Watercolor Terms for Beginners: Simple Glossary of Techniques

✅ Quick Overview

• 🎨 Learn essential watercolor terms in plain language — no jargon, just clarity

• 🔄 Understand the difference between washes, glazes, blooms, and more

• 💡 Use this glossary as a real-time painting tool or weekly learning challenge

• 🔑 Boost your confidence by decoding confusing terms found in tutorials and supplies

• 👩‍🎨 Designed for true beginners — printable, mobile-friendly, and built to support your growth

Confused by Watercolor Terms? This Beginner Glossary Makes It Simple

New to watercolor painting? This free, printable glossary breaks down 60+ watercolor terms and techniques — all explained in plain language for beginners. No jargon, no overwhelm — just the essential vocabulary you need to follow tutorials and build confidence with every brushstroke.

Welcome to the first post in my new blog series, Watercolor Lite — where we strip watercolor down to what really matters: joyful exploration, steady practice, and confidence in your own creative voice.

In upcoming posts, we'll explore more beginner-friendly ways to explore creativity and build a watercolor painting practice that feels joyful and expressive. 

Starting Watercolor Should Feel Fun, Not Frustrating

If you've ever paused a tutorial to Google what “granulating” means — or thought a “wash” was something to clean up — you’re not alone.

When I first started painting in 2020, I remember thinking a “glaze” was just another word for "wash". 🙈 Now, I know they are two distinct techniques: a glaze modifies or enhances an underlying layer and washes are layers of paint used to establish the overall color and tone of a painting.

Learning watercolor comes with its own creative language, and while that can be exciting, it can also feel confusing at first. That’s exactly why I created this free watercolor glossary for beginners: to give you the vocabulary you need to understand tutorials, try new techniques, and enjoy your art — without second-guessing every term.

🧑‍🎨 Who This Glossary Is For

This resource was created with beginner artists in mind. It’s perfect for:

• New painters following online tutorials

• Artists confused by watercolor supply labels

• Anyone who wants a handy reference while painting or shopping for art supplies

🧠 Why Learning Watercolor Terms Helps Beginners Grow Faster

If you're just starting out with watercolor techniques, learning a few key terms can make the entire process feel more approachable and fun.

Understanding the difference between a glaze and a wash, or what it means when paint “lifts,” can:

• ✅ Help you follow tutorials with more confidence

• ✅ Prevent common beginner mistakes (like overworking your paper)

• ✅ Build trust in your process as you explore new techniques

Think of it as learning the language of watercolor — the more words you know, the more you can express.

Image of the Watercolor Lite: Beginner's Glossary PDF by artist Mary Moreno.

📖 Beginner Watercolor Terms You’ll Learn in This Glossary

This isn't a technical art dictionary — it's a friendly, easy-to-use watercolor vocabulary guide built for beginners who are learning by doing.

Inside, you’ll find:

• 🧠 60+ beginner-friendly definitions of common watercolor terms

• ✍️ Clear explanations for techniques like bloom, dry brush, gouache, and masking fluid

• 💬 Simple, non-intimidating language that makes sense even if you’re just picking up a brush

It’s designed to support your creative flow, not interrupt it.

Plus, it’s:

• 🖨️ Printable — perfect for your art table, journal, or sketchbook

• 📱 Mobile-friendly — great for quick lookups while watching tutorials or shopping for materials

💡 Sample Watercolor Terms, Explained Simply

Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the terms you’ll find inside:

• 🖌️ Wash – A large, diluted area of color
  Used for skies, backgrounds, and smooth gradients.

• 🧴 Glazing – Layering transparent color over dry paint
  Builds depth and changes hue without disturbing the base layer.

• 🧽 Lifting – Removing paint from the paper
  Use a damp brush or towel to lighten or correct areas.

• 🌊 Bleed – When two wet areas mix together
  A wet-on-wet effect that creates soft, blended edges.

• 🪶 Dry Brush – Using a nearly dry brush for texture
  Perfect for grass, bark, or rough textures.

• 🌼 Bloom – A feathered texture caused by excess water
  Also known as a back-run or cauliflower effect.

• ✏️ Hard Edge vs. Soft Edge – A sharp or blended boundary
  Both are useful tools to add dimension to your painting.

• 🌾 Granulation – A grainy effect from pigment settling
  Common in earth tones and mineral-based paints.

• 🖍️ Gouache – An opaque, matte version of watercolor
  Ideal for flat, bold color and layering details.

• 🚫 Masking Fluid – A rubbery medium that preserves white space
  Apply it before painting to block out areas you want to keep light.

Flatlay of art books and the Beginner's Glossary PDF by artist Mary Moreno.

🖼️ How to Use This Watercolor Glossary While You Paint

This isn’t just a list of terms — it’s a tool you can actively use to support your learning.

🖨️ Keep It Nearby While You Paint

• Print the glossary or open it on your tablet while you work

• Highlight new terms as they appear in your paintings or lessons

🎥 Use It With Tutorials

• Follow along with YouTube or blog tutorials

• Look up terms in real-time to better understand technique names

✅ Turn It Into a Creative Challenge

• Check off terms you’ve learned or tried

• Practice a new one each week and track your progress

🧩 Watercolor Vocabulary Is Like a Creative Language

Each new term you learn is like adding a word to your artistic vocabulary. You don’t need to memorize everything at once — just like you didn’t become fluent in your native language overnight.

This printable watercolor glossary is your creative phrasebook. It’s something you’ll return to again and again as you build your confidence and grow your skills.

🎁 A Gentle Push Toward Simpler, Smarter Painting

You don’t need to master every single term to get started — but having a friendly, helpful guide can make your beginner watercolor journey more joyful and less overwhelming.

If you’ve been piecing together definitions from books, blogs, and YouTube videos, this glossary is your all-in-one solution.

💌 Let this be your path into the creative freedom and fun of watercolor :)

📥 Download the Free Watercolor Glossary for Beginners

🌟 Did You Know? A Peek Into Watercolor’s Earliest Terms

Before watercolor became a formal art term, early artists used different names to describe the techniques and effects we now recognize so easily. These historical terms give us a glimpse into how watercolor evolved as both a medium and a practice:

•  “Tinted drawings” – Used before the 18th century to describe early watercolor sketches, especially those enhanced with subtle washes of color.

•  “Bodycolor” – Became common in the 1830s when “Chinese white” (an opaque white pigment) allowed artists to mix watercolor with white, producing an opaque finish.

•  “Gouache” – The French term for bodycolor, describing a more matte, opaque variant of watercolor still used today.

By the 18th century — especially during the British Golden Age of Watercolour — the word “watercolor” began to refer not only to the materials, but to the entire style and tradition of painting that we now enjoy as beginners and professionals alike.

📚 References

• Artist's Manual, edited by Angela Gair

• Glossary of Art Terms, Jackson's Art Blog, Jackson's Art Supplies

• Hello Watercolor!, by Jeannie Dickson

• Painting Tools & Materials, Walter Foster Creative Team

• The Joy of Watercolor, by Emma Block

• Watercolor Secrets, by Robin Berry

🔗 Recommended for You:

• 🎨 How to Choose the Best Watercolor Paper for Beginners
• 🎨 Easy Color Mixing and Pigment Guide for Watercolor Beginners

• 🎨 How to Do Watercolor Washes: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners