When granulation becomes a style
Over the years my watercolor painting style has varied greatly in appearance. But underneath the variety really boils down to three branches: I do stylized illustrated Tanka in ink and watercolor; I do illustrations based on preconceived images making use whatever medium I feel needs to be in it, but I mostly do watercolor paintings in which I work with a rough idea in mind, but then let the paint form the basis to work from and let the work grow from there. And to make that happen, I like to use all kinds of media mixed and granulating watercolor paint. I just really love the textured look a colored surface gets when painted with a granulating paint. They make paintings feel more lively. That being said, granulation is a skill to learn. The results are most beautiful in a balanced image.
A collection of granulation
A few weeks back I decided to make a collection of good granulating paints and keep them all in one tin. Here’s the collection I have composed thus far. THUS FAR, because…as you can see, there are eight vacancies. Eight empty pans! That’s not tolerable, is it? So my question to you is, which granulating paints do you think should be added to this set to complete it? A good color chart with pigment information can be found further down this post.
What IS granulation?
Granulation is a characteristic in the paint that makes the pigment particles flock together in micro-heaps or sink straight down onto the paper while the water flows on. So when the paint dries, you can see an uneven spread of color in the area that’s been painted. There are two kinds: real granulation, which can actually leave tiny areas uncolored and a flowering sort of granulation, which causes an uneven spread of color. Both can be really, really nice.
Artist vs cheaper quality & granulation
Granulation works best in artist grade pigments due to the heavy load of pigments in the paint, which makes this characteristic come out best. And because more expensive, pure pigments are used. Cheaper paints tend to be made with cheaper pigments and most of those have an ink-like feel, which means their color spreads out evenly. Many student grade paints have no granulation at all, some only in cheap pigments.
The most affordable watercolor paints and fluid watercolors are made with dyes rather than pigments, so they don’t granulate at all and instead the result of using those is an even, inky look. It can be lovely too, mind you. Granulation is not a must. But to me it is a perpetual source of fascination and inspiration.
Other ways of achieving texture in watercolor
Granulation can also be achieved by granulation mediums, although the effect of those will never be the same as the use of a good granulating pigment. You will see texture happen, though, so it is certainly worth a try. Other really great texture effects can be achieved with salt, alchohol and plastic wrap too, for instance. So if you don’t own granulating pigments yet, but do love texture, then by all means, experiment!
Video
This morning I did a color chart of my granulating set of watercolors while having a coffee. I figured I might as well make it a cosy moment together…
Color charts
Suggestions?
As you can see, I already have a rather extensive collection of granulating paints, but it will not surprise you that I’m always curious for more. There are just so many lovely watercolor paints out there. I’ve been very curious about Daniel Smith Primateks, but I know other manufacturers use many of those pigments too, naming it differently. And I know that every day more and more small paint makers join the game and some offer really lovely paints, or so I’ve heard. So should you have any suggestions, you’re more than welcome to leave a comment. And if any of you perhaps know granulating yellows an reds, I’m extra interested!
Good Day/Evening Mandy.
are there any vivid yellow pigments that granulate aside from cadmium-based ones (e.g. PY35)? Also, I would suggest adding the aquamarine version of cobalt blue (also PB28 since they’re both CoAlO4 although with somewhat different crystal structures) as your back-up cyan.
Hi Clarence, no, to my knowledge there aren’t any vivid yellow granulating pigments…those that granulate are earth or mineral pigments, but those are not vivid like cadmium-based colors. The aquamarine cobalt is on my wish list for a next order. Thanks for the tip!
Hey Mandy,
I would really (!!!) like to know which “new” eight colours makes it into your granulation palette.
…. Potters Pink (DS oder Horadam)? Or some new ones from the Aquarius watercolours – perhaps the Aquarius Green or Mineral Violet…?
Please, show off! 😉
Stay golden,
Pamela
Oops…I see I totally missed your remark to this post (and everyone else’s for that matter…). I haven’t added any new colors yet. But I will certainly add Potter’s pink and mayan red. I’m a bit keen on finding granulating yellows and reds, but they are rare….
Hi Mandy,
Thank you for the fun video. I really enjoyed watching you paint the swatches and learned some interesting granulating colors. I have a basic set of PrimaTek (6) from D.S. although am not too crazy about them as they are general dark tones. I’m into Cobalt Teal lately and have four tubes of the same color: Turner Turquoise Blue (PB28), M. Graham Cobalt Teal (PB28), QoR Cobalt Teal (PG50) and Lukas Cobalt Turquoise (PG50). Isn’t it crazy?
Regarding Daler Rowney’s pigment information, you can find it on its web site (may take a little bit effort to navigate to right page). Or just Google search for “daler rowney specification of colors”. There is a pdf of 12 spread sheets! I’m sure that you will find information of your DR paints.
Thanks again,
Amy
Oh no, Amy, you’re not crazy AT ALL!!! I wish I had 4 😉 How do these four relate? Are they very similar? I’ve used up my Qor cobalt teal and will definitely order a new one and probably then some more… Thanks so much for the info on the DR pigment info. I will check. And sorry for not replying sooner. For some reason I didn’t get notifications on replies here, so I totally missed them.
Hi Mandy. Happy New year!! So happy to see you back on YouTube I love watching your paint reviews and your total honesty!! As for the granulating pigments I am very surprised you didn’t have Daniel Smith green appetite genuine, another really interesting unusual pigment which separates into green and brown one of my favourites! All the lunar colours are also great I particularly like lunar blue and lunar red rock. Do you still have your Daniel Smith for card, it may be worth having another look at those. In the meantime, I shall go through my vast collection and see what treasures I can find for you! Many thanks Jane
Hello Jane, first of all sorry for not replying sooner. For some reason I didn’t get notifications on replies here, so I totally missed them. But better late then never, I hope… Yes, the green appetite is wonderful. I have it now and use it A LOT! I love the doubleness of the colors. And I might have to dive into the lunar red rock too, it looks lovely on the dot card. It’s been so long this video that I might have to go through my paints anew and see what other colors I now have to add…