can make a real difference to your paintings. These are all techniques I use regularly in my own abstract and realistic work to add interest, contrast, texture, and structure — none of them are complicated, and you don’t need special materials or years of experience to use them in your work.
If you’re a beginner, these techniques are fun and easy, and will help you build confidence and motivation to continue painting. If you’ve been painting for a while, they’re all essential tools for pushing a watercolor piece further and making it stand out.
I’d love it if you let me know in the comments which technique you’ll use first.
Materials:
Kuretake Gansai Tambi 48 Color Set:
🇺🇸 amzn.to/3zZX8Kn
🇬🇧 amzn.to/467WnAK
🇨🇦 amzn.to/3ZFuf4a
🇩🇪 amzn.to/43Wb1cU
Kuretake Art Nouveau 24 color set:
🇺🇸 amzn.to/4ptkEYn
🇨🇦 amzn.to/3HL4CbN
🇬🇧 amzn.to/4k1tVDY
I used Shadow Green, Viridian, Billiard Green, Indigo, Turquoise Green Deep, Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna.
Princeton Aqua Elite Synthetic Kolinsky Brush, Round, size 8 amzn.to/42P6whE
And size 12 amzn.to/4alqtBk
**Meeden Paper**
🇺🇸 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-usa
🇬🇧 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-uk
🇪🇺 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-eu
🇦🇺 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-au
*Use code DIANE15 for 15% off*
I used 9 x 12 inch paper in this painting.
Additional Materials: kitchen towel, white wax candle, masking tape.
The ten brush techniques are:
1. Simple Wash
2. Drop Wash
3. Water Dropping
4. Broken Wash
5. Variegated Wash
6. Blotted Wash
7. Straight Lines
8. Thick/Thin Lines
9. Wax Resist
10. Layering
Chapters:
00:00 Setup, colors and brush choice
06:19 The first stage
15:37 The second stage
29:18 Final thoughts
JACKMAN’S ART MATERIALS Professional Watercolours Handmade in England
*Use code DIANE10 for 10% off*
jackmansartmaterials.co.uk/discount/diane10
——
➡️ DON’T LOVE DRAWING? USE OUR LIBRARY OF 300+ SKETCH DOWNLOADS!
dianeantone.com/youtube-tutorial-sketches
*ALL Sketches have a full-length tutorial here on YouTube!*
Get 10 FREE one-click sketch downloads per month:
dianeantone.com/product/studio-insiders-pass
There are no recurring charges, just a one-off payment to set up the Pass.
**Mid and Top Tier Patrons and Channel Members get this pass FREE - look for the coupon code when you join!**
➡️ *Join Us and Support Us*
Join my YouTube Membership: youtube.com/dianeantonestudio/join
Join my Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Tip Jar: tinyurl.com/dastipjar (PayPal)
Join our Newsletter for coupons, freebies, inspiration, news and more: dianeantone.com/join-our-newsletter
——
➡️ *Save on Supplies with these PERMANENT Coupon Codes*
MEEDEN ART High Quality Affordable Art Supplies and Furniture
*Use code DIANE15 for 15% off*
US: meedenart.com/dianeantonestudio
UK: https://uk.meedenart.com?sca_ref=8833740.pkqmzOJ7cSUTK
EU: https://eu.meedenart.com?sca_ref=8833093.KEKQBZgUjrla
AU: https://au.meedenart.com?sca_ref=8831601.HrWQDzR7Ew8F
MAB WATERCOLOURS Metallic Paints Handmade in England
*Use code DIANE10 for 10% off*
etsy.com/shop/MABWatercolours
➡️ *Amazon Storefronts*
USA - amazon.com/shop/dianeantonestudio
Canada - amazon.ca/shop/dianeantonestudio
UK - amazon.co.uk/shop/dianeantonestudio
➡️ *About my brushes*
I buy my favorite brushes from Drawell. They are handmade in Japan. Drawell will ship readily to anywhere in the world. The prices on their website are in Japanese currency but if you send Mr Maeyama an email he will give you prices in other currencies. The brushes I use are the Golden Nylon Series 11-2, and I use mostly sizes 7or 9 and 10 and 13. drawell.co.jp/english/product.html
——
➡️ *Where You’ll Find Us*
*Our Online Homes*
Website: dianeantone.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@DianeAntoneStudio
Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Facebook: facebook.com/dianeantonestudio
Instagram: instagram.com/dianeantonestudio
Pinterest: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
*Our Facebook Communities*
Facebook Members Only Group: facebook.com/groups/dianeantonestudiomembers
Facebook Learn to Paint Watercolor Group: facebook.com/groups/learnwatercolourpainting
Facebook Learn to Paint Mixed Media Group: facebook.com/groups/learnhowtopaint
*Our baby sister channel*
Subscribe to youtube.com/@fromthegarden for behind the scenes videos of life on and around our little farm in Brittany, France
Diane Antone Studio makes a commission from sales made through the above links.*
#dianeantonestudio #watercolor #art
Join me on Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio Want to make your art stand out? In this video, I share 10 practical watercolor techniques that can make a real difference to your paintings. These are all techniques I use regularly in my own abstract and realistic work to add interest, contrast, texture, and structure — none of them are complicated, and you don’t need special materials or years of experience to use them in your work.
