Let your imagination soar!

For too long, the beautiful medium of watercolor has been confined to a paper-behind-glass niche. Now, with this exciting new ground, anything you've dreamed of painting with watercolor can become a reality. It’s easy to use—just brush it on—and incredibly versatile. Here are a few tips for getting the best results.

Preparation

Absorbent or semi-absorbent surfaces require no special prep before brushing on DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Ground. These include paper, canvas and other fabrics, wood, plaster, shells and hardboard. Non-absorbent surfaces such as metal, plastic or glass should be lightly abraded with sandpaper or steel wool before brushing on the Watercolor Ground.

Application

We recommend using Watercolor Ground straight from the container. It has a thick, brushable consistency. Use a soft-haired synthetic brush for a smooth finish or a hog bristle brush for a more textured finish. Since the ground is pigmented with Titanium White pigment, one coat will cover most surfaces; very absorbent surfaces such as unfinished soft wood may require two coats, allowing the first coat to cure before adding the second. Wash brushes immediately after use.

Curing

Let Watercolor Ground dry and cure for at least 24 hours. This allows it to attain the right degree of absorption.

Painting

DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Ground works beautifully with watercolors and thinned acrylics. Because it creates a surface more absorbent than paper, you will want to use less water with your paint. Experiment and see what works best for you. It also works beautifully with DANIEL SMITH Masking Fluid.

Finishing

As with all watercolors, your work on DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Ground will need to be fixed if it will not be framed behind glass.