How to use Watercolor Paint Tubes for Beginners

Learn how to use watercolor paint tubes for beginners in this easy guide. It is easy to get started using watercolor paints, including tubes! I will demonstrate the basics in simple steps.

Have you been considering buying watercolor paint tubes? Or maybe you already have some.

And now you just need to figure out how to use them!

Eleven watercolor paint tubes scattered on a white table top.

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How to Use Watercolor Paint Tubes
How to Paint With Watercolor Tube Paint Step-by-step (video)
Transcript
Watercolor Palettes
Are Watercolor Tubes Better Than Box Sets?
How Many Watercolor Paint Tubes Do I Need?
What Brand of Watercolor Paint Tubes Should I Buy?
How to Store Watercolor Tube Paint
Watercolor Tubes vs. Pans
What Happens if a Tube Dries Up
Working With Wet Watercolor Tube Paint
How to Paint with Watercolor Tubes (Shareable Directions)
Tips and Tricks
Frequently Asked Questions
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Luckily, watercolor paint in tubes can be fun and relaxing to use. Check out my quick tutorial to discover everything you need to know.

How to Use Watercolor Paint Tubes

To use watercolor tube paint squeeze a bit of the paint out on a palette.

Wet the paintbrush and mix a small amount of the pigment from the blob of the paint. Leave most of the blob untouched.

Add more pigment to the water for a darker, more intense color. Add more water to the mixture for a lighter color.

Save the paint on the palette to use the next time. You can even save the mixed color in the center of the palette and reconstitute it with water the next time you paint

Allow the paint to dry on the palette. Make sure to cover it with a plastic bag or tin foil so it does not collect dust.

The next time you use your watercolor tube paints they will be dry. Start by adding a few drops of water to each color that you will use and then paint as you regularly would.

How to Paint With Watercolor Tube Paint Step-by-step (video)

Transcript

Read Transcript

Hi everyone. Let's talk about how to use watercolor paint in a tube. We'll discuss everything that you need to know, especially if you're just getting started in watercolor painting.

When you get started you will need a place to squeeze out your paint and to store it.

You can use an inexpensive palette, such as this. It has wells in it which keeps the colors separate and then the center works really well for mixing the paint together. This one also happens to have a lid which is a nice feature.

You can get a pallet box such as this. They come in many different styles and price ranges. Just make sure to get one that has a large enough mixing area for what you will need.

I like this one in particular because when I close it, it seals so I don't have to worry about any leaks if I'm carrying the box around.

You could also use a dinner plate such as this. White works best so you can see the colors really well.

You would just squeeze the colors around on the outside of the plate and then use the middle for mixing. Once you've used a plate for paint make sure you don't use it for food again.

To use the tubes of watercolor paint just squeeze a little bit of the paint out onto the palette.

The first time you use the paint it will be nice and soft. Carefully mix a small amount of the paint with water and then paint as you normally would.

Leave most of the blob of paint untouched and just pull out the small amount that you need.

Painting in just the little top part of cloud, just to give you an example.

Going in with the black here, again just grabbing a little bit of paint off of that soft blob of paint on the edge and then paint as normal.

You can mix the colors together this way as well in the same manner. I can mix that blue with the black for a gray blue color.

After you've used your paint go ahead and let it dry. You can even leave the mixed paint that you have in the middle of the palette there and then reuse it later just by adding water to it.

The next time you use your paints, they will be dry. I'm going to switch this palette out with the wet paints on it and bring in the other palette, which has all dry paints.

Start out by adding a few drops of water to each color you will use.

That will start to soften them up and get them ready to just use right away.

I can go ahead and just grab that color pull it into the middle of the palette and mix my colors as I want to. And remember you can add more water to your paint for a lighter color or add more more pigment to it for a darker, brighter color.

Just adding a little bit of kind of reddish yellow to the bottom of my cloud. Just like that.

After your paint dries, if your palette does not have a lid I recommend that you store it in a bag or a drawer so it doesn't get dusty.

You can buy beginner sets of watercolor tubes that have about 10 to 12 different colors. That should be enough variety to get started.

The brand doesn't matter as much especially when you're just starting out. The ones that I happen to be using are Winsor and Newton brand.

Tubes will give you better quality colors and they last a long time. Another benefit is, is that you can just replace one color at a time if you run out.

That's basically everything that there is to using watercolor paints in a tube. Don't let them intimidate you they're actually very simple and easy to use.

Happy painting and thanks for watching.

Watercolor Palettes

When you get started you will need a place to squeeze out and store your paint

You can buy an inexpensive plastic palette with wells to keep the colors separate. Use the center of the tray for mixing the pigment with water and mixing colors.

A watercolor palette box with paint and a paintbrush.

A round plastic watercolor palette with a lid.

A white dinner plate being used as a watercolor palette with paint and a paintbrush.

Palette boxes come in many different styles and price ranges. Make sure to choose one that has a large enough mixing area for your needs.

A dinner plate can also work as a palette. White is best so you can accurately see the colors. Squeeze a dab of the watercolor tube paint onto the outside of the plate and use the center for mixing. Do not use it for food again after you have used it for paint.

