If you’re learning watercolor, you’ve probably asked yourself this question more than once:
“How wet should my brush be?”
It’s one of the most common watercolor struggles, especially for beginners. Too much water leads to puddles and drippy brush marks. Too little water makes your strokes dry and scratchy. Finding that “just right” amount can feel mysterious but it doesn’t have to be.
Today I’m sharing one of the simplest, most effective ways to control the amount of water on your brush. It’s a tiny habit I rely on every time I paint.
Why Brush Wetness Matters in Watercolor
Watercolor is all about water control. Choosing pigments and buying good brushes matter, but controlling water is what makes your strokes smooth or your washes even.
If your brush is too wet, you’ll often get:
• Drips and puddles
• Colors flooding into each other
• Taking too long to dry
If your brush is too dry, you’ll see:
• Scratchy marks (sometimes this can create a cool dry brush effect though)
• Brush not moving smoothly
• Harder to paint details
Learning to manage water takes practice, but this small routine makes it much easier.
The Easiest Trick for Perfect Brush Wetness: Use the Rim of Your Water Cup
After dipping your brush into water or soaking in paint from your palette, gently pull the brush against the rim of your water cup once or twice. That’s it.
This tiny step:
• Removes excess water
• Sharpens your brush tip
• Usually gives leaves you with just the right amount of wetness on your brush
It’s such a simple habit, but I see so many beginners skip it, then struggle with strokes that feel too watery or unpredictable.
If you take only one thing away from this post, let it be this:
Make it a habit to rim-wipe your brush before touching paper.
When You Actually Want Your Brush Dripping With Water
But of course, there are times when you want a wetter brush, for example:
• You’re painting a large area
• You need soft, blending of colors
• You’re laying down a first wash on a fully dry page
For those big, juicy washes, skip the rim-wipe and go straight from the water cup to your palette.
When You Need an Even Drier Brush
Sometimes you want even a drier brush when
• You want a textured stroke ("dry brush effect")
• You want a crisp edge
In this case, you can take out excess water by blotting your brush on a paper towel.
Try It During Your Next Painting Session
Next time you sit down to paint, start noticing your brush wetness.
Ask yourself:
• Does this stroke look too runny?
• Is the brush leaving puddles?
Then add the rim-wipe to your routine and see how much more controlled your strokes feel.
Want More Watercolor Tips?
I share practical, beginner-friendly watercolor advice in my email newsletter, plus behind-the-scenes peeks into my studio. If you’d like more bite-size watercolor tips like this, you can sign up here.