Should you use white watercolor paint?

Should you use white watercolor paint? That is the question and the answer is...it depends. The cons of adding white paint is that it can ruin the luminosity of you watercolor and make you more prone to mud. It can make your paintings look chalky if used in layers and it is often used as a last ditch attempt to save a painting but it is usually unsuccessful. However, adding white to a wash cand make it easierto lift and develop lovely granulation when used in a sky. It can also be a wonderful tool for adding volume to a painting (check out the masterful way John Singer Sargent used white to create volume in his portraits) where the white of the paper would feel a bit thin and flat. White can also be successfully used to paint the sparkle highlight in an eye or a bright reflection on a shiny opaque object. When deciding to add white ask yourself "What is the truth of my subject and how can I paint it most effectively?" A row of colorful glass bottles on a windowsill for instance is very transparent so avid white and paint it with transparent glazes reserving (you can use masking fluid) your white. A boat at sea on a misty day can effectively use white to capture the thick air and billowing sails. Know your white: Chinese white- translucent white (PW4 Zink oxide white) Use for mixing, not for highlights as it is brittle and prone to cracking. Titanium White- mostly opaque (PW6) this is a cool white and very opaque, if you want a warmer off white you can try PW6:1 Buff titanium or tint your white with a neutral Titanium white gouache- completely opaque PW^ but also may contain PW18 (chalk) to increase the opacity and matte finish *There is also an extender or base for lake pigments called Lithopone (PW5) that is used in gouache to make it opaque because it has a low tinting strength and laos in cheap student paints as an extender. PW5 does not have to be disclosed on a pigment label because it is used as an extender not a pigment. I hope this helps you on your watercolor journey! Should you use white watercolor paint? #thefrugalcrafter #watercolor #art My goal is to provide you with inspiration! Subscribe for frequent watercolor painting and crafting tutorials! Want more inspiration, here are some classes! Check out my New Watercolor Classes: https://lindsayweirich.teachable.com/... Enroll in my Craftsy Mixed Media Class: http://shrsl.com/ri05 Want to help with closed captions and translations? http://www.youtube.com/timedtext_cs_p... Visit my website: https://www.lindsayweirich.com/ I often get asked about my favorite supplies. You can find & shop them here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thefrugal... Credits: Video production and Craft ideas: Lindsay Weirich Music: Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Sign Up For The Frugal Crafter News! https://tinyletter.com/thefrugalcrafter For Sponsorships or Product Reviews email Lindsay at: [email protected] SUBSCRIBE! http://www.youtube.com/user/thefrugal... Follow along and have fun! Thefrugalcrafter Community on Facebook:   / thefrugalcrafter   Join in the fun! Visit my blog: http://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com Follow me on Pinterest:   / boards   Twitter:   / lindsayweirich   Instagram:   / lindsayweirich   Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/user/thefrugal... *This post may contain affiliate links