In watercolor painting, what is a wash?

A wash in watercolor painting refers to the technique of applying a large area of color over the paper, typically in a semi-transparent manner. This method allows for a smooth, even layer of color that can create depth and atmosphere in a painting. Washes can be applied in various ways, such as through wet-on-wet or wet-on-dry techniques, where a brush loaded with diluted paint is used to coat a sizable area of the canvas or paper surface.

This technique is fundamental in watercolor as it enables artists to build up layers of color, create gradients, and achieve soft transitions, which are characteristic of this medium. Using washes effectively allows for the expression of delicate tonal variations that cannot be achieved with other techniques that focus on sharp lines or specific textures. The application of a wash is essential for creating backgrounds or large fields of color that set the stage for the rest of the painting.