Understanding the Watercolor Glazing Technique: A Beginner’s Guide

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What does it mean to "glaze" with watercolor and how is this different from layering? Why is learning this technique important for artists looking for higher levels of realism and interesting effects in their paintings?


Glazing is one of the foundational techniques to learn about as we're starting our journeys with watercolor, along with wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and others, which I explain about in this blog post. 

This technique is helpful, not only because you can use it to increase the level of realism in your pieces, but also because it can help you achieve interesting effects and it can even be used to make mistakes less noticeable.

For beginners, learning how to glaze can be a game-changer.

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What is Glazing? 

Glazing involves applying a transparent layer of watercolor over a layer of color that is completely dry. 

When you do glazing, the consistency of your paint is relatively watered-down (think a tea or coffee consistency). *I explain the consistencies we use when painting with watercolor and provide essential exercises for beginners to help you develop your water control in my Watercolor 101 course, which you can get here. 

Glazing allows you to build up color gradually, creating nuanced effects and adding depth without muddying your colors.

It’s an incredibly useful method for controlling the intensity and temperature of your colors, developing the wide range of values needed for realism, and creating interesting effects. 

It's important to know that not all watercolor paper is appropriate for techniques like glazing and layering. Some papers may be high-quality and 100% cotton, and may still not be suitable for such techniques. 

You'll notice your paper isn't optimal for glazing or layering because, when you try to paint over a layer of color that has already dried, it will easily re-activate when you run your paintbrush bristles over it, even if you do it gently. 

This will not only destroy the values/tones you've already managed to create, which will flatten out your painting, but you can also start blending colors together that you weren't intending to blend, which may lead to a muddy look. 
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Here are two great examples of watercolor papers which are perfect for these types of techniques:​

Arches Cold Pressed 100% Cotton 140 lbs Watercolor Paper Pad

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Baohong Cold Pressed 100% Cotton 140 lbs Watercolor Paper Block

For a full list of my current favorite art supplies, go here. 





What Can You Use Glazing For?


This technique can be used to accomplish various things:


1. Developing Believable Depth and Dimension

When you're going for high levels of realism, glazing is your best friend.

This technique helps us create the illusion of three-dimensionality and depth because we're able to achieve the wide range of values needed for realism (from lightest lights, to a wide range of midtones, to darkest darks), by overlapping color in shadow areas.

Here is an example of a painting where I used multiple layers of glazing to achieve depth and a realistic look, making my way from lightest values toward darkest values. 
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Yellow underpainting (lightest value).

Glazing layer 2.

Final red details.

Glazing layer 1.

Glazing layer 2.

This step-by-step watercolor tutorial is available for free over at my YouTube channel!
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2. Achieving Intense Colors

​Watercolor tends to dry lighter that how it looks when its wet. Because of this, if we're looking for brighter, more intense colors, it's often helpful to do some overlapping of color. 

By applying multiple layers of glazing, you can intensify colors without the risk of overworking the paint. 

This is especially helpful when you want to build up a rich, vibrant color but need to do so gradually.

*As a rule of thumb, avoid overworking your paint by making sure that the previous layer is completely dry before painting over it.

In the gumball machine painting below, I intensified the red portions by applying a glaze over the first layer. Notice how much brighter the red looks in the second picture?
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First layer throughout gumball machine has been applied and is completely dry.

Second layer throughout gumball machine has been applied and is completely dry.

*This full tutorialis available over on my Patreon. The tutorials I share in my membership are always real-time, fully-narrated and include my downloadable outline sketch as well as my reference photos. New tutorials are added every month!

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3. Adjusting Color Value or Temperature

If a color appears too light and you want to darken it slightly, or you'd like to alter the temperature of your color, you can simply apply a glaze over it.

The Reese's Pieces Tower painting below is an example of how I used glazing to change the temperature of the browns used throughout these chocolates. 

In the image to the left, browns are cooler. In the image to the right, browns are redder and warmer. This glaze that I applied at the end also helped unify the piece. 

Remember that it's always going to be easier to darken than it is to lighten.

You're going to have a very hard time if you're looking to lighten areas when you're painting with watercolor. In fact, when working with this medium, you'll never be able to go back to the brightness the paper once had once you apply paint over it.

The way you lighten areas, if you've gone too dark, is not through applying more paint, but by doing lifting with your brush or absorbent towel while the paint is still wet, or by doing *gentle* scrubbing once the paint has already dried. 

If you were to apply a bright yellow over a green area, for example, you might provide a glow to this area and might make it warmer, but you won't lighten it. 

This is why it's so important to create a strategy before jumping into any new painting. Planning for highlight areas is essential, and making your way gradually toward your darker values is also going to give you more control. 

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Reese's Pieces chocolate tower without final glaze.

Reese's Pieces chocolate tower with final glaze.

*This full tutorial is available over on my Patreon.

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4. Adding Texture and Detail

Glazing is also useful when you're looking to add final details or textures. 

By layering thin washes, you can create complex textures or delicate details like the veins in leaves or the intricate patterns in a bird’s feathers.

In the example below, I add veins to these fall leaves by using paint in a coffee consistency, making sure that my color isn't very contrasting when placed over that first layer, so that my details are subtle and realistic. ​

Watercolor fall leaves with one layer (variegated wash).

Watercolor fall leaves with veins painted over first layer.

* This step-by-step watercolor tutorial is available for free over at my YouTube channel!



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​Glazing vs. Layering

At first glance, glazing might seem similar to layering, but there are some key differences:
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Transparency/Paint Consistency 

Glazing specifically involves using very thin, transparent layers of paint, which allow the layer(s) underneath to shine through. 

Layering, on the other hand, can involve applying both watered-down and thicker paint consistencies. 

The key with glazing is to let each layer dry completely before adding the next, maintaining the transparency of each layer.


Purpose 

Glazing is often used to modify or enhance the colors underneath without completely covering them.

In contrast, layering might be used to add entirely new elements to a painting or to change colors in an area more quickly and dramatically. 
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Technique 

When glazing, you typically use more water to create a thin, transparent wash.

​In layering, the amount of water used can vary depending on the effect you’re trying to achieve, but it isn’t necessarily as watered-down or transparent as it is with a glaze. 
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How to Practice Glazing

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1. Prepare Your Colors

Start by mixing your colors with plenty of water to create a thin, transparent wash. You’ll want to have a few different colors ready to experiment with.


2. Apply Your Base Layer

Paint a simple shape or area of color and allow it to dry completely. This is crucial because glazing over wet paint can cause colors to blend together, which is not the effect you’re aiming for.


3. Apply the Glaze 

Once your base layer is dry, load your brush with your watered-down paint and apply it gently over the base layer. Use gentle, smooth brushstrokes so that you don't start scrubbing and reactivating any of the underlying paint.


4. Repeat

Let each layer dry completely before applying the next. You can build up as many layers as needed to achieve the desired effect.


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Glazing is a powerful technique that every watercolor artist should have in their toolkit.

Whether you’re looking to add depth, alter color temperature, or enhance the vibrancy of your work, glazing offers a way to do so with subtlety and control. 

As you practice and become more comfortable with this technique, you’ll discover new ways to incorporate it into your paintings, adding richness and complexity to your art.

By understanding and mastering glazing, you'll be able to elevate your watercolor skills and create works that are more dynamic, detailed, and visually interesting.

​Happy painting!

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