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How to Get Shades of Gray Using Watercolors

Painting with watercolors is a pastime enjoyed by both novice and advanced painters. Although the color gray isn't the most exciting color by itself, it is versatile and can be mixed in a variety of shades to suit an array of backgrounds. Stone, seascapes and storm clouds are just a few items an artist may wish to use grays on. Gray can be obtained by mixing the colors black and white.

Instructions

- 1
  Squeeze a generous portion of black watercolor paint onto the palette.
- 2
  Squeeze white paint onto the palette.
- 3
  Dip the brush into the black paint and paint a section of the canvas.
- 4
  Clean the brush and dip it into the white watercolor paint, then paint that color onto the canvas.
- 5
  Mix a small amount of black paint and white paint -- slightly heavier on the black side -- on the palette and then paint it onto the canvas.
- 6
  Continue mixing black and white paint on the palette in varying ratios of dark to light and light to dark to obtain different shades of gray.
- 7
  Add varying amounts of water with the colors to lighten the colors to an ashy gray and to obtain the effect of gray storm clouds.

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