Watercolours have a reputation for being notoriously tricky to use, but you can speed up your progress by actively getting to know your paints. Learning how your paints mix – and dry – is important. When searching for a specific colour, it’s all too easy to settle for the closest one in your set, resulting in unrealistic depictions and disappointing results. Here are three things you can try in your sketchbook...
First, test out all the colours you have in your palette. Make a swatch of each for reference in your sketchbook – labelling them can be helpful.
Next, try experimenting. See what happens as you mix complementary colours or vary the water-to-paint ratio.
Finally, dedicate a page to mixing colours seen in your chosen subject: a shadow in the morning sun or the pale cream of a cup. I do this before most pieces I embark on.