In this article, New Jersey artist Eliyahu Mirlis will show you five easy ways to correct mistakes in watercolor. These five ways of correction will work on both wet and dry paint. Although it is not easy, it is possible to correct small errors in watercolor paintings. Everything depends on the size of the error (things are complicated if it is very large), the type of pigment and the paper on which it has been painted.

Five ways to fix mistakes in watercolor

You can correct errors in watercolor by incorporating them into the picture, removing them, painting over them or, in the case of forgotten elements, adding them later. Your “correction kit” should include sponge, tissues, scalpel, stiff bristle brush and white gouache.

1. Incorporate errors: Instead of removing errors such as smudges, try incorporating them by changing a color, painting over it, or adding more detail around it.

2. Remove: If the stain still has wet paint, it can be removed directly with absorbent material, such as a damp sponge or tissue.

3. Scratching with a brush: You can remove small pieces of dried paint by scratching with a stiff wet brush. However, as Eliyahu Mirlis warns, this method is abrasive, so be careful with the paper.

4. Scrape with a blade: If the paper is thick, remove small details or add things by gently scratching the dried paint with a small blade or scalpel.

5. Use opaque white: Add a detail that you have forgotten by painting over opaque white paint. This method works better with details than glazes.

Incorporate errors

To incorporate errors you will need paints and brushes. Smudges, stains, or smears don't have to be a disaster. If the error does not ruin the composition, you can add an additional element, such as a tree, to hide the area, or change the color or the type of feeling you want to convey.

Remove

To remove an error, you will need a sponge or tissue and clean water. If you spot the error with wet paint, fix it immediately. According to contemporary artist Eliyahu Mirlis, the best way us to remove it with a damp sponge or tissue. If you apply a lot of water to the area, the pigment will lose its adherence and will run more easily. Let it dry well before painting again.

Scratch

This is the third way to correct errors in watercolor. For this, you will need a clean brush with stiff bristles and clean water. If the smear has dried before you can remove it, moisten the area and gently scratch with a stiff brush. Let the paper dry well before painting over it again.

Scratch with a blade

You will need a sharp blade or a scalpel. Use the scalpel to remove dried paint when you need a more precise tool than a paintbrush. This method should only be used with thick and resistant paper, never on a delicate surface.

Use opaque white

You will need opaque white gouache and a round soft bristle brush. If you have to correct or add detail, cover the mistake with white gouache and repaint. You may need to apply multiple coats of white to fully hide the error.