Wash

Washing is the use of semi transparent layers, patches or blends of colour. Washes are usually restricted to just one or two colours or tones of colour, after which the painting would normally become a watercolour.

The technique is recognised worldwide and is particularly prominent in East Asian works.

The technique commonly involves using a glazed canvas, dead canvas or paper and involves heavily saturating a brush with solvent (often water) and adding just a small bit of ink or dye before being applied to the media. Mineral spirits or turpentine should be used when working with oil paints.

The aim of the wash technique is to add volume, colour and depth to art articulately, keeping it simple. Notable artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Rembrandt have used wash in their images. Rembrandt’s Lions are good examples of the use of the wash technique to give life to the lion’s skin and mane.

Image

If deciding to use the wash, it’s a technique that again involves a lot of refinement and development. Similarly to other techniques, explore the use of wash and keep old versions and attempts as examples of progression, remembering to log them into your working diary and critically analyse your work as you move along.