If you’re a beginner, these techniques are fun and easy, and will help you build confidence and motivation to continue painting. If you’ve been painting for a while, they’re all essential tools for pushing a watercolor piece further and making it stand out.
I’d love it if you let me know in the comments which technique you’ll use first.
Materials:
Kuretake Gansai Tambi 48 Color Set:
🇺🇸 amzn.to/3zZX8Kn
🇬🇧 amzn.to/467WnAK
🇨🇦 amzn.to/3ZFuf4a
🇩🇪 amzn.to/43Wb1cU
Kuretake Art Nouveau 24 color set:
🇺🇸 amzn.to/4ptkEYn
🇨🇦 amzn.to/3HL4CbN
🇬🇧 amzn.to/4k1tVDY
I used Shadow Green, Viridian, Billiard Green, Indigo, Turquoise Green Deep, Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre and Burnt Sienna.
Princeton Aqua Elite Synthetic Kolinsky Brush, Round, size 8 amzn.to/42P6whE
And size 12 amzn.to/4alqtBk
**Meeden Paper**
🇺🇸 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-usa
🇬🇧 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-uk
🇪🇺 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-eu
🇦🇺 supplies.dianeantone.com/meeden-paper-au
*Use code DIANE15 for 15% off*
I used 9 x 12 inch paper in this painting.
Additional Materials: kitchen towel, white wax candle, masking tape.
The ten brush techniques are:
1. Simple Wash
2. Drop Wash
3. Water Dropping
4. Broken Wash
5. Variegated Wash
6. Blotted Wash
7. Straight Lines
8. Thick/Thin Lines
9. Wax Resist
10. Layering
Chapters:
00:00 Setup, colors and brush choice
06:19 The first stage
15:37 The second stage
29:18 Final thoughts
JACKMAN’S ART MATERIALS Professional Watercolours Handmade in England
*Use code DIANE10 for 10% off*
jackmansartmaterials.co.uk/discount/diane10
——
➡️ DON’T LOVE DRAWING? USE OUR LIBRARY OF 300+ SKETCH DOWNLOADS!
dianeantone.com/youtube-tutorial-sketches
*ALL Sketches have a full-length tutorial here on YouTube!*
Get 10 FREE one-click sketch downloads per month:
dianeantone.com/product/studio-insiders-pass
There are no recurring charges, just a one-off payment to set up the Pass.
**Mid and Top Tier Patrons and Channel Members get this pass FREE - look for the coupon code when you join!**
➡️ *Join Us and Support Us*
Join my YouTube Membership: youtube.com/dianeantonestudio/join
Join my Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Tip Jar: tinyurl.com/dastipjar (PayPal)
Join our Newsletter for coupons, freebies, inspiration, news and more: dianeantone.com/join-our-newsletter
——
➡️ *Save on Supplies with these PERMANENT Coupon Codes*
MEEDEN ART High Quality Affordable Art Supplies and Furniture
*Use code DIANE15 for 15% off*
US: meedenart.com/dianeantonestudio
UK: https://uk.meedenart.com?sca_ref=8833740.pkqmzOJ7cSUTK
EU: https://eu.meedenart.com?sca_ref=8833093.KEKQBZgUjrla
AU: https://au.meedenart.com?sca_ref=8831601.HrWQDzR7Ew8F
MAB WATERCOLOURS Metallic Paints Handmade in England
*Use code DIANE10 for 10% off*
etsy.com/shop/MABWatercolours
➡️ *Amazon Storefronts*
USA - amazon.com/shop/dianeantonestudio
Canada - amazon.ca/shop/dianeantonestudio
UK - amazon.co.uk/shop/dianeantonestudio
➡️ *About my brushes*
I buy my favorite brushes from Drawell. They are handmade in Japan. Drawell will ship readily to anywhere in the world. The prices on their website are in Japanese currency but if you send Mr Maeyama an email he will give you prices in other currencies. The brushes I use are the Golden Nylon Series 11-2, and I use mostly sizes 7or 9 and 10 and 13. drawell.co.jp/english/product.html
——
➡️ *Where You’ll Find Us*
*Our Online Homes*
Website: dianeantone.com
YouTube: youtube.com/@DianeAntoneStudio
Patreon: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
Facebook: facebook.com/dianeantonestudio
Instagram: instagram.com/dianeantonestudio
Pinterest: patreon.com/dianeantonestudio
*Our Facebook Communities*
Facebook Members Only Group: facebook.com/groups/dianeantonestudiomembers
Facebook Learn to Paint Watercolor Group: facebook.com/groups/learnwatercolourpainting
Facebook Learn to Paint Mixed Media Group: facebook.com/groups/learnhowtopaint
*Our baby sister channel*
Subscribe to youtube.com/@fromthegarden for behind the scenes videos of life on and around our little farm in Brittany, France
Diane Antone Studio makes a commission from sales made through the above links.*
#dianeantonestudio #watercolor #art
