Texture Medium by Winsor and Newton

Creating interesting textures can be one of the key elements when painting with watercolours. There are many ways to achieve this, such as splashing, flicking, granulating, and scraping. Another option is to use the texture medium by Winsor & Newton. In the following paragraphs, I will explain what the medium is, how it behaves, and how you can use it. By the end, you'll be able to decide for yourself whether it's worth using or not.

1. What is a texture medium?

The Winsor and Newton texture medium can be used to easily and quickly create textures on paper. The liquid contains tiny "dust particles" that settle on the paper, creating an interesting effect. Depending on how the medium is applied, a different effect is achieved.

2. How do you apply the medium?

In general, there are two types of application: either you apply the medium first and then the color, or you mix the medium with the color beforehand. The effect also differs depending on how thinly or thickly it is applied.

In the image, I applied the medium first and then painted over it once it had dried. For 1), I applied the medium thinly with horizontal brushstrokes using a large brush; for 2), I applied it vertically; and for 4), I only applied it to a few areas. In this case, the effect was that the color remained slightly lighter in the areas with the texture medium.

My favorite effect is shown in 3). Here, I applied the medium thickly to the paper using a round brush. As a result, the medium settles unevenly on the paper and the color sets unpredictably on the medium. It is wonderful for imitating organic and rather small, irregular textures such as stones, sand, clouds, or stormy seas.

For 5), 6), and 7), I applied the medium thickly as in 1), 2), and 4), respectively.

In 8), I applied it thickly and experimented with different colours. The effect is reminiscent of granulation, and it looks great!

3. Live demonstration of the texture medium

On @winsorandnewtonde on Instagram, I painted a landscape using the medium. It's worth checking out even if you don't speak German 😊

4. Conclusion

As I am a lazy painter, I am always looking for a possibility to create something in no time. The texture medium definitely helps with that and for me I see it most useful in landscapes. I will definitely continue experimenting with it! However I also think that not everyone needs it. But if you’re interested it is worth a try!

And just to clarify: I wasn’t paid for the article, but I got a sample of the texture medium for free. What I wrote here is however my own personal opinion.