For DANIEL SMITH Brand Ambassador Giovanni Balzarani, exploring watercolor goes beyond choosing colors for a painting. It’s also about experimenting with the surface itself!
In this second part of our Watercolor Ground series, we explore Giovanni’s creative approach to tinting DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Ground with Extra Fine™ Watercolors, discovering how color can become part of the painting process even before the first brushstroke.
Add Color Before Your First Brushstroke
One of the exciting possibilities Giovanni explores is mixing watercolor directly into Watercolor Ground to create a customized colored surface.
His color experiments show how a simple change in the starting surface can open up new creative possibilities.
Buff Titanium
Watercolor Ground
Transparent
Watercolor Ground
Mars Black
Watercolor Ground
Iridescent Gold
Watercolor Ground
Pearlescent
Watercolor Ground
Titanium White
Watercolor Ground
Discover More Creative Possibilities with Giovanni
Giovanni Balzarani explores the creative possibilities of tinting Watercolor Ground by mixing in small amounts of DANIEL SMITH Watercolors before applying it to his chosen surface. Through his experiments, he creates colorful foundations, from soft, subtle hues to rich, expressive backgrounds, giving each painting a unique starting point.
Titanium White Watercolor Ground Tinted with Cobalt Green Deep
Exploring Different Colors and Grounds
Giovanni Balzarani explores the creative possibilities of tinting Watercolor Ground by experimenting with different DANIEL SMITH Watercolors. His color studies reveal how each watercolor can transform the appearance of a prepared surface, opening up exciting new possibilities for color, texture, and artistic expression.
Tinted Transparent Watercolor Ground
Titanium White Watercolor Ground tinted with different watercolors by Giovanni Balzarani
Once the Ground is completely dry and properly cured, you can paint over it with your favorite DANIEL SMITH Watercolors, building transparent washes, adding details, and exploring interesting color interactions.
For best results, begin with a small amount of watercolor and test your mixture first. Adding too much paint may affect the Ground’s performance.
Make Every Surface Your Own
Whether you’re working on paper, wood, canvas, or another suitable surface, DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Ground invites you to think beyond traditional watercolor paper.
The fun begins even before you start painting! Explore your favorite DANIEL SMITH colors, experiment with tinted grounds, and discover how a simple change in your starting surface can inspire a whole new direction for your artwork.
Want to learn more? Watch DANIEL SMITH Brand Ambassador Giovanni Balzarani’s recorded LIVE demonstration and discover how to tint Watercolor Ground to create exciting new possibilities for your art. Click to watch the video!
Tip: Allow the applied Watercolor Ground to cure for at least 24 hours before painting. Follow the product instructions for surface preparation and application.
About the Artist
“My artist’s hand (the pilot) and DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolor (the vehicle) create that binomial that makes the mind open to new experiences, new lines, and new unimaginable sensations. I really enjoy using these impressive watercolors because they allow me to find an infinite line of experimentation and, at the same time, make me that creator of works that I did not imagine before I could paint.”– Giovanni Balzarani
