The paint wash technique is the perfect easy technique for any background. You can use it on cards, art journal pages, scrapbooks, canvas, and more. With just some acrylic paint and water, you can change the color of any paper or surface.
Uses of the Paint Wash Technique
This simple technique can be versatile as well. If you love the design on scrapbook paper but the colors don’t match your layout, use this paint wash technique and make your own colors without changing the design on the paper

Have some glittery or shimmery paints?
Try this technique on a black piece of paper to see the difference a little bit of paint wash makes to the paper.
This paint wash technique isn’t just great for your backgrounds but safe for kids too. You can premix for them or you can let them mix themselves. After theY are done, they can cut out designs from the papers or leave them as backgrounds for stamping or embellishing.
Supplies needed for the Paint Wash Technique pages:
- Paint Brushes – you might want a few for some different colors.
- Acrylic Paint in your choice of color
- Water in a cup
- Heat Gun, optional
- Several sheets of paper
- Paper Towels
Directions:
1.Start by putting a small amount of any color paint onto your paper plate or craft mat.
2.Dip your paint brush into the water and swirl into the paint on your plate or mat. Continue to pull water out of the cup and onto the paint until the paint is very thin, so thin that when you pull your brush through the paint you can see the surface below.
3.Cover your entire piece of paper with the paint wash you just made.
4.Be careful not to get too much color on the back side of your paper. Sometimes it’s impossible so don’t worry as it’s ALL art!
Tip!
If you are using a cheaper brand of paint, you’ll need to use less water to make it runny. If you are using an expensive brand of paint, you’ll need more water. The more expensive the paint, the more pigments in it. If you are getting your paint from a tube, chances are good your paint is full of pigments.