10-Tips & Helpful Hints

1. When mixing paints, using a 50/50 ratio of complimentary colors (opposites on the color wheel), creates beautiful neutral grays.  By changing that ratio to a 60/40 split, you can create some amazing colored grays, such as a green gray, or blue gray for better shadows.  These grays create interest and tension in your painting.
2. A standard full sheet of watercolor paper is: 22" x 30" and comes in a variety of weights from 140# and up.  300# paper is ideal for very wet applications of pigment.  A roll of paper is: 40" x 60" and is called: "Double Elephant".  There must be a story behind that but I have no clue how it got it's name.  Anybody know?
3. Mix your pigments on your palette with one brush and apply the pigment to your painting with another.  Do not mix the pigments completely, leave them loose on your palette for more interesting colors.
4. If you can name the color you have mixed, then don't use it.  Keep mixing your color until it is uniquely yours.  This will bring interest to your painting and make it stand out from others.
5. Gel Medium acts as a resist for watercolor and acrylics, but if you need to glue a collage together and don't want the resist effect, use "Yes" paste.  It is archival and will not resist your pigments.
6. Masking Fluid can be tinted with a small amount of watercolor pigment before applying it.  Just a tad bit.  Masking Fluid will also remove graphite lines so leave out any details that will be covered in masking fluid.  Add the details later.
7. Watercolor dries lighter than it appears when wet.  It will dry even lighter if applied over white gesso.
8. Kneaded Rubber erasers (the gray ones) are non-abrading and will produce a clean removal of lines.
9. Always have two water containers handy.  One for clean water to use while painting, the other to rinse your brush.  If using dirty water, you are changing the appearance of the pigment you are applying to the painting.  You may not be aware of it, but it can dull the "glowing" effect of your painting.
10. Need a straight line drawn in your painting, try using the side of a piece of scrap watercolor paper, a piece of clear plastic mylar (my favorite) or any see-thru ruler, which also comes in handy when drawing perspective. 
These tips and helpful hints were gleaned from a variety of sources and personal experience.  There are some wonderful books and DVD's available, each giving you some basic information.  I've compiled enough information to pass on to you, that I will be adding more tips & hints later. 

Some of the Resources Used:
A Celebration of Light by: Jane Freeman
Plein-Air Watercolor Magazine
Watercolor Basics-People by: Butch Krieger
Watercolor Portrait Painting by: Jan Kunz
Artist Magazines
Creativity Workshop by: Richard Stephens