A graded wash, where the color lightens towards the bottom of the page, is made in the same way as an even wash except that instead of loading your brush with more paint for each subsequent stroke, you load your brush with clean water thereby diluting the wash. Lift the excess water from the last stroke and leave to dry at an angle.
Tips:
- Dampen the part of the paper you wish to paint evenly with water using a very large brush or sponge before laying a wash. This makes it easier for the paint to flow.
- Rather prepare too much paint than run out. If you have to stop to get more paint, your wash may dry, creating a hard edge between where you stopped and restarted. You may also not mix exactly the same color.
- It's easier to get across the width of a sheet of paper in a single stroke if you use your whole arm rather than just your wrist.
- Some pigments dilute faster than others, so test graded washes in various colors and keep a record for easy reference.
- Don't go back an correct any "mistakes" as this will make the "mistake" even worse. Rather start a new wash or accept the imperfection.
