Granulation is a familiar phenomenon with watercolour typically seen when pigment collects in the hollows of textured paper. Whether or not a particular paint will granulate depends largely on the pigment used. Earth colours and blue are often granulating.
However there are at least two separate phenomena that can be described as granulation.
Sedimentation
Sedimentation is when heavy pigment particles settle in the hollows of the paper (or at the bottom of your water jar). This is what people usually mean when they talk about watercolour granulation. It can be quite attractive, especially when two pigments with different properties are used together and separate out from each other.
Flocculation
Flocculation occurs when pigment particles coallesce to form larger clumps, which may be visible to the naked eye – so a speckled effect might be achieved.
Flow effects
By letting a granulating wash flow it is possible to get beautiful flow patterns as granulating particles build up against barriers (such as a bit of dry paper). From my experience this only works with the more extreme granulating watercolours.
General guidelines
By playing around with a flocculating pigment you can get a variety of effects including those shown above. Some pigments will be easier than others to get consistent effects. One essential requirement for any of these granulation effects is that there is enough water for the pigment particles to be able to move – whether that is sinking into a hollow or towards another particle. If there isn’t enough water in the mix the particles can’t go anywhere. Granulation medium can sometimes enhance granulation effects.
Some people assume that if you want to use granulating pigments you need to use rough, or at the very least NOT watercolour paper. However, as a painter who looks for a mixture of textures, and favours flocculation over sedimentation, I currently find myself using Hot Pressed (HP) i.e a smooth paper as my main support. However I do use a mix of papers that I sometimes paint and collage on to the main support. Sometimes this includes rough or NOT paper for sedimentation effects.
Using hot pressed paper as my main support does have its drawbacks. For example I find dry brush techniques difficult on such a smooth surface.
Flocculating paints
I list below some paints that I have found to have extreme flocculation properties. There will be many others that I have not tried.
Daniel Smith
- Hematite Genuine
- Sodalite Genuine
- Blue Apatite Genuine
- Lunar Earth
- Lunar Black
