Painting materials and techniques

Different paints behave in very different ways. Knowing your paint helps you choose the right one for the job.

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Types of paint

Paint is made of pigment (coloured powder) mixed with a binder that sticks it to the surface.
PaintWhat it is like
WatercolourTransparent; thinned with water; light comes from the white paper
GouacheLike watercolour but opaque (you cannot see through it); matt finish
AcrylicWater-based; dries quickly; waterproof when dry
Oil paintPigment in oil (often linseed oil); dries slowly, so it can be blended for a long time
TemperaPigment mixed with egg yolk; used widely in Europe before oil paint

Watercolour techniques

Wash: a thin, even layer of watered-down colour.
Graded wash: going from strong to pale.
Wet-on-wet: paint on to wet paper so colours spread and blend softly.
Wet-on-dry: paint on to dry paper for crisp, sharp edges.
Work from light to dark: in watercolour you usually keep the white of the paper for the brightest areas.

Brushes and good habits

Round brushes are good for detail and lines; flat brushes for broad strokes and washes.
Mix colours on a palette, not on the picture.
Use two pots of water if you can (one to rinse, one clean).
With acrylics, wash brushes before the paint dries, or they will be ruined.
Impasto is thick paint; a glaze is a thin, transparent layer over dry paint.
Worked example

A student wants a soft, misty sky where the colours blur into each other. Which paint and technique should they choose?

  1. Soft blending suggests a transparent, water-based paint.
  2. Watercolour is transparent and flows when wet.
  3. Painting wet-on-wet lets the colours spread and blur into each other.

Answer: Watercolour, using the wet-on-wet technique.

Key idea

Paint is pigment plus a binder. Watercolour is transparent; gouache is opaque; acrylic dries fast and is waterproof when dry; oil dries slowly. Wet-on-wet gives soft blends; wet-on-dry gives sharp edges.

Key words
Pigment
The coloured powder in paint, mixed with a binder.
Transparent
See-through. Watercolour is transparent, so the paper shows through.
Gouache
An opaque water-based paint with a matt finish.
Opaque
Not see-through. Opaque paint covers what is underneath.
Wet-on-wet
Painting on to wet paper or wet paint so colours spread and blend softly.
Wash
A thin, even layer of watered-down paint.

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Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What is the binder in paint?

    1. The coloured powder
    2. The substance that holds the pigment together
    3. The brush
    4. The canvas
    Show the answer

    Answer: The substance that holds the pigment together

    Binders such as oil or gum arabic hold pigment.

  2. Which paint is opaque and water-based, often used for flat areas of colour?

    1. Watercolour
    2. Gouache
    3. Oil
    4. Ink wash
    Show the answer

    Answer: Gouache

    Gouache is opaque watercolour.

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.