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Watercolor Workshop DVD with Susan Harrison-Tustain

The Priming Method

Susan Harrison-Tustain developed her Priming Technique over a span of several years, and she currently teaches this particular watercolor approach to every one of her students. This is a very simple but extremely effective three stage procedure:

The initial step is always to apply water to the particular area you intend to paint, followed by allowing the moisture content to become absorbed deep into the watercolor paper.

Next, as the paper continues to be slightly moist from the first step, (the moist shininess on the surface area has just gone,) lay down yet another fine wash of fresh water.

In the last step of this Priming Method, as the preceding wash still remains moist and shiny, paint in your color pigmented wash. Prior to moving forward with additional washes it is very crucial to make certain your watercolor paper is definitely BONE DRY.

And voila! That is all there is to it. Three uncomplicated but tremendously effective steps that will help you master watercoloring.


Susan's Priming watercolor method is effective due to the fact it enables pigment to become absorbed as far as possible down into the inside layers of your paper. She makes use of this technique at the beginning phases of a painting. As the artwork develops and she feels that she has attained the tonal depth she wants, Susan next shifts to a wet-in-wet technique for the bulk of the following washes.

Prior to laying down some precision detail work with the dry brush technique she fine-tunes all the colors that she has so far created. This is done by painting in final washes to tweak color temperatures, hue depths or color changes as required.

As soon as the painting is completely dry, Susan then employs the dry brush technique to create fine detail wherever required. Of course, you cannot wash over an area that has been dry brushed without lifting some of the pigment off. Dry brush rests on top of the paper and so it is readily dispersed. You can actually take advantage of this effect in some cases, but typically this dry brush layer is Susan's last step.

She never has trouble with the paper fibers lifting even after laying down up to 20 washes. Check out her artwork. I think you'll agree that the advantages of this multi-layered priming method speaks for itself.

Susan Harrison-Tustain is a well-known, internationally acclaimed artist and teacher of watercolor painting. Check out her best-selling watercolor lessons on DVD here.

Recent Reviews:
"I have thoroughly enjoyed viewing your website which led me to purchase your DVD. Susan, your way of teaching and demonstrating is so clear and easy to follow, the DVD is brilliant, a real joy to view."
NZ artist.

" ... I have been giving careful attention to your DVD. I appreciate your keen intelligence and analysis of the aesthetic and technical problems posed by the medium."
Artist from Hawaii

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Watercolor DVDs by Susan Harrison-Tustain.