Exploring the Freedom of Watercolor Grounds

Trying out new tools and materials is a great way to make new, creative discoveries that can expand your toolkit and open up new avenues in your work. Among my experimentations has been an exploration of Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground, a product that can really expand the possibilities for watercolor painting. With these grounds, artists can transform almost any surface into a potential surface for watercolor. Canvas, glass, and bare wood panels, for instance, can be prepared with a ground, providing new alternatives to watercolor paper.

One of the most exciting aspects is the control this ground offers. Because it’s sandable, the surface texture can be dialed in–from a smooth finish for delicate washes to a more toothy surface that’s ideal for expressive dry brushwork. Sanding and scraping can also be done between layers of paint, opening new opportunities for texturing techniques, especially useful for creating textured foregrounds in landscapes, for instance, or adding subtle atmospheric effects in background elements.

I tried out the new product by priming a wood panel with titanium white ground. I found that the surface holds watercolor beautifully, but it also allows for a level of manipulation not typically found on paper. The paint can be “erased” and reworked with a wet brush or paper towel in ways that open up new possibilities for lifting color, refining edges and shaping forms.

I also found that I could rethink ways to correct mistakes and work with negative space. I could simply paint over an area by applying more gorund to create a fresh surface to work on. I’ve used this when adjusting the sky or reshaping a tree line in a painting.

Expanding the possibilities further, the line of Daniel Smith watercolor grounds also comes in transparent, pearlescent, black, and gold options. An artist can experiment with the effects of painting on a pearlescent surface or the depth of watercolor on a black background. The transparent ground offers the chance to work on unique substrates, letting their inherent textures become part of the artwork.

So, if you’re looking to shake up your watercolor routine, consider experimenting with Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground. It’s not just about finding new surfaces to paint on; it’s about creating opportunities for new ideas and techniques within your watercolor practice. We never want to fall into a static routine, so why not push the boundaries of the medium, and see what happens!

Meet the Artist

Scott Maier is an artist, instructor, and a content contributor to artistsnetwork.com. He’s an adjunct instructor at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, as well as the author of the instructional art book See, Think, Draw: An Easy Guide for Realistic Drawing and Beyond.