The first stage of most watercolour paintings is the making of an initial wash. This often constitutes the sky, or background colour and covers the whole sheet of paper. A wash is created with the use of a lot of water, tinted with a small amount of colour and should be applied in a wide gesture.

Fine brushes must be properly maintained for them to work properly and to ensure they have a long life. The cleaning method depends on the type of paint used and the nature of the hair or fibre.

Watercolour and gouache: watercolour brushes made out of fine Kolinsky sable or squirrel hair may simply be cleaned with tap water. Traces of colour can also be removed with soap, followed by rinsing with clean water.