Are Watercolor Tubes Better Than Box Sets?

Watercolor tubes are better than box sets, which come with little pads of dried watercolor paint. Watercolor tubes offer better pigments and color saturation.

Because the paint is highly pigmented a little goes a long way, helping watercolor tube paint last a long time.

Watercolor paint tubes also give you the advantage of buying one tube at a time. If you run out of red, it is easy to buy another tube instead of replacing the entire box set.

How Many Watercolor Paint Tubes Do I Need?

You can buy beginner watercolor tube sets of 10 to 12 colors. That is enough variety to get started with watercolor painting.

What Brand of Watercolor Paint Tubes Should I Buy?

The brand of watercolor paint is less important when you are beginning. I recommend a mid-level student-grade watercolor tube paint.

The paint that I am using in this demo is Winsor & Newton.

How to Store Watercolor Tube Paint

Store tubes of watercolor paint at room temperature. Clean paint off the mouths and lids of the tubes and lids as needed. Store with the caps tightly sealed.

Tubes of watercolorpaint next to a paint palette with a paintbrush and paper.

Watercolor Tubes vs. Pans

Watercolor pans are small cakes of dried paint that can be purchased individually or in sets.

Both tubes and pans offer equal quality. Choosing tubes or pans can be a personal preference.

If you are beginning watercolor paint, I recommend the tubes because they are economical, are easily mixable, and offer more variety of color possibilities.

Pans can be limiting with certain colors being imposed by the manufacturer. Pans are not necessarily interchangeable between different brands. There can be problems with color availability and fitting into ready-made box sets.

What Happens if a Tube Dries Up

If a watercolor paint tube dries up, simply cut open the tube to use the chunk of dried pigment. Add a few drops of water to the bottom and stick it onto your palette.

Working With Wet Watercolor Tube Paint

Some artists prefer to use the watercolor paint wet. If you prefer using moist paint, simply store the palette in an airtight container to extend the life of the moisture.

It can also help to spritz the paint with a fine mist of water while you are painting to prevent film from developing on the paint.

How to Paint with Watercolor Tubes (Shareable Directions)

Tubes of watercolorpaint in front of a paint palette with a paintbrush.

How to Use Watercolor Paint Tubes for Beginners

Learn how to use watercolor paint tubes for beginners in this easy guide. It is easy to get started using watercolor paints, including tubes! I will demonstrate the basics in simple steps.

Have you been considering buying watercolor paint tubes? Or maybe you already have some.

And now you just need to figure out how to use them!

Luckily, watercolor paint in tubes can be fun and relaxing to use. Check out my quick tutorial to discover everything you need to know.

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Instructions

To use watercolor tube paint squeeze a bit of the paint out on a palette.
Wet the paintbrush and mix a small amount of the pigment from the blob of the paint. Leave most of the blob untouched.
Add more pigment to the water for a darker, more intense color. Add more water to the mixture for a lighter color.
Save the paint on the palette to use the next time. You can even save the mixed color in the center of the palette and reconstitute it with water the next time you paint
Allow the paint to dry on the palette. Make sure to cover it with a plastic bag or tin foil so it does not collect dust.
The next time you use your watercolor tube paints they will be dry. Start by adding a few drops of water to each color that you will use and then paint as you regularly would.

Notes

Do not throw your paint away. Let it dry on your palette and use it next time.
After your palette is dry, cover it with a plastic bag or tin foil so it does not collect dust.
When the paint is wet, just out of the tube, mix a small amount of the pigment with water. Drag a dab of paint from the side of the blob to use. Leave most of the blob untouched.
After the paint is dry, start by adding a few drops of water to each color that you will use, and then paint as you regularly would.

Tips and Tricks

Do not throw your paint away. Let it dry on your palette and use it next time.
After your palette is dry, cover it with a plastic bag or tin foil so it does not collect dust.
When the paint is wet, just out of the tube, mix a small amount of the pigment with water. Drag a dab of paint from the side of the blob to use. Leave most of the blob untouched.
After the paint is dry, start by adding a few drops of water to each color that you will use, and then paint as you regularly would.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you use watercolor paint tubes?

To use watercolor tube paint, squeeze a bit of the paint out on a palette. Wet the paintbrush and mix a small amount of the pigment from the blob of the paint. Leave most of the blob untouched.

The next time you use your watercolor tube paints they will be dry. Start by adding a few drops of water to each color that you will use and then paint as you regularly would.

How long does it take for watercolor tube paint to dry?

It will take 1 to 2 days for a dab of watercolor tube paint to dry. The drying time can vary depending on the size of the glob of paint, and the temperature and humidity.

Is it better to use watercolor tubes or pans?

Both tubes and pans offer equal quality. Choosing tubes or pans can be a personal preference. If you are beginning watercolor paint tubes are better because they are economical, are easily mixable, offer more varieties of color possibilities

How long do watercolor paints last in tubes?

Manufacturers say watercolor tubes will only last 5 years. However, I have never had a tube expire. Some watercolor tube paint will last 20 years or more.

Tubes of watercolorpaint next to a paint palette with a paintbrush, cup of water, and paper.

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